Baby Breen Shower Gifts

 

Baby Breen gifts from grandma

     Back in June we celebrated Baby Breen coming in September.  My daughter and daughter-in-law had a woodland animals themed baby shower at my house.  Our son and daughter-in-law, guest of honor, came in from Iowa for the celebration.

     I made some gifts for the newest grandchild.  First was a homecoming outfit using McCall's pattern, M6223.  I bought the spring green cotton interlock from Nature's Fabrics online.  I Used the Two in One Embroideries duckies design.  I chose the colors of the threads based on the receiving blanket that I made for the baby back for Mothers day.  

     I like this pattern and designs because you hoop sticky paper and the first stitches are the outline of the pattern piece.  Then you lay your cut fabric onto the sticky paper and do the embroidery.  After that you just sew it together and you have perfectly placed embroidery.

 

     I also embroidered bibs with months for taking monthly photos.  For a previous grandchild I did the designs on onesies.  Even though I tried to coordinate the size of the onesie to the age, oftentimes they were too small.  This time I decided to do bibs so I knew they would 'fit'. 

     I chose all kinds of fun fabrics from my stash for the background of the design and included pink, blue, green and purple as we don't know the gender.  I even used a piece of fabric from making the outfit for one of the bibs. 

Beginning Sewing Camp August 2021

 

All their projects

     The week of August 9 was my last summer sewing camp.  Originally it was going to be a purse camp but no one signed up.  I still had requests for beginners so I switched it over.  I had three girls Izzy, Audrielle and Liv.  I had a couple of other inquiries also but it turned out they were already starting school.  Wow that is early for school to start! 

Audrielle and her patchwork pillow

Izzy and her patchwork pillow

Liv and her patchwork pillow

      After spending the first day learning the basics of the sewing machine and stapling all their samples into their workbooks, they started on their pillows.  They had fun choosing their fabrics.

Audrielle and her drawstring bag

Izzy and her drawstring bag

Liv and her drawstring bag

     Next up was learning about the zigzag stitch and finishing seam allowances.  After those samples were done, they made their drawstring bags.

Audrielle and her book bag

Izzy and her book bag

Liv and her book bag

     The last set of samples for their workbooks were sewing curves and learning about clipping them to reduce bulk.  Then they made their book bags.  They had a good time and learned a lot.  

Audrielle's projects

Izzy's projects

Liv's projects

     Summer sewing is over for another year.  After school sewing classes start the week of Sept 13.  Contact me at sewmuchfungrayslake@gmail.com for more info.  Come join in the fun.

Fabric Basket

 

Fabric basket

     We needed a way to corral all our chargers on the kitchen countertop.  We had a plug with 4 ports for cords but those cords were laying all over the counter plus there were a couple of other cords that were only plugged in occasionally. 

     I decided to make a basket to hold all the cords plus the small pouches that I had made for them.  I found directions on SewCanShe.com.  It was for 10 x 10 squares but I cut mine larger.  I also used just two different fabrics.

Tab on back

     My husband asked for a Velcro tab to be placed on the back to hold the cords going to the charger so I added that to the back.  After putting it in the kitchen and filling it with all the stuff I wished I had fused fleece to all the pieces to give it more body.  I also turned the top cuff down a bit more as it was just a tad too tall.  The color blends into the tile and countertop so you don't really see it in the corner.  

     So happy I took the time to make this, glad to not have cords hanging everywhere.

Beginning Sewing Camp July 2021

 

All their projects

     The week before going on vacation, I had my third Beginning Sewing camp.  Harper, Makenzie, Ellyanna and Madison joined me.  They learned how to safely use a sewing machine and made three projects.

     Their first project was a patchwork pillow.  This used the skills of straight line sewing, keeping an even seam allowance and pivoting.  They also learned the importance of pressing.

Ellyanna and her patchwork pillow

Harper and her patchwork pillow

Madison and her patchwork pillow

Makenzie and her patchwork pillow

  

     Their next project was a drawstring bag.  For this project they learned about seam finishing.  They again used their knowledge of keeping an even seam, pivoting and pressing.  They finished their raw edges with a zigzag stitch and learned how to thread a ribbon through a casing.

Ellyanna and her drawstring bag

Harper and her drawstring bag

Madison and her drawstring bag

Makenzie and her drawstring bag

     Lastly they made a book bag.  For this project they learned sewing curves and how to reduce the bulk in the seam so the piece would turn nicely.  They also learned how to turn a fabric tube.  This project had no raw edges because it was lined.

Ellyanna and her book bag

Harper and her book bag

Madison and her book bag

Makenzie and her book bag

     Another fun camp.  Just one more Beginning Sewing Camp this summer and then it is back to after school lessons.