In Her Easter Bonnet....

 In 1972, I purchased this McCall pattern 3356, to make the eyelet trimmed comforter for Hubby's Cousin, who was having her first baby.  With my very new sewing skill right out of the gate, I set forth in youthful cockiness, to have the only handmade gift at the baby shower. Crafting was selective then, mostly mod podgey decoupage, which my sister and I embraced with abandon.  But on the cusp of all things crafty, sewing was on the horizon on the 'new' thing to do, and I was going to be on board. 


 I can remember selecting the quilted gingham cotton from the fabric store where I worked, and purchasing an abundance of gathered eyelet lace.  I loved gingham and eyelet; my wedding dress was white bordered eyelet lace, and I still love it today.  This pattern was put away, not even seeing daylight with my own children.  Mothers of newborns that  make handmade bonnets and little sleepers are perhaps out of a realm that I am aware of.  I know they are out there, I just can't imagine the energy that it must take to be a new mother and seamstress for the new little bundle.  I digress.  Of course.

 Then Baby Girl, The Accessory Queen of the House, let me know that a Proper Easter Bonnet would be needed for her Baby Girl!  In the small corner of my brain that hides silly little details, I remembered that once upon a time I had a pattern that had a bonnet included with other things baby.  In my searching, I did indeed still own it.  Score one for the Pack Rat!

 I removed the ancient tissue pieces in the yellowed pattern envelope, getting more excited at the anticipation of creating a garment like thing for Lil' Lady.  I have made outfits for Miss Viv and a quilt for BGBG and several maternity things for her mama, but this was the first apparel that I made for Grand Baby number two.  I had BG measure her sweet little noggin and started raiding my supply of suitable fabric.  BG had asked for eyelet, since she is an Eyelet Fan as well.  As things go, last summer, some other Eyelet Fan was dispensing of her BIG collection of all things eyelet and I 'just so happen' to be in the thrift store the day it was donated.  Took it all.  The bordered, the linen, the ivory and creamy shades of the prettiest eyelet ever.  There was even large lengths of the same bordered eyelet that my wedding gown was made from!  Amazing.  Lining her bonnet with her quilt backing material just seemed the perfect thing to do.  And yellow twill tape ties.  Satin is much fancier but doesn't stay tied very well.

This little bit of fluff and accessory was so much fun that I had to make another one.  The next one was a bit larger and had some vintage lace to embellish.  I think more of these dandy chapeaus are in the offing for this morning,what should I see on a blogger friend's site? http://www.made-by-rae.com/2011/04/peekaboo-bonnet-sewing-pattern-pdf.html.  


Yes,  a new current obsession right alongside of Baby Girl.....


Lord, bless this sweet little head and all her thoughts....Amen.

Simple Sewing Saturdays

Welcome to a new segment of So Now I Know: mama's collection....

Simple Sewing Saturdays!!

Each Saturday at this location, we shall endeavor to clarify those pesky simple things that just can be our undoing.(and I do mean 'our') You know, buttons, zippers, terminology, grain, nap, all those Terribly Mystical Sewing Things that most books/patterns assume you know.

This Saturday's Segment is dedicated to the most misunderstood of all:
Rick Rack.
Back in the day, way before my day, apparently, Rick Rack was a panacea for Wardrobe Expansion. It appears that you could take an old skirt and embellish it to the point that no one would notice that it was 'Last Year's' Skirt!! Imagine!! Cle-ver!

However, more than likely, those of us that are quite happy with Last Year's Skirt, would be looking for a more simple decorative application of the beloved Rick Rack Trim.

Maybe something like a pillow for your porch swing? Don't you always like a perky Rick Rack little scallopy look peaking out of a seam of a pillow?

Well, it just so happens that I have the very thing on my To Do List today!

Hint #1. If you can't follow a seam allowance (5/8") carefully, you might want to stitch a 'follow line' before you apply the RR. (NOT rail road:D)

2. Beginning on the RIGHT side of the fabric, sew the RR, catching the very tip of the RR on the stitching line.

3. Place the other right side of the other piece of fabric that will be the other side of your pillow, even with the RRed piece of fabric, right sides together.

4. Sew your normal seam allowance, usually 5/8", connecting your two pieces of fabric, a front and back.

5. Continue on the other three sides with the RR application.

6. Stitch the other three sides together, raw edges even.

7. Turn the pillow inside out.

8. See the dazzling little scalloping RR's peeping out your seams and making you all happy.

9. Press the edges nice and sharp.

10. Finish the pillow by stuffing and sewing up that last side with a blind hand stitch. (What? I have to tell you about that too? OK, next week......)

You might want to consider this other very cle-very Rick Rack application!

Who knew that scraps of RR could be so very valuable!

If you are indeed thrifty enough to want copies of these most vintage of patterns, I shall see to it! I might even feature you and your shwanky earrings and updated Last Year's Skirt in a blog post.

I might even purchase them from you!!!

OK, probably not.

Happy Rick Racking!!!