Not a sewing machine, but some misc blocks for a sewer / quilter. This is something each of you could do one block and send to one person to put together. I know I have seen an antique sewing machine block somewhere - maybe someone has seen it. I'm sorry she and your family has to endure this horrible disease. Making this quilt will help you all. Here is a link that might be useful: Quilter's Blocks

You have long legs, I have short legs! Pre-washing fabric is the first rule in sewing. The second rule is measure 3 times and cut once! Also, try buying some muslin or other cheap fabric to find out how the pattern will fit your body type. Then make modifications from there. (this way you don't spend an arm and a leg on fabric just to find that after you spent all that time making it, it still doesn't fit well. I like http://www.denverfabrics.com They have great customer service to help you narrow your search. That's "if" you can't get to a fabric store in person to look through all the books. It will save you time to shop on-line though. Once you find a great pattern, make a re-usable template with some stronger pattern paper found in most fabric stores,(not sure if you can get that from the website I gave you or not) it will last longer than the flimsy pattern paper in the package. That way you can use and re-use that template. I have patterns dating back to the 80's that fit great. I just use more current fabrics, and make the odd modification from the original pattern to keep the fashion current. You will have to probably add a few inches to the original pattern. Look for the inseam info on the package and add the extra inches that your inseam measurements require. Hope that helps.

I used the pivot method in the Youtube video I linked to modify the front pattern piece - I don't think it's going to fit on the fabric, going to have to cut a new piece. The edge of the new armhole ends up right in the selvedge, and with only 3/8" SA I think the little holes are going to show. Plus since the narrowest point is 25" from the selvedge and I refolded to 12.5", the edge of the hem is right AT the edge of the selvedge, which is 1/2" deep so I know some holes are going to show there, unless we make it shorter. Well, then again, the hem is 1.25" deep (double the 3/8") so maybe that will be folded up into the hem and the part that actually shows will be OK. I don't know, I've got other things to worry about now. DH decided to help me this weekend by getting the deer/rabbit netting up around the garden (permanently installed T posts with ENT conduit extensions to 7ft). But he trenched 3 sides and filled in with bark mulch, I think to try to keep weeds from creeping in (he just didn't do the side where my strawberries are creeping in, so I can move them). Now the plastic pegs that hold the bottom of the netting don't have anything solid to hold onto, we're going to have to lower the netting and lay it out farther from the posts onto solid ground. I'm afraid that trench is also going to fill with water and become a breeding ground for mosquitos (maybe they won't like the bark mulch?). We'll see tomorrow - supposed to get 1" of rain tonight. But I think he's going to have to extend the trench to the lowest point and let it all drain into the (already swampy) low point in the back yard. But I can't say anything until after my fears are proven correct, b/c any time I question something he's done and suggest a modification, he "undoes" what he did (sometimes making the matter worse) and then ignores my requests for other projects. He built a 3ft high stone circle around our wellhead a few years ago for Mothers Day, it was lovely, but when I expressed concern that our (then) young child and cousins could get hurt climbing on it b/c it wasn't mortared, he tore it apart, never rebuilt it, and has ignored my requests to build a 1ft tall stone wall under our porch, while proceeding to build a 50-ft long retaining wall in the back yard to the south of the vegetable garden.

Here's a link for one at Sewing with Nancy. http://www.nancysnotions.com/jump.do?itemID=5&itemType=LANDING&page=cozyshoulders HTH Kathi