Category Archives: girls

Back at Last!

Posted on February 8, 2019 | 10 comments

First, let me wish you a happy Valentine’s Day! My latest post at Brother’s blog Stitching Sewcial is all about embroidered cards, specifically Valentines. I wish you all joy and happiness on this special day of love.

The tutorial gives all the ins and outs of embroidering cards, from choice of cardstock size and attaching embroidery. Check it out and please leave a comment at Stitching Sewcial if you find it helpful or inspiring. Here are a few of the other samples. Details of each are included at Stitching Sewcial:

The front embroidery is covered and inside text is Minnie’s quote. It reads:

This one is for our 6 yo granddaughter. The inside text reads, “Vivian Rose, you are our favorite princess.”

More are posted. I had a hard time stopping, since these are so much fun to make.

But much more has been going on since I last posted here at Janice Ferguson Sews. Of course, Christmas was pure joy, with both of our children joining us with all four of our precious grandchildren. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Many gifts were stitched. Mug rugs caught my attention and I made several for my daughter-in-law, but didn’t manage to get a photo. These are so much fun and make great gifts. She is our nature girl and really liked the apron I embroidered for her with this fabulous bear from Urban Threads. Continue reading →

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Posted in accessories, baby accessories, girls, greeting cards, hairbows, Holiday Projects, infant clothing, kitchen, machine embroidery, Tutorials

Magical Parade Dress

Posted on July 29, 2018 | 6 comments

This sweet little dress is my third Ode To Joy from Maggie Bunch’s Sew-Along. What a great class and what a perfect little dress! The length was for a tunic, but Maggie’s pattern is so adaptable that I added a wider border at the hem to make it a dress.

Can you see the “prince” is riding a unicorn?

Who doesn’t love Sarah Jane’s truly magical prints for Michael Miller? Many are borders, with the the fun part running along the selvage. That allows for two 22″ widths of delightful borders. Most have coordinating prints that can be used for the hem, sleeve and neck binding.

My first Ode to Joy was poorly made, as I was in a hurry and did not read the directions carefully. But I loved it anyway and so did my then 4 yo granddaughter.  MM/Sarah Jane’s “Swan Lake” print,as shown, is still available.

Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, smocking

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Summer Picnic Dress

Posted on July 16, 2018 | Leave a comment

Originally plain white with drawn thread work at the hemline, this versatile dress from All About Blanks can become something very special. Adding a shirt makes it suitable for chilly, windy kite-flying days.

This “blank” linen/cotton blend dress from All About Blanks is, indeed, a blank canvas awaiting embellishment. With embroidery, ribbon and topstitching, it steps out from “blank” into the realm of special.

Its patriotic kite and images of sunshine and water seem to broadcast and celebrate the joys of summer. For a picnic, family reunion or any such occasion, a little girl would be the center of attention.

The embroidery design is from Brother’s embroidery site, ibroidery.com. It is so sweet and versatile, capturing the magic of childhood summers.

Brother’s ibroidery.com design BIC-MTGSAS008

Another little touch was swapping out the white utility buttons with eye catching red ones.

A complete tutorial post for this project is at Brother’s blog Stitching Sewcial.

*Required disclaimer: I am a paid sewing consultant for Brother.

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Posted in embroidery blanks, girls, machine embroidery, uncategorized

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FREE Heirloom Baby Dress Sew-Along

Posted on June 16, 2018 | 13 comments

Heirloom Baby Gown Sew-Along presented by Brother International Corporation

Classic Sewing Magazine is offering a FREE Sew-Along. I made this sweet little dress/daygown for Brother’s submission to the magazine and it is being offered to you. The instructions have been broken into 4 lessons.

Written for beginners, it also includes tips and suggestions that might be useful for experienced heirloom sewists. Techniques such as lace insertion, lace shaping, pin stitch, joining gathered lace, etc. are included.

The first two lessons have been posted so go sign up! You must be signed up to get notification of the next lessons.

I do hope you will join us. Just click on the link in the opening photo and you will be taken to the site to sign up. The sleeves on this pattern (Simplicity 8024) are just precious.

Let’s sew along!

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Posted in girls, heirloom sewing, machine embroidery

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Pooh and CC Charlotte

Posted on June 13, 2018 | 13 comments

Children’s Corner “Charlotte” pattern embroidered with pooh in Field of Flowers at ibroidery.com

This project was posted at Brother’s blog, Stitching Sewcial. A step-by-step photo illustrated tutorial can be seen there.

http://blog.brothersews.com/embroidery/pooh-and-a-field-of-flowers/

It’s a cute, cool and comfortable outfit for summer. Children’s Corner Charlotte is one of my favorite patterns–quick and easy, fully lined and a blank canvas for unlimited embroidery or applique’ designs. I’ve made several and each is well received by my granddaughter. Continue reading →

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Posted in Disney, Disney projects, girls, machine embroidery

Friendship Gift

Posted on June 8, 2018 | 3 comments

This adorable outfit which I call “Raining Cats” was gifted to me from my sweet friend Lisa at Mommy’s Apron Strings. She knew my 5 yo granddaughter Vivian Rose is crazy for cats. When Lisa saw his fabric and had new patterns she wanted to try, she whipped it for Vivi.

Ever so skillfully, Lisa coordinated the fabrics with the cats and the rick rack to come up with a uniquely interesting and kid friendly outfit.

The pattern for the top is Pickle Toes Tulip Tie Top PDF

The shorts pattern is Cole’s Corner Ruched Shorts.

Read details about this wonderful gift here, at Lisa’s blog. You will want to visit it frequently because she has wonderful projects and ideas. And she is such a dear lady. Lisa is also the administrator of Smocking Destash, a facebook group in which you would surely enjoy being a member. Check that out too!

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Posted in girls

Baptismal Towels

Posted on April 16, 2018 | Leave a comment

Do you have more than one project in progress? I have stacks– some must be done NOW, some are handwork for when I watch tv with my husband, some are mindless chores like hemming for when I’m on the phone, some I put aside for one reason or another.

Still, in the midst of a looming deadline and other pressing matters, I took the time to embroider 6 hemstitched linen guest towels for upcoming baptisms at our church. I had customized the design sometime ago for a newly ordained pastor. So it was just a matter of hooping up my stash of linen guest towels and embroider them. It was so satisfying to stitch something simple and meaningful in the midst of all the sewing busy-ness.

You might recall my story that our church was struck by lightning and burned to the ground several years ago. Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, church projects, embroidery blanks, girls, machine embroidery

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Easter ’18 Week

Posted on April 7, 2018 | 8 comments

Vivian Rose at Oma’s house, decked out in her mother’s Rebecca’s Bow Dress.

I hope you all had a joyous Easter. The Ferguson family had a fabulous week of Easter celebrations! We saw both of our children with all four of our grandchildren, but not at the same time. A good bit of sewing was done before and after their arrival.

Saturday we joined our son-in-law’s family for Easter dinner.  5 yo Vivian Rose was resplendent in her mother’s 35 yo Rebecca’s Bow Dress, with her curls confined to elaborate, elegant French braids.

The original slip has been lost through the years so this white Imperial batiste slip was made.  Because it really can be worn as a dress, a bow was embroidered on the yoke. To avoid it shadowing through the dress, it was stitched in a very pale pink and white.

The same yoke pattern was used with 1/2″ removed from the top half of the armscye.

Ever obliging 9 yo Alastair wore his bow tie made from the Little Boy Bowtie:the Quick and Easy Version pattern which I have used so often.

The color matched the green leaves in his sister’s fancyband.

The bows alternated with 3 vertical strips of lace.

I love this picture taken as Vivian was ready to put on her heirloom dress. Alastair was proud that he was already dressed and ready for the egg hunt.

The bunny was tied at the top with a bow, but Vivian HAD to open it.

See the felt candy-filled bunny in Vivi’s hand? That was such a fun little project. I made 20 of these for the children at church, as well as for these two. Vivian had a bunny filled basket and loved handing them out. I so regret that I did not get a photo that or of all the pink, blue, yellow and white bunnies together. They were a big hit with all the children. Continue reading →

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Posted in accessories, boys, brother-sister, free patterns and designs, girls, heirloom sewing, lace tape, machine embroidery, Nana fun, Second Time Around

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Happy St. Pat’s Day

Posted on March 17, 2018 | Leave a comment

St. Patrick’s Day outfit for Vivian Rose

I couldn’t let St.Patrick’s Day go by without a fun little outfit for 5 yo granddaughter Vivian Rose. This isn’t the traditional “wearin’ o’ the green,” but it combines her favorite color, purple, with her favorite fabric print “rainbow.” So I thought it would do.

It was given to her at Alastair’s birthday party.

Earlier, she had lamented to her mother that Alastair had a party in a few days and her birthday wouldn’t be for sooooo long (January).  Rebecca replied, “But you will have fun at Alastair’s party.” Vivi boo-hooed, “but I won’t get to open the presents and they won’t be for me!” I thought this little outfit might help assuage her grief.

She doesn’t look very sad now.

I hope you all have a great St.Patricks’s Day. We’re enjoying a quiet day at home. My hard working husband was hard at work early on, then rushed in for a quick shower. Now he is parked in front of the tv, simultaneously watching baseball and March Madness. He deserves to relax. So..

And I am off to the sewing room. YEAH! I’ll be listening to some Irish classics like this.

https://www.facebook.com/PeterHollensMusic/videos/1431323636919962/

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Posted in girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

Free Design for Minnie’s Birthday Playsuit

Posted on February 12, 2018 | Leave a comment

The floral borders below each of the Minnie designs are offered as FREE downloads at the blog web site. The Minnie designs are for sale at iBroidery.com.

This cute and cool little play outfit was made for Brother’s blog, Stitching Sewcial. Minnie turned 60 years old in January so the blog post was a part of the birthday celebration.  As a “paid consultant” (inclusion of this info is required), I designed this and wrote the step-by-step tutorial, posted here.

As much as I love lengthy, complicated projects like an heirloom Easter dress or intricate quilt, there is a lot of satisfaction from making a quick and easy outfit for our little ones. This play suit certainly fits the bill. Continue reading →

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Posted in Disney, Disney projects, girls, machine embroidery

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