4th Annual Parade of Spools

I emptied 72 spools of thread in 2013. Even I was a bit surprised. I know I sewed a lot this year, but still that is a lot of thread, and represents a lot of prayers.  Several reasons for the big number. 

Bigger jammies, the grands are growing. 

In August, I focused on sewing for myself, and sewed every day.

Lots of knits using the cover lock machine. 

Feeling better than I have in a long, long time. 

I doubt I will ever hit this number again, that is impressive! 

Happy New Year!

Last project of the year

For oldest, she wears these to work. 

Wrapping up the year

I have the idea that January will involve no sewing. I am planning on focusing on videos and pictures, scanning, burning, editing, etc. I have a pile of photos and such that is ridiculous and intend to do something about it. Get it organized, or something. I do not believe any of my children want to be burdened with boxes and boxes of old photos and such. I am not sure the plan yet, but something. 

So wrapping up this and that, to pack away things for January. By the way, I doubt this will work perfectly, as "the sewing urge is strong in me", but we'll see. 

I made youngest two more little knit skirts. This first one, the gray, had to be altered, I needed to bring in the waist more. Not sure why, as this is how the original was, but I think it is because the knit is not quiet as stretchy. So the second one, black, was altered just that little bit at the waist. She wears these when she is dancing! Over her leggings. Great idea.

This was an experiment. A cardigan for SIL#1. Basic black knit. Keep him warm. 

For oldest. A simple knit skirt for work. 

Jammies for hubby. He is a moose fan.

Nightgowns for me, for these cold months. 

Yeah, a little wild, but when it goes on sale for $2.99 a yard, I think just about anything is acceptable. Actually I really love the purple, and butterflies are always a lovely theme. Love butterflies. Oldest was a Indian Princess with her daddy when she was young. Her name was Flying Butterfly, so lovely, and her daddy was Running Bear, hmmmm. The youngest is very much a butterfly lover, giving her sister and me butterfly necklaces last year. 

I am hoping to make one more shirt waist for oldest and a shirt for SIL#1 before the end of the year, three more days. We'll see. Not much time left and the flu has visited our home, so a super slow down happened this past week. Then, the annual parade of spools. This year I believe I broke all previous records since keeping track. I have a feeling I broke all previous records period! Redunculous how much sewing (and praying) happened this year . . . . smiling!!!! 

Cozy and Warm

Still wrapping up this and that. Finishing things, using up the last of things, figuring things out. This week I was challenged to sort out how to cover a Chemex coffee maker our nephew gave us to thank us for hosting his wedding in our home. Great coffee, but we found that it cooled down too much before we were able to drink all the coffee. Wrapping a kitchen towel around it helped, but I needed to figure out a way to keep it hot properly.  Check it out! I am pretty pleased.  

 The last of the darker knits for turtle necks. 

I have made three navy ones, two for me, one for oldest. 

 My mom purchased this lovely wool plaid years ago and ended up giving it to me. Because the plaid is so large and distinct, I wanted to try something super simple. This was a simple coat/cape. I have enough left to make a super simple skirt. Bought a Vogue pattern yesterday. 


And here is the solution to cooled down coffee. The thermal fabric I found on line. I have plenty more. I think I will make a large sleeve to keep casserole's warm and a tea cozy for my cast iron tea pot. Took me a while to come up with the shape. But this should work and doesn't look too sloppy. 

A details of the Velcro closure. 

Tadaa!

Fall

This year our Texas fall is particularly lovely. We always get some sort of fall, but it can be very quick, or not so very spectacular. This year it is spectacular and it is going very much in slow motion, as I have been wanting to go out with my camera for over a week. Today I took a walk through my neighborhood and this is what I saw. My favorite photo is the last one. 

I live in a magical place, for sure.  

Little knit skirt

I had some fabric leftover from a t-shirt that I made last week, so used that to see how to put together the little skirt that my youngest asked for. The green on the right is folded in half. She will wear them over leggings. Cute idea. I think I got it. I used some elastic along the top and stretched it just a bit. Next time I won't stretch it at all. But will put it in there for support. 

This and that

I am doing all sorts of random things right now. Finishing up this, starting that, working on something else. I need a BIG table with lots of post it notes for all the projects floating around, but alas, don't have that. Sometimes there is focus, sometimes there is not. I think if I had a large sewing room with lots of space I would be in big trouble. My smallish room and dining room "annex" are enough. 

My mom, years ago, gave me some silky fabrics for slips which I was petrified of. With my cover lock and recent run on stretch fabrics, I got bold. I had a cami that I like to wear under turtlenecks that fits perfectly and so I drafted a pattern from it and made this. Not perfection, but definitely will get worn a LOT. 

 A turtle neck. Lots of those lately. This one is for oldest.

A T for me. Can't have too many of those.  

My youngest gave me a little skirt that she likes and wants more of. I drafted a pattern from the skirt and will be making a few of these later. 

I love organization! 

This is a shot of my sewing closet. So much of my sewing is standard pieces, turtlenecks, skirts, shirts, T's or patterns that I have drafted from clothing someone wants replicated, or patterns that have been altered to fit our various sizes. Not one of us in the family is "standard" size. Everyone has had to have a little or a LOT altered to fit. I am so glad I have learned to do this. 

The hangers are from my hubby's shirts from the cleaners. The clips are hair clips. I use either muslin or a pattern type pellon material. The ribbons identify who the pattern belongs to. Oldest is pink, youngest is green, mine are white, mom's is purple, bestie is turqoise with polka dots. The guys are in the back, basically just dress shirt and casual shirt patterns.

I have one pattern for my daughter-in-law, a simple skirt. I need to get her's in there. I think she needs a dark blue ribbon! 

Lots of knits

The cover lock machine is getting a work out. 

 This has a slight ribbing. 

 This is a fabric I ordered on-line. 

I wish there were more nice knit prints available. 

 I purchased this knit a while back, on sale. 

Not sure I picked the best placement for the motif. 

 My light wool skirt. 

 The whole ensemble. 

Black cotton knit turtleneck.  

 Black T. 

 Navy (blurry) T shirt.

 Navy turtleneck.

Navy knit dress. 

China silk

Years ago a dear friend gifted me some lovely China silk. She bought it when she lived in China! It has been tempting me for years and since I am in a "use it or lose it - not gonna store it" mood right now, I thought and thought about how I could use it. It is not a color I tend to wear, so thought more as an accent. I ended up making a shell to wear under my new black suit. Hubby saw it and asked for a tie and pocket square, then I had just enough left to make a möbius scarf, so I did.

We can wear them with our new black suits! I still need to make my skirt to wear with the shell. I can wear the scarf with my wool dress and jacket. It feels SO nice. We continue our "twinky" trend. 

Bibs

Functional, not fancy. If I have time, I have some fun ideas for later. 

More doll clothes

  This robe will be for Baby K's Christmas gift, 

the jammies will be for her birthday. 

Jammies for Lulu's doll.  

Baby K is turning 7!

Our youngest grand daughter is turning 7 next month, so time to start getting things together for her birthday box. 

She is a fan of Hello Kitty. Thankfully there is plenty of fabric to choose from at the fabric store, so a nice cozy pair of flannel jammies for her. 

She was also given an American Girl doll from friends and her momma suggested matching jammies. Great idea and here they are, being modeled by Molly! My daughter received this one when she was 10, she is 30 now, and has quite a collection of Molly gear, but for now most of that is sitting in a closet. Molly comes out when the granddaughters visit, they have sure enjoyed her. 

I have a robe cut out and am also hoping to make her a sleeping bag and pillow along with another pair of jammies for her sister Lulu's A. G. doll. They will match her Christmas jammies. 

A dozen #7 cookies and a card along with a face painting kit she requested and we're good to go. Happy Birthday Baby K, love you to bits. 

Nightgown Blanket Iron Stockings

 This is for my oldest. 

 

This is for the foster baby (hopefully full fledged GRAND before Christmas). I just took all the bits from everyone's jammies and made him a snugly little blanket. 

 My new IRON! On SALE. Very much needed. The old one's sole plate was too far gone. I have a great European Steam Iron I use for wools and tailoring, this one is for every day. 

The red one is for a replacement of a lost Christmas stocking for Lulu, the other is for the newest little guy. I will put their names on later.