Square Yoke Daygowns Faggoting

Spiritual - "God's goodness is so patient that it does not stop at the ingratitude, the resistance, or even the crimes of His creatures, but His grace always pursues them.  God could, in all justice, requite man's sins by depriving him of life and all the other good things He has bestowed upon him, but His infinite goodness prefers to shower upon man new gifts and new proofs of His kindness. Has he not said: "I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live' (Ez 33,11)?"  Divine Intimacy

Sewing - "Precious Baby Daygowns, Square Yoke Collection", is a fabulous book published by Martha Pullen Publication and contains daygowns, bubbles, bonnets, bibs,  and nursery accessories.  The patterns for these are included.  What is wonderful are the techniques covered in this book from bias bands, continuous lap plackets, tucks, peek-a-boo pleats, heirloom techniques, pinstitching, to hemming with fusible thread by serger ... all for $20!  The technique I learned from this book was hand faggoting or bridging that looks so much more complicated that it looks!  The instructions were clear and easy to follow.  I made a boy daygown and a girl daygown, using the bridging in different places.  It was really fun.  I have to practice  little more when turning corners around the front collar - probably have to shorten my stitches.  You will notice that in the collar picture.  I love the technique on the sleeve!  You just have to try it!

Lullaby Safari Daygowns

Spiritual -"Oh, Holy Spirit, Soul of my soul, I adore You.  Enlighten me, guide me, fortify me, console me.  Tell me what I should do, give me Your orders.  I promise to be submissive to all that You ask of me and to accept everything that You permit to happen to me."  Cardinal Mercier

 

 

 Sewing - One of the articles in Sew Beautiful, Issue 132, was "Lullaby Safari" by Lorraine Bergeron which inspired Sew Beautiful staff to create an elephant and lion applique in large and small sizes.  These templates were included in the centerfold of the magazine.  I love machine embroidery and, fortunately, the staff digitized the darling critters in stitched-filled and machine appliques.  In addition to the cute giraff, elephant, and lion, the digital download from the includes the tree, birds, and flowers.  You can see how cute the daygowns turned out!

Sew Beautiful "Sophie Reese"

Spiritual - "It can well be said that there is no divine mystery or truth of faith which does not, in some way, speak of the excessive love of the love of the Lord.  The more we are convinced of this love, the more profound will be our 'loving knowledge' of God; and at the same time, we shall feel an ever increasing impulse to return love to Him who has first loved us so greatly."  Divine Intimacy, 449

Sewing - The pattern for this dress was designed by JoAnn Hearn who was inspired by an antique dress.  "JoAnn made the original reproduction in Swiss batiste, embellishing with antique laces (no longer available and hand embroidery featuring a shadow design of bluebirds, ribbons and buillion roses.  Each section of lace creating the ribbon belt carrier  is embroidered with a single bullion rose."  Sew Beautiful 57, Issue 98, 2005  

 Lace as ribbon carriers embellished with bullion roses

It had been a while since I had delved into this much "heirloom" sewing, but this dress was too beautiful not to make for my darling Audrie, who was 3 1/2 at the time.  It was the free pattern in the Sew Beautiful magazine issue.  The pictures, instructions, templates, and bluebirds shadow embroidery template were all very clear and concise.  I enjoyed every minute and learned a lot making this dress.  I knew that if I persisted in this project, it would turn our well.  Looking closely at the work, you can see that all is not perfect, but it is still nice .  Today, I'm sure my work would be better, but  nothing ventured, nothing gained - right?

Lower dress front

Shadow work & bullions

Audrie, 3 1/2, in her "Sophie Reese" dress.

This is for you, Ms. Billie!

Spiritual - "It can well be said that there is no divine mystery or truth of faith which does not, in some way, speak of the excessive love of the Lord.  The more we are convinced of this love, the more profound will be our 'loving knowledge' of God; and at the same time, we shall feel an ever increasing impulse to return love to Him who has first loved us so greatly." Divine Intimacy

 

Sewing - Today is the 1st Anniversary of the death of my mother-in-law.  She was a wonderful prayerful woman who taught me more that I can say.  We were very blessed to share a fabulous hobby in common - sewing and machine embroidery.  This diaper shirt set is one of her UFOs (unfinished projects).  I found this in a bag yesterday and decided to complete it for her.  She loved machine embroidery and embroidered a sweet little bear on the center of the shirt and the back of the diaper cover.  I'll keep it in my shop in honor of her.  Thanks, Ms. Billie, for all your love and support.  I love you and miss you.
 

Kay Manuel

Spiritual - "O Lord, Lord, how small and narrow is the house of my soul for You to enter?   Enlarge it Yourself.  It is in ruins; repair it. I know and admit that there are things in it that are offensive in Your sight.  But who will cleanse it.  Or to whom but You shall I cry, purify me, Lord, from my hidden sins?"  St. Augustine


Sewing -  Kay Manuel, retired military, is a SewHealing student who has been sewing for many years.  She is expecting her first grandchild and doesn't know the gender.  Kay cannot wait to find out so that she can really sew!   For now, she has to be satisfied with sewing for the nursery, gender-neutral play clothes, pajamas, and daygowns.  The blue striped seersucker romper is made from an Old Fashioned Baby pattern.  As you can see from the darling monkey diaper stacker, she has a great sense of humor and a talent for sewing.

She and her daughter picked out a beautiful Christening gown from Martha Pullen's Grandmothers' Hope Chest.  They made a few changes in the original design and Kay has begun the long, loving, and sacrificial  process of sewing the gown. We look forward to seeing the process and the finished result! 

Pajamas

 

Kit Eckert

Spiritual - "O divine Paraclete!  You, whose power equals Your holiness, by the love which made You bind me to Yourself, grant me the grace to love You with my whole heart, to adhere to You with my whole soul, and to use all my strength to love and serve You, so that I may live according to Your inspirations"
St. Gertrude.

Sewing -   Kit Eckert, a Sit & Sew student,  made this gorgeous coat using Vogue pattern 8754 and a luscious wool/nylon blend fabric from Promenade Fabrics in New Orleans.  She lined the coat with black Ambiance.   The picture does not do the coat justice!!!  It looks wonderful on her.  Great job, Kit!

Kit, a retired elementary school teacher, now spends much of her time in service to her community and area clubs, visiting her children and grandchildren, and, of course, sewing.  She does beautiful work and loves working with linens, textured woolens, and great knits.

 
This year she has become the grandmother of a little boy, Daniel, and a little girl, Matilda (Tilly).  Besides sewing for herself, she is beginning to sew for them. She has used Bonnie Blue Design's Holly & Hunter pattern to make Daniel a couple of John-Johns.  You can see just how adorable he looks in his grandmother's creation.   I always look forward to see what pattern and fabric she will work with next.

Katie and Mary Katherine Cramer

Spiritual - "O Mary, I put my trust in you; in this hope I live and in hope I long to die, saying over and over: My only hope is Jesus, and after Jesus, Mary"  St. Alphonsus

Sewing - Katie Cramer is a beginning student and is smart as a whip!  Her first project was a John-John for her 18-month old baby.  She just completed a pair of pajamas for her only daughter, Mary Kate.  As you can see from Mary Kate's face, she loves them.  Katie is now learning to do different types of hemming for herself and her family.  Katie has six children, is active in her children's school, in church work, and with her husband, Edward, who is a local veterinarian.

Audrie's Easter Dress

Spiritual - "Stay with us, Lord!  It is the cry of the soul who has found its God and never again wishes to be separated from Him. Let us too, as the disciples at Emmaus, go in search of the Lord.  Our whole life is a continuous journey toward Him, and we are often sad, even as they were, because we do not succeed in finding Him, because, not understanding His mysterious ways, it seems that He has abandoned us."  We are often frustrated because we do not know His ways and sometimes give up all hope, but like the experience of the apostles on the way to Emmaus, "God draws near our soul, makes Himself our traveling companion, and still more, lives in us by grace."  It'll only be when we reach heaven that His ways will be clear to us.
Divine Intimacy

Sewing -  I have to confess that I used McCall's M5838 for Audrie's Easter dress this year AND last year.  Last year I used a linen/cotton blend and a band of Spanish cotton lace at the waist.  It also had a ruffle at the skirt bottom.  This year, I used two cotton coordinating prints.  Audrie wanted a bubble skirt.

To make the bubble,  I cut the bottom of the skirt 3 inches below the knees, then made a 1/2"  casing at the bottom edge for 3/8" elastic.  I measured around her legs about 3 inches above her knees.  I cut a piece of elastic this measurement and placed it in a casing.  The elastic bottom is gently tucked under about 3 inches.  This makes the bubble!  She loves it!

Flo Thunissen Rosales

Spiritual - Mary never doubted that her child was the Son of God.  "Witness for example, the unexpected disappearance of the twelve-year-old Boy who had remained in the temple without His parent's knowledge."  Jesus explained his action to his parents, but St. Luke tells us that they did not understand what he meant. "Nevertheless, she questioned him no further.  She believed that Jesus was her God, and that was enough for her; she was certain, absolutely certain of Him.
    Sometimes in our spiritual life, we come to a halt because we insist on understanding and searching into God's plans for our soul.  A faithful soul, on the other hand, does not linger to inquire about God's actions; even though not fully understanding them, it believes, following blindly, if necessary, the manifestations of the divine will.  This is pleasing to God who does not ask us to understand, but only to believe with all of our strength."  Divine Intimacy

Sewing - Flo, a "sit & sew" student, is a delightful and fun person to be around.  When she's not able to come to "sit & sew", we really notice it!  She was born & reared in Belgium so she as such a precious French accent. She loves to sew - for herself, her daughter, her school, her friends, and her home.  She was just named "Louisiana's Foreign Teacher of the Year", is an Arbonne district manager, has two children, and a very handsome, busy husband!  You can see why she CANNOT miss sewing on Tuesday nights!  Tuesday nights are for HER!!!

Junior Meadow Spirit Skirt 

Gigi's Easter Dress

Spiritual - "It seems to me that this free will which You have given us is fortified by the light of faith, for in this light it knows Your will, which wishes nothing but our sanctification.  Then our will, fortified and nourished by our holy faith, gives life to our actions, which explains why neither good will nor lively faith can exist without works.  Faith nourishes and maintains the fire of charity, because it reveals to our soul Your love and charity to us, and thus makes it strong in loving You"  St. Catherine of Siena

Sewing -  Jennie fell in love with this pattern and tried to select fabric patterns that was as close as could be to the sample on the pattern cover.  Luckily, we had the prints in the shop.  The pattern is darling and is as cute as can be in prints.  I think it would be lovely in white or ecru or lace, too.  This pattern is for the intermediate sewer.  The smocking is simple and easy to do.  There is lots of piping and the bodice is lined.  The pockets are also self-lined.  As you can see, Gigi looked like a doll!

Sew Beautiful magazine, issue 131, 2010 has a wonderful article on "The Story of Frannie" by the author, Lyn Weeks.  Lyn writes that she discovered the original inspiration for this patter at an antique mall in 2000 on the East Coast.   She worked on the pattern and published it in 2002 and based many "classes" on this pattern.  It is now part of the Sew Beautiful Pattern Collection.