SewNso's Sewing Journal

Fabric Designer Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:21:00 +0000

In the past few years, I have had fabric design ideas in my head and have thought many times about designing fabric as part of my home business. How many times have you wished you could find a particular fabric design that is in your head, but can't be found anywhere? It happens often for me, and that is why I have considered becoming a fabric designer. I guess sometimes you could say it's a dream of mine. My dreams take me far in joining the likes of Amy Butler, Tula Pink and Riley Blake! Hey, a girl can dream, right? I guess the hard part of my dreams was taking my design ideas to actual manufacturing of the fabric - it just seems like a monumental hurdle that I'm not sure I was ready to jump yet. The design ideas never even made it out of my head and into my computer or on paper, until I had this opportunity to become a Pinterest Fabric Design Contestant. The real motivator for this contest is the Grand Prize - a Bernina 710! There are no guarantees that I will win the Grand Prize, or any prize for that matter, it's all up to the Celebrity Judges and Pat Bravo. What is important tho, is that participating in this contest has sparked an interest in fabric design again, and who knows what the future holds for that. Today is the very last day for repins for my fabric swatch entry in the Bernina and We All Sew Pinterest Fabric Design Contest.

If you haven't had a chance yet to repin my most popular entry, I hope you will - it doesn't mean I will win, but it sure makes me happy to see the many friends who are supporting me in this contest. Thank you all "sew" much!

Click on the photo or HERE
and it will take you to
Pinterest where you can repin it!
Thanks "sew" much!!

I just want to congratulate everyone who has been a contestant in this contest. All the entries are fantastic and I wish you all the best of luck! I can't wait to see who all the winners are and what lines of new fabric could result from this awesome contest!

Welcome Baby Grant..and help me win!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 19:09:00 +0000

Nothing on earth is more precious than a newborn baby along with the miracle of birth! I am so proud to introduce to you, my newest grandson, Grant Hudson!

He surprised us all by arriving about a month early! I had planned to make my daughter a brand new pretty Trendy Hospital Gown - thinking I had nearly a whole month to get it ready! She didn't even have a bag packed for the hospital when he decided what day he was going to arrive! It was a totally uncomplicated birth and he's just as perfect as can be!

I have been working on several hand-mades for him in the past month or so, thinking he would be a pretty good size boy...now he has some beautiful hand-mades to grow into. Even tho he wasn't too happy about getting dressed up, he did wear one of my hand-mades home from the hospital.

This sweet garment is "Baby's Summer Clothes" by Old Fashioned Baby. The monogram is my new machine shadow work circle monogram. It is now available for purchase on my website at Brer Rabbit Designs.

Look for more and more designs for boys to show up on my website in the coming months - I'm getting on a roll doing all this boy-sewing!

Speaking of sewing...I'm in dire need of a new sewing machine, however, I just don't have the funds to purchase what I want right now. With that said, I am hoping to win a new Bernina in a contest I just entered. It's the WeAllSew Pinterest Fabric Design Contest

I have entered two fabric designs that I hope one will win the most re-pins - so far, it's doing pretty good! Please help me win a new sewing machine by repinning and spreading the word! If you click on each swatch below, it will take you directly to the Bernina Fabric Design Contest Pinterest Board, from there you can repin it - that is the ONLY way your vote will count for me - you must click on the swatch and go to their board to repin. So far, my Chevron's Ahoy! seems to be a very popular vote! Please help it go viral on Pinterest! :) If my fabric swatch wins, I will buy a bolt of this fabric and offer it on my website - if I am able to do so! :) I think it's pretty darn cute, what do you think?

As I get inspired to design, I will post more - just watch the board!

Summer Clothes for Baby Boy!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 02:50:00 +0000

Sewing for boys is the theme of my sewing room lately and I have been having so much fun!

This is another sweet pattern by Jeannie Baumeister of Old Fashioned Baby, called "Baby's Summer Clothes".

I just love the sunsuit under-garment!

All the edges of the sunsuit

have a hand-worked shell hem.

I love the side button of this diaper shirt!

The circle monogram is my own design. It is machine

shadow work and was so quick and easy to do!

The circle monogram set will be available soon

at my website.

Ahoy, Matey!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:07:00 +0000

My sewing room is bursting in hues of blue! I am really having a lot of fun sewing for grandson #3 who will be here in less than a month! One of my favorites designers is Jeannie Baumeister from Old Fashioned Baby. She creates the most adorable old fashioned garments from her pattern line. Her eye to detail always amazes me in everything that I see her create. I have spent the past couple weeks using several of her patterns to create some old fashioned baby boy garments with a spin of modern-day technology added in!

Since this summer will include a tiny baby and our family spends much time in the boat at the lake, I decided this little guy needed something nautical themed!

Ahoy, Matey!!

The pattern I used is Sweet and Simple Bubbles and Bonnets by Old Fashioned Baby. The Nautical shadow work is my own and I hope to include them in a new Nautical Machine Shadow Work set that I am working on. I will have that set available soon on my website.

On the back of the bubble, I decided to add a shadow work anchor to the

"bum" and a sailboat to the back of the sweet boys cap!

Here's a close-up of the back of the cap with my Machine Shadow Work!

Close up of the machine shadow work anchor on the "bum"

I made a change in the front button opening by folding the placket to the outside, rather than to the inside so that I could add the whipped piping to either edge of the front opening. I love this whipped piping - it was a perfect compliment to the whole nautical theme of the garment!

On either side of the little cap, there is a machine

shadow work anchor!

Little Boy Blue

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:43:00 +0000

Our little boy blue is due to arrive on April 26th, so I have been a busy Neena sewing for a baby boy! This is grandson #3 for us, so I am getting pretty used to sewing for boys!

Isn't this the sweetest?

The sweater and hat is a purchased set and I

made the smocked bubble to coordinate!

The adorable teddy bear buttons were my

inspiration for the smocking design!

The fabric is a silk-cotton blend (available at Farmhouse Fabrics)

The bubble pattern is Creations by Michie' Classic Bubble #115

The smocking plate is my own and I hope to

graph it soon and have it available at

Brer Rabbit Designs.

My daughter was pretty pleased with this sweet

little set and it won't be long when little boy blue

will be wearing it!

Stay tuned for more BOY sewing, as I just finished another boy set and I have two more cut out to sew! The next three that will be shared in my Sewing Journal are all made with Old Fashioned Baby Patterns!

Vintage Lace Tucked Gown - the details

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 01:43:00 +0000

Whenever I inherit or purchase vintage baby clothes, it almost always inspires me to re-create it! This was particularly true when I was given the gorgeous Vintage Lace Tucked Gown on the left. My re-creation is on the right.

The original vintage gown, as shown below, was first featured in

issue #142 of Sew Beautiful Magazine in a pictorial.

When the issue hit the news stand, I got flooded with email from ladies asking me if I had a pattern for the gown. Not long after that, I emailed the editor, Kathy Barnard and asked if I she would be interested in publishing an article with a re-creation of the original vintage gown. I told her I would draft the pattern to share with the readers. The rest is history and I am happy to say that my re-created gown is featured in the current issue (#147) of Sew Beautiful Magazine!

My drafted pattern and the step-by-step instructions are all included in the article. I thought you might like to see more close-up pictures of my re-creation! This gown has so many wonderful heirloom sewing techniques! I hope you enjoy the pictures and that it inspires you to grab the latest issue of Sew Beautiful and make a gown for someone special.

Perfect placement of the embroidery is very important, so I printed off a template and placed it behind the fabric and marked my lace insertion lines. I then hooped the fabric and let my embroidery machine do the work. The sweet and simple design of scattered flowers and leaves is a replica taken from the original vintage gown. You can download it FREE!

Pictured above is the lace insertion on the front of the gown.

Once the lace insertion was stitched, I then proceeded with

regular heirloom sewing techniques for lace insertion.

Creating the tucks in the lace at the yoke of the dress was

like creating magic! I just totally LOVE the look!

Gathering lace to the neck opening.

Vintage and Re-Created Lace Tucked Gowns

I have heard from so many readers already that are using my pattern to make a Vintage Tucked Lace Gown of their own!

Sweetly Smocked Bonnets

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:49:00 +0000

National Smocking Month has kept me busy smocking baby bonnets! I had some smocking incentives along with several special orders from customers, so that helped inspire me with some new designs!

Smocking bonnets is so quick and easy

...and relaxing!

This is one of my newest smocking plates that

I will be graphing very soon!

The lace edge of the bonnet has a rolled and

whipped edge with pin-stitching.

I have a great tutorial for this

technique HERE!

Since it looks like our family can only produce boys,

it is inspiring me to come up with more designs for

BOYS!

This sweet smocked cap for boys

is a new pattern that I hope to have

available very SOON!

National Smocking Month

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:17:00 +0000

Did you know that February is National Smocking Month? The Smocking Arts Guild of America (SAGA) is encouraging members to smock together in public this month, and to talk to interested passersby about smocking. Some chapters will have special displays in libraries and other locations.

What is Smocking?

Smocking fundamentally is the manipulation of fabric using needle and thread. In its simplest form, smocking is decorative needlework stitched over pleats to embellish the item. However this does not define its limitlessness. Smocking can be used to create texture, design or flexibility in fabrics. When a more sophisticated technique is employed the color and weight of the fabric can be influenced and the folds of the fabric become the focus rather than the embroidered stitches. SAGA is your resource to over 20 different forms of smocking.

If you are not in a SAGA Chapter, I would encourage you to check locally and see if there is a chapter! If there is not a chapter in your area, there is a online chapter called WebSmockers that you can participate in.

SewNso's Sewing Journal is dedicated to fostering the art of Smocking, not just in the month of February, but each and every month of the year! I have many tips, techniques and tutorials to guide and teach smocking to beginners, as well as for those who want to perfect their smocking. If you click on the tabs at the top of my blog, you can access many of the tutorials I have. You can also do keyword searches on the sidebar of this blog and also find tutorials at my website.

Bishop Pleating

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 03:02:00 +0000

I recently had a friend ask me about how I pleat up a bishop dress. She wanted to know if I pleat the sleeves before I construct or after. I really don't think that there is a "right" or "wrong" way of doing it, but it's probably more of which way you learned. Most people probably pleat the sleeves before construction, but I'm not like most people...I have my own way of doing things and it's what works for me. I have created a tutorial of my steps in pleating a bishop.

I construct the bishop dress, then pleat the sleeves.

No need to roll sleeves on a dowel, just

feed the sleeve into the pleater

Pleat the sleeve

When you finish the first sleeve, go ahead

and feed in the 2nd sleeve - this method

keeps you from having to re-thread the pleater.

Another close-up of feeding in the 2nd

sleeve and pleating it right after the 1st sleeve.

When you pull off the sleeves from the pleating needles, you will want to pull out enough thread to separate the sleeves and for the sleeves to flatten out. Cut pleating threads between the two sleeves and tie off both sleeves.

Leave threads long enough to flatten the sleeves out

as shown above. This will make it easier to pleat the neckline

and it makes it easy to finish off the lower edge of both

sleeves before you smock them.

Roll bishop up on a dowel - or just roll it as shown above.

Proceed to pleat the neckline of the bishop.

That's all there is to it - that is how I pleat a bishop dress. I sew all the shoulder seams, pleat the sleeves, then pleat the neck. I like this method better, because I don't like dealing with the pleating threads while I am sewing shoulder seams and I can do all the pleating at once.

Proceed to block the neckline to the correct size and smock. I leave the sleeves for last and finish off the sleeve edge with lace or a narrow hem, then pull up the pleats and smock.

I hope you find this tutorial helpful for the next time you pleat a bishop dress!

Lace Shaping the easy way!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 01:35:00 +0000

One of the things I love about Heirloom Sewing is all the unique and classic techniques that it involves. Since I'm not a Super Mom and my sewing time is somewhat limited, I seek to find ways to save time without compromising the look of handmade. Hmm, I wonder if that qualifies me for Super Mom...

Lace Shaping is one of the heirloom sewing techniques I love, but often times it can take up a chunk of time to create. In playing around in my Bernina Artista Designer Software, I created some shapes and using stitches, created the look of handmade lace shaping! I love being able to use my embroidery machine to simplify traditional heirloom sewing techniques!

I call this Lace Shaping the easy way!

It might be hard to believe, but the bow lace shape

is created completely in-the-hoop!

It's fun, it's easy and most importantly, you can create lace shaping in a fraction of the time it takes to create it the traditional way!

For this diamond Lace Shape, I first stitched my shadow work machine embroidery cross (freebie!), and then surrounded it with the lace shaped diamond for a beautiful effect!!

There are 10 lace shapes included in the entire design set, and I also have created a beautiful full color step-by-step eBook guiding you thru the instructions to create your own beautiful lace shaping in-the-hoop!

Lace Shaping in the hoop is quick, easy and absolutely GORGEOUS! These designs are only for 5x7 hoops and larger. Sorry, but it’s just not feasible to make these designs to fit into the 4x4 hoops.

The loop shape is made so that you can make continuous loops - how cool is that? All these designs are made in the “normal” sizes that you would find templates for creating lace shapes in the traditional way. I have included the heart and the diamond shape in two sizes.

Combine monogramming or machine embroidery design in the center of the motifs for a beautiful effect, as I have shown above with my free shadow work cross design.

The uses for these gorgeous designs are limitless! Use them on Christening/Blessing Gowns, Heirloom Dresses, pillowcases, album covers, blankets, blouses and more!

Materials used in my sample: wash away stabilizer, white batiste, cream colored machine embroidery thread, cotton tulle, universal embroidery needle, wing needle.

To order, click HERE!

My next blog post will be a pleating tutorial for a bishop dress. Do you pleat first, then construct or construct then pleat? Stop by to see how I do it!

Super Mom? Really?!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:48:00 +0000

I'm pretty sure everyone has met, knows or at least been acquainted online with a

They seem to be sprouting everywhere...or at least it seems that way to me..

and it totally blows. me. away!

They have toddlers to teens at home. They are room mothers, soccer moms, cheer and dance moms. They are on the football and band booster committees and attend every single game, home or away. They keep an immaculate home, could almost be called interior decorators! They entertain often, make homemade meals from scratch for their families, fix cute snacks and lunches for their kids. They share photos on their blog, Instagram and post hundreds of pictures on Facebook showing what a fairytale life they live. Their photography skills are beyond a.maz.ing! They make quality time for their husbands and have regularly planned date nights. They seem to have it all together. They live in beautiful homes, have beautiful families and money is never an issue. They travel far and wide, taking elaborate vacations to popular beaches and theme parks. They work out at the gym several days a week and run in 5k's reaching a new PR (personal record) in each race they run. To top things off they are creative! They own the top of the line sewing machine and crafting gadgets and can sew and monogram virtually anything. They design, draft and draw up patterns on a daily basis! They sell their creations on Facebook, eBay, Etsy, and in craft boutiques and bazaars. If that isn't enough, they also design, create and write articles for multiple blogs, magazines and even publish their own books...not to mention their own line of fabrics that they have designed while their entire family was sleeping. In their spare time, (really?!) they attend sewing, crafting and blogging conferences all over the USA...sometimes they even teach at those conferences! Oh wait, I forgot to mention homeschooling, mission trips, church and bible studies. (how could I forget that?) They seem to be Super Mom, Super Wife, Super Woman and you can find them everywhere online.... literally every.where!

Am I exaggerating? Am I jealous? Well, maybe a little..but honestly I have read too many blogs out there of moms who really do present themselves as super-multi-taskers who can put out more work in a day that General Motors can in a week! I have to confess that I have had to limit my time on Facebook and reading Blogs because those Super Moms can really drag me down. I find myself saying "What is wrong with me?", "Why can't I do that?" or "Why isn't my life that easy?" or more importantly "How in the world are they doing it ALL?!" and "What's their secret to success?"

Just so that you don't think that I am attacking anyone specifically or personally, I have actually had people think I am one of those that I described up there. I just laugh to myself and say "Seriously?! If you only knew..." You have no idea how happy it makes me feel that people think I can accomplish so much and do it so well.....ohhh if they only knew the truth! :)

I have come to the realization that those women who you think are doing it all (me included)...well, they probably aren't! The simple truth is that there is just no way anyone could do it alI and do it all so well! Ok, wait, there might be a few out there, but I am certainly not one of them. I would never want anyone to believe that I can do it all and that everything comes easy, because the truth of it all is that I have struggles in life, hurdles to jump and mountains to climb, just like most everyone else.
The truth of the matter is that there is usually a story behind just about every project I make.

Let me give you an example. I monogrammed this backpack for my grandson the other day...it got me a lot of nice comments, and I just had to chuckle to myself because....ohh, if they only knew...

On my way to the sewing room, my dog barfed up all the orange slices that my grandson fed her, after he was told not to give her people food, so I had to clean that up. Then next task was to figure out how to hoop the pocket and get it in my machine, while a 5 yr old was asking me 20 questions and getting into every spool of thread I own. He was then getting tangled in thread, sitting in my sewing chair, twirling around as thread wrapped around the chair and he was still on his 20-question roll. He ran out of the room with thread still attached, as a spool went spinning out of control!

In the midst of monogramming I had to take the hoop out several times for various reasons. I thought I would never successfully monogram that bag. You see the picture presents an adorable creation, but the road there was anything but adorable! I could have given up and said "just forget it, it's not worth it!" however I didn't, I stuck with it and made a 5 yr old boy pretty excited and happy about his new backpack. I call that success!
Remember when I spent days needle tatting about 7 inches of lace to have my dog eat all my hours of hard work? I had to start all over! Later, I showed a picture of a beautiful piece of tatting, but not many knew the story behind what it took to get there! Just remember, with just about every picture I post, every pattern I create, every design I digitize, there is a story behind it!
No, I'm not super-woman, but I do work hard to manage my time to be able to do what I love to do, and that is sewing! I am also willing to bet that the majority of the multi-tasking Super Mom's out there also have stories behind what it has taken to become successful in what they do...and that just makes me smile!

Ironically that same day that I had such an ordeal of monogramming that backpack, a Proverbs 31 devotional arrived in my inbox. The leading verse of the devotional was:

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

Vintage Bow Monogram

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:44:00 +0000

Monograms are all the rage. What I love about monograms are that they are timeless and classic. The other thing I like about monograms is that there are endless fonts you can use to create endless styles! You can also monogram on just about anything from clothing to home decorating projects.
I have just finished up my newest monogram set and I have plans for several more! This set was created from a vintage monogram that I have. The set comes in 3 different sizes, which gives you more uses for monogramming!

Just a single monogram is also beautiful!

Here is the complete set!

The set is now posted on my website and you

can order your set HERE! More unique

Vintage Monogram Sets are coming!

What have I been up to?

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:39:00 +0000

What have I been up to, should be more like where have I been. Yeah, I am 10 days into the new year and I am just catching my breath and wondering how in the world have 10 days already passed! I am in the process of updating everything and working on all kinds of new designs!

The first thing I updated was my logo on my facebook page.

If you haven't already, please come and like my page and join in our discussions! I love hearing about what everyone is working on!

I am also working on my website, which is a HUGE undertaking! I am working hard to merge Southern Stitches and Brer Rabbit Designs back into one so that it is much easier to navigate the two websites, making them appear seamlessly as one.

With the new year, I am also working on many new and unique design sets! The response to my samples on my facebook page have been overwhelming! I am almost ready to release a beautiful new in-the-hoop lace shaping collection. I will give details on this when I have finished stitching out all my samples.

This unique design was created completely in the hoop! I combined my lace shaping with my machine shadow work cross in the center of the diamond for a beautiful and elegant result! I can't wait to finish stitching out my samples - hope to have this all completed and posted on the new and improved website in the next week!

I am also working on digitizing some beautiful vintage monograms! Here is a sample from one set that is almost complete!

Don't you just LOVE the bow? I do, but

I am crazy about bows anyway!

I have several other unique Vintage Monogram Sets in the works, as well as a new Monogram Shop that will be implemented in my website. Also my weekly newsletter will be back up and going next week! You can join my mailing list by clicking on the "Contact Me" tab at the top of this page.

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 13:18:00 +0000

"It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!"... Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!"

~Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

May the joy and peace of Christmas be with you all through the Year.

Wishing you a season of blessings from heaven above.

Merry Christmas!

Holly-day SALE!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 14:38:00 +0000

Nothing is prettier than sprigs of holly, especially during the Christmas Season! I just love the bright red berries with the green glossy, spiny toothed leaves! I recently finished up digitizing a new Machine Shadow Work Monogram Set featuring holly!

In case you aren't familiar with machine shadow work, or shadow work for that matter, I shall clue you in with this amazing type of embroidery! If you want to learn about working shadow work by hand, then I have a nifty tutorial for you HERE! The shadow work shown above, is my unique shadow work that I have created for machine! The machine shadow work looks almost like it was created by hand. By following my specific instructions included in all my shadow work sets, you can create shadow work in a fraction of the time that it takes to work by hand! It's so quick and easy - you will be both pleased and amazed!

For the past several years it seems that I make multiple stockings every year, and this year was no exception. This is the 3rd stocking for this year! I just couldn't resist using my new Shadow Work Holly Monogram on a stocking!

Smocked ornaments are another item

I have tried to make every year too!

I just love the classic, simple look of this stocking!

I used red and white whipped piping on the lower edge of the cuff.

The new Shadow Work Holly Monogram Set

has the option to purchase a PDF of my stocking pattern

with step-by-step instructions!

The price of my new set is $32 for the monogram set

or $40 for the monogram set plus PDF pattern

SPECIAL HOLLY-DAY SALE!!!

Introductory price for 12-Days of December!

Get the $40 set for $20!!!

That is the entire Machine Shadow Work

Monogram Set PLUS the PDF Stocking Pattern!!

GREAT VALUE!!! GREAT SALE!!!

This is a sale you won't want to miss!!!

ORDER HERE!!!

Tasseled Smocked Ornament

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 01:06:00 +0000

Well, I have to admit, this is not my preferred way to make a smocked ornament, but hey, it's an experiment with a learning experience, right? For a perfectionist, like me, the biggest problem is that your knots are not on the back of the smocked panel. The knots have to be on the front since the panel is attached to the ball. The other issue is that I had to fudge stitches where the rows met at the end. So, the perfectionist in me did my best to hide the knots and fudges and it actually turned out quite well!

To hide your knot, put the needle into the beginning pleat as shown.

I then started working a cable stitch around the ball

After my cable stitch row, I began working a

wave stitch in green just below the cable row.

I then went down to the next row and started working

a 3-step trellis all the way around.

Here's a preview of my finished smocking!

I will reveal the finished Tasseled Smocked Ornament

just as soon as my Christmas Tree is up!

I do plan to make another tasseled ornament, but I

think I will experiment again with a better way!

Ornament Smock-a-long!

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

I am honored to be participating in the Ellie Inspired Blog Hop! To begin the Blog Hop, I am going to do a Smocked Christmas Ornament Smock-a-long! I hope you follow along for the month of November, as I plan to do two Smocked Ornament Tutorials!

For more information on the Blog Hop, click the picture below.

Last year I did an Ornament Smock-a-long and it was such a hit that I decided to do another one this year! I am actually planning to do not one, but two smocked ornaments this year. You can follow along on my blog as I work thru the projects and I'd love to have you join me in the Smock-a-long!
I recently saw a really cool smocked ornament that was tasseled at the bottom. The tassel wasn't added later, it was all part of the smocked panel, so I decided to try this out and see if I can be successful at it! Just so you know, I have never made this type, so what you will see is all my first try at it as I work thru this smock-a-long!

Supply List to begin:

White Batiste

Smocking Pleater

3" styrofoam ball

It is very important that you tear your fabric on the straight grain - do not cut to size or you will have problems completing this project. Snip fabric on the straight grain and tear across. You will tear a block of fabric 9" x 36".

Starch and press the block of fabric to prep for pleating.

Pleat 12 rows, as shown with needle #1 using white quilting thread.

Flatten out all the pleats as shown

Just below the last row of pleating, pull a thread in the fabric.

Pull the full length of the pleated panel, creating a channel.

The next step is seemingly going to take ~~the rest of your life~~, ~~forever~~, several hours to complete. Trust me, no matter how long it takes you, it will be worth it! It did take me several hours, but time went by pretty fast when your husband hogs the TV with football games!
You will be pulling all the threads from the channel you have created to the lower edge of the panel, so that when it is finished, it will look like this:

The next step is to pull up the pleats.

Once the pleats are pulled up, you will bring the ends together and work a ladder stitch to join the ends together. Work around the pleating threads, as you will need those to pull up to snug to the styrofoam ball.

When the seam is stitched, turn the sleeve right side out and bring each

pair of pleating threads to the outside.

Slip the styrofoam ball into the pleated sleeve.

Working with the pairs of pleating threads, snug up the pleated sleeve to the

styrofoam ball, working from the top to the bottom and tie off in a knot.

Keep working your way down the ball until you reach the bottom.

Keep working to snug up, tying off one pair a time. Once they are all knotted, you can trim the tails. At the bottom, you are going to use the white quilting guide thread and pull it up snug, then wrap it around at the lower end of the pleats, creating a tassel.

Isn't that neat? A perfect tassel!!

We are now going to smock the ball, which is sooo opposite of how you may have traditionally made a smocked ornament!

We aren't going to worry about the very top of the ornament right now - when the smocking is complete, we will embellish the top and make the hang loop for it.

Please come back and follow along as we smock this very cool tasseled ornament!

Pleaters: the needles

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:20:00 +0000

The internet will never cease to amaze me how wide and far reaching it is on so many levels! Learning a new task or a new technique is virtually at the touch of your fingertips! I often times get emails from people all over the world who have watched my YouTube Channel (how amazing is that?!) and are learning to smock (YAY!). You have no idea how this thrills me! I love that my videos have been used to help so many learn to smock! I have gotten many requests inquiring on pleaters and how they work, especially how to remove and insert needles. Today I created a video to show the inter-workings of a pleater - how to remove the needles and how to insert them. Simple, yes, especially for those of us who have been smocking and using pleaters for years. For those who are new to smocking, this little video is for you! Enjoy!

NOTE: I need to clarify something about bent needles. Pleater needles are bent on purpose to fit within the gears on a pleater. When I mention check your needles to make sure they aren't bent, I am referring to an un-natural bend - a bend that is not like the rest of the needles. If you have a pleater needle that is bent differently than the rest, you need to throw it away - it is no good.

I hope you enjoy this video - if you have any questions

email me or leave a comment!

Psst! Christmas is coming...

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 20:59:00 +0000

Psst! Did you know that, as of today, Christmas is just 71 days away? I always love it when my Holiday issue of Sew Beautiful Magazine arrives in October, as it usually gets me in the spirit to sew for Christmas! The past few years, I have had the pleasure and honor of having something published in the Holiday issue! This year, I made two Christmas stockings, both very different from each other, but both old-fashioned!

The first stocking is a Strip-pieced Ribbon Stocking. I had fun playing with different types, colors and textures of ribbon with this stocking! Creating looped ribbon at the cuff of the stocking was both unique and fun! I also did some bobbin work in joining the ribbon on the leg portion of the stocking.

If you have never done bobbin work before, it is "sew" much fun and incredibly easy to do! I learned how to do it at my local Bernina Dealer - Sewing Machine Station, in Brentwood, TN with my Smocking Arts Guild, Sew Many Things. By the way, I also have created entire Christmas Collection of bobbin work designs with instructions - you can find them at

Brer Rabbit Designs!

The second stocking that I made for the Sew Beautiful Magazine article is a Heirloom Lace Stocking and I think that you will agree that it is simply scrumptious! Since there isn't much detail in the article, I thought I would share the details here in my Sewing Journal!

For this project I was given a box full of ribbon, lace, organdy, silk dupinoni,

buttons and oh my!

who wouldn't love to play with this?!

I had more fun with creating this stocking than any stocking I've ever made before! Joining lace to lace to lace to lace....ahhhh...just too much fun for this girl!

The buttons and ribbon were equally as fun to add to this beautiful project!

Sew Beautiful has made this project a little easier for you,

as they have created a kit for you with everything you

need to create this beautiful Heirloom Lace Stocking!

The ready-to-sew kit will be available soon

from Martha Pullen Co!

...and baby makes 3

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:53:00 +0000

A couple weeks ago I started on a new project...a sew-a-long of sorts. I am actually working on two projects, beginning with something pink, then followed by something blue. I just recently found out that I am going to be a "neena" again! A sweet baby will join our family around May 3rd and I am "sew" excited! This will be grand baby #3 for us! Of course, I'd love to have a bundle of pink, after two blues, but another sweet bundle of blue will be equally welcomed! I decided I would make two daygowns - one pink and one blue....ya just can't go wrong with that choice!

Precious Baby Daygowns by Martha Pullen Co.

I started working on the pretty pink one! Just look at the detail of this collar!! I'm in love! If you missed my last post, I showed how to create the bias bridges. The smaller the size, the less bridges you will work, so my collar only has one bridge. You can see how I created it here!

I decided to hand-tat the lace for my collar. This is proving to take a lot and I mean a lot of time! I worked for days upon days, hours upon hours to get this far...

then....GULP!

yeah....that sweet piece of chocolate innocence ate it! Yeeaaah, it brought a whole new meaning to "the dog ate my homework"! Don't let that innocent face fool you, she can be quite the little stinker! (I still love her tho!)
Seriously, I could have cried...instead I picked up a new skein of tatting thread and in one night got this far ~ I'm chalking the "chocolate one" up to "good practice" - LOL!

(by the way...the chocolate tatting is in the backyard somewhere!)

My tatting is almost long enough to go around my collar, and I have been hiding it from little miss chocolate innocence, so I hope to show you the completed collar soon and get on with this project!

I seriously can't wait until I find out blue or pink,

meanwhile I'm going to have a ton of fun making both!!

{bridging the gap}

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:14:00 +0000

I love starting new projects - especially projects with new and unique techniques! I recently purchased two sweet baby daygown books from Martha Pullen Company. I've wanted these two books for a long time, and let me tell you, they are dripping with some of the most gorgeous baby daygowns that you have ever seen!

It wasn't hard to decide which daygown to make first - the one on the cover of the square yoke collection caught my eye immediately! Even tho I don't have any girls to sew for, I can always add to my "grand-daughter hope chest" - right?!

I bought two bolts of fabric from BessieMary's closing sale recently, and the pink pima cotton windowpane will be the perfect choice for the Madeira Hem!

This day gown has so many unique and awesome techniques that I thought it would make the perfect project for a sew-a-long! I hope you enjoy following along as I make this gorgeous daygown. I will not be following it exactly as it is instructed in the book - there will be some changes of my own, along with tips and tricks that I will share along the way!

The first technique I am going to show is what I call

"Bridging the Gap"

The collar on this gown is nothing short of amazing! The technique is actually called "fagoting" and it is a stitch that is created (on this project) to join bias tubing (or lace) to to the collar.

After cutting out the collar, I created bias tubing by cutting a 1" bias strip and stitching it together, turning it right side out and pressing it, creating a 1/4" tubing. Since I am making the daygown in size 3 months, I won't be needing as many rows of bias tubing. Size 3 months has just one row of bias tubing attached to the collar.

The book instructions are for machine fagoting to attach the bias tube to the collar. I chose to "bridge the gap" by hand.

Using water soluble sticky stabilizer, I pulled the paper away and pressed my finished collar right side up onto the sticky stabilizer. I then measured 1/4" away from the collar edge and placed my bias tubing with the seam towards the collar edge.

I tossed away the paper portion of the sticky stabilizer and cut a piece of regular water soluble stabilizer, placing it on top of the sticky stabilizer.

I then traced around the collar, then peeled the

water soluble stabilizer away and cut out the collar.

I then placed the water soluble stabilizer outer edge onto the sticky stabilizer. This will keep your hands from sticking to the stabilizer, but will hold your collar and bias tubing in place so that you can work your stitches!

I am using tiger tape and DMC 80wt tatting thread.

Using the tiger tape, which is perfectly marked at

intervals, I put a piece on either side of the 1/4" gap.

This stitch is worked sort of like a figure 8. I am making my stitches on the black lines and centered between them, so 3 stitches from bar to bar. Take about a 1/8th inch "bite" into the collar, keeping thread below the needle and pull thread thru fabric.

Next stitch is to bring needle thru tubing towards the collar,

keeping thread below the needle and pull thru. You will work

this same sequence all the way around the collar. The tiger tape

helps you keep all your stitches evenly spaced!

After you get the hang of it, you might not even need

the tiger tape to keep your stitches evenly spaced!

This stitch looks much harder than it is,

and it's fun to make and goes quite quickly!

Isn't it beautiful?

TIP: Use a lighted magnifying glass to work your

stitches! It really helps a lot!

"Bridging the Gap" is completed! What do you think?

My next project is needle tatting a lace edging all the way around the collar!

sewing for me...

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 20:25:00 +0000

It doesn't happen very often, but every once in awhile I do sew for myself! Last week, I decided to dig out a pattern that I purchase about a year ago. I had good intentions to use that pattern as soon as it hit my mailbox last year, yet other projects were over-ranking it! I finally decided that I just HAD to get busy and try this gorgeous pattern out and make something for me!

The pattern is "The Catherine Coat" by Serendipity Studio.

I dug thru my fabric stash and found just what I wanted! Red is my most favorite color, and I wanted to make something that would give me multi-uses...something that would look very pretty dressed up or cute and fun with jeans as everyday wear.

This coat is a sweet and feminine design that features several options and can be anywhere from simple and tailored to fancy and ruffled! The coat has a gentle A-line with an Empire waist, which gives it a very flattering fit.

The back of the coat is just as cute as the front.

I love the gathers at the waistline!

Another option with this coat is the sleeves. I chose to make the

cuffs wide so that I could turn them up, making them a comfortable 3/4 length.

Since I plan to wear this as an open jacket,

I didn't want to make any buttonholes, but

still embellish it with buttons.

I dug thru my vintage button stash

and found exactly what I was looking for!

Silver buttons and just the variety I wanted!

I hope I have inspired you to do some sewing for yourself every now and then! What I like about this pattern is that I will use it again and can make an entirely different look!

pink petunias

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:45:00 +0000

I just finished a new project and it was so fun posting teaser pictures on my facebook page as I was working on it! I loved reading all the comments and I especially enjoy seeing that there are still so many out there who appreciate hand-smocking!

My new creation is called "Pink Petunias"

The pattern is my own,

Brer Rabbit Designs Smocked Bishop ePattern

it is available as an instant download after purchase!

The fabric is "Pink Petunias" Brushed Cotton

it is ohhh, soooo soft and pleats up like a dream!

This dreamy fabric is available from

Southern Stitches! You can also

purchase this fabric in a Ready-to-Smock Bishop Kit!

The smocking plate is "Pink Petunias"

by Brer Rabbit Designs

and it's available as an instant download after purchase!

So pretty and such a classic!

button{wear}

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 22:58:00 +0000

Buttons, glorious buttons! I love 'em! I have a rather ~~large~~ ~~huge~~ gigantic collection of vintage buttons and I am always thinking of ways that I can use them. I have several vintage canning jars full of buttons from all sides of the family. There is just something very nostalgic about all the buttons in my collection and I love all of them!

A few weeks ago I found a wonderful book, called button{ware}, and I just knew I had to add it to my sewing room library!

Tucked inside of this book are some of the trendiest and best-looking projects your eyes have ever feasted upon! You will find some of the most awe-inspiring projects ever seen using vintage buttons along with today's trendy and fashionable buttons!

I couldn't wait to dig thru my button collection and create a fun vintage button bracelet!

I had some beads in my stash that I used for added embellishment!

I love the color combination - it's just so perfect for Fall!

I think "button{wear}" is a better description

of my lovely creation, don't you?

my love of smocking

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:27:00 +0000

Trends come and trends go, but I always find myself going back to the classics! My first love in sewing will always be in smocking! I taught myself how to smock back in the early '80's, after the birth of my daughter, and I have never stopped smocking in all those years! Smocking is a very relaxing form of sewing for me. I can take it anywhere and the only thing I need is pleated fabric, a needle, floss and my hands to create!

I like to use DMC Perle Cotton #8 when doing geometric smocking. I know it's hard to find, but you can purchase online with a wide variety of colors HERE!

The stitches for smocking are relatively easy to master.

I also enjoy surface embellishing within my smocking!

I hope you stay tuned as I complete my smocking project!