Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Tutorial :Using Lace for a Edge or Sleeve Casing


There is another way to make a casing, using lace.  This time you can trim the bottom of the sleeve or edge and make a  casing at the same time.  I will show you...






Start with an 1"  to 1 1/2" piece of lace. Cut it the width of the edge you are sewing.  Then either finish the bottom of the sleeve/edge with a tight zigzag or serge it.






Lay the piece of lace over the edge so that some pretty part of the lace is hanging over the edge and pin.




Now sew two parallel lines line at the top edge of the lace about 1/4 in apart.  This will form the casing.  There is no need to sew the lace down to the garment more than this.
I just stitched one row of stitching near the top edge, now I moved down 1/4" to stitch the second row.


Thread a blunt needle with thin ribbon about 8"- 10" longer than the width of edge.
Here I am getting ready to thread thru the casing with the threaded blunt needle
Thread the needle thru the casing, coming out in the center of the lace, then "diving" down again into the center and continuing to thread to the end of the casing.  Doing this way the ribbon tie will be tied at the top of the wrist.
I came up out of the lace in the center and went down again to continue, leaving a loop in the center.





Here is what it will look like when it is done.  I always tack the ribbon at the sides.





When the side seams are sewn next, the ribbon can be pulled up and tied, and this is the final effect.  This method can be used for anything that needs a casing, so pretty and easy too.


Saturday, October 27, 2012

Pictures of October Meeting

Labels:  The labels say "Threads of Love"  A label goes on every item that we donate so the parents know that item came from us.  We either machine sew or hand sew the labels on.  The hand sewing table is one of the most enjoyable stations at our meetings.

Isolette covers are the main things we get done at the meetings.  We try to get at least six done each meeting to go out to the hospital.  They cover the isolette to keep it dark for the premature sleeping baby.  One method we use is tying the cover and then serging the edges. Wilma H. and Lila F. are tying.

At this last meeting, we finished sewing lace around white blankets.  We also machine quilted the isolette covers.  Robin M. is at the machine with a cover.  Debbie A. also helped with the white blankets.

There is no picture of me because I am taking the pictures.  I am proud of our work that day.  We got seven white blankets done and six isolette covers done and a bucket of items sewn with labels.  Good work everyone!  You are angels!


October Meeting

We had a great meeting this month.  Will send pictures in next post.  I want to welcome our new members, Phyllis and Juli to our chapter.  At the meeting we got ready to send out more blankets and covers to the hospitals.  The serger we have is really being put to good use as well as our sewing machines.  Debbie Johnston donated a sewing machine to the chapter, thank you, Debbie. We are all feeling the urgency to supply the hospitals during this time of holidays when it will even more sad for the families.  Our prayers go out to them.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Visit To Redlands Community Hospital

Redlands called and had already ran out of all 12 of the isolette covers that we delivered two weeks ago. Steve and I were almost finished with the next month's batch so we finished 6 of them to take to the unit.  Also our nurse from Redlands said they need more big receiving blankets.  Here is a picture of the NICU when I went over.

Here the cover is over the isolette and the prayer is pinned  on waiting for the parents to read

Here is our contact for the NICU at Redlands Community. She is so happy when the covers come in, and the nurses compliment on how cute they are.



Then  across the hall to Labor and Delivery.  Their closet is very small and the nurses so busy that what works out best is four white gowns a month that can fit either sex in all the sizes.  One of the nurses gathered them up and put them in the supply closet.

Inland Empire Threads of Love White Gown for our little ones

SugarDaddy

Do you love Sugardaddys, especially for Halloween?  I love my Sugardaddy.

Here is a picture of my SugarDaddy.  He has been so good to our chapter, buying a serger and sewing machines for the meetings besides supporting us in all we are trying to do for this charity work.

Steve Reints learning a sewing technique at the TOL conference in April


Now Sugar Daddy Steve did it again, bought the sewing machine of my dreams.  Now I am never out of the sewing room.  Threads of Love, Home Dec, Refashioning, Wool felting, having some retirement fun.







 

Friday, October 12, 2012

Tutorial for Sleeve Casing

 Time to put  in sleeve casing for the ribbon so that later the ribbon can be drawn up to fit the wrist.  This method lets the ribbon be tied at the top of the wrist.

First hem the sleeve with a narrow hem


Then cut a piece of sheer ribbon for the casing. I cut two here, one for each sleeve

one of these will go across bottom of sleeve 





Place sheer ribbon 1/4 inch from bottom of sleeve, pin,and stitch on both edges or sides of sheer ribbon, forming a casing.

sewing down one side, then the  other to form a casing


Thread a blunt large needle with 1/8 in satin ribbon the width of the sleeve with with 10-11 inches extra so the ribbon will be long enough to thread thru and tie a bow around a little wrist.



Thread the satin ribbon thru the casing, coming out in the center, then going back down again in the center and continuing threading to the end of the casing.

   
here I pulled the ribbon out up out of the casing and then went down in again




This is how it looks after pulling the satin ribbon thru the sheer casing.







I am finished with the sleeve bottom.  I would cut the ribbon loop now.  I also tack the ribbon down at the side seam just to make sure it stays there and doesnt pull out at some point while continuing to sew.

This application can be used for many kinds of sewing, also one can do the same thing with a small width of lace for the casing, turns out very nice.  My next tutorial, I will show how to attach lace and a casing to sleeve bottom all at once.  For those who use this for Threads of Love, don't forget to pray for the little one's family.  A few minutes of sewing for us, a lifetime of memories for them.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Beautiful lace around white fabric

This last meeting in September, we made small white bereavement blankets, and Debbie J. and Lyla F. made three isolette covers.  Robin M. and I finished 7 white little blankets to put in the packets with the white bereavement gowns.

All the help at the meetings brings beautiful results