Leading 4-H basic sewing

This post was in the pending pile due to not having the photo available.  Well, it is being posted now without the photo.

In the Fall of 2014 I decided to be brave.  I am taught a section with six kids (9-12 years old) to sew.  We decided that everyone would be working on the same project and that the parents were required to stay and help (even if they didn’t know how to sew).

We held the Fall session in October.

1. The first night was crazy!  We had machine issues along with learning how to keep your fingers out of the way of the needle, how to stitch on a line, etc.  By the end of the night each kid had made their own 4-H tie (even cut to their own length).  The smiles at the end made the crazy night worth it (I wish I was wearing my pedometer since I know I didn’t stay in one spot the whole time).
2. The second session they made a two color pillowcase.  I decided to be fair and let them each pick a piece of paper which told them what order they would pick out their pillowcase ‘kit’.  Everyone was really happy with the pillowcase they made at the end.
3. The third session they made a Scrappy Pillow.  A friend (that quilts) had given me a bunch of rectangles that she didn’t need.  So, I cut some more of different materials so the kids had plenty to choose from.  By this time the kids were feeling more comfortable with sewing so they could make some different choices – some used eleven pieces, some used eight pieces and I think one used nine pieces.  All of them turned out very random and no two turned out the same.  The kids even learned how to stuff the pillow and sew the opening closed.
4. The fourth session was held to finish the pillows, take photos, help with the portfolio paperwork and give out a participation ribbon.    (Sorry I can’t find any photos.)

I know from some comments parents had made to me that the kids enjoyed learning to sew and some were sad to have the project end.

So, do you volunteer?

Later – H

Favorite clothing / fashion blog #1

Well, a long time ago I posted my favorite blog #1.  It was one of the first blogs I had found, but I haven’t seen a new post from her in a while.

Since I have multiple interested I figured it was best to start multiple favorite lists.  This time it will be a clothing / fashion blog.

Grace & Beauty:    http://www.cyndispivey.com/

I can’t even tell you where I found Cyndi’s blog, but I love reading her blog in the morning.  Besides giving fashion trends, etc she has a Beauty for the Heart (Bible Verse) at the end of each post.

I love when she does a series – 27 Days of Spring was her latest.  I just saved the latest series to a Pinterest board so I can review them again.  Hopefully I can come up with some new clothing combinations for Spring/Summer without having to buy new clothes.

Cyndi’s personality comes through the blog and we have communicated through email a few times.  I wish we lived closer, but it is a long way between Kentucky and Nevada.

Can you believe another post in one month?  Maybe I am back to blogging…

Which clothing blog would you recommend?

Later – H

 

 

Christening Blanket from wedding dress

Last week I met up with a friend who happened to say that her grandson was being Christening this coming weekend and she wanted get a blanket made with parts of her wedding dress, but another friend hadn’t called her back yet.

I first wasn’t sure whether I should offer to help since I have too many projects of my own to do.

So, I picked up her wedding dress and started to panic as to whether I could make what she envisioned (if you know me up to now I have only made gifts for people and they usually don’t know what they are getting until it is done).

My friend wanted the top layer of her wedding dress to be the ruffle on the blanket and thought the lining of her dress could be used also.  Well, it turns out the lining was spotted so that wouldn’t work.

I then did a Pinterest and Google search and found that most Christening blankets were usually crocheted (i.e. not something slick that you would have to worry about holding a squirmy baby in).

So, I figured I would make one side of the blanket of slinky material and the other side of flannel (with the wedding dress material as the ruffle).

The top layer of the wedding dress was cut into strips and sewed together into a long strip (240 inches).  [240 inches allowed me to make a roughly 40″ x 40″ blanket.]  I then folded the strip in half and added a running stitch to hold the ruffle together for when I sewed it to the blanket.  Oh, and the pinning and adding the running stitch was done in the car while we traveled last weekend (otherwise, I knew there was a chance I wouldn’t get the blanket done in time).

I picked up a piece of cream flannel, a piece of white slinky material, a package of sharp needles and a package of pins for slinky material (since I never sew on slinky material).

The ruffle was sewn to the flannel (with a ton of pins holding it in place).

I then practiced stitching on a slinky / ruffle/ flannel sandwich scrap.  (I was actually surprised how easy it was to sew – no pulled threads, etc.)

Yesterday I sewed the three layers (flannel, ruffle, slinky material) together and topped stitched it so it the edges would not roll.  I then hand tacked the flannel and slinky material together in nine places so it would be stay together.

Last night I was able to give my friend the completed blanket.  She loved it!  (I was pretty proud of it, but I have to say that was a relief.)

She asked how much she owed me (we hadn’t talked about the cost) and I was happy to say that it was a gift.  (She said she will pay for my hot chocolate / iced tea the next time we meet at Starbucks.)

I have asked for a copy of a photo taken with the baby and the blanket this weekend.

Here is the photo I thought to take before I gave her the blanket.

So, what special project have you worked on lately?

Later – H