Ahhh, Christmas sewing...

My Christmas sewing got a little crazy this year. If life didn't happen around my sewing projects I would have been just fine. Each year I make Christmas pajamas for my side of the family. That means 7 pairs of pajama pants and 5 nightgowns. All matching, at least as good as I can. This year we added one of my best friends kids into the mix which was another 4 nightgowns and 2 pajama pants along with 4 doll nightgowns. Because the doll has to match too, you know.

Lets add into this project a boy home from school for 3 days because he was sick, a four day vacation with my daughter, a boy home from school for another 6 days because he was SO sick and the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with him, an out of town piano recital, a friend's (we are her "grandchildren" because she has none) surgery and care for her after. That is almost too much to think about. No wonder I got really sick when it was all over. I was worn out.

Despite the big project that it was, it sure was fun. It reminded me how much I enjoy spending time in my sewing room, hanging out with my sewing machine. Call me crazy...I already do. And the kids have great memories, even when we can't all be together they get to see pictures and say, "Hey we match." It really is fun!

Sewing?? What is that again??

I had to go pretty far back to find this project to share. I think know that through the summer with the kids home, my sewing time was very little. It has taken me a while to really get a feel for where I am now. I still don't have much current to share. I didn't get the school clothes done that I should have. I am not going to share the jammies I just made for the boys because they are rediculously too long and I need to do something about them.

 

So here we have a sweet nightgown set that was made for a friend to give as a gift. It turned out super cute and I hope it wasn't too long for the intended child.

 My friend picked out this pink with brown polka-dot flannel and made sure to get enough to add an 18" doll nightgown to it as well. Call me crazy but doll clothes are sometimes more fun than the little girl clothes. Thanks, Addy, for being my model.

My current work is being done on Halloween costumes. We have Harry Potter, a spider and Dorothy in the works. Oh and don't forget Zorro and some mending on Belle. Oh so much to do.

Christmas Happenings...

My world has been very full lately. After I finally felt better after my back injury, I got back on track with my Christmas projects, and added a few others in there too. For future reference...don't stand under basketball hoops while trying to move them. They will always win!

My dear sweet husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I think that question gets asked a lot. Normally I really don't want much. Maybe a new pair of pants to replace the ones I wore a hole in the knee (don't ask...I have kids). Or a new sweater to replace the one that I am still wearing from high school. Nothing big or exciting, and usually very practical. This year was a little different (at least in my mind). I really wanted shelves for my sewing room. And here they are. I am SO excited about them. I haven't had time to organize anything yet but it will come. Trust me! Merry Christmas to me!

My sewing projects this year consisted of 11 pairs of pajamas plus matching ones for 7 dolls. Well, due to my wonderful back injury, only 2 of those dolls got jammies (so far). There were 6 pairs of pants and 5 nightgowns. And from what I hear...all the kiddos like them. That is good news. Very fun for me to do.

But when you go to the fabric store and buy 3 bolts of fabric...you get a few strange looks. And yes, I walked out of the store with three entire BOLTS of fabric. It is okay though...the ladies at the fabric store know me and have made comments about watching my kids grow up. Sad huh?

This project I have been very excited to finish. One of my goals for the year is to be better at making a phone call or sending a card for birthdays in the family. Now you must know that with my family and my husbands family that adds up to over 50 birthdays to keep track of. That doesn't include grandmas and grandpas or aunts and uncles...just parents, siblings, their spouses and their children. My relief society did this board as a super saturday project and I was anxious to do one. It only came with ten little dots for people though...Problem! So I did what I could and here it is. I now have more of our family on there but still not everyone. I bought out the store's supply. So my dots will grow and hopefully I won't forget anyone this year!

Some of the Holidays

The holidays were really hard on me this year. Usually they are very busy but this year we added a funeral and a wedding to the mix. Both involving trips elsewhere. I am greatful they are over and things have settled down. I even have rekindled my relationship with my sewing machine...I am happy to report that it still likes me. So even with the craziness of the month I got a few things accomplished. I finished working on my "sea" of fabric only to create a "sea" of jammies.

It was very fun to do this for my sister. If you look closely you can find...(it is like my very own "I Spy" game) one little boy jammie pants, five little girl nightgowns and two doll nightgowns. Because your doll has to match too. If you didn't know that, you may not have a little girl around.

The nightgowns fit an 18" doll such as the American Girl dolls.

And since I was making jammies, my kids got matching ones too. 9 total...6 girls, three boys and three dolls. I am already planning next year.

Tee and Jay wanted to give pillowcases to their cousins (the cousins draw names on this side of the family) and these are what they picked out. It is pretty fun to take your kids to the fabric store (call me crazy I know) and let them pick out what they want and what matches it. They really have a good eye.

This is really our first year with teachers and I think they are great. Our teachers do so much for our kiddos and have such a hard job! With the news of the funeral we took the kids out of school the week before Christmas in addition to their winter break. I thought I had that whole week to finish up gifts and get the teachers something special. This was a quick gift that I put together for our teachers. Cute, cute reindeer made from a bottle of sparkling cider and brown fleece. I hope it made our teachers feel special and help them know that they are appriciated.

I am back to the creating game...I am not so sure about the computer game. I will keep the camera handy!

Girly jammies, continued.

In making these jammies for Tee, I chose to use Simplicity's pattern number 4767. I was really pleased with how it turned out. I made a few alterations to make it very simple that ANYONE could make these. The first is that I used the short sleeves and used the hem as a casing for the elastic, instead of hemming and creating another casing. I left off the ruffle at the bottom. One thing to note is that you might want to go a size or two too big due to the chest fitting pretty snug. Not tight but snug enough that it is hard to get in and out of.

Give them a try. They are easy and Tee loves them!

Girly Jammies

My sewing machine has recently been beckoning to me, so my computer has waited - ever so patiently for pictures of me newest creations.

On the top of my list of favorite things to make is dresses for 18" dolls such as the American Girl doll. Tee has a knock off doll and I love to sew for it. Silly I know. So when Tee gets something new, alot of times so does her doll. It makes it more fun! On our recent trip to visit family Tee and one of her cousins had so much fun together playing, dressing alike and all the fun things little girls love. So her mom and I made matching jammies for the girlys. It just so happened that we had enough left over for their dolls too.

Way too much fun, if you ask me!

The kids are away and Mom has played...

My "to sew" list is shrinking...I may need a new project. It has been so fun to have a couple days to rest, relax and sew! That is pretty much all I have done for two days now. But don't forget the naps. The things I have made while the kids have been gone are going to have to wait a few days, due to lack of models. Funny how when I have the chance to sew it is always for the kids. Hardly ever for me, although I have a fabric for a new skirt just waiting to be created.

The other day I caught a sale at JoAnne's that I just couldn't pass up. All their clearance was an extra 50% off. So the boys got new Jammies and a matching pillow case. All for a dollar a yard. Call me crazy (okay I know lots already do) but that is a good deal! And they each got to pick out what they wanted. Too much fun!

Tarryn pick some out too but has chosen to make her pillowcase herself. It is a very slow process but she is doing great. Who knew a 6 year old could sew? Her jammies are waiting till she gets her pillowcase done.
Pillow cases are very fun, in my opinion. You can do whatever you want and to see how happy my kiddos can get over their pillow is even more fun. They are very easy if you want an easy project.

At our ward party last week the activities committee asked me to make a family flag to represent us. Of couse, as usual, I waited to the last minute to finish it up and have decided that a few modifications are going to happen, but overall I am pleased with it.

Stay tuned...when my models return...girly jammies with matching doll jammies, 9 year quilt project...FINALLY finished! and a cute, cute girly dress!