Friends, I am so pleased and excited to be offering a Quilted Church Banner Retreat!  The Retreat will be given at a classroom in my home in Waitsburg, WA and is a real one-on-one learning opportunity.  I will be accepting only three students per session, so the space is very limited.  Because of this I urge you to register as soon as possible!  This week long retreat will be offered once monthly starting on  Monday at 1pm and running to Friday 12pm.  Lunch will be provided Tues, Wed, and Thurs. 

During the class we will be constructing the four pictured church banners measuring approx. 18”x24”.  While taking this class not only will you get the opportunity to learn and master many quilting and banner techniques, you will also be creating beautiful masterpieces to share with others.  You will be walked through many quilting techniques: using fusible interfacing, appliqué, Heat’n’Bond, Quick Bias, word/verse and stained glass quilts, binding, fringe, tassels, plus much more.  This retreat is an opportunity for you to get a real handle on the skill of making, quilting, and hanging church banners.  Each student will be supplied with four complete kits for the projects, though you are more than welcome to bring the fabric of your choice.  You will be required to bring your own sewing machine, as well as a few additional sewing items.

2009 Class Dates

August 10-14, September 14-16, October 12-16, November 16-20

Who Can Come?

• Anyone with a love or interest in Church Banners, sewing and quilting.
• Anyone aged 18 or older or accompanied by a parent.
• Must be proficient with and provide own sewing machine
• Must register at least thirty days before Retreat is to be held.

For downloadable registration form, phone number and additional information please feel free to visit our website @ bunkhousesewing.com.  

New Modest Clothing Pattern Line!

The reason you haven’t heard from me for a while is because I have really been focusing on completing something that is a passion of mine...girls modest clothing patterns.  It is every parent’s wish that their daughters grow up to radiate beauty and grace, but the path to getting there isn’t always an easy one.  Our daughters have to learn that real beauty comes from within and from God.  We, at www.bunkhousesewing,com are proud to introduce our new modest clothing pattern line, from “Clothed in Beauty & Grace” (A sister website currently under construction).   With a strong emphasis on modesty, beauty, and comfort this clothing will be a joy to make and wear.  

In the world at present there is such importance placed on the physical appearance, we want to give all young ladies a chance to have well fit, comfortable clothing.  Not all girls are shaped the same, and on today’s market it is often difficult to find affordable, attractive clothing, especially for hard to fit body types.  There are separate sections with specific sizing charts and patterns available for Standard Girls, Plus Sizes, Infants/Toddlers, and Slim/Tall girls.

Additionally, for each girls pattern there are matching doll clothes patterns available, so while your sewing clothes for you daughter, she can be sewing for her dolly. For those interested, there are additional links to exceptional sewing resources and books.  It is our goal for your daughters to look as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside.  Every little girl is born into this world as a gift from God and we want all girls to have the opportunity to be Clothed in Beauty & Grace! 

"We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain."

2 Corinthians 6:1

Holiday Crunch Time

December rolled around just like it does every year…Money was tight, so I decided to make gifts this year for some special ladies. I had the fabric on hand to sew some Christmas table runners and I wanted to make about 12.  Many people would ask, how can you get all of that done in such a short period of time?  Well, I have a few tricks that I have fine-tuned over the years that I would like to share with you in hopes that you can find something that might help you overcome your own Holiday crunch.

1. Select a simple project that looks complicated!  This is just as easy as it sounds.  There are many projects out there that are easy to assemble and sew, and turn out looking great.  My table runner patterns utilized rectangle and squares, there are no angle or curves, so that speeds cutting time and sewing.

2. Compute approximately how much time it will take to make one complete project. This will give you a basis to make a timeline so that you can keep track of your progress.  I figured that it would take me about one hour to cut and piece the top of the runner, and a second hour to quilt and complete it.  That way I knew that I would need to find 24 hours in the next three weeks to complete my twelve projects.  If you know that you’re not going to be able to finish the projects, then cut down the total number of projects that you want to complete. OR scrap the initial plan and move to Plan B.  Life happens and the best laid plans need to be flexible.

3. Use a rotary cutter and cut out in quantity.  I decided to complete 3 runners at a time… so I cut out all the pieces for the three that I am working on and they will basically be the same, though no one else will know it is not an ‘original’.

 4. Select only one color of thread and wind 2 bobbins before beginning.  Thread changes take time, so I select the best color – usually one that matches the border and backing fabric.

 5. Chain or speed sew your pieces together, by sewing from one piece right onto the next piece, going back to clip the threads between each after the sewing has been completed.  I shorten my stitch length to 2.0 when piecing the top so I don’t have to worry about threads coming out.

 6. Sew all the flat seams you can before going to the ironing board, pressing and trimming everything all at once, then back to the machine to stitch the next item together. 

 7. Lay out your backing fabric, right side down (enough for all three), then your batting, then lay your completed piece top right side up as the third layer, leaving about 1” between them.  Pin through all three layers for quilting now, then cut each of them out leaving ½ “ all the way around.  All three are ready to go to the machine for quilting now!

8. Use “stitch-in-the-ditch” quilting. It’s much easier if you have a walking foot when working with layers of fabric.  Also a zipper foot helps you to stitch much more accurately in the ditch without jumping into the top seam.  Be sure to lengthen your stitch to 3.0 when quilting.

9. Cut out enough binding fabric for all three runners. Sew all strips together into one long binding piece.

10. Use “stitch-in-the-ditch” technique to finish the binding.  When I have been really pressed for time and simply didn’t have time to hand sew the back of the binding, this was an acceptable alternative.

11.  Utilize Continuous Quilting.  If you don’t have to lift your presser foot to stop and start, don’t!  When you’re working with square or rectangular shapes you can put your needle down at the end of the row, turn your fabric and continue stitching. This saves a lot of time by not needing to backstitching and clip threads.

12.  Be sure to use the time at your machine to think about your friendships and pray for the people that you are sewing gifts for! 

Don’t let this become a time of tense frustration, you don’t want to lose sight of the real reason for the season!  You can combine speed and still enjoy the sewing experience.  Happy Holidays!

Well fall is finally here!  I have to say that this is one of my favorite times of year, with all of the magnificent weather changes.  Not to mention the coming holiday season!  Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and then Christmas will be here before we know it.  I am offering a fall pattern pack, Stichin for the Kitchen, on my website that has a ton of fun festive patterns, and I also have a new Thanksgiving children’s dress-up pattern set.  The children’s outfits include a pilgrim boy and girl and also a Native American outfit.  The costumes are simple and easy to assemble and a lot of fun for children.   You can check out larger pictures at Bunkhousesewing.com. 

The Fall Pattern Pack has many great ideas for kitchen decoration. Some of the patterns included are two styles of placemats, a pieced table runner, as well as an assortment of ideas for both potholders and kitchen towels.  Also included are a festive lil' pumpkin baby bib and a turkey appliqué apron.   With over ten projects you're bound to find the perfect ones to work on and keep you busy.  The pattens are easy enough to make into a family activity, or to construct and give as gifts to those you love. These accessories will be an asset to any kitchen!

  What to do with the little boy who has “nothing to do”???  Well here is a fantastic project for mom to sew that will keep a boy busy.  “Let’s Go Camping” is a pattern for a cloth book that will teach him to zip, tie, count, button, buckle, snap, learn his colors, and more!!  The book includes patterns for cloth boy dolls that “sleep” in their tent.  There are counting activities where you ‘count the stars in the sky’ learning the numbers 1-10. You can personalize the contents of your child's ‘backpack page’, so that it fit’s their ‘camping’ needs.   Little boys will practice tying knots on the ‘tie your boot’ page.  The child will learn names of woodland creatures on the ‘who’s hiding in the woods’ page, as well as many more activities. 

 I feel strongly that everything we do should be for the greater glory of God.  That is why when I wrote my children’s sewing instruction books, I made devotionals to go along with each one of them.  These devotionals incorporate aspects of each lesson into a  biblical teaching, and life skills.  They are just quick fun little analogies that really get you thinking about not only the sewing project, but also Godly principals for life.  It is so important to talk to our children in a way that they can relate to, and this is a great tool to use for the kids that are learning to sew. The instructionals and the devotionals also create a chance to have some quality bonding time and some real in-depth talks about God and your child's faith.

  The devotional’s are geared toward specific age and gender, each being slightly different.  They include songs, memory verses, words of wisdom and additional projects.  I am working on expanding my devotional line to include all of my sewing manuals.  There are sample pages and table of contents available at www.bunkhousesewing.com, so I invite you to come check it out!

I just wanted to post and let you all know about the fun activity that I did with my grandchildren.  I was experimenting with ideas for Operation Christmas Child, a program that our church is involved in each year, and found this.  Usually we do tie-dye tee-shirts and they always turn out really great as well as being a ton of fun, but this year we are going to do something new.  My grandchildren and I started out with solid color tee-shirts (we had green) then we hunted through the yard for leaves of all shapes and sizes.  We laid the tee-shirts down flat outside, in the sunshine, and then they placed the leaves all over them.  I had previously mixed up a water/bleach solution in a spray bottle and when they had their leaves arranged they sprayed the shirts with the solution.  Then we just let the bleach and the sun do the work.  When the shirts are dry you remove the leaves and you get the most wonderful, almost camouflage like pattern!  All the grandbabies love both the activity and the tee’s, and I can’t wait to introduce it to all of the kid’s who help out in the Operation Christmas Child program at our church.

After we finished our leaf pattern shirts I realized that you could really use almost anything to make a print out of, like letter magnets for names or messages, or school supplies for a themed tee,  shells for an ocean shirt, anything that wouldn’t be damaged with the bleach water. We tried an alternative to tie-dying, called "reverse dying"  (that's the shirt in the first photo below), which involves buying a colored tee then tying (actually rubber banding) it just like you would a white shirt that was going to be tie-dyed,  then you run it though your washing machine with bleach water, and it comes out in a reverse tie-dye which is a fun, and different way to do the project.  These are all great activities for the whole family and I encourage you to try them out!  The photo on the right, below, show some of the shirts they kids tie dyed  last year.

I just wanted to put a little info in here about Operation Christmas Child, just in case any of you aren’t familiar with it.  It is a program geared at bringing gifts to children around the world that other wise would have no way to celebrate the Christmas season.  Gifts are sent in shoeboxes, filled full with items they can use, wear, or have fun with. There is more information available at the Samaritan's Purse web site, along with guide lines on the shoeboxes and idea’s of what to fill them with. 

We've just complete our newest book:  "Sewing and Quilting Activity Book"

This is a  fun filled activity book that will keep you in stitches for a while with dot to dot pictures, coloring, mazes and word searches.  The book has 28 full pages of puzzles, is written for for ages 6 - 12 and includes a couple of sewing projects, plus math puzzles and drawing!  My desire is that this will help build a child's love of sewing and that he/she will learn a few skills along the way.

Do you teach more than one childat a time?  I have found this to be an excellent resource to motivate your faster students and keep their hands busy and learning while giving you time to work with other students..

Sewing can teach a child so many skills!  This book offers pages that reinforces creativity and color coordination; learning math and measurements; drawing; critical thinking skills; and sewing knowledge and application. All children learn in different ways...and this book is simply another means of inspiring, challenging, and teaching that sewing can be fun!  Be sure to check it out at our website.

My two granddaughters, Ruth and Hannah were recently dedicated at church.  I was thrilled that my daughter was able to adjust the gown she was dedicated in to fit the youngest one, Hannah. 

I designed it with a high yoke abd puffy sleeves with elastic and lace edging, detailing the yoke with cute buttons, beading lace across the yoke and over the armholes, and pink ribbon trim.  There were three layers to the skirt with the slip underneath, a straight underskirt with an eyelet flounce and the top layer with a wide curved flounce.  The flounces were all set off with the beading lace and pink ribbon.  The length was perfect, so Corrie only needed to  extend the Velcro back and make the elastic in the sleeves a bit longer.  She finished up by embroidering Hannah’s name and dedication date on the back underskirt.

Corrie designed this dress and pinafore for Ruth, her oldest daughter.  The square necked pinafore with machine embroidery and lace shaping on the front, reaches the waist and adds lots of  lace edged gathers around the armholes.  The band sports regular sewing machine stitches in the light pink. 

The dress has a sweet lace edged color, puffy gathered sleeves and full skirt, with a scalloped and lace trimmed bottom edge.   She used lace insertions and machine embroidery with hearts, flowers and bows throughout for a darling outfit.   Beautiful dresses for a very special day.

Looking for Christmas ideas?  Last Christmas I made a bean bag for the grandchildren.  It has certainly been the funnest, most entertaining,  longest lasting, eveyone loves it, gift!  

It is so comfy because I used 2 bags of shredded foam for each bag of bean pellets.  That makes it soft as well as substantial.  I made an interlining from muslin, in case some stitching might snap in usage, thus the double protection from dealing with a mess of pellets.  The shape of the pattern was adjusted to make it more "round", utilizing 6 side panels (in red, yellow and blue) and adding a top circle of green to match the botton base circle, which contains a zipper across the center diameter.  This enables the outer fabric shell to be washed if needed. All seams were double stitched and topstitched.   The bag did end up a bit costly - but I purchased the 3 sacks of bean pellets and 6 bags of shredded foam with coupons, and of course the cotton duck fabric was purchased on sale as well. 

My daughter tells me they play on it all the time. And when the kids aren't using it - mom and dad are!   It takes center stage in their living room.  I sure love to see my grandbabies having fun!

My daughter, Corrie, recently completed dresses for the Lavendar Festival.  This is the occasion when they take their family picture out in the beautiful fields.   Her style this year for the darling dresses was to add an insert, such as you would see in smocking, using instead the embroidery stitches on her machine.

Most everyone has machine embroidery stitches on their machines, which we seldom use.  The main thing to remember when doing embroidery is to use some type of stabilizer on the back.  It can be as simple as typing paper (you'll need to change your needle more often), or a purchased stabilizer.  We prefer a washaway stabilizer so we can dip it in water and its gone, rather than having to pick it out from behind the embroidery stitches.

The first step is to determine the width you would like the band to finish.  This will vary according to the size of your child.  Cut the band fabric about 2" wider than finished size and 2" longer than the bodice front waistline width.  Draw your lines onto the band with a wahout marker.  Stitch the middle embroidery first - which should be a balanced stitch.  Then stitch the same embroidery on each side of the middle.  If these are not balanced, be sure to either reverse the stitch or begin from the opposite end of your strip so the two will look balanced.  You can make as many rows and use different colors to pick up the colors in the dress.

She only cuts a front collar, making the pattern directly from the front bodice piece, exactly the same size and shape.  She shapes the scalloped edge of the collar by drawing her design with washout marker onto her fabric, and using the machine scallop embroidery pattern with  a wide zig-zag.  Cut and lay together, 2 pieces of collar fabric at least 2" longer and 2" wider than the finished size.  With washout marker, draw the shoulder and neckline cutting edge, and the shape you have chosen for the scalloped edge.  Stitch out the scallops.  Fray check from the bottom side.  After the fray check is dry, with scissors, carefully cut around the bottom edge.  The collar can then be laid over the bodice front and sewn into the shoulder and neckline seams.  You have a darling collar, that doesn't flip up on you.

Have fun with your sewing...don't be afraid to try something new.  Learn to use all your machine has to offer you.

"Catch the Sewing Bug, 25 Fun and Simple Projects" is now in print!  Younger children always want to sew, and we tend to think they're too young.  It was my desire to put together a book of simple, do-able, fun sewing projects, that with the help of mom, they can make and be successful with.

This  book, designed for younger hands working with adult ones, is written in such a way that adults with no sewing skills can easily work their way through it.  Each project builds upon skills learned in an earlier one, and by the time the child finishes the book, she not only has fair repertoire of basic sewing skills, but also a large boxful of useful, fun things that she has made.  It is amazing how much even the youngest child, with a caring adult, a good machine, and this book, can do!

My 3 year old grandson has successfully made a tote bag from a placemat, and his own "tractor"  (fabric) pillowcase.  He's so proud of them - packed them around all day, and has to show everybody.  I held Luke on my lap, with me running the foot control.  I let him lift the presser foot lever up and down, run the backstitch button, and pretty much guide the fabric.  Of course at that age he isn't capable of doing it all, but he loved what he did and we're cultivating the love of sewing and creating.  Be sure to check out "Catch the Sewing Bug" on my website, and also sign up for the "free tips for sewing with children" to make the time you spend with them at the machine more enjoyable for all.

I'm a grandmother again!  With Hannah Lyn making her way into the world, I now boast 3 beautiful granddaughters, and a wonderful grandson.  There is nothing more precious than grandchildren. 

Thought I'd share this story about my daughter, Corrie.  I was visiting about 1 1 /2 weeks after Hannah was born.  Corrie, baby and family, along with grandma and grandpa, had spent most of the day shopping and sight seeing.  By 3:00 I came home exhausted!  When I got up from my nap, I found my daughter in the sewing room...busy making a dress for Hannah to match a dress for her sister, Ruth, and a dress Corrie had made for herself!  She only had 3 hours before the baby shower that night!  Here's a picture of Ruth in her dress:

The three of them looked wonderful in their matching outfits that evening.

Here is another view showing the sleeve and back tie detail.  She combined a couple patterns from out of our heirloom sewing book "Pintucks & Lace, Using Heirloom Techniques on Today's styles".

 I’ve never thrown away a pattern since I was a child!  And I am one of those persons that picks up older patterns at yard sales.  It’s not as bad as you think – they are all organized!  And I am constantly drawing upon my stash (of patterns, that is).  For example, I made my granddaughter, Grace, a Christmas dress from a 20 year old Daisy Kingdom pattern that I had made a dress for my daughter from.  Here she is…can’t wait to see it with dress shoes and a bow at the neckline!  She loves the dress – it has a ‘twirl’ skirt and puffy sleeves (she doesn’t like long sleeves). Because of the snowman theme, she will be able to wear it all winter long.

I’m not much into today’s styles,  I want girls to look like girls – modest and pretty. Because of this I go to my stash quite often.  I can usually find a pattern close to what I want, whatever the occasion, and then adjust, or “flat pattern” from there.  In fact, I have 4 other dresses cut out to sew up for my granddaughters before Christmas - and three of these patterns are 30 years old.  I consider my “stash” one of my most useful, time and money saving resources.

Of course, I do have a fabric “stash”, too…

I finally finished the quilts I’ve been working on for the grandchildren this Christmas. You saw Luke’s earlier – the “Frog” quilt,  Grace (5 years old) will have a twin bed size “Bear” quilt;  Ruth (18 months) will have a 32” square “Bunnies” quilt to drag around, and my newest (2 weeks old), will get a crib size “Ducky” quilt.

All of the quilts are dimensional.  The individual pieces for the animals were sewn together and then foundation pieced into blocks.  I double stitched all the loose pieces…ears, legs, pockets, etc. for extra strength as the child plays with them.  All the basic quilt patterns were purchased from thimble-art.com.  Each pattern has been adjusted to fit the necessary size for each child.  I used “Minkie” on the back side of all the quilts – it’s sooooo soft!  The only place I found to purchase it was at Craft Warehouse….and it is a bit expensive…in the $15 – $18 range. 

If you do not have an embroidery machine and would like to personalize your quilts, may I suggest a couple alternatives.  Back in March, I promised you pictures and information on my scripture quilt from which I purchased preprinted panels from Canyon Creek Fabrics (208-937-2631) at Sewing Expo this spring.  Along with the scriptures, they have several other themed panels.

As an alternative to purchasing panels, you can create your own designs on your home computer with fonts, clipart, and pictures.  June Tailor has computer printer fabric, with either white or muslin backgrounds, that you can feed through your inkjet or laser printer. The fabric is adhered to a paper backing, and you can just peel it off after printing.  Complete instructions are included. You may purchase this printer fabric at most any fabric store.

I have also successfully used the HP iron-on transfers.  They work beautifully, and I believe give a better finish, plus you have the added advantage of being able to apply them to any fabric background.  I purchase my transfer paper from Staples – I’m sure other office supply stores carry it as well.

The transfers and computer paper make wonderful quilt projects for students…who are into the computer!  And what fun it is to design the rest of the quilt around the blocks – which can be cut to any shape!  Just take a piece of graph paper and start drawing!  Cut the pieces to size (one square equals 1 inch- or whatever to make it the size you want it to finish) and just remember to add ¼” seam allowance on all the edges of the piece before cutting.

 You can truly create a one of a kind, personalized quilt that will be cherished forever!

Whew! My latest book is finally being printed. While everything has gone smoothly with all my other books, this one decided to be difficult! We thought all was fine until we had a bit of trouble converting from one program to another - technical things like that. Fortunately, it's all worked out and I can breathe a contented sigh of relief.

This book teaches how to recreate heirloom techniques with your sewing machine so that you can incorporate them into whatever you choose to make. It's really been a fun book to do.

So...what do you think? (Yes, I had to show off the grandkids!)

You can see more pictures of the book and some of the project included HERE.

Right now I'm working on taking some of the individual projects from my other books and quilts and turning them into e-books. I've never tried anything like this before so it's kind of exciting!

Boy! Can you tell I've been busy! I promised to tell you about the second booth that caught my eye at the Sewing Expo and that was nearly two weeks ago!

I do have a good excuse (hehe)! Corrie (daughter) and her family were here for a week and just left. We had a wonderful time, but I'm just a bit tired! The grandkids are wonderful!

While she was here we took photos for our new heirloom book. It should go to press next week and be available the first part of August. (More about that later)

So...back to the Sewing Expo. The second booth that caught my eye - after the 3-D quilt booth - was Block Party Studies, Inc. They have a variety of scripture quilts, ustin the quilt-as-you-go technique, and can easily be made in an afternoon.

These would be a great project for a girl's beginning quilting class...I think the project could be finished in three 3 hr. sessions. I'm planning to make these up for my mother and mother-in-law. I also picked up daughter quotes to make for my daughter and daughter-in-law.

I'll have to share the pictures as I get them finished.

Have a wonderful week!

JoAnn Gagnon

See my website for FREE sewing tips & projects.

A major event in my year is the annual Sewing Expo in Puyallup. The expo is always the first week in March and lasts four days. It's the largest sewing expo in the nation and quite affordable with an entry fee of $8 and a mere $3 to attend a class.

It is here that my daughter and I have learned many "industry secrets". For instance, we've learned to make EASY welt pockets and been introduced to lots of nifty tools. Corrie and I attend different classes and combine notes later. (Double your fun!)

We would attend every year, keeping up on what's new. If you're planning to attend you'll want to allow at least two days to fit in the classes you like. There are tons to choose from and a HUGE exhibit floor to browse.

This year, two booths in particular caught my eye. The first was a booth with dimensional quilts. I decided to make one of these quilts for each of my grandchildren for Christmas this year. Luke gets frogs, Grace will have bears and Ruth gets bunnies.

These are fun quilts. Part of an arm or leg is sewn in and the rest hangs free. The frog has a pocket in his belly. (The others didn't but I'm incorporating that idea into the other two quilts. The patterns are available at www.thimble-art.com

Here is a bit of info. on the quilt I made for Lukey (cute, isn't he?).

This quilt was made inexpensively using fabrics from Walmart. My quilt is in bright primary colors and green. I changed the pattern a bit and framed the frogs. I also added and changed the size of the frogs to cover and outline the top of his bed. The bugs and border cover the sides.

I stiple quilted around the frogs and bugs for extra strength as we know how little boys love to play with things! I quilted stars in the other blocks. This did take a bit longer than a normal quilt. I made all the individual pieces before assembling. The frogs are supposed to foundation pieced but I cut pieces for the background and simply pieced them.

Lukey's mom has given me the freedome to decorate his room so I will continue with this theme for birthdays as well as Christmas....he'll get a primary colored bean bag chair with his name and frogs on it, some from print pajamas and a frog bank! Can you tell I'm the kind of person that likes to plan ahead?

Next update, I'll share about the other booth that caught my eye.

Have a wonderful week!

JoAnn Gagnon

Find free sewing tips and projects at my website Bunkhouse Sewing!