Blogs, potholders, and tutorials

November 2008 024, originally uploaded by pearljamfanatic.

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! I took a little break from blogging and sewing to just sit back and enjoy time with my family. Now, I'm anxious and ready to get back to sewing!

First, I wanted to mention a blog I came across recently which I love. Well, more than the blog, I love the things they create and show in it! Beautiful handcrafted items from a pair of sisters down under. They publish their own patterns as well.

Melly & Me

Here is one of the potholders I've made to replace my own ratty ones that needed to be tossed. I used more of the Moda fabric that I've had for far too long. I think I'm going to see just how many things I can make from this fat quarter collection. The tally so far is 3 pillows, three potholders, and one bag.

A tutorial for making potholders like the one I made can be found at BubbaChic, along with more cute ideas!

little frog

little frog, originally uploaded by pearljamfanatic.

My son has been asking me to make him this little amigurumi frog for Christmas for about a month now. He doesn't know it's done but I hope he likes it! I can picture it sticking out of the top of his stocking ready to jump.

Embellished Travel Tissue Holder

Here's a fun and unique little gift to make for someone you know. It's a holder for those little travel tissue packs!

Embellished Travel Tissue Holder

You could make these as simple or as fancy as you want. I made several a couple of years ago and gave them as little gifts to my military wife friends at a meet up that we had. I wish I had taken pictures to post here, but I didn't. I will say they are easy and quick, especially made in assembly line style!

Utilitarian sewing

Last year's PJ pants were starting to look more like PJ capris on the kids. For that reason, I whipped up a couple of pairs for the girl out of fabric found in various nooks and crannies of my sewing room.



The boy will be getting a pair or two next.

This very well may be the last year that I can get away with making a pair of pants for them out of only one yard. :(

Free doll skirt patterns

YouCanMakeThis.com is once again offering free doll skirt patterns as a way to help with charity sewing. The Toys for Tots programs was started with one woman who handcrafted a doll and couldn't find a place to donate it.

These doll skirts are another great way to use up small cotton scraps!

Download the free patterns, a twirl or wrap skirt, here.

Project Linus

Project Linus is a wonderful organization that makes blankets as comfort items for children. Here is part of their mission statement:

First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”

Save your cotton scraps and make a small quilt for a child to love on!

Sense and Sensibility Patterns

Sense and Sensibility Patterns is a small company that produces sewing patterns for historic, beautiful clothes. Because of so many requests, they're now offering many of their patterns in digital form. No waiting for the mail! Instant gratification - I love it! The prices are very reasonable too. There are items for adults as well as children and even dolls.

Check their new e-patterns out!