What I've Been Making This Week: 9/22/24

 A friend and I were chatting across the email fence this week and she was sharing some things she was working on for Christmas gift giving.

I was so inspired by what she was sharing that I immediately started formulating plans to work on some gifts of my own.  (Normally, I have a good stash of gifts ready for gift giving, but this year has brought challenges that distracted me from keeping my gifts pantry well-stocked.)   

The first thing I need and want to do is restock my gift pantry with these cute project bags.  I put in use and or gifted the last one I had so it's time to stitch up some more.  The sky is the limit with what you can put in them.

In this picture are supplies to make 8 bags.  The fabric pieces are all cut and everything I need to make them is on hand and ready.  I'm going to 'batch' sew them.  Not pictured are fabric pieces for my grands but I like to keep all my 'grand' gifts a secret until they are received ... just in case.  I like for their parents to be as surprised as the grands when the packages from grandma and grandpa are opened!

The completed bag in the picture houses my current cross stitch project.  The handle on the bag makes it easy to grab and go.

The tutorial for the project can be found HERE.  Be warned, you really, really need to watch the whole tutorial before making the first stitch.  You'll thank me for the 'heads up' when you don't have to rip out a seam!

I would love as in I might just be begging ... please, please, please share what you're making for Christmas gifts this year.  Let's inspire each other!

Until next time ...

patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay, and it helps keep in sewing supplies.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means. 

What I Made This Week: 9/14/24

 This week I've been playing catch-up from being out of town, so I don't really have any thing I've completed, but I do have a finish to share.  

Remember this project, from this post?  I was going to make a summer dress out of seersucker, but the more I thought about it the more I decided that a cool summer blouse out of seersucker would better suit me, so I changed my mind and did just that.

Here's what the finished product looks like ...

I paired it with jeans for a casual outfit.  I also have a denim skirt that can be substituted for the pants for when the occasion calls for it.

My next project will be creating something with a fall theme to send through the mail to my grands.  I'm gathering ideas right now.

Until next time ...

patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay, and it helps keep in sewing supplies.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means. 

A Quilt Shop Outing!

When my sister-in-law invited me to go to a new to me quilt shop near her home, I said 'yes!'  In fact, we went to two quilt shops, one of which was having a 'going out of business' sale!!!

I could have spent a fortune, but I had a budget and was determined to stick to it ... in fact, I came in under my allotted spending!

At the first quilt shop, the owner asked me what I planned to make with the pieces she was cutting for me.  I confessed that I was purchasing it to go in my stash and that I didn't really have a project in mind at the moment.  She laughed and said she understood and proceeded to tell me about her personal fabric stash apart from the fabric store.  From the sound of what she was describing, her stash beats my stash hands down!!!  It was fun to swap 'sewing' stories and I left the shop feeling like we were kindred sewing spirits!  The next time we're in the area, I definitely plan to go back and visit her shop again ... and maybe swap a few more 'sewing' tales!

The second quilt shop was having a going out of business sale which made me very sad.  I had visited this shop several times before when in the area, but this was to be the last.  I did, however, enjoy shopping good quality fabric for 33% off!

So, now I have new fabric and an eagerness to get back to my sewing!  

Until next time ...

patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay, and it helps keep in sewing supplies.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means. 

What I Made this Week: 7/13/24

I started a new project this week ... a summer dress for myself!

The weather has been so hot that I decided I needed cooler clothes, as in dresses!

Modest clothing is a priority so I took a look through some of my dress patterns and found one that I thought could be made modest and help keep me cool.

I've made this pattern before, only I made the blouse.  This time I'm making view C, which is the third one down on the right.

I wanted the dress to be oversized, so I made adjustments and cut it out using the largest size in the size range as a baseline.  I also deepened the neckline a bit as it has a high neckline and to help with the overall oversize look I was going for.

Because I made several adjustments, I made a new pattern using Pellon 830, Easy Pattern Non-Woven Tracing Fabric.  Several years ago, I purchased a whole bolt at half price.  It works really great for things such as this and can be folded when finished and stored with original pattern pieces in the pattern envelope.

I used seersucker for the fabric as you can see in the photo.

I stitched in the bust darts and did the stay stitching around the neckline.  (I pinned the front on Issabelle, my dress form, to get a feel of how 'oversized' it was going to be.) I have the back pieces stay stitched around the neckline and the pieces pinned together ready to be stitched. There's no zipper in this pattern ... Yeah!  There is instead a seamline opening in the center with a closing at the neckline.

My plan is to make the dress knee-length.  

I'm pleased with the way it's coming together and hope to get it finished next week!

That's it for this week.  

Please share what you stitched up or created this week, I would love to hear about what you're working on!    

Until next time ...

patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay, and it helps keep in sewing supplies.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means. 

What I Made This Week: 7/6/24

This week has been extra busy and honestly, I didn't know if I would have time to do any sewing or creating.

At one point, when I was trying to find some time to do at least 'some' sewing/creating I thought about what I could do that would be quick and not too involved.

I decided on this upcycling project that I've been wanting to do for quite some time ...

This oversized man's pullover t-shirt was given to my hubby, but it was not his style.  I claimed it with the intention of recycling it into a nightshirt for myself.

However, it looked a little masculine for my tastes ...

The first thing I did was cut the neck band off and stay stitch around the 'new' neckline to keep it from stretching completely out of shape.

Next, I shortened the sleeves by cutting the same amount from each's length.  Before shortening them, they reached to my elbows ... that didn't work for me!

I left the raw edges on the sleeves and neck unhemmed because I wanted a soft natural 'rolled' look for each.

The last thing I did was cut out the little polo guy design and replaced it in the following way ...

I was going for a somewhat rough, but soft shabby chic look and I think I achieved it!

Before (left) and after (right).

That's it for this week.  

Please share what you stitched up or created this week, I would love to hear about what you're working on!    

Until next time ...

patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay, and it helps keep in sewing supplies.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means. 

What I Made this Week: 6/29/24

Well, here we go ... this is my 25th of the month, holiday prep post!

On or around the 25th of each month, I try to do something towards upcoming holiday preps.  This week I focused on getting started with holiday gifts for my grands and this is how it started ...

These are inexpensive (4 x 6) small photo albums.  

I removed the inside front and back coverings that came in each and replaced them with some Christmas themed scrapbooking paper that I had on hand.  Some really pretty heavy Christmas wrapping paper would also work.  Next, I cut out a piece of cereal box cardboard to the correct size and slipped it in behind the scrapbooking paper for the front and back.  This gave the front and back covers some structure and stiffness.

I also put a piece of coordinating scrapbooking paper on the inside front and back pockets.

My plan is to use these little albums to create a 12-days of Christmas type gift for each of my grands.

 I have several to do and am going to try to complete one 'day' per week in each of them.  I'll do my best to share each finished 'day' as I go along.

In addition to the holiday 'creating' I did, I stitched up another pillowcase for Ryan's Case for Smiles ...

This is number 6 of the 20 I want to do by the Labor Day holiday.

 That's it for this week.  

Please share what you stitched up or created this week, I would love to hear about what you're working on!    

Until next time ...

patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay, and it helps keep in sewing supplies.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means. 

What I Made this Week: 6/22/24

 Grandma was a little under the weather the later part of the week, but I did manage a finish and it was for our home ...

A few years ago, we purchased a country ham and the more I looked at the bag it came in, the more I decided that I would like to turn it into a small throw pillow.   I gave it a good washing and set it aside.  It took me a while to get back to it though ... what can I say!

When I did, I carefully cut it down to size, stitched on a ticking backing and then stuffed it with all the fabric bits and bobs I've been saving.  Yes, the entire pillow is filled with fabric scraps like is shown in the picture and yes, I had lots.  Fabric has gotten so expensive that I aim to use every scrap of it in some way!

Here it is on an antique rocking chair on my front porch.

Then I brought it in and added it to an antique gooseneck rocking chair in our living room.  I think I like it best inside on this chair.

It suits the 'farmhouse' decor style I have going on in my home and I couldn't be more pleased with it.

That's it for this week.  Next week, my focus will be on working on Christmas sewing or making as the 25th of the month falls during the week.  For those who don't know, I try to do something toward Christmas on or around the 25th of each month.

Please share what you stitched up or created this week, I would love to hear about what you're working on!    

Until next time ...

patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

My other blogs:

A Working Pantry

From This Heart of Mine

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay, and it helps keep in sewing supplies.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means.