skirt

A skirt sewn from Simplicity 5505. The skirt is "hemmed" in light blue bias tape.

repurposing an old tee

I turned this old t-shirt

into this:

I used a 14" pillow form, orange piping and a zipper (plus my seam ripper). I had originally planned to make the pillow larger (16"), but the print on the shirt was too close to the neckline. The stretchy knit of the t-shirt made this project take longer than expected. Under the flower reads "you are my sunshine."

patchwork baby thing

My grandmother believes that all babies need something to hold. She has been known to give babies hankies and washcloths to play with. My baby is 3 1/2 months old, but cannot hold rattles yet, as they are too heavy and he bonks himself in his head.

I decided to make something that was lightweight, small, and visually stimulating. Thus, this small baby blankie was born. It was sewn from scraps of black and white polka dots and red fabric. Squares on one side; stripes on the other. It has cotton quilt batting in between the layers, which makes it a little bulkier than I intended, but still nice to hold onto. (And absorbent to catch drool and spit-up.) The finished size is approximately 12" x 12".

patchwork anniversary pillow

A personalized patchwork anniversary pillow. This was a gift for my husband's grandparents' 65th wedding anniversary. The top corner has Pappy's name, the bottom corner has Grandma's name, and the center has their wedding and anniversary dates, all machine embroidered. The pillow is stuffed with a 14 x 14" pillow form and is backed with a very soft baby-blue flannel.

in-town bag

an Amy Butler In-Town bag in Amy Butler fabric. It is lined with chocolate brown corduroy, has a chocolate brown grosgrain ribbon loop and vintage button closure.

wintry bonnets

Two wintry mailorder bonnets. The one on the left is sewn from chocolate brown corduroy with a brown and lime polka dotted cotton lining (and lime grosgrain ribbon tie). The one on the right is brown calico with chestnut brown corduroy lining (brown satin ribbon tie).

for the cemetery

An "ornament" for the cemetery where my sister is buried. I traced the font with a disappearing-ink marker and split-stitched over the letters. It has quilt batting between the layers. A decorative edge-stitch in red is made by hand (to cover the machine stitching).

Forever in my heart.

Forever in my thoughts.

Forever my sister.

cookbooks

These were not sewn. In fact, there is no fabric or thread involved. It's just a Christmas gift idea. I compiled Christmas recipes (main dishes, side dishes, cookies, candies, etc.) from my family and bound them together to make a family cookbook. The cover is scrapbooking paper that has been adhered to cardstock using permanent double-sided tape. (We borrowed the binding machine from my husband's work and puchased the binds. Office supply stores can bind them for you.)

totes

Tracy Porter fabric with white cotton handle (lined in white muslin).

Amy Butler fabric. Lined with chocolate brown corduroy.

Alexander Henry's Kleo print fabric lined with chocolate brown corduroy.

38 tissue pouches

38 tissue pouches (personal size, just perfect for purses and totes) for Christmas gifts for teachers, friends and sisters. Each was paired with a bar of my handmade chocolate-mint soap.

The outer fabric is brown with aqua polka dots. The lining is aqua with brown polka dots. (The exterior fabric was interfaced.)

stockings

The above stockings (sewn from Christmas flannel with a red rickrack hanger) were part of Jack's birthday party favors. Each stocking was stuffed with goodies.

These "blank" stockings were from Taylor's birthday sleepover. They were decorated with buttons, rickrack, and trims during the party by each boy.

birthday crowns

Same pattern as before. The only difference is that there is a covered piece of elastic in the back so the crown will grow with them. (Carter has a reversed opposite lining, with a blue center and red sides, which is how he requested it.)

felt Christmas ornaments

Six round, felt Christmas ornaments for my children. Each has their name (machine) embroidered on one side and gold, metallic rickrack on the other. The edges were pinked. These were in the stocking garland one night during advent.

stocking garland

Advent Christmas Stocking Garland. 25 miniature, flannel stockings "hung by the chimney with care," each with a candy-cane striped ribbon for hanging. Strung on natural-color cotton cording. Each stocking will be stuffed with "advent-type" activities, candies, small toys, etc.

autumn bag

A bag sewn from 1 1/2 fat quarters and leftover brown corduroy. Used Amy Butler's In Town pattern. Closes with a brown, vintage button. Has small matching inner pocket. (Interfaced the outer fabric and pocket.)

a Christmas tote

A Christmas tote. Simple tote pattern, lined in white muslin, with matching inner pocket. I bought the Christmas fabric over the summer for about $1 a yard.

baby shoes

Little cloth baby shoes from this free pattern. They are lined with soft, baby-blue flannel. The pattern calls for bonded fleece/suede. I bought some, but it was funky red with black paisley. I couldn't find any fabric to 'match' it from my stash, so I used the polka dots for the bottom and the flannel for the sole lining. Embellished with a baby blue button. (Uses very little fabric.)

Note: If not using the bonded fleece, put sole and sole lining wrong sides together. When pinning (and sewing) the sole lining will be down and the "outer" sole will be face up (right side up). And I used interfacing on all pieces.

baby things

Two sets of flannel/chenille bibs and burpcloths. The zebras for my cousin's new baby (with a personalized, flannel receiving blanket) and the cowboys for my new baby. The bibs are from Simplicity 5374. It was in the package with the dress pattern I made for Spenser last year. Fastened with a snap.

receiving blanket

Machine embroidery on a store-bought flannel receiving blanket.

burp cloths

Simple rectangle burp cloths sewn from flannel and white chenille.