We have a winner!!!!

The winner of the book bundle giveaway #1 is.....drum roll please.................................................

SUZ and ALLAN !!!!!!

***  CONGRATULATIONS  !!!  ***

Suz and Allan, make sure you get back to me with your mailing address so I can get this bundle out to you.

 

FYI, the words that didn't belong were, popcorn and quack.   

 

Make sure you keep checking back for my next book giveaway.  I'll be posting a few book reviews also because I've gotten a little behind on those. As I type this I have 3 books that I need to post about.

 

I'm also working on writing up the directions for a couple of the crocheted 'character' hats that I designed and sell in my Etsy shop.  The pattern that I use when I make them is covered with scribbles, additions, cross-outs and arrows.  I am also left handed so I need to make sure they will work for right-ees. Since I'm not a professional pattern writer, I'm only writing up the ones that are easiest to explain. 

I plan to offer one of the most poplular  - the puppy.   I'm also working on the chick and the piggy:

 

 

 

 

I'll still be offering the actual hats for sale for folks who don't crochet.  I'll still accept orders for custom hats as time permits.  I've made these hats in many different 'characters' and cutomized color combos.  I've customized them as a cow, a monkey, a cat and a bunny.  I've even made a couple of them in adult sizes and one teenaged girl ordered an elephant and lion!

 

I've always thought it would be fun to combine a couple of them, like an elephant with puppy ears or a chick with elephant ears. You get the idea! Any other suggestion???? Leave me your ideas.

  

 

 

I'm obsessed.....

   

Lately I've been really obsessed with finding free sewing patterns for babies and kids. So, I've decided to share some of what I've found . 



This little peasant bouse is so easy and can be make in one fabric or coordinating fabrics.  You can add ruffles, lace, rick rack...whatever your heart desires. You can find the directions and the pattern HERE

I've made two of these so far, one a simple white one to pair with jumpers or pinafores.  For the second one, I added to the length, added a ruffle down the front and used two coordinating fabrics.  I used a pink mini checked fabric for the sleeves and ruffle and band around the hem while the main dress portion is a yellow and pink floral. 

Here are some other interpretations I found.

Hopefully they will inspire you to try it!  To go to the websites, just click on the photos. Spend some time looking around, they each have lots to see!

                                                

 

Here are a few more ideas. I haven't made these yet, but I AM going to try some of them.

 

And, since I just realized everything I posted is for baby girls (that could be because of my new grand daughters) , here are somethings for the little fellas. I didn't realize how hard it was to find little boy patterns but here are a few of what I could find:

A word of caution about free patterns - some are made for sergers and the seam allowances are smaller than most commercial patterns.  Sometimes the designer tells you that, sometimes they don't.

Happy Sewing !