Give Thanks and Keep Sewing

As the official blogger for Needle in a Fabric Stash I decided to get in on the sewing action during this Thanksgiving holiday. When I was growing up I loved sewing with my mom. One Summer I made a handful of shorts that I wore out completely. One pair had ice cream cones, one had Hawaiian flowers and another had loud geometric designs. I made quilts for my dolls, backpacks, dresses and anything I was in the mood for. Since then I have been busy with college sports, full time work and have not sat down to sew for years.

Thanksgiving around our house is pretty relaxed. We like to keep the focus on the food and family. There is always lounging time in between meals and so my mom and I thought it would be fun to sew some pillow cases for Christmas gifts this year.

We got started and it was just like old times. The first step was picking out the fabric – which was more difficult than it sounds for those who know how different our tastes are. I love all of the prints my mom picks out and can fully appreciate her eye for color. However, I admit that my own personal style is very plain and nothing like the ice cream cones I used to rock. I now have a fear of prints and bright color in my everyday life. It sounds extreme, but it’s true.

We came to a compromise that we were both very happy with. I loved the neutral tones of the Art Gallery Blithe Collection by Katarina Roccella and my mom sold me on the whimsical pattern of the Winter Woodland print. She especially loved the subtle metallic details on the Winterberries print. Lastly, using the Birch Bark print  for the cuff pulled the prints together. If you love these designs as much as we do, stay tuned in January because Needle in a Fabric Stash has been invited to participate in Katarina’s Blog Tour  and will be making a project using the Blithe collection.

My mom reviewed rotary cutting, pressing and simple techniques and she taught me the steps for this simple, fun and easy burrito pillow case pattern. I made a few pillowcases – one for myself, two gifts and even a sample for the store.

No matter how busy life gets it is special moments like these that make it worth sitting down for a moment with those who mean the most to you. Reminiscing over ice cream cone shorts and creating new memories of sophisticated pillowcases are just some of our Thanksgiving traditions here at the Stone house. From our family at Needle in a Fabric Stash we wish you a happy holiday season filled with laughs, love, good food and hopefully even some sewing!