31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 30

 

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” 

~ Helen Keller

Happy Saturday!!! How did you spend your day? Were you able to spend a few minutes doing something you enjoy? I hope so!!! 

I spent a big chunk of time sewing today and it was delightful! I really do enjoy creating these precious preemie gowns. I like to try out different patterns, techniques, fabrics, etc., knowing that each finished gown will bless a baby and their family. I love that I have this opportunity to serve my community. I always tell my kids to be a blessing, and I try my best to do the same!!! I am blessed!!! 🌸🌿💕

~ Cindy

 

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 27

 

"We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction." 

-H.A. Ironside

Happy Wednesday!!! How is your day shaping up? Did you take some time to smell the flowers? 🌸 Or engage in something that you enjoy? I love this quote that I shared because it’s so easy to waste time worrying. Yet worrying doesn’t benefit us. So when you have a little chunk of time spend it in action, doing something that brings you joy. Be grateful and full of thanksgiving! 

I spent a few minutes smocking on another preemie gown today. I really do love creating things with a needle and thread! I am grateful that I can because it brings me so much joy and peace!  🪡❤️🧵 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 21

 “Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” 

~ Camille Pissarro

I finished up another preemie gown. While I’m sewing I always pray for the babies and the families that will hopefully be blessed by these gowns. I know I make a lot of these gowns, but a) our community has a real need for them, b) this is one way I can give back and serve my community, and c) sewing is very therapeutic and grounding for me. I am sewing to bless others, yet it blesses me too. “Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25) That is a mighty gift!!! 

Have you thought about what grounds you and feeds your soul?  🧵❤️🪡 

~ Cindy

A Finished Preemie Gown...

Yesterday I cut out six preemie gowns to start working on. This one went together so fast and turned out so sweet I couldn’t wait to share it with you!!! 

This precious little pattern from 7 Pine Design is a sweet A-line gown with no pleats or smocking, but it is fully lined and goes together quickly. It is available for free here. And I embroidered this little boat on it using 1 strand of light blue floss and a simple back stitch. 

The rest of the gowns I cut out will be pleated and smocked. I’m considering putting together a video tutorial at some point to show how I make them. If I do, I will let you know and share the link. 

What are you stitching these days? Do you feel better when you have a needle in your hand? I sure do!!! 

Happy Stitching!!!

Cindy

Preemie Gown Finished - 31 Days of Creating...

 

It was another gorgeous autumn day!  I was able to sit down and work on this sweet preemie gown.  I finished the smocking and then sewed the side seams with French seams.  I decided to hem the gown by hand.  I find hand sewing so relaxing and enjoyable, and often I pray for the recipient.

I usually finish about 10 preemie gowns and then donate them to our NICU.  But as it turns out, I just learned that a dear friend has a family member in our local NICU.  I am going to get this gown to her hopefully tomorrow.  I am thrilled that I am able to be part of God's plan for that sweet baby to have this gown.  You just never know when or how God will use you!!!  

Blessings!

xoxo!
 

Smocking a Preemie Gown - 31 Days of Creating...

It was a beautiful fall day today!  After a refreshing walk I carved out some time to sit and stitch.  I worked on this sweet little preemie gown.  I recently pleated it and today I was able to enjoy smocking it.  I am using a medium blue DMC floss.  I can't find the label for the floss number - I must have thrown it away - so I can't share the actual color number.  I posted a video on my Instagram account (sewblessedcindy) of smocking the first row, which is a cable stitch.  So if you are curious what smocking looks like in real time go take a look.  The first row is always a little bit fiddly for me, but with a little patience and perseverance it always works out. I am not quite finished with all the smocking, but when I am I will share a picture.  

Were you able to take a few minutes today to ground yourself by doing something you really enjoy?  I hope so!  

xoxo!

Free Directions for Smocked Christmas Ornament...

I hope you are enjoying the sights and sounds of this Christmas season!!! My favorite is hearing all four of my children playing Christmas songs on the piano!!!

This week I am working on my Christmas shopping and addressing Christmas cards to share with friends and family.  I also still have four pairs of pj pants to make for my little ones.  That has been a tradition of ours for many years.  I should do a round-up of past Christmas pjs that are here on the blog. (I have years and years of content on this blog concerning all types of sewing, tips, tricks, techniques, etc.  There's a search bar on the right side that you can use to search the entire blog.)

Anyway, although I don't have many gifts wrapped and under the tree yet....I do have this sweet smocked ornament on the tree.  I made this ornament many years ago and I still love it.  

I have basic directions for making the ornament that I shared with my local smocking guild years ago, and I'm happy to share it with you too.  Just drop me an email and I will send it to you.  I do not have the pattern for the cute little tree though.  It was in the Sew Beautiful Holiday 1988 issue.  However,  I tried to get a close-up picture so you can probably re-create it easily if you'd like.

Happy Stitching!

xoxo,

Cindy

Baby Girls and Pink Dresses....

There is something about newborn baby girls and precious pink dresses.  Call me old-fashioned!!!  So when a young friend of mine was pregnant with her first baby girl I knew I had to make her a few dresses.

This precious daygown is from an Old Fashioned Baby pattern called Priscilla's Layette.  I used white cotton batiste for the dress and pink and white gingham for the bias binding around the neck and sleeve edges.  I stitched dainty bullion rosebuds down the button placket using my favorite colors of floss.  I also stitched up a diaper cover from a pattern by Ellie Mae Designs using the same gingham, and lined them with the white batiste. I have a hard time giving a dress without a coordinating diaper cover.  Maybe that's because I have two girls and I always liked their dresses to have matching diaper covers.  

I also really wanted to start this sweet baby out with a bishop dress.  Since bishops have raglan sleeves they really grow with the baby, transitioning across several seasons.  When they get too small to be worn as a dress they generally still fit across the shoulders and neck and can then be paired with leggings, pants, or shorts.  I also made a matching diaper cover for this dress.  I used my favorite bishop pattern which is the Bishop Trio from Creative Keepsakes.  I've been making this pattern for almost twenty years now and I still love it!!! The smocking plate is Cary Anne from Ellen McCarn.  I actually have very few smocking plates because I love this one SO much I use it all the time.

Have you had the pleasure of stitching for a fresh baby lately???

Keep stitching friends!!

xoxo!!!

My Favorite Wee Care Gowns.....

I have no idea how many Wee Care gowns I have stitched and smocked over the years.  And I rarely follow smocking patterns when making them.  Generally I smock them like the one above.  I like the look of white floss on white fabric, which I think is timeless.  For the girls I add a simple bullion rosebud using two shades of pink and simple green leaves.  For the boys I make a classy blue bullion bow.  So sweet!!!

Wee Care Delivery......

Long time, no write!!!  I actually have been stitching a bit here and there - Just not taking the time to post, I guess. Our local SAGA Smocking Guild has been busy the past few months.  We were finishing up our Wee Care gowns for delivery. 

Our wonderful group of ladies really out did themselves this time around!!!  Just look at all these adorable gowns that are now ready and waiting at the local NICU to bless families going through potentially rough times!

I love seeing the creativity and individuality of the ladies.  All gowns were made from the same pattern but yet were all so very different.  Thank you to all our wonderful members that made this year's delivery a huge success!!!  Are you interested in making these precious gowns for your local community?  You can check out SAGA's website here and see if there is a local guild near you.  They would be thrilled to have you join in the fun!!!  And blessing others is always good!!!!

My Emily.....

My Emily has been keeping herself busy lately.  She has been doing her "have to's"...that would be school work and chores around the house.  And she has been doing the fun and relaxing stuff.....which for her, are sewing, needlepoint, and crochet.  Yesterday she stitched this adorable dress made from a Liberty Jane Pattern.  It reminds me of a pillowcase dress and it would also look lovely in batiste with a bit of lace and a bottom hem tuck.

I've been keeping myself busy with all my "have to's" as well....plus a bit of fun stitching thrown in.  I've been working on some Wee Care gowns and also a shirt for Elisabeth.  Oh, I've also been crocheting some more cotton dish cloths.  I find them so addicting and mindless, which makes them wonderful to work on while I'm listening to a podcast or an audiobook here and there.

I hope you are fitting some stitching into your days too!!!

Wee Care Delivery.....

A few weeks back my local Smocking Guild delivered another batch of sweet little Wee Care gowns. I always enjoy collecting them from various members beforehand so that I can admire them as I iron them in preparation for delivery. I made a good many of the gowns this time because a lot of our older ladies have retired from our Guild this past year. The above gown is my favorite to make. I love white smocking on a white gown. Then I add some sort of bullion rose to finish it. I also like blue on white with a blue bullion bow which is good for a boy.

On this sweet pink one I did pink on pink with a bullion rose.

And my Emily crocheted and donated 14 more preemie hats of various sizes.

I have had a lot of people contact me about Wee Care gowns and how to make them. I am thinking of doing a multi-part tutorial about them. I use my own pattern for the gown so I think it should be fine. I will start working on it and let you know more soon. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask them!

Tatting.....

One of our smocking guild members was kind enough to offer a tatting demonstration at our last meeting. She is a brave soul. And a wonderful teacher. I do know how to tat...but the thought of teaching 10+ ladies to do so...all at the same time seems a bit daunting to me. :o) Anyway, we had a wonderful meeting!!! While she demonstrated the various techniques I continued to work on my little tatted edging. It only consists of rings and picots but that is plenty for me right now. The brave member also wrote out a pattern for me for the cute little butterfly. I came right home that night and made the butterfly you see in the above picture. I used a pink and white variegated thread so it is a bit hard to see. But I am thinking I'm going to make several of them and maybe stitch them onto something. Just not sure what yet. Do any of you tat? It seems to be a lost art these days!

I really am just about finished with the cute little bishop. And it's a good thing because I have another baby dress to make and I just remembered Easter is a bit early this year. I am thinking of making Ean a button-on shorts outfit this year. It may be the only year I can get away with it with his daddy! :o)

I hope you all are stitching your little hearts out!!! We have a Wee Care delivery this weekend and I'm doing a bit of Wee Care smocking here and there too. I'll post a picture of all the gowns after I get them ironed and ready.

Enjoy your day!!!!

Stitching Update.....

Yes, I know it is taking me forever to finish this cute little dress. And I know this is a terrible picture. But......I wanted to give you an idea of how sweet this little dress is going to be ONCE I finally finish it!!! I am thinking of putting a bullion rose in the center front. I've only been able to work on it a few minutes here and there. I have put the neckband and placket on it...but still lack the side seams, sleeve bands, hem, buttons, and button loops. Maybe I'll get a large chunk of time this weekend to work further on it.

I may venture to the Martha Pullen Retail Shop tomorrow. The Martha Pullen School is in progress this week. I've never been to the school, but I do often frequent the Retail Shop. It's always fun to stop by and witness the energy of the ladies in their sewing element. One day maybe I'll be able to take a week's worth of sewing classes. That would be awesome!!! Until then my days will be spent caring for, raising, and educating our four little ones and I'll fit in a few minutes of stitching here and there. Sounds perfect to me!!!

January Around My Home......

It's been busy but quiet around here lately. I've been trying to fit a bit of smocking in here and there. I am so in love with this precious little floral fabric. I bought it last year at our local heirloom shop knowing it would make an adorable bishop.

I also found a more tidy way to keep my floss while stitching. I am only using three colors for this project and a folded index card with holes punched in it is working out perfectly.

My three older children are deep in creating stop-motion movies right now. Emily and Elisabeth have been making movies with their 18" dolls and Ethan has been making some with his new Legos he got for Christmas. It's so fun to see them learning and enjoying the process. I have done nothing but encourage them and enjoy the finished movies. They have done all the rest. And Sweet Ean is just as fun as ever. Right now he is deep in his books. He loves to sit and look through books.....he is so serious about it. Sweet times!!!

Free Smocked Christmas Ornament Pattern.....

I have had quite a few people contact me recently about this smocked Christmas ornament pattern I made last year for a Smocking Guild meeting. Most people have asked if it's for sale and if so, for how much. I do not have it for sale...but I have been sending it to anyone that has asked. Therefore, I thought I would make it available to anyone else that is interested. So if you would like my very basic directions on how to make these fun smocked ornaments feel free to email me (sewblessed {at} mchsi {dot} com) and I'll be happy to send you the pdf handout I gave to the guild members last year. (The smocking plate I used was from Sew Beautiful Holiday 1988 and so it is not included in my directions.)

I hope your Thanksgiving Day was wonderful!! We had a fantastic day here with just the six of us!!! Now we are heading towards Christmas at full speed. I'm dreaming of dresses to make for my Elisabeth (who still enjoys wearing my dresses) and little jon-jon's for my Ean....but right now I am working on two, yes two, full-size quilts for a church friend. The goal is to finish them by Christmas. Wish me luck!!!

Finally....A Finished Bishop.......

Thank you all so very much for the kind words surrounding my kidney infection. This has really been crazy. I've never had anything like this in my entire life and I hope I never have it again. I was in bed for a solid 6 days! Finally on Monday I was able to move around a bit and actually had a bit of motivation in me to sit and hand stitch for a minute or two. During that time I made the button loops and stitched the buttons on this dress. I am so happy to be finished with it. Inside I am jumping up and down....but if I were to really do that I would have to hold my side which still hurts. (Seven solid days on antibiotics and my side still hurts....strange!)

Anyway it seems like I've been working a few minutes here and there on this bishop forever! I am so glad to be finally finished!!!

This little dress completes my requirements for the SAGA Correspondence Course I am taking. I will happily put it in an envelope tomorrow and send it to the instructor for her honest and experienced critique. I know I like it.

And although I still don't feel great, I am better. Last night I even picked up my OFB gown from last summer to work on. I can't believe I have let it sit this long unfinished....but I think some more hand stitching sounds like a good thing!

Still Stitching.....

I am happy to report the smocking part of this little dress is complete! And today while at piano lessons for the girls...and chasing Ean around....I was able to hand hem the sleeves too. Forward progress is always good! I still have most of the dress construction ahead of me...and I hope to get that done over the weekend.

In the meantime, I've been working on finishing a crocheted blanket for a friend of mine. Her mother was making several blankets for her great granddaughter and then passed away. So my friend asked me if Emily and I would finish crocheting these blankets for her so they can still be given to the little girl. Of course, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I declined. So Emily and I have been doing a bit of crocheting here and there too. What are you all working on? Any special summer projects???

Remember This.......

I mentioned awhile back I was taking a Correspondence Course through SAGA. With all the craziness this Spring I almost forgot about this bishop and let it slip through the cracks. Not good. However, I am now actively working on it as you can see below. I have a few more rows to go and then some flowers to add. Plus then I have to construct the sweet little dress.

I am pleased with it thus far! And I'll be really happy when it is finished!

What have you all been up to? We are staying cool and keeping busy. Today we are headed to the library....it is truly one of our most favorite destinations! I haven't been able to squeeze much sewing in lately, although I did make the girls skorts for their church Spring program a few weeks back. I'll have to remember to take some pictures. Do you notice the trend here? I have lots of projects finished....I just can't seem to get my act together and get pictures taken and then posted. I must work on that!

Enjoy the day, friends!!!! And try to work in a bit of stitching here or there!

Easter Frocks, Part 2....

I am back with Ean's sweet Easter romper. This outfit has quite a story....seems like that is a trend with me. I can't condense things well....I always want to give every last detail. That can be annoying for some. But anyway, that's just the way it is with me. I hope it doesn't bother you too much.

So here is the outfit Ean wore for Easter this year. I hope to get a picture of him wearing it for you soon. But by the time we got home on Easter afternoon all he wanted was lunch and a nap and neither involved his outfit or a camera. Next year I've decided I'm going to take pictures the day before Easter....when everyone is still nice and fresh and in a great mood! :o)

I built this entire outfit around this "Easter Train" smocking plate that I picked up at our local heirloom shop sometime last year. The plate only has 6 rows of smocking so I started looking for a romper pattern that would accommodate just 6 rows of smocking. I looked through every pattern I have and finally decided to just make my own. Of course, I used my favorite blue/white gingham and it is fully lined. That should be no surprise for those of you that know me.

I was so happy to have this sweet little romper finished early. Then just a few days before Easter I realized I did not have a shirt for him to wear under it. So I quickly made a little shirt. It looks fine on Ean but this mannequin is a bit big for this small garment, therefore the collar is sticking out and looking all sorts of wonky. But trust me, on Ean it was looking just fine. Adorable even! But I am a bit biased!

And for extra exciting news, I won a gift at church this past Sunday (Mother's Day). They gave out three gifts. One for the mom there that had the most children and grandchildren combined (none had to be present). The sweet lady that won had 25 all together! Amazing. I hope I am so blessed down the road. The second gift was for the mom with the youngest baby....which was one of our sweet friends and her precious baby boy! And then the last gift was for the mom with the most children, and they had to be present with her....my row was over half-filled with my four little ones, plus Wayne, of course! The gift was a book about Moms!! I was so surprised and feeling blessed! I hope your days have been blessed too.