Allow me to step back in time about 34 years. I was a newlywed. Christmas was coming so I decided to make flannel nightgowns for the little girls in my new extended family. They were darling. One was mint green and the other a pale blue. Lace trim and ruffles were stitched and pressed. Sweet, sweet nightgowns. Well at least on the outside. Eek. (I'm sure you know what's coming...)
Christmas morn the presents were opened and the sweet nightgowns were unwrapped and the little girls ran over to their mom to show them off. Well the mom turned them inside out to see how they were made. Her response was "You didn't finish the seams." Oh dear, I was embarrassed and even a little hurt that she chose to find fault instead of delight. But I learned a very good lesson. What a garment looks like on the inside is just as important as on the outside.
So now I try to make sure I finish the seams. I am working on flannel pajamas for our granddaughters. And although I know neither of my sweet daughters-in-love would embarrass me by checking my work I want the PJ's to be darling and well made.
I am on my first top and it has been a hoot. The first seam I did a French seam as that is one of my favorites - well the flannel is thick so it seemed a bit bulky. So the next seams, shoulders, I decided to do a 'turned and stitched' finish. That worked well but when I went to the next seam there was gathering so I did an straight seam, zigzag and pinked the edges - okay by now I'm feeling silly that I have three seams and they are all different finishes... What to do? I called my mom. We laughed about my progress so far. Mom had a great idea - seam binding. Perfect but I want it soft not scratchy. The answer make my own seam binding from the same flannel.
My plan is to go over the pinked seam with seam binding - does it need it? No, but it will look more uniform with the rest of the top. Happy sewing - and after 34 years I'm still learning!! :-)
mark the lines on the bias I did 1.5 inches wide
line up and sew into a tube
Cut continuously to the end
My strip ready to be ironed
This is a great little tool I bought at Nancy's Notions. It folds the seam binding and you just follow it with an iron.
7 yards of matching flannel seam binding
I didn't use the tool she shows. Just my normal cutting guide - it worked great.
Just for fun I'm adding the pictures of the different seams so far...
At least my mom will get giggle.
Outside of PJ top so far
Pattern called for seam binding at neck to finish the raw edge.
The French seam - as you can see it's bulky
turned and stitched shoulder seams
Back bodice stitched to gathered back - straight stitched, zigzagged and then pinked the edge...
Good grief, Charlie Brown!
We are going to the store today. I think I will stop and buy one more yard of this fabric and start again. I can just save this for reference of different seam finishes.
I love a French seam. It is so finished and polished. But I was struggling on how to do it with armholes. Well I found a GREAT tutorial and want to share it on.
I am working on pajamas for our granddaughters and would like the seams finished so they can go in and out of the washing machine numerous times with out any raveling.
I am almost finished with an undergarment... new bra. I love making my own and needed one more. The body is put together and the straps are done - but need to get the straps sewn on and the button - button hole closure complete. We'll see how this evening goes.
I love a button closure! I make an extension (I have pictures - will post on next time with the finished garment.) for buttons
photo from we sew retro
This gives you some idea of what I mean.
My wonderful kids and grandchildren are coming for dinner and then we are going to the church harvest party. What a great way to spend the evening. So maybe I will get my sewing done and maybe not... :-)
Eek! I really should read the rules better. The Sewing Challenge clearly states: The garment must be for you and not someone else. Well since there are only a couple days left in October I may fail the challenge in the first month.
Christmas is coming!!! It's time to start on some Christmas sewing so here is my next project:
Cozy flannel PJ's for four sweet granddaughters.
One Christmas years ago I received a beautiful pink flannel nightgown, pink bathrobe and pink fuzzy slippers. It was a lovely set and really made a memory for me. But the little girls wear PJ's as they are warmer. So this year pajamas win out but in a few years when they are 10 or 11 I think a lovely flannel nightgown, robe and slippers will be in order.
Our eldest granddaughter is turning six. She requested a dress for her birthday this year. She put in an order for pink.
So this is the plan:
This is a soft warm pink I bought dark brown to make the belt. I'm using view A. I thought a chocolate brown shrug would make it just right for fall/winter.
I found a beautiful dress that I'm using as my inspiration.
What was I thinking... Do I really need/want one more blog. Do you sometimes you have a great idea, or at the time it seems like a great idea, but then reality sets in... do I honestly have time or even material to generate another blog?
I thought a blog just dedicated to sewing would be fun - and maybe in the future that will happen...
But my life is such a blend of events and tasks. Sometimes I'm sewing, sometimes I'm canning, or putting food by, sometimes I have fun family events and news to share. I don't live a catagorized life and that's a good thing I like the mix. All that to say - I'm just not sure I can keep three blogs going. I will stick with The Sweet Little Bird as my main way of sharing who I am and what I'm up to. And in the event that there is someting marvolus in a sewing event or project I will post it to Robin's Bobbin.
all the very best, a little bird, Robin's Bobbin, Hives and Honey Bees (aka me)
My mom gave me this solid red fabric when she came out for a visit. I thought it would make a cute doll coat for Dear Granddaughter #4.
So birthday gifts are now complete. I think she will be tickled with the new dress for herself and a dress and coat for her new dolly.
Now I need to think of a new sewing project!
Granddaughter #1 saw the dress below and asked if I would make her a new dress too. Her birthday is the first part of November so maybe that will be the next project. :-)
The matching doll dress is finished. I hope our little one thinks its fun to have a dress for her doll that matches hers.
I bought this doll a few years back as my 'model'. We bought the older granddaughters dolls for Christmas and I made a couple of outfits for them. I couldn't take their dolls out of the box to test the clothes on so it made sense to just buy an extra.
My doll is an 18 inch Madame Alexander doll. Very much the same size as the American Girl dolls.
There are some fun free patterns for this size doll.
Our youngest granddaughter will turn three this weekend. For her birthday from Mimi and Papa there will be a new dress for her and a matching dress for her new doll. (Shh, she doesn't know she's getting the doll yet.)
Here is her birthday dress - I don't have the doll's dress completed yet but will post when it is.
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