Category Archives: clothing

From Sea to Shining Sea

Posted on June 29, 2018 | 4 comments

My latest blog post at Brother’s Stitching Sewcial is up, named From Sea to Shining Sea.

Yes, the embroidery design Born in the USA  is crooked and I just now noticed!!!!!  Oh, dear, I was so focused on the concept of “sea to shining sea” –from the Statue of Liberty in NY to the Golden Gate Bridge to the Lone Star State of Texas,–that I was oblivious to the skewing. Sigh….

Anyway, the design is darling and so appropriate for Independence Day. There is plenty of time to whip this up before the celebratory parades, picnics and pyrotechnics.

With white shorts embroidered with a starburst, a child is a walking, talking poster for patriotism. I just love this.

A detailed tutorial and more photos are posted at Stitching Sewcial.

Have you stitched any July 4th outfits for the little ones in your life?

And now for the requisite disclaimer: I am a paid sewing expert/consultant for Brother. And I love it.

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Posted in boys, Disney, Disney projects, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

Preemie Isolette Shirt

Posted on June 25, 2018 | 6 comments

In an earlier post I wrote about a special baby soon to be adopted into our church family. Due to the birth mother’s previous pregnancy complications, little Beatrice (adoptive parents have already named her) was scheduled to be delivered at 30 weeks the first week in July. That would make her what is called a micro preemie. Sooo early!

The good news is that the pregnancy is going well enough that this delivery date may be postponed until either mother or baby is in distress! I read somewhere that every day Baby is in the womb translates to one less week in the NICU. Since it seems very likely that Beatrice will spend some time in that unit, I felt the need to make something for her during intensive care. As my sewing friend Catherine said, “This is probably the first garment you have ever made that you hope will never be worn.”That was my almost constant prayer as I stitched this.

Ginger Snaps Preemie Isolette Shirts I (I hope she will design another pattern II) is lined and comes in 4 sizes. It’s a great pattern.

Using Nancy Coburn’s Ginger Snaps Preemie Isolette Shirt I pattern, I’ve made this one in the 4-5 lb. size as opposed to the smaller pattern sizes included. That’s my personal positive attitude at work, knowing that a 4-5 lb. Baby Beatrice will be home sooner than if she needs a smaller size.  Truthfully, I hope she never wears this and comes home as a bouncing baby girl of average size. But just in case…… And if she does not need it, the diaper shirt can be donated to the hospital for another NICU baby.

So much fiddling was done with this tiny lined shirt. It has been said that you can make one in an hour, but I surely cannot. By the time I selected the fashion and lining fabric and adding finishing touches it took me much longer. Continue reading →

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Posted in infant clothing, machine embroidery

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

Quick Baby Gift Personalization

Posted on April 27, 2018 | Leave a comment

Balloons seem to say happy.

I just love being able personalize items for special friends. With two ready to wear onesies, two caps and a white tee for cover up, machine embroidery turned turn plain Jane into special so quickly.

Pooh with balloons is a built in Brother machine design from. The balloons on the shirt and inserted into Johnathan’s name on the cap are from a discontinued Dakota Collectibles Toddler Trio collection, of which I found only one copy available on-line. The designs are tiny, arranged in groups of three and are  wonderful to extract when you need a small design. I often wonder why such collections are discontinued when they could be made available individually by digital download. I’m just glad I have this one in my design library. Continue reading →

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Posted in baby accessories, Disney, Disney projects, embroidery blanks, infant clothing, machine embroidery, PlayGroupMamas

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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