Sewin' for Jesus

My brother-in-law was ordained a Catholic priest in June of 2003. I made him one of his priestly vestments. I copied it from a vestment he had made in Rome. The material is red poly/cotton from JoAnns. The piping and bias binding is novelty fabric with gold, green, blue and black lame from my stash. I used an embroidery motif from Ann the Gran.




Fr. Edward in action....

Sewin' with Linda

My name is Linda and I am from Virginia. I have three children Gus (8), Carl (7) and Bonnie (5). I work full time managing a systems training project. I have been sewing since I was 4 years old - so 36 years.

Bill and I on our 10th wedding anniversary.

I have been married for almost 13 years to hubby, Bill (a high school math teacher). I worked in a costume shop during my undergraduate and one year of graduate school. I can drape and draft, but tend to use patterns because I am lazy and greatly pressed for time. I have a fabric stash of at least 150 pieces that span about 15 storage bins. I am trying to just sew from my stash (yes, I know the audience is laughing hysterically). I would like to use this blog to keep some time of record of my sewing projects.

Here is a picture of me sewing Carl's baptismal gown (like the wind!) This picture shows me without makeup and normal wild hair.

Halloween Costumes

Most of my sewing consists of Halloween costumes for the kids. I just finished my masters so I am trying to get get back into sewing clothes for myself. The following is a compilation of costumes made for the kids over the years.

Halloween 2000. Gus as a skunk at 8 months. He wasn't terribly excited about wearing the costume, but he was SO adorable. Several people thought we were carrying a stuffed animal. The ears and feet pads are Ultrasuede. I hand stitched the white fur.
Gus and Daddy Bill.

Halloween 2001.

Gus went as a duck. Possibly my favorite costume ever. The fabric is from JoAnns. The yellow duck bill, body suit and duck feet are felt. The duck body, sleeves and cap are white fake fur. The duck body is lined in white acetate.

A shot of the yellow body suit during elastic fitting (note elastic showing on leg).

Halloween 2002. Carl is dressed as devil - and it is such an appropriate costume!! The fabric is polar fleece with red acetate lining from JoAnns.

Gus is dressed as Eeyore. Polar fleece is from JoAnns. Black mane is leftover skunk fur. The hood is finished with gray bias binding.

Halloween 2003. The 3 little pigs. Fabric is pink polar fleece from JoAnns. Each piggy had a springy pipe cleaner covered with polar fleece tail.

Halloween 2004. Gus as a Ghost and Carl as a Pumpkin. The pumpkin and bodysuit are felt. The pumpkin face is satin stitched onto the body. The stem and leaves are hand stitched to hat. The leaves are satin stitched. The body is lined in orange cotton broadcloth. All fabric for the pumpkin is from JoAnns.








Gus as the ghost. No pattern used for body. I used the pumpkin hat pattern. The fabric is white polyester lining from stash overlayed with sheer shimmery polyester from JoAnns. The fabric for the body was folded in half with hole cut out for head. Elastic was threaded for neck hole. Elastic rings were sewn at ends of fold for his wrists.


Halloween 2005. Bonnie as witch, Gus as skeleton and Carl as a Chupakabra (Mexican monster). Carl learned about the Chupakabra from a Scooby Doo book. I used the picture from the book for the costume. Unfortunately, everyone thought he was a telly tubby. I also learned not to dress Carl in a fur costume ever again. The staff at his preschool put his costume on over his clothes and he almost passed out. Anyway. He was very happy with the costume.

Bonnie's costume is silver lame fabric with black bats. She has silver lame ties and sash. Gus' costume is black polar fleece with white felt bones. Carl has gray Ultrasuede ears. All fabric is from JoAnns.

Halloween 2006. Gus and Carl insisted on store-bought costumes (oh, the shame!!!) Bonnie is dressed as Gwendala the good witch from the Wizard of Oz. She wanted a crown though - not the hat that came with the pattern. The fabric was from JoAnns.

Halloween 2007. Bonnie is a blue princess (she called it Blue Barbie). The hat and dress are trimmed in white marabou feathers. The hat and panniers are panne velvet. The dress is a blue acetate (nasty shredding stuff!) The skirt has a glittery netting overlay. The fabric all came from JoAnns.

Gus was obsessed with monopoly and was thrilled with the idea of being the monopoly man. The fabric for the vest is white linen lined with bemberg lining - both from my stash. The buttons are little dice from JoAnns. The shirt, tie and hat are purchased. I glued on white ribbon from stash to hat. The pants are striped gray and black wool/rayon from my stash. I was planning on making the black suit jacket. Unfortunately, with graduate school, work, Bonnie's costume and 3 needy kids - that was out the window. Gus was very happy with the results. Gus and Carl have since worn the pants several times for dressed up occasions. The pants have an elastic waist band and took maybe 2 hours to sew - so a great investment. And Carl...sigh.. wore a store bought costume.

Gus' money bag. Green and gold fabric from stash. Dollar sign is satin stitched onto bag. Includes ribbon ties.