Winter Wonderland Pillows - Add Texture to Sewing Projects

Before I left on my "new grandchild/Christmas" trip last year, I created a little project to take with me, using scraps of fabric and ribbon. This project was very portable; it was small enough that I could carry it in a medium sized zip-lock bag and stuff it into my purse. You know, for those down times when you don't want to watch anything on television or the baby doesn't need changing or it's someone else's turn to hold the baby or the little apartment doesn't need to be cleaned - again.  

I used a Fiber Mosaics pattern #61202, Winter Wonderland as inspiration:
   

When I opened the pattern, I discovered the pieces were too small for my eyes. So with a copier, I enlarged them quite a bit. Then I changed them just a little, hand-stitched the fabric art and then added some embroidered details.

Here are a few tips to add texture to this and other fabric art projects.

• Use a variety of fabrics. The hat above is a quilted looking gold fabric stitched over some embroidered hair. I also used cotton, flannel, fake fur and fleece to create the figure's clothing.  
• Use a variety of embroidery stitches. French knots were used for the pom pom on the bottom of the hat.  The hair was a series of tightly stitched running stitches.  On the ends of the scarfs, I tied a knot and left 6 strands of floss loose so it would look like fringe.
• Add different scraps of lace to the edge of the clothing.  
• Use different embroidery thread to add more interest. Most of the details were added with cotton floss but for the skates, I used a shinny thicker silver floss. 

• Ribbon can also be used for the tree trunks, for windows and even scarfs.

Texture really adds a lot of fun to sewing projects!  With all my children moved out of my house, I've decided it's time to update a few of their bedrooms, and these two pillows make a fun accent in my dusty blue room.  

xoxo Grandma
Linked to 2 Crochet Hooks

Warm Lined Baby Booties - a Tutorial and Free Pattern

Brrr, it's getting cold outside.  Has your weather turned cold already too?  If so, I've just created a pattern to keep your babies feet toasty warm.  You can download the free pattern for baby booties HERE (make sure you do not print it "to fit," just print as is).  These booties aren't your typical baby booties either because these ones actually stay on a baby's feet. They are sized to a toddler 4 (which should fit a one year - 18 mo. baby).  But feel free to adjust as necessary to fit your own little one. 

Supplies needed:  

• 1/4 yard of fur (faux fur works too)
• 1/4 yard of faux leather
• 1/4" elastic
• 1 sheet of sticky foam (for the soles)      
• socks with non-skid soles (hospital socks work great for this) - optional             

Note:  use 1/4" seams  unless otherwise stated.  Cut out all pattern pieces: two from lining and two from outside fabric.  For the outside fabric, I used faux leather on the pair photographed.  You'll need a left and right piece per pair of booties.   

1. Cut out the pattern pieces.  For the sole, I used a pair of those ugly socks that some hospitals give you when you're having a baby.
2. Sew the toe lining to the toe piece along the top seam.  
3. Clip curves.
4. Turn the toe piece so that the outside fabric is on the outside.
5. Baste the back pieces together.  Now sew the casing per the details on the  pattern piece.
6. Photo showing the bottom of the casing being sewn.
7. Sew on the bias around the back top edge.  Do not sew the bias onto the casing.
8. Turn the bias and sew to the reverse side of the back edge.
9. Top stitch around the bias as close to the stitched edge as possible.
10. Top stitch toe pieces along the edge.
11. Sew a strip of bias together.  Turn right side out.  This will be your back tabs.
12. Sew the sole to the back piece and then attach the toe... in that order.
13. Sew a scrap of fabric to the middle of the toe piece as directed on pattern piece.
14. Photo showing placement of this tab.
15. Thread 6 3/4" long x 1/4" wide elastic into casing in the back pieces and through the tab just sewn.
16. Stitch elastic together.
17. Sew on the tab onto the middle of the upper back pieces. 
18. This photo shows the foam pieces with the fabric attached to one piece on the right side and one on the left side.
19. Glue the sole with the fur to the foam sole lining.  You'll want to use a washable glue if you want to keep these booties clean.

Once you're done sewing, you should now have warm, fur lined baby booties that will look like this when they are finished:



Warm feet for my granddaughter!  This little one is learning the joy of creating.  Time to play with chalk anyone?

Don't these booties look toasty?      xoxo Grandma

Etsy shop: xoxo Grandma

Linked to: Nap Time Creations, AllFreeSewing , Project Run and Play, Frances Suzanne Free Patterns

Do you want to Sew a Snowman? Doll Outfit Tutorial & Pattern

Do you want to sew a snowman outfit doll size?  After making my grandson's Olaf, snowman costume, I had some white fleece leftover. Using my experience from making his costume, I created a snowman costume and pattern for a doll. Sometimes it's fun to have matching costumes, you know?  If you don't want to sew your own Olaf looking doll outfit, you can purchase one HERE.  You had until November 13th to download this free pattern.
The pattern is available for purchase at xoxo Grandma Etsy shop HERE.  

To make the costume extra cute, make pants from white fleece too and maybe a white shirt that has brown long sleeves.  Oh and what about brown mittens too?  (To make mittens from a sock, see THIS post.) 

I hope you have fun making this snowman costume. If you hadn't already guessed, its supposed to look like the popular Olaf from Frozen. Hopefully you already figured that out though!  Would love to know who downloaded this pattern, so for those who do, please leave a comment.  Thanks!

xoxo Grandma

Linked to: Nap Time Creations

Winter Play Time

For today's "Winter Play Time" outfit, I started with a vest that looked like this:

I removed the grey hood, and refashioned it with a self-made sherpa hood. Then I refashioned a deep emerald women's shirt into a tunic, sewed white leggings, and sherpa mittens, and this is how this winter outfit turned out: 

Isn't this outfit perfect for a child to run and play in the snow or on a chilly winter day?  You can see more winter themed outfits at Project Run and Play's first week's challenge here.

xoxo Grandma

Link Parties: The Dedicated House, My Fashion Forward Blog, Diane Rambles

Warm Baby Bunting for a Cold Winter's Day

Before this two week old was born, my daughter requested I make her a bear suit or baby bunting similar to one she had seen on the popular British clothing website, Zara. Unfortunately, Zara no longer had this item available.  She loved the cozy warm fabric and the way it buttoned on the side, and wanted her newborn to have something cozy to wear. But I couldn't find a pattern that looked like her photo. However, I did find this pattern:

It's McCall's #4233, but the smallest size this pattern came was for a 6 month old. After adjusting the pattern to make it look like the bunting she wanted, I also cut the pattern way down and sewed the back pieces together, held it up and realized I hadn't made it small enough.  I then searched and searched to find the measurements of a newborn: length of arms and legs and all those measurements that are so important to know when you're also guessing how big the baby is actually going to be.  I thought I was going to go insane guessing!

I eliminated the pocket because really, a newborn is not capable of putting their hands into a pocket anyway.  I lined my bunting with light purple flannel with white polka dots. For the closure, I used silver buttons that were machine washable.

This sherpa style fabric was horrible to work with if you happened to make a mistake, which I did.  I could not see the threads to unpick. Let's just say, I definitely had a few challenges to overcome when I made this bunting.

Once I got this sewn, I packed it in my suitcase and hoped my hours of sewing would pay off. By the time she was two weeks old, this little girl fit into her personalized warm winter bunting with a little room to grow.  Isn't she so cute?

After my granddaughter's indoor photo session (outside, it was around negative 1 degrees with the wind chill factor, making an outside photo not an option), she was tired.  I'm guessing she was toasty from head to toe in her outfit because she slept for a solid three hours without making a peep. Sleep tight you sweet girl.

Note: I've posted this outfit on Project Run and Play week one as part of the play along series for Winter Wonderland. xoxo Grandma