A Word About Stuffing

Thanksgiving is a good time to talk about stuffing . . . 

not the stuffing you eat, the stuffing you use for sewing projects like pillows and fluffy toys. I've tried all kinds. When I used to make things to sell, I bought giant rolls of stuffing from a furniture maker and it was fantastic. If you don't need a bale of stuffing, my favorite by a long shot that is locally available is Morning Glory Brand Premium Polyester Fiberfill. I can usually find it at Walmart. It gives me a smoother result and doesn't clump like some other products do. It's a little more expensive, but worth a few extra pennies for the end result.

I also like Morning Glory Cluster Stuff for some projects. My local Hobby Lobby carries it. It's in small pieces, so it's next to impossible to pack it too tight or for it to clump, and trust me, I've tried. It's more difficult to use in stuffed toys because it's hard to get into tight places, but I love it in pillows and larger projects because it's easier to stuff firmly without the lumps and bumps and the pillow still stays soft.

Any other favorites out there?

Apron Anyone?

If you need an easy gift for your favorite friends, you can't go wrong with Simplicity 2492. There's not much to say, except that this pattern sews up quick and looks darling. It only takes a yard to 1 1/4 yard of fabric. Rick-rack trim adds some interest and the bias tape is an easy application to finish the edges. I've made this apron with all sorts of prints and trim colors and I love how it turns out every time!

Bohemian Booties

There is nothing I like more than a pair of soft, cozy slippers (unless it's a tall, cold glass of ice water or a pair of new socks). I used this cute pattern to make a pair of slippers for a sweet friend.

The pattern is by Amanda Herring from The Quilted Fish and sadly, I learned as I was writing this post that the pattern doesn't appear to be available any more. (Hopefully there are a few copies floating around the Ebay or Etsy universe.) There are similar patterns out there though, and some of them are free. Yay!

The construction was a little tricky with some curves and tight spaces, but they turned out so cute!

The soles are a soft suede. After a lot of easing and clipping, it all worked out in the end, but the sole pattern seemed a little small for the bootie pattern since there's not much (or any) give to the suede. So, if I were you, I would wait to cut the sole pattern until you have the slipper top constructed. You will thank me later when you get a better fit and don't break out in a sweat trying to make it work! I used paper clips to hold everything together since I didn't want to stick pins in the suede. I'm sure there are better methods out there, but they worked and I had them around the house. Also, my sewing machine and the suede didn't really get along. You might want to think twice about using suede if you make them. I like it because it is more durable than the usual slipper bottom fabric.

You can't see it from the photo, but there is an elastic and button detail on the side of the slippers. I didn't see the elastic measurement in the pattern, so I emailed the designer and she told me that she used a coated hair elastic (like these) Adorable! I used the thinner type since I was already sewing through soooo many layers. 

I love the cotton print I used, but unless you are only going to wear your slippers while sitting in your lounge chair, eating bon-bons and watching a romantic comedy, I would recommend using a darker fabric than I did!

Australia

I have not been sewing as of late because I have been to Sydney, Australia. My son married a beautiful Australian and we were lucky enough to go to their wedding reception there. The opera house, the Harbor Bridge, the beaches and everything else is stunning. I'm still trying to recover from jet-lag and hoping to get back in the swing of things soon. Until then, please enjoy an amazing view of beautiful Bondi Beach along the Bondi to Coogee walk. If it's not on your bucket list, it should be!

More Doll Clothes . . .

More doll clothes for my granddaughter's American Girl doll she got for Christmas. There are so many patterns out there and unlimited options. Doll clothes are the perfect way to use up stash fabric and scraps, which is why I save so many of my scraps. Besides, I feel so thrifty when I use something I already have.

I used McCall's 7031 for this combination. The pattern was easy. I think the hardest part was sewing on all the buttons, but even that was a cinch. 

Pattern Link Here

What doll wouldn't look cute in this bright pink jacket and gray striped pants?

Baby Boy Geometric Quilt

Maybe it's just me, but sometimes I feel like it's hard to find cute patterns for little boys. It was over a year ago that I searched far and wide for a pattern to make a quilt for my new grandson. His mamma doesn't love traditional baby prints and I wanted to do something simple. This pattern by Missy Mack Creations on Etsy was the perfect choice.

Find Pattern Here

It's versatile and simple and would work with many different solids or prints. I used 100% cotton solids in complimentary white, grays and blues. The back is a dark gray. I had a quilt shop do the quilting, but apparently it's hard to stitch straight lines with a quilting machine. Honestly, I tried to make myself leave it, but some of the crooked stitching got the best of me and I ended up taking most of it out and doing it myself, stitching the width of the pressure foot on either side of the seams, vertically and horizontally.

The pattern is well-done and the designer offers a great way to cut and sew the squares that simplified things so much. I can only imagine how frustrated I might have made myself if I had made the quilt the way I had planned by cutting all the squares and then triangles individually. The hardest part for me was the layout and getting various colors and angles where I wanted them. After it was quilted, I noticed a few squares I wish I'd put somewhere else, but you live and you sew and you learn, right? I'm happy with the result and more than happy with our sweet grandson!

Deluxe Lemon Squares

I set my sewing projects aside while I prepare for my son's wedding, but I made some lemon squares over the weekend and wanted to share. I've been using the same recipe since I was young. My 4-H sewing group was also a cooking group and I started making them many moons ago.

For full disclosure, I hate getting lemon squares out of the pan and this time was no exception. It reminded me a little of my husband's patio project last summer when he jack-hammered our old concrete. I think I might try the tin foil method again the next time I bake these. I didn't have great success when I used it before, but I'm thinking it has to be easier than trying to get the sugary edge of the lemon squares away from the pan. These lemon squares are scrumptious, so in the end it's worth the effort. Enjoy!

2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup buttered, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (don't even think about using the bottled lemon juice) 
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup flour

Preheat oven to 350. Mix the 2 cups of flour with the powdered sugar. Cut in softened butter (like a pie crust). When you have course crumbs, press in a well-greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or golden brown on the edges. While baking, beat eggs, and add sugar and lemon juice. Mix together 1/4 cup flour and baking powder and stir into lemon juice mixture. Pour over baked crust and return to oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Dust with powdered sugar. Cut into bars and serve. You might want to keep your leftovers in the refrigerator, if there are any.