That sounds really nice, Nannapoo! It's great when people rally with projects to help those less fortunate. I'm sure your family appreciates having a 'stitcher' in the family when your gifts are so special. I myself am sewing some outfits of a tunic and capri pants. My DH just bought me a Bernina 165E, and I am so thrilled because it sews like a dream! I have yet to use the embroidery feature, I am almost 'afraid' to take it out. LOL! I have been sewing up a storm, have made myself several outfits already in fact. Aren't those pattern sales great? The only part about sewing I dislike is cutting the pattern, and also the fabric cutting and layout. Wish I could just sew, sew, sew.
Yaya

YaYa,

What a lovely husband to buy you a new sewing machine!

All of the new technology in sewing and embroidery machines these days certainly makes life interesting.....so many opportunities to make gorgeous things. But isn't it so upsetting that quality dressmaking fabric is not too readily available these days....to match our inspirations. I know there's a lot to order online but I like to look at it "in person".

I have taken my 'newer' computerized Elna out but was told if it gets bumped, etc. it could knock it out, whatever that means. So I bought a very inexpensive Brother to take to sewing & quilting classes. It only weighs 12 1/2
pounds.

I've never used a Bernina but my friends absolutely love theirs. What's more, they have a good name.

Just love all the pattern sales too. Must admit I buy too many though.

Cutting out is a pain in my.............BACK. I have raised my dining room table so I can stick with it longer.
Can remember the days when I got down in the floor to cut out. Those days are over now, LOL.

The thing I dislike is altering patterns to fit me. Once upon a time I did that Unique Pattern thing where they take an image of your body in this machine thingey. It turned out so badly, didn't fit me at all. I was so put out; complained so bitterly they refunded my money (over $100.00) and sent me the pattern to boot. Sometimes it just pays to protest.

Lovely chatting with you,
All the best,
Nanna

Well, I'm short, and even so it hurts my back bending over to reach to cut out fabric. I had been using our dining table also, but then I bought one of those crafting/cutting tables at Hancock or Joanns, can't remember for sure. It was on sale, for like around $60. Best purchase I ever made! It helps so much!! And even with the increased height, sometimes my back still hurts when I'm cutting. As for altering, I've never done that to any pattern. I think I'd be too afraid to mess with them. I have been happy with the way things turn out anyway. So I guess I'm lucky I don't have to alter patterns. My husband just recently got a digital camera, so I think I'll be trying to learn how to post pics so I can post a pic of my sewing room. I LOVE to look at pics of sewing rooms, so I'll share mine as well.

My grand-daughter's Sr. Prom dress - Simplicty 5237. cover-up Simplicity 4742. Started this last Friday and hope to be finished by Sunday PM (I work full time so sewing is limited to weekends and evenings). Tonight's chore - gather 72 feet of purple net.
Carolyn

Carolyn,

That is a gorgeous pattern. Your granddaughter is going to look soooo stunning. As yet, I have not been able to find a pic of the cover-up but I'll look the next time I go to the fabric store. How do you do it and work full time as well? My eyes would be hanging out by the stems. 72 feet of purple net, that is amazing! Tell me how you gather all of this. My thread would always break. Don't get me wrong I generally don't tackle evening wear. I would love too but all of that fabric is so slippery. I have 2 little granddaughters I love to sew for, but it's going to be a few years before they need formals, perhaps it's for the best. Their other granna can make those, LOL.

BTW, I'm a Texan as well.....living north of Dallas.

All the best,
Nanna

Hey, Nannapoo, I'm a Texan also! Brush country, famous for Whitetail Deer.
Yaya

I have an order of alterations (including a bathing suit), and a folding, "3 piece", cushion for a Danish Modern armchair. After that 3 shades, with pleated headings.

actually, the net is three layers, 24 ft each. I have the coverup finished except for finishing the hem on the sleeves. Finished that a bit ago. Didn't do the net lsst nite - was feeling really bad, so went in to work for an hour to finish up some stuff that just had to go out today and came home.

Will tackle the net in a bit. Yes, it is hard on the eyes - I sew for a while, then stop and do something else, go back and sew a while longer.

It is so much fun having two cats that want to 'help' me, too. Jessica came over to try the dress on earlier (I needed to make sure how long it needed to finish - she can actually 'see' what this is going to end up looking like - boy, was she excited.

Thirty more minutes on the coverup - probably six to eight hours on the dress. Boy, will I be glad when this is done!
Carolyn

Carolyn,

How you doing on that formal for you granddaughter Jessica?
I'll bet she is going to be thrilled when she wears it. Can you take a picture and download it here for all of us to see?

I think I have just about reached my limit with works in progress. Soooo many quilts are in the making, the one for donation to a needy toddler is coming along nicely. Tried stiple quilting it but that didn't turn out very well. I unpicked my stitches and have stiched in the ditch only. Just trying to figure out some easy quilting pattern (perhaps a star?) to stitch (with a walking foot) in the 6 x6 inch squares. Then to put the binding on and it will be finished. I'm 2 lessons behind on my block of "the week" log cabin sampler quilt. It will just have to wait.

Don't know how some women in my quilting group finish their projects so quickly.

Oh well, one thing at a time I say.

All the best,
Nanna

Another Texan (near San Antonio) checking in. I just finished making some burp cloths for my 4 month old twin grandbabies. I did some machine embroidery on them, and my DIL will only use them when she is takiing the babies out. So tomorrow I am going to make some plain ones for her to use at home.

Hey neighbor,

We are expecting another grandchild in July.
Other than making a quilt for HIM guess I could do some burp clothes. They are so much cuter than the diaper thrown the shoulder.

I don't have an embroidery machine but my Elna has a few fancy stitches and a small alphabet. I'm thinking seriously about making some of these. But I need to do a few things first.

All the best,
Nanna

well, I'm still working on the dress, cut off the extra length, pinned the tulle layer to the end of the lining (which is 24" shorter than the finished dress length)...so far everything looks ok...sewed the gathered net to the lining piece which gets attached to the dress lining.

still need to:
add the boning
tack the lining to the dress seams
hem the dress
put in the gathering stitches on the sides (it is pulled up there on purpose)
sew the tulle to the end of the lining (it is still pinned)
sew the net/lower lining to the dress lining
make two satin roses that go where the side gathering end

I am planning to be totally through with this sometime Fri nite, Sat AM.....I am getting tired of this dress and am ready to move on to other things (including finishing the baby quilt for the baby due in one month!)

Will post pix when all is done. Carolyn

Yaya7, my DH bought me a Viking/Husqvarna for Valentine's Day a few years back and some of my friends didn't think it was a romantic gift. Well, I beg to differ! I thought it was one of the best gifts he ever bought for me. I know he was paying attention and got me something I needed and would appreciate for years to come. Right now I'm sewing a slipcover for an ottoman that one of my dear kitties just can't keep her claws off. After that, I'll make a tailored/fitted slipcover for the chair that goes with it. Thank goodness they haven't made "friends" with the sofa.

My husband and I are into black powder(which is guns). I am makeing, breeches(which are short pants),frocks for both(a short coat),a capote for both(which is a very heavy wool blanket long coat)drop sleeve shirts, and a skirt, petticoat and apron for me.
We go to 1800's Rendezvous, it is alot of fun we all dress for that time.
the patterns I think are from that time very hard to figure and follow, I have sewon(sp) alot, so I should beable to do it all.
lilltereo
Sandie

Hey, Mrs. Marv - I think that sewing machine was a terrific valentine gift! Wow! My DH once bought me tennis shoes for valentines. That was probably the last year we messed with V Day. We prefer to do something really special for our anniversary. Just had #22!

I second that Mrs. Marv...it is a lovely gift. I got my one and only serger from my DH after having our DD. I didn't get any jewels...but my serger is a gem to me.

Just finished orange slacks & an embellished tee blank in the Gallery. About to start a Vogue Vintage red satin hat. Looks like quite a project. Ordered and received some milinary supplies from Judith M milinary shop. Love the red veiling! Can't wait to start, but going on vacation so it'll hafta wait until we return.

Mary L