needle and thREAD

Elizabeth started needle and thREAD a few months ago, and I have to say, I am very thankful!

On the first week of this linky party, Elizabeth wrote:
"I welcome you to needle and thREAD. What have you been sewing lately? Or are you embroidering? Pulling a needle with thread through lovely fabric to make life more beautiful somehow? Would you share with us just a single photo (or more) and a description of what you're up to? Would you talk sewing and books with us? I'd love that so much."

This week I enjoyed a little sewing....I have been slacking lately and it felt good to jump back on the bandwagon.  As it happened, both articles I sewed were for Kimberly, which caused quite a bit a whining from the other kids.

Hopefully, before next week, I will have something sewn for someone other than Kim. 
This week, I sewed Kim a pair of summer pajamas using a pattern that,  is so old and well used that it is taped together.  It is Simplicity pattern # 9942.  I believe I have used this pattern at least 20 times over the past 22 years...the copywrite on the pattern says 1990. 

This is an easy pattern and quick to sew up.

A few weeks ago hubby and I stopped by Joann's Fabrics after a wedding.  (If we are in the city, I HAVE to go to the fabric store and wonderful hubby always obliges.:-)  I didn't have any coupons with me, but found this great soft denim with embroidered cherries on it.  It was 50% off--that makes it my kind of fabric.  I knew it was destined for capris for Kimmy.  For these I used McCall's pattern # 4006.  They are a perfect size--the size 6 patten perfectly fit my size 6 child.

I have been on a reading blitz lately....quick easy reads are just the right ticket during these recent crazy days.  This series of books, Annie's Attic Mysteries are a perfect fit for what I am lookink for these days.

These are nice "cozy reads" set in a small main town.  Annie grandmother has died and left Annie her home.

The attic is full of treasures...and mysteries.  What also makes these fun reads is the fact that the main characters are members of the Hook and Needle club,  A group that meets weekly and shares crafting and mysteries.

Head on over the Elizabeth's blog and check out the rest of this week's needle and thREAD posts.

needle and thREAD

Elizabeth started needle and thREAD a few weeks ago, and I have to say, I am very thankful!

On the first week of this linky party, Elizabeth wrote:

"I welcome you to needle and thREAD. What have you been sewing lately? Or are you embroidering? Pulling a needle with thread through lovely fabric to make life more beautiful somehow? Would you share with us just a single photo (or more) and a description of what you're up to? Would you talk sewing and books with us? I'd love that so much."

Head on over to Elizabeth's blog and join the party.

This week I whipped up this sleeveless, button up summer top for Kimberly. I used the Simplicity 7616 pattern.  I made the top three inches longer than the pattern...it is meant to be a crop top, but I like the extra length.  The top was an exact fit-6x.  I proceeded to make a red pair of shorts using the same pattern and size, they came out gigantic...I tried to "fix" them, but they ended up in the trash.  I was so upset about wasting the fabric, but they were just unwearable.  I have now written in big letters on the pattern, "don't make these shorts"!

I finished up An Invisble Thread. It was a true story about an 11 year old panhandler and a sales executive.

This inspirational story shows how a brief encounter between two people from different worlds can turn into a lasting relationship that changes lives.

Next up to read: a Nicholas Sparks love story--The Best of Me.  It's just what the doctor ordered!

Needle and thREAD

I really need to thank Elizabeth for starting this weekly "linky party"! I haven't sewed in a while and her posts of the past few weeks have gotten me inspired. So, this past week, while the temperatures reached 90 degrees, I realized that the little girls needed some summer clothes, and I became excited and headed off to the fabric store. I had looked through my patterns before heading to the store. I decided to start with the outfitting of Kimberly. I had a few suitable patterns, but became super excited when I saw that the McCall's patterns were on sale for $.99 at Joann's Fabrics...JACKPOT!
I bought fabric for tops, capris, shorts and pajamas.

I started with this very cute and easy top and lightweight denim capris. The pattern for the top is McCall's M6313. It sewed up very quickly, and I love the elastic on the neck and sleeves.

The capris are McCall's pattern 4006. I added white pregathered eyelet to the bottoms.
I like the fit of these...I plan on making a couple more pairs of these.
The book I am enjoying right now is Mary Higgins Clark's Where Are You Now?


I did have a little bit of a hard time getting into this book. There are so many characters, I was having to look back to figure out who was who, but now, 3/4 of the way done, I have been pulled into the story. The kids think it is really funny that when I read Mary Higgins Clark I tend to get quite nervous, I only read them when other are still awake...I have read a few when I was alone and scared myself. LOL!


I'm looking forward to my next book, The Invisible Thread. It was highly recommended to me and sounds very interesting...I will let you know what I think of it next week.


The trampoline test!! The test where you see how well the new clothes stand up to the trampoline.
These new clothes pass the test.

Gracie's dress is finished

Gracie is all ready for Easter.

My favorite pattern ever....

While making our Saint Patrick's Day shirts I fell in love with the pattern. Simplicity #3852 I couldn't resist this cute fabrics featuring Luke's favorite characters, Lightning McQueen and Thomas the Tank Engine. Next up in the sewing que: a play dress for Gracie.

Another little Leprechaun is going to be well dressed

for Saint Patrick's Day!

(I am using the Simplicity Pattern #3852--it is just wonderful)

Kiss me!! I'm Irish!

One shirt ready for Saint Patick's Day---more to make....

Valentine PJ's #1

More pj's to follow....hopefully soon!!

Kimberly-Christmas circa 2010

This dress took a little more time than I expected, but it's done in time for Christmas Eve!!

I need to thank my teens, Amy and Laura, for their absolutely perfect choice of fabric!!

It's that time of year.....

It's time to sew with flannel....
Or fuzzy pants, as the kids call them....

Prairie Sunbonnets

The little girls are all ready to tackle the prairie!!

2010 Easter Dresses have been completed!!

I did it!!

I made two little Easter dresses!

These are the "under slip dresses".

I used Simplicity pattern #5226.

They spin!!

I am quite puzzled as to the direction of Kimmy's feet in this spinning picture.

Kimmy is still little enough that I love her feet----at least when they are somewhat clean!

Happy Easter sewing, everyone!! :-)

A Little Sewing

I will be a sad day around here when the little girls won't wear handmade dresses....
but thankfully, that day is very far away.....