Look back at my sewing in 2021

2021 started with work continuing on My Small World wall hanging.

I finished the flimsy in February. It has a backing and is pin basted.

The plan is to hand quilt it.

Then this fun wall hanging, Lullaby in Birdland, was made from a kit and machine quilted.

I returned to some cross stitch handwork. 

The days seemed long and it was good to keep busy.

Around the same time a couple of dresses for Ava were finished.

A mug rug from scraps at the bottom of photo

Parlor Tricks was quilted and bound.

Scrap Dance Minuet was quilted and bound.

I took a side trip into weaving on mini looms.

Made a new needle book to keep the accessories handy.

Made a turning twenty style quilt for Kenton.

It has a grey plaid minky back.

More dresses were made for Ava.

I made a quilt for my niece from a kit purchased by my mom.

Angie quilted it right before she moved to Knoxville.

Baby bibs made from flannel scraps for Kenton. 

Some went in gifts to new moms.

Two baby quilts with white chenille backing made for a friend's twin grand babies.

The first of my Wren Weekender bags.

I finally finished the hand quilted centers on my Good Fortune quilt.

It lives on my bed. I love the happy colors.

Another dress for Ava.

I participated in Gudrun's quarantine quilt along.

The flimsy is finished, backing is ready.

I'm trying to decide how to finish it - sleeping bag or large lap quilt?

Disney princess dress and bag for Ava.

Not shown - a navy and white check dress for Ava and overalls for Kenton.

I used fabric donated to Allison Wells Quilters

to make this rail fence lap quilt.

It was donated to the children's hospital.

For Kenton's first birthday I made a cowboy backpack and hat.

The fabric was from a Connecting Threads backpack kit.

I finished a quilt of valor flimsy for Jackson Quilters.

Someone else quilted and bound it.

It was given to a 100 year old veteran.

These two lap quilts were gifted to Mississippi Literacy friends.

Snow globe felt ornaments sent to NYC grandsons.

Barn and softies made for Kenton for Christmas.

Bag and doll clothes made for Ava for Christmas.

Flannel jumper made for Ava.

The NYC grandsons - we Facetimed for Christmas.

The Memphis grands - we spent Christmas with them.

That is the end of this very long post.

I'm documenting this for me. I will be able to look back and remember this year.

2021 has been a productive year in so many ways.

I'm getting healthier and I'm looking forward to more sewing in 2022.

Love and best wishes!

 

Secret Sewing Revealed

As 2021 comes to a close I have one project that I have not shared.

I bought some fancy ribbons and wanted to make a sewing bag with them.

The ribbons came with suggested bag patterns but I chose to make my own design.

Below are photos of the bag in progress.

The outside is plain canvas and the lining is an Art Gallery fabric.

I wanted it to be tall enough to hold crochet hooks and small

things like scissors, thread, and needles.

I had a hard time deciding which cute ribbons to use.

I stitched my daughter's initials in the same color as the background fabric.

I tried a new-to-me stitch.

First backstitch then whipstitch using the backstitches as the foundation.

I liked the way it raised the stitches and made them look more like cursive letters.

I used batting on the lining side of the bag.

This is a reminder of the mistake I made with the corner cutouts.

I sewed one side and saw that the folded side also needed the corners cut out

for the boxed bottom to work.

I drew the size of the cut out on the wrong side of the fabric. Then snipped it out.

Repeated on the outside piece.

Here is the bag.

The lining shows at the top by design. A small handle was made using the lining fabric.

This shows the hook and loop closure and the small scissors and needle holder.

The embroidery folder was my mom's.

I'm passing it on to my daughter.

A close-up of the inside of the bag.

Daughter said she liked it and was glad it closes securely.

She has an inquisitive cat who likes to play with small items.

I think that wraps up my sewing for this year.

I may go through my photos and do a quilt review before the new year.

Thanks for stopping by.

 

The days before Christmas

The final Christmas sewing is complete.

The most complicated item was this retro dress with pleats -

a free download from Pixie Faire.

Making doll clothes is a great use of scraps.

All the fabric is from my scrap stash.

I tried it on a similar doll just to get an idea of the fit.

Below are all the dresses and accessories with the bag that will hold everything.

Shoes found at Hobby Lobby. I crocheted the cranberry colored slippers.

The yellow pleated dress is so cute.

I had some gauzy cloth bags that are holding shoes and jewelry.

One small plastic container will help keep the small things together.

There is even a small fashion shopping bag.

A girl has to shop!

The sleeping bag is my own design.

I used hook and loop tape instead of a zipper.

The very last thing is a flannel jumper and purchased knit top.

The jumper is an easy sew pattern with only 3 pieces.

Can't decide if it needs decorative buttons.

Photo showing the pattern.

It had never been used but I found it with some of my mom's patterns.

I think it was bought when our daughter was small.

(She is 40, so a few years ago.)

Getting ready to wrap presents.

Food prep is done.

Merry Christmas!

 

Counting Down

Less than a week to Christmas.

Only a few more doll things to make.

Below are the flannel PJs I made by adding to a jacket pattern and shorts pattern.

I added some width to the jacket so it overlaps in the front.

I intended to make a traditional shirt collar but cut it too small.

A stand-up collar looks okay.

The shorts pattern was lengthened by 3 inches.

Very pleased with the results.

On the cutting mat - items for a doll size sleeping bag.

Trying to decide between the fuzzy yellow or flannel dots for the inside.

Finished an eyelet long skirt and matching top.

Another piece that can be mixed and matched with the two other long skirts and velvet top.

Most challenging pattern is a retro dress with a zipper. 

I hope to work on it tomorrow.

Oh, yes, not pictured is fabric and pattern for a flannel jumper for Ava.

Three finishes in time for Christmas?

Hope you are having fun this countdown week.

 

Two weeks until Christmas

Two weeks until Christmas and most of the sewing projects are complete.

I made the bag from a new, easy weekender pattern.

I will make more like this since I have 3 more pieces of canvas and the zippers.

The bag is for Miss A's doll and accessories.

The rest of the project is to make clothes for the doll.

Below is my trial run at some slippers.

I used a linen silk yarn that I've had in my yarn stash for several years.

It frays and isn't very soft.

I changed the free pattern from knit to crochet.

The left slipper is bigger than the right one.

Next step was to purchase a yarn that better fit the slipper requirements.

I found 3 cute colors in 100 yard skeins and made the second pair of slippers.

These will work better than the first pair.

I used a size E crochet hook and single crochet for dimensions on the pattern.

Next a black velvet sleeveless top paired with a gold and black brocade skirt.

Add another skirt - Christmas plaid.

A summer stripe with button trim.

Miss A had a dress made of this fabric that she has outgrown.

A coat and scarf from blush pink plush fabric.

I used a blanket stitch around the edge instead of a lining or facings.

Miss A had a jacket made from this fabric.

Navy check high waist dress is the last of this batch.

I plan to make PJ's, a sleeping bag, and a 30's style pink polkadot dress.

Some of the patterns are from Pixie Faire and others are McCalls.

I found some cute shoes at Hobby Lobby.

Going house viewing tomorrow.

Have a good week!

 

Busy November

November has been busy. 

I had cataract surgery in both eyes then Mr. M had both of his eyes done, too.

I am very pleased to be able to see without glasses again.

My sewing projects have been focused on Christmas presents.

First up, a soft barn and farm animals for Kenton.

I realized I sew from the illustrations instead of reading the directions.

I fused the stiff interfacing on the wrong piece then found a work around.

I used softer interfacing on the inside piece.

I looked everywhere online for step by step photos but found only the finished project.

An important step is making and placing the hook and loop tabs.

The sticky side goes on the tab and the soft side goes on the building.

I bought red hook and loop thinking it would blend in better.

Those tiny white V's are placement markers for the tabs.

Oops! Had to rip out the basting when I placed the tabs in the wrong place.

Below is the correct placement.

Matching tabs to sides.

My basting mistake. Do Not put the tabs here!

Finished barn set.

I made the animals and tractor first.

They were very easy to make and stuff with poly.

Another option was to make them flat with just interfacing.

Inside the barn. There are pockets for the animals and doors to open to see hidden animals.

It needs another pressing before it gets wrapped.

Another finish - soft books for the little boy.

I put some crinkly stuff to add a sound to the books.

Secret peek of another present.

I will share the finish later.

Fun with ribbon trim and embroidery.

Yesterday's quick finish.

Cut out and finished in one day.

This bag will hold the doll clothes I'm making for Ava's new doll.

I may make myself a bag like this. It was so easy and I have all the supplies.

Heading out later today to see family and look at houses near our son's family.

Happy Sewing!