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/