Bluebell Dress in Microfleece

February 4, 2015 by · Leave a Comment
Bluebell dress

I've recently been buying and using more and more pdf sewing patterns.  On Black Friday last November many designers were having great sales with deep discounts on their pdf patterns.  One of the patterns that I bought that day was the Bluebell dress pattern from My Childhood Treasures. Here's my first run with this pattern, and I'm very happy with the results.  I chose a microfleece fabric that I bought at Joanns. My favorite things about this pattern are the raglan sleeves (because they … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Children's Clothing, Fabric, Pattern, Sewing · Tagged With: , , ,

A First Birthday Outfit for Eliza

December 27, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
Eliza's birthday outfit

Some pretty little girl is going to be celebrating her first birthday today, and she's going to be celebrating in style! Just one week before Christmas, my sisters and I were gathering the components for a special birthday party outfit requested by Eliza's mom who is my niece.   The plan was for me to applique a plain Gerber onesie and make a tutu to match the appliques on the shirt. While shopping at Kohl's, we found this cute collared onesie that looked much dressier than the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baby, Children's Clothing · Tagged With: ,

Memory Pillows From Clothing

December 26, 2014 by · 6 Comments
memory pillow

A few months ago, a friend of mine shared a picture of a memory pillow from clothing that she'd found on Facebook.  I immediately thought the idea was perfect for some of my family members after the recent passing of my nephew in September. My niece Jen collected the shirts and had the embroidery done by a local shop, and I went to work making the pillow covers:  one each for my great-niece and nephew and one for my sister and brother-in-law. We used a plaid shirt in Harley colors for my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Covers, Sewing for the Home, Zippers ·

The Wristlet That Solved All My Problems

November 8, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
My hold everything wristlet

After that perfect wristlet turned out to be...perfect, I decided to make one for myself.  For some time now, I'd been wanting a wallet or wristlet that would hold all of my essentials.  For this project, I turned again to my favorite wristlet pattern, The Essential Wristlet by Erin Erickson.  That list of essentials that I needed to carry included grocery money and spending money and a way to keep them separate, coupons, credit cards, driver's license, other necessary cards, a lip balm, pen, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Organization, Wallets · Tagged With: ,

The Perfect Wristlet

August 28, 2014 by · 5 Comments
Two zip boxed bottom wristlet

For a couple of years, my favorite wristlet has been the two zip wristlet made from a pattern by Erin Erickson at Dog Under My Desk.  I've got a couple of these wristlets, and I carry them on a regular basis.  Here's one of my favorite ones: Recently, I had a customer ask me to make her a wristlet that was bigger than the ones I use.  I showed her a sample boxed bottom wristlet, and she liked the larger, roomier style.  She also insisted that she wanted an extra zipper on the outside of her … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sewing ·

Dress A Doll and Help a Girl

June 27, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
Little girl with dolls

Little girls and dolls belong together!     Sadly, not every little girl has that privilege of a fun, safe childhood with dolls and doll clothes.  This summer, at My Grandma Knows, I want to give you an opportunity to partner with me to help young girls in Managua, Nicaragua. La Chureca is a village within a garbage dump in Managua, Nicaragua.  The residents of this village suffer from extreme filth, poverty, and hopelessness.  The air is so contaminated that it slowly poisons the people … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sewing ·

“Dress My Doll, Please”

June 19, 2014 by · 1 Comment
outfit for ten inch doll

Recently, one of my alterations customers brought me a doll that belonged to her mom and asked me to dress the doll.  I have been sewing doll clothes since December 2013, but only for 18 inch dolls like the American Girl dolls. The doll that my customer brought to me was quite small and old and fragile looking.  I decided to accept the challenge. First I rummaged through my patterns and found a vintage pattern that I had recently bought at a thrift store for $.25.  The pattern included … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sewing ·

Lalaloopsy Doll Quilt and Pillow

May 15, 2014 by · 2 Comments
Lalaloopsy quilt, pillow, and pillowcase

Allow me to introduce you to Lalaloopsy: Lalaloopsy is a long and rather skinny doll that is quite popular with one little girl I know.   I'm beginning to see patterns for Lalaloopsy clothing, so she must be popular with other little girls, too. Recently a friend of mine, whose little girl is the Lalaloopsy fan, asked me to make a blanket and pillow to fit in a cradle that she is passing down to her daughter.  Lalaloopsy will we sleeping in the cradle after this weekend. I accepted … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Doll Clothes, Gifts, Sewing, Sewing Machine · Tagged With: , , , ,

Today’s Sewing: A Toddler Romper

May 8, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
toddler girl's romper

A few weeks ago, Justine requested that I make a few rompers for Aaliyah to wear this summer.  Justine really likes rompers, and Aaliyah, of course, looks adorable in rompers, so I agreed. This is the first pattern that I tried, and it's a very simple and somewhat old-fashioned design.  This pattern includes what we now call a pillowcase dress, so I suppose we could call this a pillowcase romper. The construction was quite simple with elastic in the neck and ribbon ties at the shoulder. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baby, Beginner Projects, Children's Clothing, Sewing · Tagged With: ,

Today’s Sewing: A Doll Purse

April 30, 2014 by · 1 Comment
Purse for American Girl Doll

I spent the day in my sewing room today working on doll clothes.  I decided to add a purse to one of the outfits that I finished.  Here's the purse I made using the same fabrics that I used for my very own Florida Two Zip Hipster that I love. This little bag is lined with matching fabric and had a contrasting strap that coordinates with the matching outfit. Watch for this little bag to show up for sale on my Facebook page within the next few days.   … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Doll Clothes, Purses · Tagged With:
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