Bibs, sewn on my Singer Featherweight 221 Sewing Machine - Gaileee

Looked all over the internet for tutorials for bib making.  Didn't really find anything that I liked, and dug through my pattern stash and found my Simplicity 4642.  Looked simple enough.  Hmmm...





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Ties around the baby neck.  Good.  Can use some rick-rack for trimming.  Good.  Then I look at the instructions.  ?!?  Okay, I'm trying to figure out how to put the rick-rack on.  I look at the picture, I read the instructions, but you know, I'm still not figuring out how this will work.

I'm not too good at reading these instructions, and I'm just dangerous enough to sew, and pretend that I know what I'm doing....argh! 

So I do a trial run.  Of course I do it wrong, but then I figure out to put the rick rack on the *inside* of the seam....just like the diagram shows....Eh! 

Neutral colors! 

Can you say *pink*?

So this is what I've come up with, with the material that I have on hand, rick rack, and binding.



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I ran out of some material so I put somewhat color matching material together with a bit or rick rack.
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I now have to bind the neckline, find some on hand thread and try to topstitich like I know what I'm doing!

Ohh, frilly ruffles and two tones!

Cute backing!

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These will go off to grandbaby Dawson, and a niece's new daughter Azeb. Plus a friend locally, who had a baby recently.  The friend though, has a sister, who is a super sewer, so my stuff will probably not be as professional as what the sis does. 
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I even pulled out some cloth diapers and did one last minute last night, as I had one more piece of material. 

Enjoy my sewing with my Featherweight 221 Sewing machine.  Still works great!

Nappy Bag - Amy Butler

Oh, I need to see if I have this pattern.  I want to make this for my new "to be" grandson or granddaughter....

The pattern can be found at:
http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/patterns_display.php?id=16

My bestie made one for me, for Grace and I used that bag a long time. Even did some mending on it, as I used it for a LONG TIME! Need to find some cool fabric though.......

Sewing tutorial for Nursing/Breastfeeding top from two ready to wear shirts sewing tutorial.

I had made a lot of simple breastfeeding tops when I was pregnant with Grace.  Couldn't find the internet instructions, so these are from memory in making these tops.   Making these for my 2nd oldest, who is due at any time now! 

Original cowl neck t-shirt

V-Neck crisscrossed t-shirt

Two of the same top & size

Cut up sides, then cut lower part of shirt off.  About 8 inches.

Cut a 14 inch tall tube from other shirt.

The tube.  Finished off top edge, then cut off back panel.

Separating front from back on the tube.  Getting rid of serged edge.

About a 6 inch overlap, between 1st and 2nd shirt.

Folded unde rpanel in half, measured 1/4 inch elastic, plus 2-3 inches.
Top stitched elastic to top portion of the underpanel.

Sew wrong sides together to make overlayed panel effect.

Finished product.  Two shirts make into a overlay panel
nursing/breastfeeding shirt.

Finished product.  About 2 hours work.

Sewing up some Changing Table Mattress Pad Covers - Tutorial - Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine

Changing Table Mattress Pad Cover Tutorial.

So this is what I'm working on next. 
Just writting down what I'm doing, so that I have instructions, next time I'm making these covers.

I'll add to this description, as I go along.  I did a graphic snapshot of the instructions, and copied them as a jpeg on the blog.  Photos to come.

All with my Singer Featherweight 221 Sewing Machine.

Using my Singer Featherweight 221 to make Sew Mama Sew Holiday Napkins

Part IV of the Sew Mama Sew Holiday Sew Along.  Here are the napkins that I actually did finish before Thanksgiving (and get to use...)

 This turned out nicely.  Very methodical in doing these napkins.  This would be a great gift (not these....these are mine LOL) idea for someone for a house warming gift or holiday gift.  Yeah!

My placemats from the Sew Mama Sew Holiday Sew Along!

Here is the original Holiday Sew Along post.  http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2011/10/color-blocks-placemats-napkins-holiday-sew-along/

Here are my pieced placemats, I finally finished today.  I made eight placemats.  Using my Singer Featherweight 221 Sewing Machine.

 I'm going to put the project away though, so I can start my next immediate project.  Making changing table mattress covers, for my DD#2 upcoming baby.  We are giving her my changing table that I used with Grace, and I need to make some new changing covers!  Bought some fabric from Walmart yesterday, and need to treat the fabric (sew the ends, wash, that type of thing), before I can get started.

So this project will be put into some ziplocks with instructions, so that I can tackle the rest of this job later! 

<3 Gaileee

Blackberry Pie Recipe - Love the Pie Party!

Been making cobblers and pies with PTA bake sale with the Thanksgiving dinners going on.  Plus a test pie for home, and a huge cobbler for work.  Yum Yum Yum!  Took the recipe from Simply Recipes and did their blackberry pie recipe!

Blackberry Pie Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pie dough recipe for top and bottom crust
  
• 5-6 cups blackberries, rinsed, picked clean, patted dry (if you use frozen berries, defrost and drain them)
  
• 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup sugar (depending on how sweet your berries are)
  
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  
• 3 Tbsp quick cooking instant tapioca (can usually find in the baking aisle of your local supermarket)

Method

1 Place blackberries, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, cinnamon, almond extract, and quick cooking instant tapioca in a large bowl. Gently fold the berries until they are all well coated with sugar. Let sit for 30 minutes.

2 Preheat oven to 400°F. You should have two balls of pie dough, one for the bottom crust, one for the top crust. Roll out one of the balls of pie dough on a lightly floured surface to 12-inch diameter if you are using a 9-inch pie pan, or 13-inch diameter if you are using a 10-inch pan. Line the bottom of your pie pan with the dough. Chill in refrigerator while you roll out the bottom crust.

3 Roll out the second ball of pie dough for the top crust. If you would like to do a lattice top, weave the dough strips as described in How to Make a Lattice Top for a Pie Crust.

4 Spoon the berry mixture into the dough-lined pie dish. For a lattice top, weave strips of pie dough over the top of the fruit-filled pie dish. For a solid top, place the second rolled-out pie dough crust on top of the pie. Press ends of strips into the rim of the bottom crust. Use scissors to trim the edges to 1/2-inch from the outer edge of the pie pan. Fold the edges back over themselves and use your fingers to crimp to seal the edges. If you are using a solid top crust, score the top with a sharp knife to create air vents for the steam to escape.

5 Place the pie on the middle rack of the oven. Put a baking sheet on the lower rack to catch any juices that might bubble out of the pie while it's cooking. Bake the pie in two stages. First bake it at 400°F for 30 minutes. Then place a sheet of aluminum foil over the pie to protect the edges and tops from getting too burnt. (A pie protector is quite useful here.) Reduce the heat to 350°F and bake for an additional 30 minutes, until crust has browned and filling is bubbly.

Remove from oven and place on a wire rack. Cool completely before serving.

Yield: Makes 8 servings.

“Come join Love the Pie with TidyMom  sponsored by Cherokee USA, Le Creuset, Wilton, Bags by Bloom and  Harvard Common Press”