Featured Patterns #121 and #123

  

#121

Both the sundress and top button at the shoulders, while the round yoke offer a perfect place for embroidery, piping, or lace.  The shorts are easy to make and the dress features a flowerpot pocket filled with posies.

 Sizes:  2-3-4-5-6 

#123

The Baby Playsuit, for boy or girl, offers a choice of  bubble or a skirt with matching panty.  The playsuit may be made dressy or casual by using your favorite applique, smocking, or embroidery.

Sizes:  3 mos. - 24 mos.

Michie'

Featured Patterns #115 and #120

#115

The classic bubble, is great for baby boy or girl.  Choose from four collar styles, perfect for purchased trim or faggoting.  The bubble allows for six rows of smocking or soft gathers across the front.   Embroidery designs and faggoting instructions are included in the pattern.

Sizes:  3 - 24 mos.

 

#120

The sunsuit and dress button at the shoulders of a simple round yoke.  The sunsuit sports soft pleats, while the dress has sweet gathers for fullness.  The yoke offers a perfect place for embroidery, piping, or lace.

Sizes:  3- 24 mos.

Featured Patterns #111 and #112

 Pattern #111
A dedication bubble suitable for those special occasions.  The bubble features pleats down the front with a choice of three  collars. Detailed instructions are included for adding your favorite laces along with a selection of embroidery designs.

Sizes:  3 - 24 mos.

Pattern #112
The Christening Gown has  front and back pleats and three-quarter length sleeves.  With a choice of three heirloom collars the gown may be given a tailored look or dressed up with lace insertion and embroidery.  A selection of embroidery designs and slip pattern are included.  The finished gown length is 29”.

Sizes:  3 - 12 months

Michie'

Featured Patterns #107 and #109

The  banded bubble,  is  a one-piece bubble with a two-piece  look.    Choose from two classic collar styles or a simple neckband.  Mock suspenders attach at the shoulders and at the front waistband. Collars may be trimmed with piping or embroidery.

The infant shirt and diaper cover includes a traditional shirt with a Peter Pan collar which may be trimmed with piping, lace, faggoting or a simple neckband.  A soft pleat in the center back provides fullness for comfort.  The diaper cover has elastic in the back and at the leg openings and buttons in front.  A selection of embroidery designs are included.

Michie'

Featured Patterns #101 and #102

We will be featuring a few patterns each week to show off our new look and share some sewing inspiration.  Our new website is still in the works, so although the patterns on the website show the old version everything sent out is now the new look!

A daygown is a lovely addition to baby's wardrobe.  The pattern offers the choice of either a plain yoke suitable for embroidery or a smocked version. Three different sleeves to choose from and a drawstring version adds variety for the sewer to choose from.
 *The smocking design shown is Ellen McCarn's "Mo-stroloy".

The pleated bubble features a center box pleat and is suitable for baby boy or girl.  Choose from two classic collar styles or a simple neckband.  Embroidery designs for the round collar of front pleat are included in the pattern.


Michie' 

Valentine Inspiration

Valentine stitching from past and present.  :)

Michie'

Holiday Sewing

I have always enjoyed decorative buttons and have on occasion designed an entire outfit around them.  The Christmas dress, for the girl, will be simple this year.  Red corduroy and sparkly snow flake buttons.  The pattern?  I'm testing a new pattern that should be perfect.   

And for the boy....gray wool pants are ready.  A white button down shirt from Target and maybe a bow tie.  Grandda has several that will not be worn again that might be just right.

Michie'

Color Inspiration

This week my color inspiration came from fresh flowers purchased from the grocery store.  Deep purple and lime green...how inspiring!

I decided to do a color exercise and see how close I could match the flower.  Purple and white gingham represents the outer petals, while dark purple embroidery floss matches the deeper tones.  Bright lime green floss for the flower center adds a contrast and keeps the purples from being boring.  Can you envision a smocked dress using these colors?  I can!

Michie'

Fall Sewing

I've pulled out corduroy, twills, and cotton prints and am frantically sewing for the grandchildren in anticipation of cooler weather.  Yes, I tend to wait until the last minute.  My excuse .... what if they grow some more?

Michie'

2014 Fall Inspiration Board

Michie'

Scraps

Rummaging through the scraps and it all came together!  Perfect when there just isn't quite enough fabric.

Michie'

Summer Inspiration Board

 Michie'

Spring Inspiration Board

A New Year

A New Year once again.  My favorite time for sketching and planning new projects.  What am I working on?  The instructions for a "Little Hearts" smocking design, posting in plenty of time for Valentines Day. :)

Michie'

Fall Inspiration Board

A peek at the Fall inspiration board.  I love to fill it with seasonal colors, new ideas, and old photos that make me smile.

Michie'

Bold Bright Prints?

I made a quick trip to the mall the other day to pick up a birthday gift and took a few minutes to walk through the children's department of one of the major department stores.  Plenty of cute clothes for little girls, but as I flipped through the racks I became a little overwhelmed with the bright loud prints and embellishments.  I love fun prints and bright colors, but I still prefer to see the child, not the outfit.

Michie'

Spring Inspiration Board

The inspiration boards are now updated and ready with ideas for Spring sewing.  I covered both boards with a neutral tan fabric and am doing a lot of pinning these days.   

I also like to have a small board behind the sewing machine.  It is great for photos, my favorite embroidery hoop, and buttons that I am try to keep up with.

My sewing machine is a Baby Lock "Ellure."  I have never owned more than one sewing machine at a time.  My space is limited and knowing how to use one machine really well has always worked out just fine for me. :)

Michie'

More Ideas For Window Smocking

#137

#122

#126

Since the instructions for Window Smocking are in the latest Sew Beautiful Magazine, I thought that you might like a couple of suggestions for other patterns suitable for this technique.  The Jon-Jon #137, Baby Apron #122, and Dedication Bubble #126 can all be made with a plain front and look great with the added smocking.  The best thing about doing a small bit of smocking, is that you don't have to worry about all of your cute little smocked objects being the same size!

Michie'

A Little More Inspiration

Okay Martha, you out did yourself on these outfits!  I know your grand babies are going to be the cutest things ever in their matching sunsuits.  I just hope Emma and Christian don't see these and want Nana to whip out a set this week!  :)  The sunsuits turned out fabulous and I love what you did with the fabric and trim.

You can view Martha's blog at http://southernmatriarch.blogspot.com/ 

Michie'

Ready For A New Year

Instead of looking back at the past year, I am looking forward. This is what the first day of 2012 looked like at my house. Bright and sunny and turning much colder. With the slant of the winter sun and the fact that I took down the Christmas tree, I am seeing dust in all kinds of new places! So to start the new year I did a little straightening in the sewing room while Rex is getting his fill of football.

My inspiration board is now covered with new things to inspire me. A few pictures that I find here and there that help to get my imagination going and fabric scraps from my stash.

Fabric has been pulled out of boxes and put out on display. Fun prints on the left and solids on the right, stacked and tagged by fabric type.

Do you have something special that you do to start off the new year?

Michie'