Beach Clothes

So the Christmas presents are finished and it's time to go on vacation.

In a fit of idiocy on the day before we left for Hawaii, I decided to see if I could finish the sun hat I had cut early.  (I copied a hat I had to return because it was too small.)

I hated the one we made in class because it felt like a ton of bricks on my head and the fit was not perfect either.  I was determined to make a light weight, packable, sun hat.  I had this fabric left from something I made for my mother-in-law back in the 1970's. 

It turned out really well.  I used very light weight, very stiff, fusible-on-both sides stuff for the the brim.  Attaching it to the band was really tricky!  

The whole crown flattens down (it is unlined for coolness), I roll the brim slightly at the edges to close my suitcase, and wow!   I have a travelling sun hat!

After that 4-hour bit of insanity, I decided to try to copy my friend's dress from Mexico.  I just used what I had in the house, and I can't get the proper knitted fabric for the yoke like the original had.  That makes all the difference in how it hangs, but it turned out pretty well.

Miles and miles of ribbon and lace...

It's a comfy flowing cover-up sort of thing, although her's could be worn as a dress.  I just don't think I would do that with this one, unless maybe it was a luau...  Great for a family dinner by the pool though!

More Christmas prezzies

For a 3-year old's dolly

The Christmas dress was an especially big hit for the 4-year old's dolly.

And her mommie wanted a lot more reusable snack and sandwich bags

And the almost 5-year old loved hers, too.

And her big brother loved his tuxedo vest and pants (I bought the shirt, tie, and cumberbund on E-Bay).

   

And the jamies, dolly jamies, and tiny dolly with blanket went to a 3-year old in Sweden.

While her coming-soon little sibling got one of those nice double-sided flannel blankets like I had made for the shower gift previously.

We don't know if it's a boy or a girl, so I hope this can go either way.

Another person got the same bag as above, and I made reusable snack and sandwich bags of the matching material for her.

Baby Blanket for a Shower Gift

(This one has to go on here, because it is not a quilt; it's a blanket.)

I saw this idea in a gift shop, so decided to try it.  It's not a receiving blanket, it is two layers of wonderfully soft flannel with a little bit of decoration.  It's a 36-in. square, cut size. Detail

And for our sweet heroic lady

She had three of her own, lost her husband, and 'inherited' her three Godchildren from Mexico, who were in a state of abuse and malnutrition.  So each of the four girls got a dolly and jamies.

And a receiving blanket for each dolly (they are not doublesided)

2010 Shoebox Dollies

I'm afraid I hadn't much time to spend on Shoebox Dollies this year, but I managed to get these done in time.

Reversible Pillow "Cuff" - Class Project turns Christmas Present

This seemed like a good idea as one can reverse it with the seasons.

Cuff:  

Reversed:

Of course I needed to make a pillow cover then.

back side with velcro closure

Finished 

Snack and Sandwich Bags shipment

For my niece

CPAP - flannel cover for polyester fleece part

I thought it might help my sensitive skin if I covered the fleece cover that came with the mask of my CPAP with some 100% cotton flannel, so here goes.

In process

One side - wrapped

Other side

Experimental Sandwich Wrap

My niece wanted a flat style sandwich wrap, so I began playing with it.

Finished inside

Finished outside

partly wrapped

Wrapped

It is partially successful, but I'm going to try another design next time, as she tested it and told me where to look at a better one.

Mesh Bag for Sewing Supplies

As I have said, mesh bags are addictive! This time I needed a smaller one for my sewing supplies for classes.   This time I wanted an INSIDE pocket for my Kleenex pack. For each bag I measured my boxes and fit the bag to them. All the boxes in the bag Collapsed Wah-lah! This was fabric from a little two-piece outfit I made for my daughter back in the 1970's; I just love it!

Serger Scarf with Decorative Thread - Class Project

Our project for serger class one day was this "mesh" scarf we created with decorative thread and a watersoluble stabilizer.  

Close-up  (we were told to do the rolled hem around the edges, and I probably wouldn't try it again as it was not a success.

Basically you can create whatever length, width, or design you like.  It's perfect when you just need a splash of glitter and/or color to liven up an outfit.

Mesh Bag for Serger Supplies - Class Project

I have to say right up front:  these bags are ADDICTIVE!

I decided not to make the assigned size, which was just like a paper grocery bag.  I needed a bag to carry my boxes of accessories and supplies back and forth to class.  So I altered the placement of folds a little and created an perfect bag to do the job.  

I actually hate big bags, but this one has to be large.  It's much larger than it looks in this photo.

Box of serger feet in the bag

Lower band forms pockets on the outside.  (I don't happen to think I'd ever use OUTSIDE pockets, but it's attractive.)

I used fabric I had made my mother-in-law a dress from back in the 1970's.  (She'd be pleased!  And my girls like it.)

Sewing with Nana

Our grandchildren's babysitter's birthday was coming up, and the young man had not had the chances his sister has had to use the new machines.  Their mommie scheduled a date, and over they came.  (My sewing was still in my bedroom where it had retired to after being on the deck for our friend's visit in September, so the quarters were pretty tight!)

I came up with the idea of making potholders, as they would be fairly quick and easy.  

Blue is her favorite color

Everybody was pretty happy with the results, including our friend.

Pillowcases for Sweet Peas

We did a class combining applique and a no-seams-showing pillowcase.  I didn't really want a pillowcase, so I searched for something a princess would like and came up with this.

Applique detail

Back side, finished pillow case

Front side, finished

The next day, I knew I couldn't give a princess one without making one for her big brother as well.  I could only find bits and pieces that will probably eventually end up in his quilt.

Fabric close-up

Finshed pillow case (no applique)

I think he was possibly more excited than she was!

We were not supposed to stitch down that strip separating the two main fabrics, but I can't stand stuff wadding up in the dryer, so I top stitch.

Pineapplies and Guitars -- must be Hawaiian!!

Earlier in the year, I made the kids matching Hawaii shirt/top(s) and forgot to take on-the-hangar photos, but their mommie doesn't mind this one! 

I did not have enough fabric left to make her complete skirt from it, so I had to improvise.

It took me AGES because I was waiting for some assistance with the tiny applique pieces, but I finally got down to finishing her skirt. This is a closeup of the front panel of the skirt.  My daughter had fray-checked every single edge, then I appliqued them.  Afterwards I was concerned about fraying, and put more fray-check on them--that's what the dark blue around each piece is--my advice, "DON'T DO IT!"  It's ok on this item, but I won't do it again!

Backside of some of the detail:  (The fray-check only shows in blobs on this one, that's before I decided to make it "uniform".

Finished skirt back:

And finished front!   It really did turn out pretty cute!

And, no, I don't really have a good complete outfit one of her!