Need a gift idea for a smocker in your life? Any of these items will be definite hits. It can be so easy to accumulate smocking plates and not so easy to keep track of them. The sheet protectors and the binder are a perfect fit for smocking plates…bonus points if you organize them for your recipient. The other items are my favorite small scissors, needles, plates and smocking aids. Some of these would make great stocking stuffers! Sheet Protectors: these are the perfect size for your smocking plates. Binder: Perfect for smocking plate organization-throw in some new smocking plates for an extra special gift. Embroidery Scissors: sweet, pretty little…
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Stuff It!
Recently I made a quick trip to Children’s Corner Store for a Sit ‘n Sew. I can’t sing enough praises for Sit ‘n Sews. It’s such an amazing way to make connections with other sewists, learn new tricks, and spend time with women who love helping and celebrating other women. During this trip, I belly laughed, I made new friends, I vented, I was inspired and I worked on the boy version of the Children’s Corner Pattern, Alex. This is a straight-forward sew with extremely well-written directions. The only deviation I made from the pattern was in regards to strap length-they were a bit too long for Robby. Make sure…
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Tips for Fabric Shopping Online
Online shopping is one of my strongest skills. I’m not even going to pretend I haven’t honed this skill with much practice. Amazon, Walmart Grocery, Whole Foods Delivery, Target…you name a store…odds are good I’ve shopped there online. Much to my husband’s chagrin. That being said, shopping for fabric online is a different beast. Particularly if you’re a new sewist and aren’t certain what type of fabric you need for a project in the first place. I cannot tell you how many times I have purchased fabric online thinking it was one thing and ending up with another. I have purchased 8-wale corduroy thinking it was feather wale (see image…
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Ironing…the glamorous part of sewing.
To say that I did not enjoy ironing when I began sewing would be an understatement. I skipped ironing steps, sewed with only polyester blend fabrics, and even postponed projects if they included too much ironing. I did not like ironing because I did not know how to do it. Ridiculous right? You just iron out the wrinkles…enough said. Every single time I went to iron my garment or piece of fabric looked EXACTLY the same after ironing as it did before ironing. It was infuriating. As I watched women sew during sit-n-sews I learned (while trying not to creepily stare) the value of ironing. I also learned the value…
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PSA- Peter Pan Collared Shirts!
Little ones in collared shirts look….clean. That might be a bit dramatic but its true! A peter pan collared shirt immediately elevates a Jon Jon or Jumper and it is a practical, warming addition to almost any ensemble. I have made my own collared shirts for Maria. I use woven fabrics (usually imperial broadcloth) and one of several patterns. The shirt included in the Children’s Corner  Johnny Pattern is very sweet. However; for daily wear I tend to reach for the ones made of knit more often than I do my woven options. Now-the question is: to make the knit shirt or to buy it? Since this is an item my child…
