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'

Merry Christmas

I'll be taking a Christmas break in order to have more time for wrapping, baking, hugging, and laughing.  Maybe a tiny bit of knitting or quilt piecing, but nothing demanding, only relaxing.  We hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Michie'

Free Snowman Smocking Design

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Finally the "Snowmen" smocking design is ready to share!  Click here for the free download copy.

Michie'

Thanksgiving

Let us give thanks.

Winter Sewing

The new Sew Beautiful Magazine has arrived and is full of wonderful ideas for winter sewing.

Not wanting to let the baby boys to be left out, I once again have something in the magazine especially for them.  A long sleeve daygown made out of mint pima cotton with a sweet little train embroidered on the front yoke.  

It had a couple of winter babies and this is just the type of gown that looked so sweet on them.  

Michie'

A Fresh Coat Of Paint

A lot of cleaning.

A fresh coat of paint.

And a whole bunch of reorganizing.

A room now ready for new and fresh ideas.

 

 

Michie'

A Winter Dress

A turquoise corduroy dress for our girl.  Smocked with an original snowman design and trimmed with red gingham piping.  What do I love best about snowmen?  They are appropriate all through the Winter!

Sorry, the snowman design is not quite ready to share.

Michie'

Baby's First Christmas

Suitable for baby boy or girl, sweet little gowns for their first Christmas.  Soft white pima cotton or flannel with a tiny bit of embroidery.  The baby is the first thing we want to see..... then the lovely gown.

Michie'

Winter Jumpers

I have stitched up several jumpers lately for our special someone to wear to preschool.  Denim or corduroy, the jumpers sew up quickly and work great with a blouse or long sleeve shirt.  The jumpers are also cute with machine applique' on the front yoke or front skirt.

I find my wooden point turner comes in very handy when turning the yokes and facings right side out. 

Not quite enough fabric for a jumper?  Why not use a contrasting fabric for the yoke, which is very stylish right now!  :)

Michie'

A Few More Ideas For Christmas Embroidery

A bit more inspiration.  I would love to hear what you are sewing!

Michie'

The Sunday Drive

We are staying close to home these days as Rex recovers from a mild stroke, but the weather is much too lovely to stay inside.  We have made it our goal to rediscover our area. Our roots run deep in North Alabama.  My family moved back to the area in 1972, while both sides of Rex's family have been in the same town for over 150 years.  I never get tired of the family stories that he tells on our drives. 

A Sunday afternoon drive was just what we needed to appreciate God's creation.

Michie'

Trick or Treat!

A birthday party along with trick or treating is planned for our house.  Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion are both expected to make an appearance and are now old enough to think that a party for Grandda is pretty exciting!  

Michie'

Holly Embroidery Design

A Holly embroidery design for your Christmas stitching.

 Shadow stitch with French Knots.  DMC: 321, 699

                                                                                                                                

    Satin stitch with Granito Knots. DMC: 321,3346,3347

Just a few ideas to get you going.  And what am I stitching on these days?  A birthday jumper for the girl and smocking her Christmas dress!

Michie'

Christmas Sewing

Although I am still getting use to the idea of it being October, it is time to start making plans for Christmas sewing!

You can look forward on the next few blogs with as many Christmas ideas as I can think of and a free "Holly" embroidery design.  The above picture is from Creative Needle Magazine 2006.  The dress is made using pattern #122 and is made out of white pique, red rick rack and hand embroidery.

Do you ever wonder why the children are often barefoot in the photos?  Shoes simply add nothing to the photograph and are often distracting.  :)

Michie'

A Bit Of Sewing

A 1979 Simplicity pattern from my collection, some pretty cotton fabric, a cool rainy day, and a 3 year old who needs a dress.  Does it get any better than that?

Michie' 

A Daygown For Baby

Pattern #128

Sweet and simple, tiny buttons down the front and a touch of embroidery.  Soft pima cotton or flannel for baby.

Michie'

Featherwale Corduroy

Featherwale corduroy is one of my all time favorite fabrics for Fall and Winter sewing.  It is soft enough for smocking while at the same time just warm enough for our mild winters in the south.  

What's on my list for corduroy?  I have turquoise for a dress with smocked snowmen, hot pink for an appliqued jumper, and black for a dressy coat.  A little sewing time would be nice now....  :)

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'

The Best Sewing Hint Ever!

One of the very best sewing hints that I can give you is to "Measure accurately!"  Don't guess, measure those seams!  Especially if you are sewing on a new machine you need to be 100% sure of what the guide lines on the throat plate are representing.  My little sewing gauge ruler is always close by and a sewing project is rarely completed without it's help.  Not only are they inexpensive, but they can be found wherever sewing notions are sold.

Michie'

Piping A Pointed Collar

Yes, you can sew piping to a pointed collar and it is incredibly easy!

Pin the piping to the right side of the collar along the seam line.  Measure to determine exactly where the piping will turn the corner and mark the collar with a wash-away marker.  Clip the piping fabric at the point where it will turn the corner and  around the curve.  Stitch close to the piping using a zipper foot or a pin tuck foot.  *I find that it is much easier to stop and start again at the corner instead of pivoting the needle.  You can now complete the collar following the pattern instructions.

Michie'

A Dress For Fall

Pattern #130-L

I love gray trimmed with pink for little girls.  A truly classic look which shows of their sweet faces and sparkling eyes without all the focus on the clothes.

Michie'

Just Add A Blouse

Expecting cooler weather soon and hate to pack away those sundresses that still fit?  Just add a blouse!  The sundress is made using pattern #132 or #136, blouse #140-S or #140-L, and the smocked balloon design is a free download.

Michie'

Blue Linen Daygown

Pattern #119

The daygown is made from blue handkerchief linen with hand Bridging attaching the lace to the collar.  The sheep is hand stitched using French Knots for his white fluffy body.  The instructions for the hand bridging and the design for the sheep can be found in the pattern.

Michie'

Candy Corn Smocking Design

 Pattern #135

Pattern #115

A Fall favorite around my house is Candy Corn!  I learned a few years ago that if I use it in decorations it mysteriously disappears. 

So, for the longtime and new blog readers, I just wanted to do a little rerun of the free "Candy Corn" smocking design.  Click here to go to the post with the design.

Michie'

Farmer's Market

Something new I noticed this summer.... our local farmer's market has become extremely popular.  Partly due to more publicity, some fun tasting events, and many of us no longer have home gardens.  I'm seeing a "Back to basics, natural, and organic" trend in our area.  The young families are also consignment and thrift store shopping like I have never seen before!  I love that some of old ways are becoming popular again and am waiting to see how it impacts the sewing industry.

Michie'

Free Smocked Pumpkins For A Straight Yoke

Little smocked pumpkins suitable for a straight yoke.  If you are  new to Picture Smocking or a little out of practice, this is a great design to start with!  Click here for the free down loadable design.

Michie'

Smocked Pumpkins For The Boys

 #115

#137 and #139

A couple of ideas for "Little Smocked Pumpkins" for the boys.  Watch the next blog for the down loadable design suited for straight yokes.

Michie'

Free "Little Smocked Pumpkins" Smocking Design

Here it is, "Little Smocked Pumpkins" in time for Fall.  The design is suitable for a bishop style dress or a straight yoke.  Click here for the free down loadable design!

Michie'

Little Smocked Pumpkins

A Bishop style dress made from lavender gingham, smocked with little pumpkins.  Watch the next blog for the free "Little Pumpkins" smocking design.

Michie'