Sept 2019

[MartySews2]

Busy, busy month ... My Sit & Sew ministry has expanded to 2 days each week ... Mondays from 9am - 2pm and Wednesdays from 10am to 3pm. On Monday afternoons, I am teaching children to sew from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Then on Friday nights from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, I am teaching a group of girls from Girls, Inc how to sew. I still have my Saturday sewing schedule too. The children are so much fun. They are ages 4 & 6 learning to sew with their mom. Their excitement and enthusiasm just makes me joyful. Today was the first lesson and I had them learn the parts of a sewing machine and how to thread the machines. Then turning the handwheel (without electricity) they formed stitches on scraps of fabric. The squeals were deafening. Next week, we will sew with electricity as I will have my extension cords at that time. Each of them picked out a project and fabric for next week and will actually sew on the machines. The mom was so pleased too. As for my sewing projects, I have embroidered 2 aprons and am working on some diapers to turn into burp cloths for a craft fair fundraiser. I am also working on altering a skirt for a church member. As I said, busy, busy.
Marty

[Skye]

Marty teaching the children to sew sounds like a fun time.

I have been sewing for DH. Two silver grey merino long sleeved t-shirts and a new night shirt.

Our sewing group has z charity sewing day next month. We are waiting to hear what the local women's refuge needs this year.

[MartySews2]

Sounds so great. My husband only wears long sleeve dress shirts and in the winter a chamois shirt.He gets them from LL Bean and doesn't want me sewing for him. So I sew the things that make me happy. By the way, I was working on the skirt Saturday while at the local fair. When hubby was carrying the bag that had all of my supplies to the van, he lost the skirt and did not notice. We figure that the ziplock project bag fell out of my supply bag on the ground and has been tossed away by the clean-up crew. Now, I get to explain to the skirt's owner that I have lost the skirt. I cannot find one online like it and it is no longer sold by LL Bean. I will offer to buy her a new skirt and refund her the funds that she paid to the church to have the skirt remade. I feel horrible about this as I was almost done getting it remade in a smaller size.
Marty

[MartySews2]

Yesterday, at Sit & Sew I made a preemie sleeper for one the hospitals' NICU unit and a pair of pants that will be given to somone who is homeless. It was so nice to sit and sew with plenty of space to work. Decluttering today some of my sewing supplies.
Marty

[sewingrandma]

Marty it sounds like you are busy everyday sewing with or for someone. It's good to stay active. Is the preemie sleeper you made from the site you sent me? It goes together quick and really looks nice. I've been making sleep sacks with sleeves for the Sleepers in September project. I make them out of fleece and use a long invisible zipper in them which really gives them a nice finish. Some have a self fabric bias tape neck line and others have a cotton knit. Just to let you know if you like sewing for hospitals, they love fleece hats, I can't keep up with their requests for them.

I would love to teach Abby to sew but the only interest she has in it right now is separating my pins into different piles. She started school this year (loves it) so won't have her at the house as often. We are going to have a sleepover this weekend though and we are all excited.

Skye you sound busy sewing for your DH. I used to sew pants as well as shirts for my DH. It was hard for him to find shirts that fit him well without paying a fortune for them, broad shoulders, large but short neck (think regular t-shirt looking like a turtle neck), "normal" sized biceps. If he bought shirts that fit his shoulders and neck the sleeves would flap like sails on his arms, the collar would be tight and if he had to wear it buttoned it cut into under his chin. It took a lot of muslins to finally get a good fit but once I did he was more comfortable in his clothing.

[MartySews2]

Good news, the skirt was not lost at the Fair after all. It had fallen out of the bag but onto my bedroom floor and was up under the bed. When I was cleaning today, I found it. Am so thankful. So tomorrow, I will finish my alterations and be able to return the skirt to its owner on Sunday morning. I had really prayed about this and was so thankful for answered prayers.

Tomorrow, I have our monthly ASG meeting and then Sit & Sew afterwards. At our meeting, I will be embroidering diapers to make burp cloths for our Craft Fair fundraiser. I do have to finish one of the aprons. Lots of sewing time. I did get an Ott Task Light to use as I am really struggling with my eyesight. So happy to get a chance to teach sewing and having space at the church to sew 2 days a week plus 2 Saturdays a month. I am really blessed. Brockie, the sleeper is from the warmheartswarmbabies.org website. It was easy to put together and I am doing a drawstring neckline and leaving the front placket open for any tubes that the preemie baby may need.
Marty

[MartySews2]

Still working on the skirt ... Had to take it completely apart, cut down, and remake it all over again with some modifications. Black linen fabric, black upholstery thread, and a black zipper. Have almost finished it. Just need to add a back kick pleat and rework the waist band and hem. Had to put it aside as I have had 2 hospitalizations in the last 3 weeks. Last week, I had 2 surgeries within 24 hours of one another. I now have new stents in my heart. Anyway, I also spent time embroidering some items for our American Sewing Guild fundraiser ... 2 sets of 4 napkins and a hand towel with Colonel Reb ... Ole Miss. Here's pics of the embroidery ... I am continuing to teach sewing lessons with young children and enjoying sewing preemie baby clothes and pillows for the homeless and pillowcases for St Jude.

Craft Fair 2019.jpg (76.48 KB) Viewed 3728 times

2019 Craft Fair napkins.jpg (87.43 KB) Viewed 3725 times

Craft Fair Ole Miss towel.jpg (111.83 KB) Viewed 3743 times

Marty

[sewingrandma]

You've been busy even with your surgeries Marty. Thank goodness for medical technologies. Stay well and follow your doctors instructions. BTW the reindeer is really cute.

I stitched 26 burp cloths yesterday and 15 washcloths. Last weekend I cut out 10 tote bags, including the linings. I caught a clearance of drapes for $2.50 for a 50 x 84 panel and they make great bags. I also found quilted mattress protectors and I'm using them to line flannel for changing pads. Can't get that much fabric at that price anywhere, plus the bonus of yards of elastic I can use in baby clothing.