A Stitch in Time... Works Just Fine!

I love the sewing machine! I consider it one of the greatest inventions. It allows me to make more homemade projects, make more quickly, and with more uniform stitching than by hand. Right now is a great time to purchase a new sewing machine. You can find great deals… and stretch your precious dollars. Even the least expensive machines have great features – ones that used to come only on higher-end machines just a few years back. The trend now is to have both a new machine and an older machine. For instance, a lot of quilters have antique Singer featherweight machines to take with them to their guilds, while they leave their fancy computerized machines at home. I do have a Kenmore computerized sewing machine, which I love by the way, but would love to own a featherweight one. What I have instead is my grandmothers 1940's vintage MontgomeryWards sewing machine. It is great machine that works just fine. Since it is a cabinet-style machine, it is not portable, so I can't take it with me. But that is okay, besides it has many wonderful attachments. I do not use it very often because I don't have a good location in my home for it. Someday I will have a place for it in my sewing room and be able to use it more frequently. [caption id="attachment_911" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="My Grandmothers Vintage Sewing Machine"][/caption] It is wonderful to be able to use both old machines and new ones, side by side – they both have their place and serve a function… and they both get the job done! Happy Sewing, JoLene

Be sure to visit my website: http://jolenesews.com/

Price is the Mother of Invention – Sewing Handmade Items $aves You Cash!

One of my daughters was shopping at a baby boutique and while there something called a stroller blanket caught her attention. These blankets are so popular and they are the rage right now in the world of infants. This particular blanket was made of a cute designer cotton fabric on one side and a super soft Minkee fabric on the other side. These blankets are small, light, and warm – making them great for travel, whether on an airplane or in a stroller. They work where you need something that doesn't take up much space. My daughter believed one of these blankets would be great for their trip to Reno last Spring. Finding the price of that store-bought blanket a bit rich for her budget she went to the fabric store. With a store coupon in hand she bought the needed cotton and Minkee fabrics - for a ¼ of the cost of a store-bought blanket. Together we made her not only a stroller blanket, but two bibs and burp cloth. I copied the pattern for the bib from another bib she had, and just put together the burp cloth from left over fabric. The sewing went fast and easy, and the project ended up so very cute! [caption id="attachment_895" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Natalie enjoying her Stroller Blanket"][/caption] She saved ¾ of the cost of that store-bought blanket she saw, plus she got to pick out her own fabric. You can do the same - I challenge you to make your own Minkee stroller blanket. You start with a yard each of cotton and Minkee. You don't need to quilt the blanket, just wash the fabric. Place the right side of cotton to the Minkee sew together. You will have to trim some of the Minkee to be the same size as the cotton piece. Leave a 6 to 8 inch unstitched gap on one edge to be able to turn the piece inside out after sewing. Sew, turn, and top stitch… and whalla, you have a cute one of a kind handmade stroller blanket. [caption id="attachment_896" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Homemade Baby Stroller Blanket, Bib and Burb cloth"][/caption] Good luck and Happy Sewing, JoLene

Be sure to visit my website: http://jolenesews.com/

Children have “SEW” much fun as they prepare for Fair!

Wa-hoo!.. Country Fair season is here once again. I love the Fair with its unique, familiar, and embracing sights, sounds, and smells – which include; the exhibits, crafts and pavilion filled with handmade items. You can't forget Fair food; elephant ears, corn dogs, sno-cones, and cotton candy… or overlook the rides, games, and entertainment. As a child the Fair was a highlight of my summer. Now as an adult the Fair is the highlight of my sewing school year. My sewing students are so very excited as the local Multnomah County Fair approaches. The buzz is in the air and you can feel it – you should hear my students talking about which items they will be entering into the Fair, and about sewing carefully and doing their best work. I will have about 30 students entering their projects, totaling about 90 pieces. I am so very proud of all of them and their hard work. [caption id="attachment_874" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="2010 County Fair prize winning student sewing projects"][/caption]

 

Last year my students experienced much success exhibiting at the Fair. I had 12 kids enter with a total of 21 items. They earned; 14-3rd place ribbons, 5-2nd place ribbons, and 2-1st place ribbons! One of the 1st places was a stuffed rabbit by Ingrid and she also received best-of-show in the children's division. A great job was done by all – and a great time was had by all. I am so looking forward to another wonderful Fair. [caption id="attachment_875" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="2010 prize winner - sewing projects"][/caption] Please come to the Fair and see all our entries and take in all those fabulous Fair sights and sounds. Historic Oaks Park with its riverside setting is again the perfect venue and host for the Multnomah County Fair. The Fair is open May 28, 29, and 30, 2011 from Noon to 7pm. All my student's Fair entries are on display in the pavilion hall – just follow the signs. Good news… there is again this year NO entrance fee – Free admission, Free parking! Hope to see you there. Check out my Fair blog from May of last year. As always, Happy Sewing, JoLene

Be sure to visit my website: http://jolenesews.com/

Sew What?… and Then Take the High Chair with You!

My little sister Tonya was born when I was 12 years old – she was like having a live doll to play with. We took her with us to many places when she was but a baby. Most of those places did not have a high chair – with its tray to hold her in. To resolve that problem Mom placed her in a regular chair then took a large dish towel, wrapped it around her and tied her in. I am sure people still do this. Recently my daughter took a trip to Reno with her husband and kids. She was sure that most of the places they would be going to there would not have a high chair. In preparation for the trip she asked me to sew up something that would hold her eight month old baby in a chair. Searching the Internet I located a cute, portable fabric travel high chair. I found the pattern easy to follow – in fact it took just me an hour to make one from start to finish.  Here is the link for the pattern: http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2009/11/fabric-travel-high-chair.html [caption id="attachment_811" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Here is how the cloth chair appears when laid out"][/caption] The below photo shows my beautiful granddaughter in the one I made. Both child and mother loved it. It saw a lot of use on their trip. This fabric high chair design holds and supports a child in almost any chair. They can be used at home as well. [caption id="attachment_812" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="The supportive and cute portable cloth chair in use!"][/caption] Happy Sewing, JoLene

Be sure to visit my website: http://jolenesews.com/

Sew When?... A Coming of Age Tale

What is the 'right age' at which a child can be taught to sew? Well, that is a very good question that has been asked of me many times.  I teach children students to sew using the award winning, 'Kids Can Sew' program and curriculum. This successful sewing program for children enables those as young as six years old to sew. In my experiences seven years of age seems to be the magic age where they are more than ready to learn the vanishing art of sewing.  I've found that the 'right age' is child dependent – as it is based on a particular child's hand-eye coordination, as well as their dexterity level. I am sharing this 'right age' question as I recently I started teaching four kindergartners (all are five years old!). I've discovered when you empower kids to do things that they and others think they shouldn't be able to do… you will be pleasantly surprised how well they perform. I am teaching these kindergartners a little differently than my older kids. I have them sew a simple project each week – and they just love it. They are so cute!!!... and they say the darnedest things. I want to share this cute picture of these five year olds and their first finished project. [caption id="attachment_804" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="5 year olds can Sew!"][/caption] One of their Moms shared this: "The class was AMAZING! The girls got their materials, pinned their cloth, sat down, turned on their machines and got to work. They knew exactly what to do and were totally focused. I was so proud of them all. And they were very proud of their bags." [caption id="attachment_805" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Fabric fun for 5 year olds yields cute bags"][/caption]  My point being that… if these five year olds can learn to sew, you and your child can too!  Happy Sewing, JoLene

Be sure to visit my website: http://jolenesews.com/