Category Archives: Free pattern

Summer Sewing School – aka Grandma Camp!

Last week we did a week of sewing camp. It was so much fun!!! The 3 granddaughter’s (ages 9, 9 & 12) did sewing camp with me and our grandson (age 7) did camp with grandpa. I hope that we created some fun memories!!!

The girls loved sewing and all 3 of them completed all 5 projects in my Girls Can Sew curriculum.

Prior to camp, I let each of the girls choose fabrics for their projects from my “resource center”. 🤣 It’s so nice to have everything readily available for whatever might be needed!!! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Project #1 was a pillowcase. We made it with the burrito method. 2 of the girls had already made a pillowcase in previous years, but this year was different in that I was teaching them how to read and follow the instructions. They did a great job of that with the pillowcase.

Why the headbands of fabric? Well, they are sewing ninjas!!!

At the finish of the project, we had “free sew” – which involved sewing together pre-cut squares. I think that this part of each day was something that they enjoyed most!!!

Day 2 of camp involved making a decorative throw pillow. They had such fun deliberating over what trims to use for their pillows. In this class, they learned how to do LOTS of measuring and they also learned to sew a zipper (zip off pillow cover).

They loved the finished pillows!

The 3rd project was a twirl skirt. The skirt had an elastic casing and was a yoke with a gathered tier. Gathering was a new skill. They weren’t too sure about this! LOL! Let’s just say that it wasn’t their favorite! But, they persevered and all ended up with a cute skirt.

Of course, “free sew” continued at the end of each day! I’m sure glad that I had plenty of squares for them to work with!!! They were finishing up some small quilts by day 3.

Day 4 was a tote bag, interfaced & lined. With each project, new skills were introduced. This project involved using pattern pieces, placing the pattern pieces on grain and accurate cutting. Prior to this, all of the projects had been measure and tear.

As you can see, they all ended up with cute tote bags!!! Each of them also chose to add a trim to the seam, which added cuteness to the tote bags!

Our last project was a patchwork pouch. This was much more involved. They also used pattern pieces for this and had to create their own “fabric” with patchwork. They had lots of practice with piecing during “free sew”, which made them very successful with their patchwork pouches!!!

Notice how beautifully matched those pieced corners are!!!

Because this bag is lined AND has a zipper, it was a bit trickier. Once again, they proved to not be quitters, patiently waiting for help when needed, and they all loved their finished pouches.

After class was over, I decided that for new seamstresses, it might be helpful to have a visual aid (other than my painter’s tape) for their seam allowance alignment. Each sewing machine had a slightly different bed and markings. We did play “musical machines” – meaning that each of the girls sat at a different machine each day to see some of the little differences. I have created a grid with seam markings on it and am offering it as a free download for anyone else wanting to help new seamstresses with their seam allowances. (we also use this in the refugee sewing class!)

Ruler-For-Sewing-Machine Download

You can download this by clicking on the blue words above. I would recommend cutting the page into strips and applying one strip in front of the sewing machine foot, on the bed of the machine, and another on the back of the sewing machine foot. Having the different colors will also make it easy for the student to see and follow a particular line. This can be attached with clear packing tape. Alternately, it can be printed on sticky back paper (think stickers), cut apart and applied that was as well. I hope you’ll find this helpful if you have budding seamstresses that you will be helping learn to sew.

Of course, I cannot forget to mention grandpa camp! The boys had fun as well. 🥰

Hiking, learning how to safely shoot a gun at the range & building a birdhouse were on the agenda for them! It was all a huge success!!!

Liam learned how to use many power tools (with help, of course!) and loved choosing his bright green paint to finish it off.

That’s what has been going on this summer! I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful summer as well, and hopefully staying cool!!!

Sewing For Preemies

MICRO-PREEMIE BUNTING PATTERN – for under 1 lb. babies

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Today as I worked on a Wee Care gown, I realized that the micro-preemie bunting pattern and instructions that I’d previously shared was one that was lost. Therefore, I’m sharing it again so that anyone wanting to make these and donate to their local hospitals has access to the pattern.

This sweet little bunting has been designed as a burial bunting for micro preemie babies. It stitches up quickly and uses minimal amounts of fabric. Quilting the fabric gives it the necessary body. Small bits of lace or trim can be used for embellishment if desired. A little hand or machine embroidery can be done very quickly.

In the past, I used one of the bunting patterns that was shared online. While I was happy with the finished bunting, it was far too complicated (my opinion).

This bunting is designed to ensure that the baby is securely wrapped. It can be completed in a very short time and it is done completely by machine.

Fabric for the inside of the bunting should be flannel. A variety of fabrics can be used for the outside fabric. If pre-quilted fabric is used it eliminates the need to quilt the fabric. Quilting cottons, broadcloth, satin, lightweight fleece, etc. all work well for the outside fabric of the bunting.

Small scraps of trims or lace can be used to decorate the front flaps of the bunting. These would include ribbons, soutache braid, Swiss eyelet lace, Val lace, rickrack, etc.

Supplies:

12″ x 15″ piece of fashion fabric
12″ x 15″ piece of thin cotton batting *
12″ x 15″ piece of batiste
12″ x 15″ piece of flannel (lining)
24″ of 1/4″ or 1/8″ ribbon
12″ of lace or trim (optional)
thread
blue wash-out marker
ruler with 1″ grid marks

*alternately, 3 – 4 layers of flannel can be used instead of batting

Instructions:

Open the PDF pattern file in Adobe reader on a laptop or desktop computer. Print the pattern. Ensure that the pattern has been printed to the correct size by checking the 1” box. Printing should be done from a computer, not a phone or tablet. Cut out the 2 pattern pieces and tape together, matching the notch. Printing 2 copies of the pattern and taping both together down the center will give the full pattern piece, which is helpful for aligning patterns with designs that need to be centered.

To mark the fashion fabric for quilting, fold the fabric in half lengthwise and finger crease. Open the fabric up. With a blue wash out marker, draw a line along the crease. Fold the fashion fabric in half across the width and crease. Open the fabric up and using a blue wash out marker, draw a line along the crease. Using a ruler with a grid, mark additional lines at 1” intervals along both the length and the width of the fabric.

Place batiste with wrong side facing up. Place the batting on top of the batiste, matching all cut edges and then place the fashion fabric, right side up, on top of the batting, aligning all cut edges. Pin to secure. Starting at the center line of the 15” L, stitch along the line from top to bottom. Moving out from the center line, stitch remaining lines until all the lines have been stitched along the 15” length. Repeat for the process for the 12” width to complete the quilting of the fashion fabric. (For interest, the grid can also be stitched at 45º angles.)

Cut out the bunting pattern from the quilted fabric and another bunting from the flannel. It works very well to print 2 copies of the pattern and tape them together in order to work with the full size pattern.

Tip – the pattern can be traced onto the quilted fabric and then straight stitch along the drawn line. This secures the 3 layers together and is easier to work with. Cut out the shape just outside the stitched lines.

Cut straight across the top of the bunting, leaving the “dip” section in the front uncut.

With a blue wash-out marker, mark the front “dip” section. This will be the dart that makes up the shape for the bunting hood. It is easier to sew the dart in first and then trim away the excess fabric. Mark the dot below the dip as well as the placement lines for the ribbons with a blue wash-out marker.

With right sides together, stitch the dart/seam for the hood of the bunting, stopping at the circle. Repeat for flannel. Trim away the excess fabric inside the dart. Do any embellishments desired at this point.

Cut the ribbons into 6” lengths and pin the ribbons to the quilted fabric at the placement lines.

With right sides together, pin the flannel to the quilted fabric all around the outside edges. Stitch around the entire bunting, leaving a 2” opening between one set of ribbons.

Trim seam allowance a little, clip curves and clip the corners at an angle, stopping before reaching the stitching line.

Pull bunting through the opening to get it right side out. Press. Edge-stitch around the entire bunting, closing up the 2” opening.

Remove blue wash out marker by spritzing or soaking in cold water for 5 minutes.

Fold up lower section, bring outside sections together and tie the ribbons into a bow.

These are so quick to make, it’s easy to finish several of them in a very short time. Be creative with little bits of trim.

I hope that this will inspire you to use up some of your smaller pieces of pretty fabric and create a sweet bunting! I am including the PDF file for the pattern for your use. Click on the link below to download.

Kathys-Quilted-Micro-Preemie-Bunting Download

Keep on stitching…….

Kathy