What's everybody sewing for Christmas?

Emily,

I'm doing Simiplicty 4570

the 8 yr old. She doesn't really like "poofy" lacy dresses.We're doing it in a red suade.Wow I couldn't sew something without them there to fit on :)Kristina

I have always liked Jessica Mc Clintock's designs and this particular dress is an excellent example of why I prefer them. GDG would like that for Easter, but her DM may not approve of the back. I will have to check with her. Emily

I'm sewing boring things - curtains.

I finally realized that maybe turning 39 meant I might want to replace the plastic bead-curtain that screened my living room windows with something a little more "grown-up".

They are a plain dusty-light-blue mystery fabric ($2/yd) - some kind of synthetic I assume. They wil be plain slot-top with a little ruffle on top and a hanging ruffly-thing edged with a navy/med. blue brocade. Tiebacks will be either plain navy cord or matching brocade, depending on how much I have left.

The brocade matches a set of bedding that I got a few months ago. The set came with a bedskirt, and I have a loft bed, so I dismantled it. Since I have a navy blue crushed velvet sofa (that I upholstered myself a while back) in front of the windows, it all sort-of goes together.

I set things up so that I have to do them before I can put up any decorations, so I hope to get them done in the next day or so. Everythign is cut, it's just all those looonnnggg seams that have to be done.

EVERYTHING!!! My little Rose is a WORKHORSE!!!

Fabric bowls for co-workers at the church where I direct the choir. (Plan to fill with cookies!) FSL ornaments for the tree (ours were all lost in a fire last year). Tree skirt (see above) Self-tying scarves for ladies in my family (pattern from Nancy's Notions-very easy.) Fleece head wraps (reversable!) for the guys. Coin purses (Tina's Tiny Purses - very cute!). Walker bag/carryall for my Grandma. Lacy fabric bowls for DDs (Embroidery Haven). Candy Cane holders for piano students.

Have to get it all done soon cuz I'm looking at hand surgery and will be down for the count for about 6 weeks afterwards! AARGH!!!

That's all guys! I'm headed to the sewing room!!!!

OOPS! Forgot flannel jammies for DH.

BYE!

Those boring miles of seams are why I only sew curtains for myself or for those I REALLY love! Yours sound lovely. :)

Navy blue crushed velvet sofa... Schlurrrp! 'Scuze the drool!

That is one pretty dress! I saw the pattern last week, but didn't get it since I believe TSWLTH has Simplicity on sale for $1.99 this weekend. DGD would love it in pink, like her two older cousins, anything in pink is okay. Emily

We're having a big party between Christmas and New Years so I'm making a holiday slip cover for a big ottoman that'll be in front of the fireplace and matching curtains. Also making some fun pillows as gifts for friends ... one friend likes skeleton art so I found some neat fabric at Jo-Anns with skulls on a black background. My friend will love it! I just started sewing so I stick to easy stuff now. Phil

While in Houston, my DSIL set a ball on a tee, adjusted it to my height, and handed me a bat:

she has about 7 black pillows, and gosh she keeps meaning to make holiday pillowcases for them, here's one of the fabrics she was going to use (cut to size and everything.

Somehow that got into my car, and photos of the construction got into my camera.

The fun part was stumbling across a 50% sale at TSWLTH, and picking out a bunch of holiday fabrics.

She really wasn't hint-hint-hinting. She doesn't do that. But I doubt she'll be terribly surprised when they show up; after all, she's married to my brother.

(DB, if you stumble across this post, keep it a secret!)

--Karen D.

I have far more plans for Christmas sewing than I have time for. I am planning pajamas for my girls, at least three of them, yoga pants for my brother and his girlfriend, bathrobe and pajamas for my sister in Florida, as well as some Christmas clothes to wear for Christmas. I have cut out many things but haven't had time to sew them yet. Unfortunately, my machine is giving me trouble. It is an old Singer, maybe

20 years old, that I got from an American friend in Norway. I just had it cleaned and serviced (for $69) but it seems to be snagging the fabric on the underside as well as chewing up thread. I have changed the needle many times, so that it inot the problem. I am thinking a burr on the feeddog or something like that. I do not have time to take it back to the shop that serviced it. They had it 3 weeks last time waiting on a part.

Kirsten

I can plan, but I can't execute so I'm not going to plan. LOL

Today I'm trying to get a blankie finished and bound for the 3 year old that I've been working on for at least since june. It was shredding so I'm recovering it with fabric he chose way back when, and I had to do it in stages so he wouldn't hate it when it was done.

Now it's re-covered, I'm going to try to add on to the edges to give him more coverage as he grows, then I'm going to bind it and add red jumbo rickrack to the edges and giant homemade tassles to the corners. He knows I'm doing it though so I don't think he could bear to wait for christmas to get it in a package.

Then I think I'm going to try to create at least one felt creche for the kids to play the christmas story with while I tell it to them. Kitty

As many of you know, my DGD is involved with competitive Highland Dance. She also loves her American Girls dolls, I bought her the first one for her 6th birthday, (Kirsten) and she bought Josefina and Kailey *with money she earned*. She takes care of all the neighborhood animals when people travel. So, for Christmas, I'm making a "nationals (Aboyne) costume for the AG dolls, like:

\only fitted and constructed properly. I have temporarily borrowed my 20-something niece's Samantha, so I'll be able to get the costume to fit properly. We (DD and I) selected a lovely red-green-blue fabric for the skirt and scarf in a small shirting plaid, and green velveteen for the vest. I will be including the full white cotton petticoat, and a regulation blouse. And I found tiny black ghillies. I love making doll clothes.... ;-)

Beverly

Beverly, That is so neat. Will you be designing your own pattern. My 7 yo granddaughter just got Jessie for her birthday and would love clothes for her. Do you know any good patterns? I would also like to make my Samantha an outfit for her Samantha doll in the colors of the college she's attending. Neither of these will be Christmas pressies, I'm to overloaded with jammies to make and a DH who wants to go all the time. I keep telling him to learn to sew so that he has something to do when I'm sewing. Juno

Back when I bought 'Kirsten", AG offered patterns for the various dolls, in styles to fit their "era". I'm pretty sure they have discontinued the patterns, or at least I can't find them anywhere on the site. But the basic pattern pieces (skirt, nightgown, shift, etc.) are adaptable for almost anything I want to make.

I have found that the AG dolls are a little "sturdier" than other

18" dolls, so commercial 18" patterns just don't fit. If you have the doll on hand, you could probably alter a commercial pattern. The necks are larger, as are the arms, feet, etc.

What a great idea!

Or, he could take up knitting... ;->

Beverly

One of the big pattern companies had patterns for AG. The one that really tickled my fancy was dressage clothes for horseback riding *and the horse*!!!! grin

The patterns aren't cheap though so you might want to wait for the 1.99 sales at TSWLTH or Hancock's...

Cappy

Juno wrote:

Doesn't Clotilde have the A G patterns for sale. Only one of my DGDs has one and she was never been keen on playing with dolls, even when small. She was and still is too busy playing the piano. Emily

Do you have a link/URL? My search found nada.

Beverly

I guess he's just not a hands on kind of guy. :( Juno