Baby Blanket!

 The fabric for this blanket was given to me by a dear friend.  She had purchased yardage of it and had more than she needed.  She gave me enough to do a blanket as well.  Her daughter even cut the small slits in it needed to crochet the foundation stitch all the way around.  Yes, they are amazing dear friends!

When I saw the fabric, I knew I wanted the stars to be surrounded by puffy clouds.  So, I purchased a package of Bernat blanket yarn in the color white and set to work.  First came the foundation stitch and then a series of crocheted loops giving it a ruffly look all the way around.  (I used about half of the yarn package for the whole project.) It was super easy to do!

Once I got it finished, I decided it needed something in one of the corners and using the same yarn spelled out the word 'baby' and stitched it down with my sewing machine.  If you were making this for a specific baby, instead of spelling out the word 'baby,' you could use the baby's name or initials.

It really is so very cute, and I can't wait for the occasion to gift it as a baby gift.  In the meantime, it has been carefully bagged up and added to my gift trunk.

That's it for this post, what are you stitching up and or creating?

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

This is Not My Style nor My Size ...

 I saw this dress at a thrift store, looked at it, felt the fabric, examined it for stains, tears, etc and then walked away because, honestly, it's just not my style, nor was it my size.

But the fabric just kept 'calling' me back, so I went back, took another look at it and decided that there was enough fabric in it that I could make something 'spring/summer' with it.

After giving it much thought I considered making a blouse with it ... but here again honestly, the pattern was not flattering when I draped it across my shoulders.

But, since I still loved it, I decided to turn it into a skirt and choose a top/blouse in a more flattering color for me (such as a solid color of purple or beige) and utilize the 'fabric from the dress' that way.  The skirt turned out really well and was really simple to do ... cut off top of dress, stitch up a casing for the elastic, insert the elastic and stitch up the opening.  Done!

Off to my closet I went to see what I had that would work with this skirt and I found a beige dressy t-shirt that compliments the pattern in the fabric perfectly.  When I shop for clothing, I shop for classic basics that can be worn with lots of different things.  I want something a little different with the styling of this outfit so I'm going to play around with it for a little while.  When I decide upon a style I like, I'll post a picture of the outfit here.

As I've shared before, I like fashion, I always have, and I look forward to styling this skirt and top into a modest stylish outfit that I'll feel good wearing.

That's it for this post, what are you stitching up and or creating?

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Repurposing Again!

 It started with this dress.  It was a cute dress, and I really like it, but its shoulders just didn't fit my shoulders right and it bugged me, making wearing it an unpleasant experience!

Have you ever had a piece of clothing that just bugged you when you wore it?

So, I cut it off and made a skirt out of it!  

The remaining top part, I took apart and added to my 'fabric pantry!'

And voila ... I added a t-shirt blouse and turned it into a summer outfit.  This morning, I wore the skirt and t-shirt down, without the embellishment, with a denim jacket and short boots.  It made a cute outfit that worked well for the morning cooler temperatures ... I'm filing this under transitioning our wardrobes from one season to the next!

Update:  a reader asked about what I used to hold the edge of the t-shirt up with, here's a closeup picture.  It's a 'charm' pin that I got at a craft store quite some time ago.

The pin is heavy duty and does the job of holding up the t-shirt with ease.

I've had little time for sewing this week, but I did manage to sneak in this small repurposing project!  

Don't throw it away, give it away or make a rag out of it until you try to repurpose it into something more useful!

That's it for this post, what are you stitching up and or creating?

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Drawstring Bag Tutorial

If you read my last post, you will know that I needed to make 20 drawstring bags this week for an upcoming event.  After creating the pattern and making a couple of mock-ups to get the measurements right for the size I needed, I made a schedule for getting them done in the time frame I was working with.

One day I did all the cutting and clipped together the body pieces readying them for sewing, which was Tuesday's task.  The 'body' should measure 12 x 12.5, with the fold at the bottom and the clips on the side.

For each bag, I cut:

one 12 x 25-inch rectangle for the body (If fabric is directional, take this into consideration when cutting.)  

in addition, for each bag I cut ...

one 2.5 x 23-inch strip for the facing (I folded this piece in half making it 1.25 x 23 and pressed it.)

one 5.5 x 11-inch rectangle for the loops (I turned under a quarter inch on both sides and stitched it down.  Then cut each in half into a 2.25 x 11-inch piece.  That piece then got folded in half and pressed with the finished piece measuring approximately 1.12 x 11) Each bag needs two of these pieces which will be the loops.

The next day I stitched up the body pieces using French seams.

I clipped the 'loop' pieces to each side of the bags (front and back)

Next, I fit the facing piece to the size of the bag opening, stitched the facing closed making a circle and then clipped it on over the loop pieces.

I stitched it all down, turned it, top stitched it and pressed it all.

For the last step I ran the cording through creating a 'draw string' for each bag.

I loved the way these turned out and can't wait to show you how they will be used for an upcoming event.

These make up really fast and once I got the design down and the kinks worked out, I speed through the sewing process.  This is definitely a method that I will use over and over, in fact, I think I will make up several to go in my gift trunk for gift giving purposes.

What's next in my sewing world?  Well, it's time to get the summer wardrobe out, see what I have, what I can restyle if I didn't wear it last summer and what I need to add.

What are you stitching up and or creating?

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

It's Been a Minute or Two or Three or More ... Since My Last Post!

 ... but I finally have some completed projects to share with you ...

I started working on these two quilted zippered pouches before my hubby's medical event and I finally got around to finishing them a couple of weeks ago.  The largest one was made to carry my laptop or file folders.  When I teach a ladies Bible class or a children/teen Bible class, I usually need to carry one or both.  This pouch is large enough to protect both.  The smaller one was made for the purpose of protecting my iPad when I need to carry it away from home for any purpose.

I love sewing up pretty things for my needs and being able to customize according to those needs is so helpful as well as practical!

Are you sick of seeing my 'santa sacks?'  I finished up three more and of all the fabric combinations I've used, I think these reds are my favorite!

And finally, these drawstring bags were made for pattern designing purposes.  I need to make 20 this upcoming week and I wanted the process to be simple and streamlined as much as possible.  So, taking into consideration what I wanted the finished bags to look like, I set to work making a pattern.  I cut out and made one, taking the time to make notes as I stitched it up.  After finishing the first one, I tweaked the measurements and instructions a bit and made a second one.  I was delighted with the way they both turned out and am all set to start on the 20 I need to do this week.  These two will go in my gift trunk for gift giving purposes as needed.

What have you been stitching up?

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Santa Sacks!

 Before my hubby had his medical emergency, I was working on stitching up more of these Santa Sacks ...

I shared in this post that I had been given the following 'vintage santa' fabric and was planning to make festive 'santa sacks' for gift giving purposes.

I finished 5 more sacks in various sizes before my plans were interrupted ...

Each sack is fully lined so the contents will be concealed!

I still have a few more to complete before I pack them away for the next holiday season!

Is anyone else working on Christmas 2025, besides me????

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Notebook Pen Holders: I've Wanted to Make These for a Long Time!

 I've wanted to make notebook pen holders for a long time, and this week with frigid temperatures outside and 6 inches of snow on the ground, I tackled the project.

First, I watched a few Youtube videos and took notes.  Then I combined the notes, customizing the end project to fit my vision.

Here's what I did ...

Cut: (These measurements are for an 8-inch notebook.  For a different size notebook, measure the length and substitute it wherever 8 inches are called for in these instructions.)

2 pieces of fabric 2 3/4 inches x 8 inches 

2 pieces of lightweight fusible interfacing 2 3/4 inches x 8 inches

1 contrasting piece of fabric 2 3/4 x 10 inches (For a different size notebook, add 2 inches to the measured length of your notebook.)

1 piece of lightweight fusible interfacing 2 3/4 inches x 10 (For a different size notebook, add 2 inches to the measured length of your notebook.) 

Iron the interfacing on to each piece of fabric, fold the 10-inch piece in half lengthwise and press.  Top stitch 1/8 inch from top of fold on folded piece.

Place pocket on top of one of the 8-inch pieces, aligning the bottom of both pieces of fabric.  If you want compartments, stitch down the middle of the pocket piece.  As you can see, I wanted compartments.  (Do not stitch across the fold again!)

Cut 1 piece of elastic 8 inches long and place it pretty side down on top of pen holder and stitch across both ends of elastic.

Place remaining 8-inch piece of fabric with right sides together on top of piece with pocket.

Stitch 1/4 inch around leaving an opening for turning. I also trimmed the seams to 1/8 inch to reduce bulk in finished product.  Clip corners, turn and press being careful not to let the iron touch the elastic.

I'm so pleased with the way these turned out, as you can see, I made two.

I hope you've enjoyed this little tutorial!  I will be making more, next time for larger notebooks!

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine