Category Archives: girls

Frilly Kindergarten Shorts Set

Posted on July 25, 2014 | 5 comments

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This is another outfit in the kindergarten wardrobe Suzanne Sawko is making for her granddaughter.   It seems to meet all the requirements of primary school wear in Florida–the outfit is cool, comfortable and allows for active play.

At the same time it satisfies a little girl’s desire for feminine clothing, as well as her Mamaw’s own desire for a pretty back-to-school wardrobe for this 5 year-old.  And what teacher wouldn’t love to see a new student in a smocked garment?  Clearly, this is a winning 2-piece set. Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, girls, hairbows, heirloom sewing, smocking, Suzanne Sawko creations

Dressed up Play Top

Posted on July 21, 2014 | 8 comments
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Doesn’t this look cool and comfortable for a Florida toddler?

 

I seem to be stuck on the simple, free, gathered play top pattern from The Purl Bee.   (See Mountain Sewing Getaway and Free Patterns~Summer Play Top)  There are so many variations dancing around in my head that I doubt this will be the last one I make.  I  really hope to make some for Operation Christmas Child.

For this version, the top is cut to a dress length–at least for an 18 month old– and given a more elegant look with the  a finer fabric.  The contrasting casing of which I am so fond and is embellished with stacked  yo-yo’s, a single leaf and a tiny pearl button. Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, free patterns and designs, girls, infant clothing

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Mountain Sewing Getaway

Posted on July 17, 2014 | 2 comments

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My dear husband and I just returned home from a week at our cabin in the beautiful mountains of the North Carolina “High Country.”   This time it was just the two of us.

We wanted a break from the hustle bustle of our very busy-but very happy!- life here in central Florida.  And we reeeeally wanted a break from the sweltering heat here at home.  We surely got that!   To keep from freezing, I wore a sweater everyday and we slept under two hand stitched quilts.

 

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Of course, my plan was to get some uninterrupted sewing and smocking done.  So on the first morning after we arrived, Bob set up my sewing table and I set up my trusty Brother ULT 2003D. Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, machine embroidery

French LuLu Shirt

Posted on July 16, 2014 | 3 comments
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granddaughter Laurel feeling Parisienne

This fun French outfit was a quickie project.  Just finishing a growth spurt, Laurel needed some new play clothes.  Of course, that was all the excuse I needed.  And I just love this cute design from Great Notions  LuLu in Paris  collection.

The inexpensive shirt was paired with a  white tank top and hot pink leggings.

Paris closer

Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, machine embroidery

Suzanne’s Whimsy Dress

Posted on July 10, 2014 | 10 comments

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Here is another  outfit my friend Suzanne made for her granddaughter’s kindergarten wardrobe.  Of course, also she made the tights, the fabric flower on the leg,  and the hairbow.  This tall, gorgeous,  little redhead would be a knock out in a gunny sack, but when wearing the sweet things her grandmother has made, she will stop traffic.

There is so much detail and a surprise everywhere you look.  And yet, it is perfectly unified.  The pink gingham  outfit was inspired by Kari Mecca’s  book,  Sewing with Whimsy.

 

pink gingham top

 

Suzanne is an avid crocheter and can whip up a flower in a flash.    Notice that the button in each flower’s center is the same.  That gives an element of unity to the varied embellishments. Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, girls, heirloom sewing, Suzanne Sawko creations

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Suzanne’s Kindergarten Dresses

Posted on July 6, 2014 | 11 comments

brown dress

 

I think I need a 12-step program.  Farmhouse Fabrics just confirmed my second order of the week for Children’s Corner patterns.  I need help!

Friends of  Sew Classic for Children on Facebook  flood that page with ideas, photos and inspiration from Children’s Corner patterns.  I try to limit my purchases but this group gets me so excited.  Lezette Thomason posts daily and includes little lessons.   I already have way too many patterns and way too little sewing time to keep up with them.  And yet I go on.

Meanwhile, every few days another spectacular outfit for her granddaughter’s  kindergarten wardrobe emerges my dear friend Suzanne Sawko’s sewing room.   She has patterns aplenty herself, but somehow, she sews most of them up.

Her Classy Casual short set was posted last week.  Now we see this brown beauty, as well as the blue dress shown further down.  Both were made from this Burda Style pattern. (Pattern–that is the connection to the first paragraph.) Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, girls

Happy Independence Day and Cornfed Cutie

Posted on July 4, 2014 | Leave a comment

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UPDATED:

I hope you all are having a fabulous 4th.  We’re grilling burgers, hot dogs and corn on the cob while waiting to watch a Capitol 4th on tv tonight.

 

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Granddaughter Vivian Rose tucked right in to a traditional 4th of July dinner–fried chicken and corn on the cob.  Notice the bare chicken bone–that little girl can eat!  She is loving that corn on the cob.

 

 

 

So this is a relatively quiet celebration for us.  Holidays always cause me to look back on good times and good years gone by.  So I am sharing with you some of my fondest memories and grandchildren outfits from earlier Independence Days.

 

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This is on my to-do list. I’d love to hang this when we have another 4th picnic.

 

When our children were younger, we hosted an annual  4th of July picnic for family and friends at our home (scroll down to the bottom if you’d like to read about the picnic).  Fun, fun, fun! Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, girls, machine embroidery

Free Patterns~Quickie Summer Top and Puffy Pocket

Posted on July 1, 2014 | 6 comments
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Vivian Rose having fun at pre-school wearing her easy-peasy play top and her beloved pink crocs

 

Now here is a GREAT modern project for old fashioned Nanas.   The free pattern, available at The Purl Bee, consists of only simple directions/measurements so there are no pattern pieces.

 

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It requires just a bit of elastic and 1/2 yd. of fabric—and who doesn’t have cute scraps that are too small for another project?   It’s quick–the basic top can be made in about an hour.  And better yet, it is a blank canvas that can be gussied up with applique’ or embroidery or whatever–or not! Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, free patterns and designs, girls

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Jo’s Summertime Temily

Posted on June 25, 2014 | 4 comments

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Is this not the ultimate summertime outfit?  Comfortable, loose fitting and colorful as the tropical fruit smocked on the front.   It goes so well with  the  Noel’s gorgeous red mane.

With Kathy Dykstra’s Temily pattern from Australian Smocking and Embroidery, Jo created an outfit as refreshing as a glass of cold orange juice on a hot July day.  The child just looks cool.  I love the contrast of the orange gingham against the pure white shirt. Continue reading →

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Posted in clothing, girls, smocking

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Classy Casual

Posted on June 22, 2014 | 17 comments
short set

made by Suzanne Sawko

Having a good sewing friend is a huge blessing.  Having one close enough for frequent lunch dates is an even greater blessing. Suzanne, my nearby sewing buddy, feeds me inspiration with every Panera bite I take.

I’d like to tell you how much I absolutely love her projects, how much I learn from her, how I am so inspired by her creativity and skill, but I won’t. Suzanne said I could only use her photos if I wouldn’t gush about them. Humph!

So, while looking over the things she has made for her 4 yo granddaughter’s fall kindergarten wardrobe feel free to gush if you must because I cannot.  Also, remember that we live in central Florida, so the styles are all appropriate for our subtropical climate.

Several other garments will be posted for your enjoyment with as little comment as possible. Can I say that I would like to copy every one of them? No, she wouldn’t want me to say that.

For the top, Suzanne began with this vintage pattern from her stash. Continue reading →

17 Comments

Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, girls, smocking