…it was on sale for $3.99 and

…I absolutely love the big collar and

…I love, love, love the way the collar can wrap around for another look and

…it looked warm and cozy and

…I need something to wear over dresses about 3 Sundays a year and

…because fleece was 50% off at Hancocks

I made this:

Oh wait! You wanted to see my version. Well, if you insist…

but first, let me tell you that I don’t know if I love it or not. Why?

For starters, it’s ginormous!!!!! Yes, that’s a technical term. I guess I should have known it would be when it called for 4 (yep, you read that right!) yards of fabric.

I did love that it was simple to put together and no hemming! The edges are finished with your serger.

But, have you ever tried to cut a pattern out of 4 yards of fleece? Did I mention you have to cut it from a flat piece. That means you have a piece of fabric 72 inches by 144 inches to spread out to cut. That’s my whole living room carpet!!!

I didn’t read the instructions and the jacket went together really easily.

And, before I forget, if you are new to sewing with fleece, check out this post.

Here’s the collar (the reason I bought the pattern):

And a few full pictures:

I make kids’ clothes.  That’s my job.  Well, my job when I’m not being mom, wife, teaching swimming, teaching sewing, or watching friends’ children.  The best part of all these jobs is that they allow me time to explore my creativity and have fun with my hobby-sewing.  And nothing is more fun than children’s clothes.  I’ve shown you many of these pictures before, but as part of Kelly’s party, I’m going to feature Personality Children’s Clothes once again.  

PS.  I love blogs.  I discovered Kelly’s blog by reading Chrissie Grace’s blog—only to discover that Kelly and I went to school together.  What a small world!

Look what the thread makers have for us…

Coats and Clark Threads Advisor

How handy to have all this info at hand when you are preparing a new project!

I haven’t posted about it, but I really have been sewing.  Here are a few of the jumpers I made recently:

If you are new to sewing, you might have seen “The Big 4” while web-surfing and wondered just what it means. 

The Big 4 refers to the 4 commercial pattern companies that you can find at most chain fabric stores: 

1. Simplicity,
2. McCalls,
3. Butterick
4. Vogue. 

The fabric chains tend to run these on sale from $0.99 to $3.99 about once a month.  You can browse the pattern books at the store or on-line to get those creative juices flowing.

I did something today that I said I’d never do. I quilted. Yep, you read that right. (Aunt Kat—pick your chin up off the floor!) I quilted. Here’s how it happened:

Mom and I were hanging out in her well-stocked quilting room. I was browsing the shelves, looking for fabrics for dresses, inspiration, gifts, etc. It’s better than Hancock’s. Really. Anyway, from the sounds I hear down the hall, it appears the children need to spend a little time away from one another. I call the Big Girl into the sewing room.

Me: If you were going to match 4 fabrics for a quilt, what would you pick?

Her (With her eyes as big as saucers scouring the shelves.): Can I pick?

Me: Yep.

…about 5 mintues later…

Momo: Look at these. (As she holds up a baggie of 4 inch squares all in pink.)

Her: Oh yea!!!!!

Me: Well pick four and lay them out as a square and I’ll show you how to sew them together.

Then the discussion turns to “place them right sides together”…

and “this is your presser foot, you lower it gently”…

I’m sure the casual observer would have also heard “don’t tug on the fabric”, “pay attention and line your fabric up”, and “don’t put your foot anywhere near that gas pedal” uttered plenty during that time…

Well, of course, one 4-patch is never enough, so let’s make 3 more. Do you know how many ways you can combine 16 squares (when you have 32 choices???)

After she finishes sewing her blocks together, her Momo puts the pieced piece with some batting and she quilts!!! Nothing fancy, just stitch in the ditch, but great for a beginner. She did a fabulous job.

Well…while all this is going on…the Little Man comes in the house. I thought Popo and his daddy were watching him, but I heard some commotion about a crowbar getting dropped on his toes…I don’t know. Anyway, in the true spirit of “anything you can do, I can do better”, I hear “Can I do it too?” So here we go again…

Did you see the sheer joy on that kids face? He was so proud of himself—until he found out she did 4 squares. Guess what. He got to sew 3 more squares. He laid out each one, “steered” the fabric and pressed the gas peddle each time. But then he wanted it quilted. That’s right, quilted. Since Mom was working on the binding on the BG’s quilt, I had to quilt. It wasn’t as painful as I’d feared—but don’t look to closely! Mom put the binding on his quilt also. (When you see his finished project, you need to remember he laid it out by himself, without our input. I was impressed.)

All in all, it was a great day. The spontaneous sewing lessons went well. My kids listened!!! We found out their attention spans last until the bindings! Here are their finished projects. Aren’t they great!