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Add some color to your winter sewing with 40% off Hushabye by Tula Pink.

Click here to shop at Pink Chalk Fabrics and enjoy the 40% discount on Hushabye!

February Sewing Project - Aprons

February Sewing Project..... APRONS!

I know all of us probably have an apron or two but these fun variations inspired me.

I especially like the idea of the men's grilling apron. I'm always trying to think up gifts for the guys and I think this would be a fun thing to make them!

Click the links below to follow the tutorials! Hope to see some fun aprons at our February meeting!

Quick Apron

Full Apron Nursing Apron

Children's Art Apron

Kid's Chef Apron

Men's Grilling Apron

January Meeting Update #2

OK, it has been a hard month to get it together! I just found out that my husband has to work this Saturday and therefore cannot watch my son so lets meet at my home. Same day and times as planned; this Saturday, January 23rd 1:30-4:00. If you plan to come and haven't been to my new home yet please email me for directions. Hope to see you this Saturday.

January Meeting Update

Hi all.....hope your holidays were peaceful and pleasant! Speaking of holidays; for Christmas we received tickets to an event in Memphis this coming weekend so I need to reschedule our meeting for January 23rd 1:30-4:00 Beans and Cream. This meeting will be low key; just bring any projects that you'd like to work on or would like help with and if you've completed something fantastic please bring it to share with us. If you have any ideas for club sewing projects please forward on to me! Hope to see everyone soon.

Sewing Club Update

Hi all. I apologize once again for my absence.... the pregnancy, move, and family events have had me snowed under! With the holidays coming up I'm thinking we'll take a break from meeting until the new year. Lets get together again on Saturday, January 16th 2010. Mark your calendars now! We will also take a break from our monthly club sew along project until January. I don't know about you guys but I need to focus on completing Christmas presents! I'll be looking for January club project suggestions so if you come across something you'd like us to make together please send me the info! If you need holiday gift ideas click here for member suggestions and tutorials.

Amy Butler's New Fabric LOVE

Amy Butler is my favorite fabric designer. Her prints are the whole reason I even started sewing! She has just come out with a new fabric line and of course I love it. Ironically it is called LOVE. Click here to see her new fabric collection.

She even has a few laminates in the LOVE line.... whoo hooo I see lots of beach bags in my future!

Hope you "love" it too.

October Sewing Project - Purse Organizer

You've probably noticed that my posts have been a little scarce lately. The pregnancy and move have left me little time (and motivation) to do much else but eat, sleep, and pack so I was thrilled to get this suggestion for our club sewing project (thanks Lorena). A Purse Organizer for organizing your necessities so that it makes the transition to another purse in your collection easier as you're running out the door. What a great idea! Click here for the purse organizer tutorial.

15% coupon for fabric.com

Use code 5thx9 for 15% your order at fabric.com. The code is good for 30 days and can be used as often as you like. Hope you get some great fabric deals!

Sewing Machine Organizer Tutorial

Great idea from our club member Lorena..... (I apologize for the poor photo quality.... I can't find my good camera!)

She made her sewing machine organizer to meet her needs by combining two different tutorials. I love the little basket for stray threads!

Make your own Sewing Machine Organizer with the help of the following tutorials:

http://www.rainydayquiltschool.com/sewing_machine_organizer2.htm

http://www.sewmamasew.com/store/media/blog/SMSPincushionOrganizer.pdf

Club Meeting this Saturday, Sept 18th 1:30

Our Sew Southern Sewing Club meeting is this Saturday, September 18th in the upstairs room at Beans and Cream from 1:30-4:00. Feel free to bring anyone you think might be interested! I think my favorite part of getting together is seeing what everyone has made or is working on…. I always get great ideas and inspiration from your projects so let’s keep “show and tell” as a staple in our meetings.

• Please bring a sewing project that you’ve completed or want to complete for show and tell.
• One of our club members will give us a little tutorial on button holes. (I’m excited about this since I usually wimp out and use Velcro instead of attempting buttons!)
• If you’ve completed September’s project, the Sewing Supplies Case, bring yours….I’d love to see what everyone came up with. If you’d like to complete the Supplies Case but haven’t had a chance to bring your machine and supplies and we’ll work on it together at the meeting. Click here to see the project tutorial.
• I have several new items in the lending library….. felt toy Robot pattern, Toddler Car Seat Cover pattern, Sewing Books, felt toy sushi pattern…..so make sure to browse through on Saturday and if you have any patterns, sewing books, magazines, tutorials, etc that you would like to donate to the club please bring them.

As always, ideas for meetings, outings, or club projects are always welcome! Since this is a club to help everyone grow as a sewer, you may always bring any questions you have about a project you are working on. We will do our best to work through the problem area together and get you back on your sewing way. I look forward to seeing everyone Saturday!

Sewing Project Ideas

One of our club members put together a list of quick and simple project ideas in case you are in need of sewing inspiration. I added a few ideas of my own too. Click each idea to see a tutorial or pattern.

For Mom's or Mommy's to Be: Great website for patterns and ideas makebabystuff.com

• Burp Cloths
• Nursing Covers
• Changing Pads
• Diaper/Wipe Clutches
• Wet Bag
• Pacifier clips
• Pillowcase dresses

Christmas gift ideas:

• Drink coasters
• Tissue Holder
• Grocery Bag Holder
• Aprons
• Business Card Holders
• Tote Bags
• Cloth Napkins
• Neck Ties

For your Home:

• Iron Board Covers
• Duvet Covers
• Hourglass Pillow
• Dining Chair Covers

Thanks for the ideas Lindsey! If anyone has any project ideas, patterns or tutorials you would like share please email them to me.......I love to see what everyone is working on!

Felt Dinosaur Play Mat Tote Pattern

This Felt Dinosaur Play Mat is so adorable!

When your little one is finished playing everything slips in pockets on the back and folds up. Little handles make it perfect when you are on the go.

You can purchase the pattern on Etsy at Gulf Coast Cottage.

September Sewing Project - Sewing Supplies Case

The Sewing Supplies Case is great for carrying what you need to club meetings to work on your sewing projects. I think I'll use the same fabric that I made my machine cover with....Click here for the Sewing Supplies Case Tutorial.

How to Sew a French Seam

I've been making lots of shoe bags and gift bags lately and skimping on fabric and labor by leaving out the lining. I don't like the unsightly "raw" fabric that is visible on the interior of the bag without a lining so I did a little research and came across French Seams = problem solved. The definition I found says "A French seam is a seam which encloses the seam allowance on the inside of a sewn item" and it is super easy! Click here for step by step directions on how to sew a French Seam.

Fabric Pinwheel Tutorial

When we made our pimpin sewing machine covers Lorena adorned hers with a little fabric pinwheel.

I loved it so much that I "borrowed" her idea and supersized mine.

These would be great to adorn bags or little girl's dresses too. Here are more pinwheels (the designer actually calls them yo yos) in action....

Click here for the fabric pinwheel / yo yo tutorial.

Nap Mat Tutorial

One of our members made this super cute nap mat for her little girl who is headed to Mother's Day Out.

Click here to check out the nap mat tutorial she used. (Thanks for sharing Lorena!)

FREE Software Program for Drafting & Printing Patterns

I just came across this Free Software Program for Drafting and Printing Patterns for hats, bags, wraps, belts, and footwear by Wild Ginger Software, Inc. It is called Wild Things and the web page says it has embroidery design planning tools and you can specify the dimensions for each item to draft accessories for your needs. I haven't used it yet but it sounds interesting so I wanted to share.

Click here for the Free Wild Things Software download.

Club Meeting This Saturday!

Club meeting this Saturday in the upstairs room at Beans and Cream from 1:30-3:30. Feel free to bring anyone you think might be interested! I think my favorite part of getting together last time was seeing what everyone had made or was working on…. I gleaned some great ideas and inspiration from your projects so lets keep “show and tell” as a staple in our meetings.

• Please bring a sewing project that you’ve completed or want to complete for show and tell.
• If you’ve completed August’s project, the Kidlet Wall Pocket, bring yours….I’d love to see what everyone came up with. If you’d like to complete the Wall Pocket but haven’t had a chance to (that would be me!) bring your machine and supplies and we’ll work on it together at the meeting.
• I have several new items in the lending library so make sure to browse through on Saturday and if you have any patterns, sewing books, magazines, tutorials, etc that you would like to donate to the club please bring them.
• As always, ideas for meetings, outings, or club projects are always welcome!

Since this is a club to help everyone grow as a sewer, you may always bring any questions you have about a project you are working on. We will do our best to work through the problem area together and get you back on your sewing way.

I look forward to seeing everyone Saturday!

Fabric Frog Tutorial

My cousin is expecting a baby boy and she chose frogs as her nursery theme. I made this cutie for baby Camden and plan to attach a little blanket for a frog "lovey".

Click here for the Purl Frog tutorial I used to make this little guy.

Dining Chair Slipcovers Tutorial

One of our club member mentioned that she was looking for a dining chair seat slipcover pattern or how to. I came across these 7 slipcover tutorials and thought they were fantastic! I'm motivated to make some myself! I think this is a great idea to dress up your folding chairs too.

Click here for instructions on how to make 7 Simple Slipcovers.

August Sewing Project - Kidlet Wall Pocket

FANTASTIC! The Kidlet Wall Pocket......Something attractive to store toys in that doesn't take up valuable floor space, is easy for my little one to get his toys out of AND put them away in (ha-wishful thinking).

I'm going to make one for me too! I'm always digging around for my sewing stuff while in the middle of a project and I can't leave anything out on my desk or my little one will snatch it up. This will be perfect to hang within my reach to store scissors, seam ripper, ruler, fabric marker, etc in. Oh and I think I'll make one to hang on the front door for mail..... I better get sewing!

Click here for the Wall Pocket Tutorial

Click here to see more photos of the Kidlet Wall Pocket for your inspiration.