Making 2026: Week #3

Hello sewing friends, are you ready for another week of my sewing and creating adventures!

Let's get started!

I totally went off my sewing plan for this past week and instead decided I would do a sew-along with Jessica Dayon - Quilting and More.

Like I had time to add anything else to my plate, but I did it anyway. Here are the first two blocks ... I am making this one scrappy blue and will add a backing that is predominately red. The idea is to make the quilt in honor of our country's 250th birthday this year using what I have on hand if at all possible. I think this sew-along is targeted to end somewhere around the end of March, so I'm telling myself, it's only for 3 months and that I can do that!

I made sewing labels for my handmade creations! I've wanted to do this for a long time, but lacked the confidence.

Fast forward to this week ... I can't believe how easy it was ... I don't know why I was so intimidated. Special thanks to Stephanie for her encouragement and help!

This is my version of block #1 in Erica Arndt's Sew With Me 2026 series I mentioned in last week's post.  Looking through my 'fabric pantry,' I decided that I wanted to do this one in earth tones and as you can see in the picture, that's what I've done.   To me, earth tones are soothing and calming.  There are some 'oops' in this block, but the final block size was right, so I trimmed it up and called it good!  I look at my 'oops' as me personalizing my quilts!!!  It's all good!

 This sew-along only has one block per month stretching it out over the entire year.  That's the only reason I decided to take it on ... that and the fact that the pattern is free for a specified length of time, I like Erica's patterns and I enjoy making quilts!

This drawstring bag has been in the works for a couple of weeks and this week, I finished it!

The outer fabric came from a shirt my hubby no longer wore and I cut it in such a way that I could include the pocket.  Can you spot one of my 'new' labels?  I thought it fitting that the first label I used went on a shirt that belonged to my hubby before it was repurposed!

This bag will be used in gifting to someone in our immediate family as the legacy that comes with it will mean something to the recipient.

That's it for this week, I hope you've had a productive week at your sewing machine!

 Until the next week!

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Making 2026: Weeks 1 & 2

 January 2026 is half way over ... can you believe it!  My gift trunk was pretty much emptied by the time the holidays were over so that means it's time to start refilling it!  

Let's see what we've done in the first 16 days of 2026 towards that goal as well as other 'making' projects ...

I started a baby doll blanket.  I gifted the ones I had in my gift trunk last year, so it's time to replenish my supply.  The yarn is Bernat Baby Blanket in the color of baby pink.

I turned this thrifted dress on the left into the skirt on the left.

I decided to do a free sew-along with Jessica Dayon - Quilting and More that started yesterday.   The above block is one of two that are assigned for week #1, I still have the other one to do before next Thursday.  

I used a thrifted 100% cotton sheet for the white parts and will continue to do so with all the other parts.  I'm making mine a scrappy blue, so will be using any and all blues from my stash.  The goal is not to have to buy anything to make this quilt top.  I may have to purchase the batting, but we'll cross that bridge when we get closer to needing it ... unless I find a good sale on batting between now and then!  

I think the schedule calls for the top to be completed towards the end of March.  That will be just before gardening season kicks in, in our area, so that will work out well.

Sometimes, I think I've lost my mind as I often take on way more than I can do, but hold on ... I'm going to do another free quilt-a-along!  This one is by Erica Arndt and is her 'Sew With Me' project for 2026.  She will release one new block per month for 12 months along with the pattern and instructions ... surely I can get one block per month done in 2026 says myself to myself!

A note about both of these sew-a-longs:  the patterns and instructions will only be free for a specified length of time, so if  you're interested you need to jump on over and at least get the patterns.  Erica has released the entire 12 month project packet for sale in her shop if you're an eager beaver and don't won't to wait for each month's release.  I am opting for the free version!

Much thanks to both these women for these opportunities!

That's it for the first 16 days of 2026.  I'd love to hear what your making or planning to make or even what you have in the works!

Until the next week!

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Looking Back at My 2025 Makes

It brings me great satisfaction to look back at my 'makes' and even with all the changes we had in 2025, I think I still had a good 'sewing' year!

 In January ...

 I turned a flannel nightshirt into a warm flannel skirt for winter ...

and notebook pen holders ...

In  February ...

I stitched up several 'Santa' sacks ...

In  March ...

I made these oversized zipper pouches ...

these two drawstring bags ...

and these drawstring bags for a church event ...

In  April ...

I did some more repurposing by turning a dress that didn't fit well into a skirt that did ...

In  May ...

I repurpose a dress I purchased at a thrift store into a skirt ...

In June ...

I added a crocheted ruffle onto this piece of flannel and turned it into a baby blanket ...

In July ...

I customized a new Bible teaching bag ...

and made two book sleeves ... HERE and HERE ...

Nothing in August, but in September I was back at it ...

hanging towels ...

a drawstring 'teddy bear' bag ...

and jar toppers ...

Nothing in October, but hello November ...

I created Thanksgiving treats for my grands ...

stitched up this 'chicken themed' drawstring bag ...

and refashioned a sweatshirt ...

In  December ...

I completed stitching these alphabet letters ...

and finished December off by completing 7 drawstring bags.

That's a wrap on my 2025 making, creating and sewing, I'm looking forward to 2026!

I hope you've enjoyed this little trip down memory lane!

Until the next time!

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Holiday Sewing 2025: #8

Today's entry has absolutely no sewing involved, but I sure did enjoy creating it!

These are the gifts I'm giving to the teens in the weekly teenage Bible class I teach and here's how I created them ...

It started with these Little Debbie Christmas tree shaped snack cakes ...

I folded a $5 bill for each into the shape of a Christmas tree ... origami style ... using the instructions in this video,  and attached one each to the back of the snack cake using painters tape.

I placed one snack cake in the center of these cute little food boxes making sure that the 'money side' was down and the snack cake side up ...

and packed individually wrapped peppermint balls around it filling the space in the box ...

I closed the lid on the box and tied a ribbon around it.  I can't wait to gift these to the teens, I wonder how long it will take them to find the money ... or will they think that I just gave them a snack cake and peppermint balls for a gift this year!!  

That's it for this entry of my holiday 2025 sewing, I hope you're enjoying my efforts.

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Holiday Sewing 2025: #7

I finished stitching up the alphabet I've been working on for one of our grands ...

Most of the fabric used in this project came from my fabric scraps and or recycled clothing such as grandpa's shirts and or grandma's aprons.

Depending on how 'popular' the letter is meaning how often it's used in words, I made anywhere from 1 to 4 of each.

 I got the letter patterns HERE!  You have to join her email list to get the pdf, otherwise they are free.

I've also been working on stitching up 7 drawstring bags, I've completed 2 of them as of this writing.  The other 5 are near to completion as well.  I plan to finish them next week, Lord willing!

The black and white gingham fabric came from a recycled man's shirt and the one on the right was made from a thrifted vintage sheet.  As you can tell, I find fabric in many ways and places other than a fabric store.

Here's a peek at the inside of each bag ... "Hello Kitty" fabric for one and a floral pattern for the other!

That's it for this entry of my holiday 2025 sewing, I hope you're enjoying my efforts.

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Holiday Sewing 2025: #6

 Remember this hanging towel project that my sister and I worked on together long distance via technology earlier this year?  We made a fall version, shown in the linked post, and a Christmas version, shown below.

I spent the afternoon packaging them for gift giving and I thought you might like to see how and what I did.

The first thing I did was turn the towel over with the back facing up and the front facing down.

Next, I took the bottom of the towel part and brought it up to meet the topper.

Then, I took the topper and folded it back up over the folded towel part.

I flipped the whole thing over with the towel side up.

I wanted to include something with the towel, so I chose some quality wooden spoons I purchased at a Mennonite store back during the summer.

I laid the wooded spoon in the center of the towel and wrapped the sides around it, taping them together.

I slipped the towel/spoon inside a plastic bag and tied it in the middle with a ribbon.  The bag didn't cover the entire project but left the bottom towel and spoon handle uncovered.  I think it turned out well and am well pleased with the end product.

I made a total of 4 for the purpose of having something to give when an unexpected opportunity presented itself.  In fact, on the very day that I finished these an opportunity did indeed present itself and now I have 3 left for gift giving purposes.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing how I turned a cute towel into an even cuter gift!

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