Bargain Shopping

I received a Kohl's $10 off of any purchase coupon... so on Sunday afternoon I stopped in their store.  I headed straight for the little girls clearance rack and I hit it big!!  I bought 5 t-shirts ranging in price from $1.70 to $3.20 and with my coupon they cost... $4.71 (including tax)!!!  I was very excited because these t-shirt are so cute and now they are 5 dresses for little girls in need!!!

My favorite is this last one...

Please join us in helping little girls in need!!

suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com

Challenging Myself

Someone recently asked me how I keep from getting bored making the same pattern of dress...

Well, here is answer... I keep challenging myself.  I try fabric combinations I haven't used.  I add different touches on the pockets or on the bottom (like the scalloped edges I just made).  Today I saw a discounted Jelly Roll and decided to try making dresses.  I made two dresses... one size 5 and one size two.

As I was sewing these dresses I kept thinking of the Dolly Parton song "Coat of Many Colors" and was praying for the little girls that will receive these dresses.  I am sew glad my brother introduced me to Rachel!!  If you would like to join us in this project just email me at

suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com

Scalloped Edges

I have been playing with that new tool and thought that I would share some of the results.

First I decided to make a pocket to match the bottom of the dress...

And here is the whole dress...

This wonderful fabric was donated by Noel... thanks sew much!!

Then I decided to use some fabric from Bug Fabrics... they have the cutest fabric!!

I have been having fun making dresses and know that there are still a lot of 

little girls that are dreaming of a new dress... 

And remember when sewing your dress

Backstitching

Always... did I say always... yes always backstitch at the ends of the bias tape... and especially where the bias tape joins the top of the dress (both back and front) and at the top of the pockets.  

suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com

Sewing Day

Now that I have an organized sewing room I decided to spend the day sewing (in between loads of laundry).  I used my new edge tool to make a scalloped edge on the first dress I completed.

Here is the tool I bought at the Sewing Expo to make the bottom edge.

Just trace the edge onto the fabric and then sew on your line and cut and turn.

I also finished two other dresses!!

It was a wonderful day!!

Suz Sewing Studio

I almost called it a factory rather than a studio... but a last that doesn't start with an "S"  I learned a valuable lesson this week.  I tend to let my sewing space get into a big mess.  But I realized so clearly that when my area is clean and organized I get sew much more accomplished.  My wonderful and supportive husband saw my mess and offered to make an eight foot long shelf to store all of the laces and eyelet I have purchased on ebay.  That suggestion got me started on organizing this space.

This is going to help sew sew much!!  Also in the closet notice my organizer for packaged rich rack and bias tapes... I actually have two of these and they are always full.

Another part of my organization has come from Craigslist and has to do with how I sew.  I have a beautiful new serger that I received for Christmas two years ago.  While sewing these dresses I realized that having one serger for rolled hems and one for ruffling and another for just plain serging would be a dream come true.  It would save sew much time.  But the cost would make this impossible!!  In comes Craigslist... about 2 months ago I found the exact serger I wanted for very little money.  Now I had a rolled hem serger...

Now I was not looking for another serger... but one day I just glanced at Craigslist and there was an AMAZING deal... a Babylock Imagine serger... self threader and automatic tension serger for almost nothing.  Now it had some rust and it need some work but in comes my sweet husband to fix all of its problems and I now have three sergers.  

By the way I do know that I am blessed and very fortunate.

But back to the lesson I learned... my sewing studio is now organized and stocked with wonderful machines that make sewing fun.  Yesterday I sat down and sewed t-shirt dresses.  The hems were so quick and easy... a simple rolled hem.  The cotton skirts attached to the t-shirts in minutes with my ruffling foot.  And I didn't have to move things around because my work space was not messy.  I made FIFTEEN t-shirt dresses yesterday.  

Teaching Youth to Make Dresses

Emily works with the youth at Living Word Lutheran Church and she is trying to help them understand about giving to those in need and making an impact in the world.  She decided that Dress A Girl Around the World would be a good way to help her students.  Emily came to my house to learn about the campaign and to learn how to sew the dresses.  It was a pleasure to meet her!!

And here is her first dress!!

I can't wait to see the dresses that those students make!!

Storage Ideas

I am sew thankful for all of the donated fabrics that we have received!!  The one problem is I need to come up with storage ideas so that the fabrics are not on the floor and also so that they are easily accessible.  We have been given quite a few smaller pieces of fabric and I came up with idea of using shoe storage panels for this.  These hang over the the door and store many fat quarters.  I can organize them by color so they are very easy to coordinate.

Here is where I spend a great deal of my time!!

Please Keep on sewing!!!

Email Surprises

It is always fun to open up my email and see those words...

I have dresses!!

Today I received an email from Sally saying that she has 21 dresses all ready.

And a few days ago I received a call from Sally and here is what she brought...

I love getting these dresses...

We want to show these girls that they have worth and that someone cares!!

Do you care?

You can 

Sew

Donate fabric or pillowcases or lace or money

Tell others

come to a group and cut or iron or package dresses

Please consider helping!!

suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com

Joy of Sewing

I took four days off just to do whatever I wanted... and I discovered what I wanted to do was sew.  It is so creative and just fun to make dresses.  I thought I would share some of the dresses that I finished...

I did sew more than this but these pictures give you an idea of what I have been up to.

suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com

Summer Camp

This summer 137 young women between the ages of 12 and 18 attended a camp in Puyallup.  They decided to do a service project in their sewing class and sewed dresses for little girls in need.  These enthusiastic young women began their sewing...

And they made 178 dress and 150 prayer dolls!!!

There will be so many girls in need with beautiful smiles because of these caring young ladies!!!

Thank you sew much!!

You can help too...

suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com

Love E-mails

Recently I have been receiving some wonderful e-mails.  There were three yesterday from new ladies wanting to become involved in sewing for little girls.  And a couple of weeks ago I received an e-mail with this picture

How encouraging to hear from Loretta, a local sewer that has been making dresses and has 25 dresses all ready to bring to my house!!   This project is growing and growing!  Would you like to become involved... just e-mail me at suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com and I will help you!!  I hope to hear from you very soon!!

This is Why we Sew...

This is why we sew!!

suzannewithdressagirl@gmail.com

Look Into These Eyes

When you look at this picture what do you see?

I see a little one that now knows she is loved and cared for by someone far away!!  

She has dignity and worth and beauty!!

She has been prayed for and sewn for!!

When you see her does she move you to action?

I hope sew!!!

University Seamstresses!

Last week 15 gals from Central Washington University spent the day sewing.  They had been collecting pillowcases all winter quarter.  The students are all Fashion Merchandising majors and wanted to help the little ones in need.

They received 143 pillowcases;  using them to make dresses and trimmings.

They cut...

and ironed...

and sewed...

having fun from 9 am until 3:30 pm

And they finished all of their dresses!!

Their reward... seeing those dresses on little girls that have never owned a new dress (and also their advisors' famous macaroni and cheese)  Thanks so much Caitlin for organizing this event and also thanks to Andrea (the advisor), Chelsea, Vanessa, Dominique, Arielle, Lindsay, Kelsey, Megan, Meghan, Rachel, Lindsey, Kaitlin, Cassie, and Amy!!

suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com

Sew Much Fun

I am looking forward to Friday... meeting new friends and also sewing with several ladies that I have been with before.  It will be a time to create many dresses for the little ones in the world that may never have had a a new dress.  And we also have fun!!  It is like the old fashion sewing bee... as we sew we learn about each other and we also share sewing tips.  I must admit that we also laugh a little... well usually a lot.  And sometimes we occasionally cry... especially when sharing stories of the little ones in need.  The story that touched my heart the most was about a girl in a Russian orphanage.  This girl was about 12 years old.  When a lady brought her a dress, she said it was was the first dress she had ever owned... remember she was 12!!  As the lady toured the orphanage,  giving out other dresses that little girl followed her for the entire time.  As the lady was leaving, that sweet little girl gave her a hug and asked if she could go home with that lady...

How can you not sew when you hear a story like that!!  It still gives me chills as I write it again.  E-mail me at suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com if you need directions.  We still have room for more sewers on Friday.  I challenge you to come and make a dress for a girl in need!

They needs you!!

Sewing Event

April 29, 2011

Come anytime after 9:30 am

My house

I have been busy making bias tape and getting pillowcases and fabric remnants ready

Choose your color and let's get sewing!!

Just bring a machine and white thread

I have everything else ready for you!!

And if you don't have a machine I do have a couple of extras just let me know

It will be a great day to learn how to make dresses

I hope to see you!!

These little ones need you!!

Washington Tea

On April 2, 2011 we had our first annual Tea.  Twenty-one ladies came and celebrated making dresses for little girls!!  We turned and stuffed over 100 Teddy Bears to put in the pockets of our dresses...

We ate so many wonderful goodies...

And we shared about the girls in need, how to sew a dress and saw many of the dresses that are ready to go to the girls...

Thanks to all the great ladies that attended!!!

suzannesewdelightful@gmail.com