Season's Greetings

It's Christmas Eve in Australia and I have just one more small gift to sew. Throughout the year I've been much more organised, pacing myself, and not trying to do the impossible.

I've spent the morning in the garden and am heading out again in a few minutes. In the evening I'll finish off the sewing and will wrap the remaining presents.

This time of year means different things to different people. For me, it's all about family - a day with the most important people in my life.

What we do during the day is not important - being together is.

However you spend this time of year, I hope there's lots of fun and laughter celebrating with the people who mean the most to you.

Seasons Greetings - Merry Christmas - Happy Hannukah

See you in 2016, if not before...

... Pam

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Threading Your Way ~ Features

This week's features - (all have been Pinned)...

A great alternative to wrapping paper, added to the Gift Wrapping link party. And they're easy to make...

Easy DIY Gift Bags with Boxed Corners by Lisa, from Cucicucicoo... this week's featured blog. Lisa, look out for your blog button in my sidebar. Cucicucicoo is all about making stuff without leaving a footprint. Check out Lisa's refashioning and upcycling posts, as well as her tutorials.

Baby Wash Cloths in a Fabric Basket

Several months ago I made two sets of baby wash cloths. The first ones you can see in the photos below. The second set was made for a virtual baby shower and as part of that present, I made a matching fabric basket. It was a great way to present the wash cloths, and became a gift in itself.

Low Volume Fabric ~ What Does It Mean?

I need your help. When I made my Tic Tac Toe quilt blocks, I had trouble understanding what low volume meant. After reading several blog posts on the topic, I was still unsure at to what type of fabrics low volume was referring to. 

#1

QAYG Zippered Music Pouch

Another Christmas present finished!!! I just adore this one. I'm not musically inclined in any way, but it's the combination of fabrics that make this little zippered pouch.

How to Sew English Paper Pieced Hexies Together

A couple of weeks ago, I showed you how to baste English Paper Pieced hexagons together. The next step in the process is to sew them together. Today's tutorial will show you how I sew my hexies to each other.

Threading Your Way ~ Features

This week's features - (all have been Pinned)...

An adorable dress, added to the Costumes / Pretend Dress Up Clothes link party. Doubles as a costume and a casual dress...

Inside Outside Disgust Dress by Annie, from Peaches and Bees... this week's featured blog. Annie, look out for your blog button in my sidebar. Annie sews mainly for her lucky daughter and sometimes for herself. She makes the most incredible outfits for her daughter, for everyday wear, special occasions and for dressing up. If you sew for young girls, Peaches and Bees is a must read.

Quilt As You Go Zippered Pouches

Seven more zippered pouches sewn!!! I am powering along making Christmas presents. These ones are not for me to give, however. A friend has asked me to make four zippered pouches that she can give as Christmas presents. She's paying me to make them.

Denim Wine Bottle Gift Bag Tutorial

Later this week I'll be having lunch with a couple of girlfriends. Rather than cook, I've opted to bring some wine. Normally, I'd present my wine in a brown paper bag, but I've decided it's time to lift my game.

And so I've re-purposed a pair jeans to make a re-usable wine bottle gift bag. I'll show you how to make one. It may well be the quickest project you've ever made.

How to Baste English Paper Pieced Hexies

Last month I showed you my hexie flowers. They've multiplied at a reasonable rate since I first showed them to you. As Quiltpiecer said, A hexie here, a hexie there, they will all add up... Today I thought I'd show you how I make my hexagons - getting them ready to sew together.

Beach Huts Zippered Pouches

More zippered pouches. I am on a roll!!! I'll be SO organised for Christmas!!! Well - maybe, maybe not? At least I'll have all the makeup bags and toiletry bags covered.

Threading Your Way ~ Features

I have reorganised the link parties, so that the newest links appear first. Some of the collections are becoming quite large, with almost 600 projects, so I thought it would be easier to spot the new ones if they were at the top. Let me know what you think, both for ease of adding projects and navigating to find inspiration and ideas.

This week's features - (all have been Pinned)...

A stunning pincushion, added to the Sewing Accessories link party. Now, I wouldn't normally call a pincushion stunning, but this one is. It's a work of art...

William Morris Sunflower Pincushion ~ Tutorial by Allison, from Wash on Monday Irony on Tuesday... this week's featured blog. Allison, look out for your blog button in my sidebar. Wash on Monday Irony on Tuesday, is a new to me blog, but one that's now on my Must Read list. In Allison's own words, At the end of the day.... you itch to stitch! Allison, I can so relate to that!

Linen Zippered Pouches

Last week I whipped up a few zippered pouches and I'm really happy with how they turned out. Initially I thought I'd make one for a friend who could do with some cheering up, but why make one when you can make five?

Things to Look Out For Before Refashioning a Dress into a Top

I recently acquired some pre-loved clothes from one of my daughter's friends. She's much the same size as me and we have a similar taste in clothes. Instead of donating clothes she no longer want to an Op Shop, she gives them to my daughter. Luckily for me, most of the clothes are too large for my daughter and so I have my pick.

Simple Calico Drawstring Bag ~ Tutorial

In August a friend gave me a huge amount of fabric. All she wanted in return, was for me to make the calico into drawstring bags of various sizes. The rest of the fabric was mine to keep. Today I'll show you how I made my calico bags. There's no need for lining, as the French seams enclose the raw edges and make a very neat finish - a quick and easy project you can whip up in next to no time.

Gift Wrapping Ideas

Last Christmas, I was organised enough to take photos of a few Christmas presents as I wrapped them. Those photos have been sitting on my computer for almost a year, waiting to show you nice and early for this Christmas. With a little planning, I was able to avoid having to buy commercial wrapping paper.

Dots and Boxes Game

I love playing games with the kids, but I needed a break from Uno and Checkers, so thought I'd teach them how to play Dots and Boxes - a simple pencil and paper game, so nothing to buy.

Add a Fake Camisole to an Existing Blouse

I've had this blue blouse for ages. Made from a thin cotton, most probably voile or lawn, it's lightweight and comfortable - perfect for warm weather. Only problem is, the front is a tad too low, meaning I always have to wear a singlet or camisole underneath. That's fine on cool days, but in warm weather, the singlet makes it too hot to wear.

Satin Drawstring Gift Bags

Drawstring gift bags have become my favourite way to wrap presents. Not only are they quick and easy to make, but the end result is two gifts in one. I've just finished another two, this time made with beautiful satin fabric.

Threading Your Way ~ Features

This week's features - (all have been Pinned)...

Some awesome ornament zippered pouches, added to both the Purses, Clutches, Pouches and the Gift Wrapping link parties. Little zippered pouches which double as ornaments to hang on the tree. Definitely making a few of these...

Ornament Zippies ~ Tutorial by Sandra, from Sandra Sews... this week's featured blog. Sandra, look out for your blog button in my sidebar. Sandra's tutorial details how to make ornament zippies an easy way with the fudge factor built in. It's a very clever method, especially when making small or irregular shapes. If you like to make zippered pouches, Sandra Sews is a must read.

Tic Tac Toe Blocks - Quilt Blocks to Heal Violence

It's been a while since I've done any machine quilting. No particular reason - just busy with other projects. A post by Ros, from Sew Delicious, prompted me to piece a few blocks together. Finished quilts are going to be donated to women and children who have suffered from domestic violence.

Maximising My Sewing Time

Time to sew is precious. No matter what stage in your life, there's never enough time. And, the more I sew, the more I want to sew. So I need all the help I can get to cut corners. Not cutting corners as in sloppy sewing, but ideas to maximise the time I have to actually sew.

T-shirt Yarn Projects

Today I've been making t-shirt yarn. It's so cool!!! From one t-shirt you get yards and yards of continuous yarn. And it doesn't take long to do.

Flower Hexies

My hexies are multiplying - not at a fast pace, mind you, but slowly and surely I am making progress.

Threading Your Way ~ Features

This week's features - (all have been Pinned)...

An amazing outfit, added to the Dresses for Women link party. Claire and her husband also made a papier mache Frank Sidebottom...

Corsets, Papier Mache and Masquerades by Claire, from Ragbags and Gladrags...  this week's featured blog. Claire, look out for your blog button in my sidebar. Claire sews mainly for herself, making all manner of dress styles. She often refashions pre-loved garments. I especially love the recent denim jacket she made herself.

Differences in Cushion Inserts

Does the Shape and Size of a Cushion Insert Matter?

It's not often I get to go fabric shopping when someone else foots the bill. OK, my eldest son and his girlfriend chose the fabrics and they get to keep the finished project, but hey, I get to keep all the left overs.

Why Do I Procrastinate When I Love to Sew?

I love to sew, but when it comes to beginning a new project I am the world's worst procrastinator!!! Doesn't matter if it's an easy project or a hard project, a new to me project or one I've done a million times before, I baulk at starting. Even if there's a deadline, it makes no difference. I leave it till the last minute.

Chiffon Scarf

After sewing a couple of infinity scarves recently, I thought I'd sew a regular scarf - a light weight scarf to dress up an outfit. Here's how to make one...

Threading Your Way ~ Features

This week's features - (all have been Pinned)...

A very clever way to design a quilt, added to the Quilting & Patchwork link party. All you need is the initial quilt block...

How to Use PhotoScape to Test a Quilt Block Design by Joy, from Joy's Jots, Shots & Whatnots...  this week's featured blog. Joy, look out for your blog button in my sidebar. Joy is an experienced seamstress. She regularly shares sewing tutorials covering everything from making doll clothes to quilts. Her Tech How To posts are also very popular and well received.

How to Easily Mend Stretched Ribbing on Clothing

I have to admit, I'm not overly keen on clothing alterations or mending a worn garment. To prolong the life of a garment, however, I'll overcome my lack of enthusiasm. Today's sewing involved one such task - fixing the stretched ribbing on the sleeves of a favourite cardigan. As far as mending goes, the fix was relatively easy.

30 Sewing Projects to Use Up All Those Little Scraps of Fabric

If you're anything like me, you'll have a healthy stash of little pieces of fabric. Mine is growing at an alarming rate, as I find it hard to throw away even the smallest of scraps. Today I'm sharing 30 projects from the ongoing sewing link parties here at Threading My Way. All can be sewn with small, left over pieces of fabric or with tiny scraps pieced together.