12 days of Christmas in July

Wow, we are nearing 5 months until Christmas. Unbelievable.  Why does time seem to go fast. I am going to share some fun ideas for some tea towels. My favorite towels to use are flower sack towels. They are nice and large, but you can use any towels you like.

These make great gifts for neighbors, co-workers, teachers, friends or even family member may like them.    I am a simple person, so getting a gift like this does not bother me.

You need 1 tea towel and a strip (4 -6" wide and 1" wider than your towel) of fabric.

Do a double 1/4" hem on each side. You will fold under 1/4" and press, then fold another 1/4" and press and stitch the hem. Do this on both sides.  On the top and bottom repeat.

Now lay your fabric strip along your towel. You can lay the bottom along the bottom edge of the towel, or you can bring it up a little bit. If I bring it up a little bit, I will draw a line so it is straight. Pin in place and top stitch.

Then press and make sure the top is even and top stitch that in place.   You are done.

If you don't have a tea towel laying around but you happen to have Terry cloth you can do the same thing. Just make sure that you adjust your measurements accordingly. Also, make sure that you double hem the edges of your Terry cloth towel so that it doesn't fray.

My friend,Jan, made some hot pads. You could use the same design on your tea towels to make a matching set. Check out her post by following the link: https://thecolorfulfabriholic.blogspot.com/2018/07/12-days-of-christmas-in-july-blog-hop.html?m=1

I will be giving away a free pattern, to U.S. residents only from www.christaquilts.com called Charming Chevrons.  All you have to do is leave a comment to be entered.

Please visit these other bloggers who have shared some great ideas for fun projects.


Saturday, July 14th


Joy @ days filled with joy

Selina @ Selina Quilts


Sunday, July 15th


Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Jan @ The Colorful Fabriholic


Monday, July 16th


Carole @ From My Carolina Home

Jamie @ L'Fair Quilts

Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts, travels, & eats,


Tuesday, July 17th


Sharon @ Vrooman's Quilts

Mary @ Made by Marney


Wednesday, July 18th


Karrin @ Karrin's Crazy World

Marian @ Seams To Be Sew


Thursday, July 19th


Christina @ Christina's Handicrafts

Sherry @ Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc.

Danice @ Homespun Hannah


Friday, July 20th


Kristi @ Confessions of A Fabric Addict

Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts


Saturday, July 21st


Cindy @ Stitchin' At Home

Meloney @ Mel's Quilting Blog


Sunday, July 22nd


Anja @ Anja Quilts

Moira @ Quilted Snail


Monday, July 23rd


Brenda @ Songbird Designs

Amy @ Sea of Estrogen

Bonnie @ In Stitches With Bonnie


Tuesday, July 24th


Kathy @ Kathy's Kwilts and More

Summer @ Summer Lee Quilts


Wednesday, July 25th


Susan @ Quilt Fabrication

Brandy @ Pampered Pettit

Jean @ All Points of the Compass

Make a list Monday

This week I am starting something new. My friend and fellow blogger, Sarah, over at www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com, does this and she says it is helpful. 

Each week, on Monday, I will share what my goals for the week are. Hopefully it helps me avoid the distractions that tend to get in my way.   These are in no way in any particular order, well, except for the first one.

1.  Clean my sewing room.   I have been working on this, and need to do a bit more organizing.   I also need to turn my quilting frame around and add the last section so it is wider.

2.   Work on my squiggles quilt for a display in September .  The fabric is the new fandangle  line from Christa over at www.christaquilts.com.  Christa was very willing to share her beautiful fabric with me.

3.  Quiit this quilt for my grandson, due in September .

4.  This next quilt is one that I am doing for a charity for www.cottoncuts.com as part of their heartbuilders program.

5.  Get my project and tutorial done for my post on July 24th for the 12 days of Christmas in July blog hop with www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com

6.  Get this quilt on the frame that I am quilting for a friend in my neighborhood.

As I said, the most important thing is getting my sewing room organized.  The piecing of the squiggles quilt can be done or started with handpiecing and I can work on it during my lunch breaks.

Hopefully doing this helps me become more organized.

I would love to hear how you stay organized.  Please share your comments, I love to read them.

a fun 12 days of Christmas in July blog hop and quilt along

Hi friends,

It is July and yes, it is very hot. So cool off with me as we look at some great crafty Christmas ideas. I mean, Christmas is really sneaking up on us.

My friend Sarah over at www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com is hosting this blog hop, and I had so much fun with it last year, that I wanted to do it again. So, I will be doing my fun and easy project on the 24th of July.

Sarah has designed a great quilt along that you can make throughout this hop, and have ready in time for Christmas. Make the top now, and get it quilted right away.

So, join my fellow bloggers each day for 12 days of Christmas in July and have a stress free holiday season by starting things right away.

Saturday, July 14th

Joy @ Days Filled With Joy

Selina @ Selina Quilts

Sunday, July 15th

Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Jan @ The Colorful Fabriholic

Monday, July 16th

Carole @ From My Carolina Home

Jamie @ L'Fair Quilts

Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels & Eats

Tuesday, July 17th

Sharon @ Vrooman's Quilts

Mary @ Made by Marney

Wednesday, July 18th

Karrin @ Karrin's Crazy World

Marian @ Seams To Be Sew

Thursday, July 19th

Christina @ Christina's Handicrafts

Sherry @ Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc.

Danice @ Homespun Hannah

Friday, July 20th

Kristi @ Confessions of A Fabric Addict

Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts

Saturday, July 21st

Cindy @ Stitchin' At Home

Meloney @ Mel's Quilting Blog

Sunday, July 22nd

Anja @ Anja Quilts

Moira @ Quilted Snail

Monday, July 23rd

Brenda @ Songbird Designs

Amy @ Sea of Estrogen

Bonnie @ In Stitches With Bonnie

Tuesday, July 24th

Kathy @ Kathy's Kwilts and More

Summer @ Summer Lee Quilts

Wednesday, July 25th

Susan @ Quilt Fabrication

Brandy @ Pampered Pettit

Jean @ All Points of the Compass

Get Ready for Summer with Ellie and Mac

Today is my stop on the Ellie and Mac get ready for summer blog tour. This blog hop was put together by Lo at www.seamssewlo.com.  The tour is sponsored by www.ellieandmac.com?aff=183 who also provided me and the other bloggers with the patterns we used.

Disclaimer: this post may contain affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, if you order using my affiliate link, I earn a small commission.

I had a hard time choosing a pattern. There are so many that I liked. I choose the Be Brilliant swimsuit pattern. I made this one for my granddaughter and am planning to make another one for her and then  a couple for the other two granddaughters.

This is an easy pattern. The instructions are very well written and easy to follow and understand. 

I did not have swimsuit lining, so I used the same fabric for the lining. I bought my swim fabric at a local store www.nuttallbernina.com.  I like that I can buy it off the bolt or as a flatfold.

There are a couple of features that really appealed to me.  They are the skirt and the swim shorts.

When I gave this swimsuit to my granddaughter she was very excited, and couldn't wait to get pictures done. She then asked her mom if she could wear it the rest of the day.  I am so very glad that she loves it and is very excited to wear it.

Now to find a day to go swimming.   If you like this pattern, hop on over and order it. All patterns are on sale right now. Www.ellieandmac.com?aff=183

Please join the other bloggers on this tour. They all have some fun ideas for summer.


Please visit all the wonderful bloggers on the Get Ready for Summer Sewing Patterns Blog Tour for some incredible inspirations.  And enter the giveaway.

1. May 7th: Seams Sew Lo
2. May 8th: Tenille's Thread
3. May 9th: Seams Sew Lo
4. May 10th: The Sewing Goatherd
5. May 11th: Aurora Designs Fabrics
6. May 14th: Our Play Place
7. May 15th: Momma Can Make It
8. May 16th: Aurora Designs Fabric
9. May 17th: QuiltsbyJoann
10. May 18th: Liviality
11. May 19th: Momma You Can Make It
12. May 21st: Margarita on the Ross
13. May 22nd: Sewing Blue
14. May 23rd: Kathy's Kwilts and More
15. May 24th: Momma Newey's Makes
16. May 25th: Jot Designs USA
17. May 28th: The Scatty Sewer
18. May 29th: Granma Texas Sews
19. May 30th: Fee Bricolo
20. May 31st: My Sewing Roots

a Rafflecopter giveaway

sewing a knit neckband - Tuesday tutorial

Hi readers,

I am trying to get into the habit of doing a Tuesday Tips and Tutorials post.  I need to put it on my calendar to remind me.

I do both sewing and quilting. Today's tutorial is for sewing. I love to sew clothing. It may not be less expensive,  but I can be creative with what I sew.

Today I am going to share how to do a knit neckband.

Your pattern will usually tell you what size to cut the neckband. If it doesn't then it is usually about 15% of the neckline measurement of your t-shirt, so if you calculate it you would take the neck circumference x .85.

I usually use a cotton lycra. You want to make sure you have something with good stretch and recovery. I have bought ribbing, but at .45 an inch, that gets expensive, so I usually look for a solid cotton lycra that matches the t shirt.

This is very important.  When you cut your neckband, make sure you are cutting the length going with the greatest stretch of the fabric.  You don't know how many neckbands, sleeve bands, and bottom bands I have messed up because of this. Usually the greatest stretch is the width of the fabric.

Once I have my neckband cut, then I serge or zigzag the short ends together to form a loop. Mark halfway points and then quarter points. I sometimes make a small notch, not too big, just within the seam allowance. I have also used marking pencils.

Now, mark your t-shirt. Fold the back in half and make your mark. Do the same with the front.  Now mark quarter points. When I first tried to make the shirts I used the shoulder seams for my quarter points. NO. They are not the half way point. You will end up with gathering at the front if you do this.  I match my center front and center back together  to find my quarter points. Make your marks.

Now take your neckband and pin or clip to your neckline. You will have your neckband folded in half, wrong sides together. Put the seam at the center back. Match your markings. You will have an even stretch on your neckband.  I sew from mark to mark. I usually use a serger, but you can also use a stretch stitch on your machine.  Now, on my Viking Lily 550, I can use a regular straight stitch and the stitches don't pop.

When you follow these instructions you will have a great looking neckband. I like to steam it just a bit, let it cool and then topstitch. For top stitching you can use a single needle or a twin needle.  I have fallen in love with twin needles.

The neckband on this dress was used following this technique. It turned out perfect.  This dress is the baby Savannah pattern from Pickle Toes Patterns.   You can use my affiliate link to order the pattern and I do earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. www.pickletoespatterns.com?aff=71
I would love to hear from you as to what kind of tutorials you would like to see. With 44 years of sewing I have learned a lot.

Thanks for joining me today.

One Thimble blog Tour issue 19

Today is my day for the One Thimble issue 19 tour.  I was one of the testers for this cute pattern Pixel Pullover by Sew Jennuine Design.

It is a fun pattern with different options. I made the one with the shawl collar. I used blizzard fleece for the jacket and some knit fabric that I had in my stash.

I have another one or two cut out and I am putting a good on one and think I  may do the shawl collar, again, only I will use a bit heavier fabric for the neckband, waistband and cuffs.

This is not a hard pattern to do. The instructions are well written.  The hardest part was getting good pictures. This little guy would not stay still.   But he seems to like it, and that, my friends is why I like to sew.


Please check out the other bloggers to see some of the fun things they have made. I think I need to buy this issue.

5/10

Pattern Revolution

5/11

That's-Sew Kari

Beri Bee Designs

5/12

GAAFmachine
Sprouting JubeJube
Max California

5/13

Call Ajaire

5/14

Made by Sara
Snickerdoodle Stew

5/15

Candice Ayala

Curtiepie
Once Upon a Sewing Machine

5/16

kathyskwiltsandmore 

Elli and Nells

Boys in Summer blog hop

Today is my day for the Boys in Summer blog hop. I currently sew for 6 grandkids, 3 of which are boys.  I love it.


This blog hop is being hosted by Made for Little Gents.  I am excited to be a part of her tour.

The pattern I am featuring today is a new one by Pickle Toes Patterns (http://pickletoespatterns.com?aff=71). It is the snail hunters and so fun to make and easy. It has a side panel that you can do some fun things with.

I needed to look through my stash to see what I had for boys. I found some fabric that looked like denim, then I found this fun piece with sail boats. Perfect.

As I continued going through fabrics, I found some more to use for the panels. Oh, grandma is getting excited. Because I have found the perfect fabrics. I really didn't have anything with spiders, but I have tractors,  specifically John Deere. I have construction vehicle fabrics. They will make perfect shorts for these guys.

This is the fitting of the shorts. We had a family activity, so I took the shorts for them to try on. Then I had them stand against the wall. There must be a connection with cousins, as these two had not said anything, but one started doing funny poses, and the other just started doing the same thing. And to hear stories their mothers share when these two get together.

I love sewing for my grandsons.  Really for all of my grandkids. Yes, I could go and buy, but I get a better fit, I can do fun things, and the joy that I see when I make them new things is awesome. Don't forget that you can find the pattern here.
Looking for more summer boy inspiration? Follow along on the Boys in Summer Blog Tour hosted by Made by Little Gents by clicking through the links below. Fri. May 4 Made for Little Gents (Intro to Boys in Summer Blog Tour) Mon. May 7 Elli & Nels in Stitches Tues. May 8 Our Play Palace | Made by Laura! | Beri Bee Designs Wed. May 9 Made for Little Gents | Momma Newey's Makes Thurs. May 10 Phat Quarters | Dreams & Stitches Fri. May 11 Stylin' Stacy | Tenille's Thread Mon. May 14 Paisley Roots | Fabulous Home Sewn Tues. May 15 Seams Like Style | Kathy's Kwilts and More Wed. May 16 Sewing with D | Auschick Sews | Seams Sew Lo Thurs. May 17 My Sewing Roots | Sewing à la Carte | Middle River Studio Fri. May 18 Lunatiek | Needles to Say | Manning The Machine