Sewing for my Grandchildren

I have been sewing some last minute Christmas gifts for my grandchildren.

 Here are some doll clothes that are supposed to fit a Bitty Baby doll.

I have used 3 free patterns from ReadCreations. Instructions for this sleeper can be found HERE. I changed the pattern a little by adding sleeves (drew my own based on the armscye/armhole on the pattern). Also, I added a strip of cotton interlock knit for the neckline trim. Since Vivian likes Olaf, I used a woven Olaf fabric from JoAnn's. 

Read Creations has a free pattern tutorial for a shirt and pants. I liked how the white knit sleeves looked on the sleeper, so I used knit fabric for the sleeves of the top. 

Before sewing the interlock knit cotton strip to the neckline, I serged the back opening of the shirt, then pressed 1/4 inch under. On the white interlock knit strip for the neckline, I finished the ends by sewed the ends, then turned right side out. Placed the nice finished end at the folded edge of the back.  Sewed the white knit strip to the neckline, then serged over that for a nice finish. I serged over all the seams in this way. Instead of putting a long strip of velcro to close the back, I added 2 narrow pieces, one at the top, the other at the bottom. My strip of interlock knit at the bottom of the shirt was a bit too long, so I just matched my trim to the shirt and cut off the excess. Here again, I finished the ends of the trim before sewing it on the bottom of the shirt.

I'm hoping these doll clothes fit Vivian's Bitty Baby. There are a few more items that I would like to try to make...the diaper, the hat and maybe the button down the front sleeper.

I made this small pillow and pillowcase for Vivian. The pillow measures about 16 x 14 inches. I used white cotton fabric and stuffed it with polyester fiberfill. The Olaf fabric pillowcase measures about 19-1/4 x 16 inches.

Used a firemen print fabric for 2 pillowcases for Gavin. I love the Made Everyday by Dana tutorial.

I usually try to preshrink the fabric. 

Here is Alex's pillowcase, folded in half. Since he is not using a pillow, I just made him one pillowcase. If he wants a smaller pillow like Vivian's, I can make that for him.

I have thoroughly enjoyed sewing for my Grandkids!

I hope they enjoy these items!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas if you celebrate

and a Happy Holidays!

With love!

Two More Christmas Cards

A few more cards are getting mailed...

Still using my large stash of Christmas papers

and Tim Holtz stamps with festive berries distress ink.

Love the look that old crimper gives on this holly paper.

Added a strip of  "red line tape" to attach the green ribbon, making loops here and there.

Thanks for visiting!

Hoping you are enjoying the season of Hope and Love!

Christmas Cards

I started working on making Christmas cards after Thanksgiving.

Was hoping to be on top of this, but the cards are still here...

Hopefully to be mailed tonight!

Stil using printed papers from my stash.

Stamps from Michael Strong, Hampton Arts, Tim Holtz and Stampin' Up!

Below are some close-ups:

Thanks so much for visiting.

May your day be merry!

Stampfest with Lynette Dec 5, 2018

Lynette and I spent the day on December 5th visiting and stamping.

We used some printed Christmas papers from my stash.

Lynette brought along a Tim Holtz stamp and die set from awhile ago.

I pulled out some of my Tim Holtz Christmas stamps and my Michael Strong Christmas tree.

It's fun to see all the bits and pieces and parts of the cards before they are done!

Thanks for visiting! Wishing you JOY!

Fleece Lining for Crocheted Hat

Thanks to Christina Ramirez of Love Stitch Love for her tutorial on how to add a fleece lining to a crocheted hat. I am blogging some photos I made to remember this process.

As Christina suggested, I made a pattern from the crocheted hat, which was folded into quarters first.

Using a 1/2 inch seam allowance, sew 2 of the pieces together twice.

This gives you 2 halves. 

Then sew those 2 halves together creating the hat lining.

I marked the half way points on both the fleece and the crocheted hat. 

Then it was easy to line them up and pin together.

Put the fleece hat inside the crocheted hat, matching the sides.

Place the fleece earflap pieces so they match the crocheted earflaps.

Leave about 1/2 inch unsewn on either side of the earflaps when sewing them to hat.

Then you can fold that part underneath for a finished edge.

Pin the hem under on fleece earflap and all along fleece lining.

I machine topstitched that part of the earflap to make it stay in place.

Hand sew the fleece lining to crocheted hat using small stitches.

Stretch out the hat now and then so thread will not break with the normal use.

On an earlier attempt, I machine stitched the fleece lining to the crocheted hat, 

but I found it much easier to sew it by hand.

Thanks Christina for your great tutorial!