Arleen's Insights

Today's guest blogger is Arleen! Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy reading Arleen's insights into her world of sewing!

Who taught you to sew?

My Momma, who was my first hero, and a single parent to three girls and one boy. Although she taught herself to sew, most of our clothes were store-bought during our elementary school years. But once I learned how to sew and was able to buy/translate patterns for her, she created some of my most memorable outfits in high school as well! 

 Why did you start sewing? 

The summer before I turned 13, my Mom came home from visiting a friend. It was summer school vacation in a border town in Texas, 1967, and not much to do. She was put off when she found me and my other two sisters, ages 10 and 6, just watching TV. 

 So my Mom threw the challenge out by saying that her friend’s two daughters, ages 10 and 9 had been sewing their school clothes when she had stopped by. It was the good old “shame on you” tactic and it worked. 

 I like to think that part of the success came about because the 60’s and 70’s were the most awesome time (style-wise) to sew in America. There was the “mini” – the “maxi” – the “midi” – hot pants, bell-bottomed pants, the “granny” dresses, the poncho, the peasant blouse, dresses with cutouts, I even remember a short stint with paper dresses! Add to that, the fall of 1969 was the beginning of my high school years and the disco era was another hook into sewing for me. 

What inspires you? 

When I first started to sew, it was the opportunity to have many outfits at a very low cost, something that was doable for my single parent. Then the inspiration was fueled by styles of the 60’s and 70’s and the ability to own one-of-a-kind outfits. 

I did try to sew some shirts for my husband early on but somehow men’s clothes were not fun for me. When my daughter was born, however, that was a whole new “territory” to explore. Dresses on a small scale, “new” fabrics to sew with, wow! It was like Alice in Wonderland falling down the hole all over again! 

When my son was born in 1980, I found out that infant/toddler clothes for boys were very limited. So I sewed for him as well. Sometimes, both of my kids reminisce about the MC Hammer pants/shorts era when Mom used to sew those whacky shorts made of different colors/prints! My son, who is now 31 will say, “Mom, I can’t believe I wore those shorts!” My answer is always, “You weren’t the only one, but no one else had your shorts and I didn’t pay store prices for them!” 

Today, my inspiration comes from my six-year-old granddaughter (and soon, my new infant granddaughter).  She loves dresses. She gives me the opportunity again to explore a whole palette of colors and to go back to an era when little girls dressed like little girls.

And close on the heels of my granddaughter, is my love for dolls. I’ve sewed for dolls when my daughter was a child and didn’t pick it up until about a year ago for my granddaughter’s dolls. It’s gotten to the point that I’ve started to buy my own dolls, including a vintage “Grocery Store” doll I recently purchased because it looked like the one I used to have! 

My granddaughters and my dolls, they are my inspirations! 

What do you love most about sewing? 

Spring and summer are my favorite “sewing seasons.” I love the fabrics (whites, pastels, summer prints) and styles for those seasons. Because I live in the southern California desert where temperatures can reach 118 degrees in the summer and winters are paradise, I’m able to indulge myself. Our “spring” is ready to go as early as mid-February and our summer heats are still with us into late October. 

What are your favorite things to make? 

In my younger and working days, women’s dresses and suits. My favorite styles were in the 1990’s when all pattern companies were cranking out beautiful jacket styles. 

Today, the vote goes straight to little girl dresses, from infant to size 8, and doll clothing. Unlike my granddaughters who will one day “outgrow” those sizes, doll clothing is a journey that will always stay the same “size and age.” 

What is your favorite sewing tip or trick? 

That’s a tough one since sewists, whether you’re just starting out or been at it for a long time, we’re always learning new/better/smarter ways to do things. 

But one of the tips that I will teach my granddaughter as she learns to sew, is visualize, visualize and visualize. It’s important to learn how to “visualize” what your finished product, especially an outfit, is going to look like before you even begin. How is it going to fit YOU?  Do the colors fit my skin tone? Is this print too loud/not appropriate? Will the fabric fit the style? 

It sounds like a lot, but once it becomes second nature, it actually becomes part of the shopping pleasure we experience in a fabric shop – or at least, I do! 

What is your favorite project you have created?
When my daughter was about 16 months, I made her a denim overall, with matching fleece-lined coat and bonnet. It was a hard project for me at the time but I got so many compliments from other moms with children the same age, I’ve never forgotten it. 

What are you currently working on? 

I’m planning and currently working to establish myself on-line to sell my homemade dresses and doll clothing. I am currently laying out plans to find a clientele of Moms who still like to outfit their infant/toddler daughters (and their dollies) with clothes appropriate (and fun!) for children. 

Towards that end, I’ve been adding to my doll “family”, exploring the Internet (wow! and is that overwhelming!), putting together “libraries” of tutorials, help sites, notion vendors, looking for vintage sewing patterns, “inventorying” my supplies, etc. 

Oh, yes, and admiring all the beautiful creations of my fellow sewists!

Thank you for sharing your insights, Arleen! I hope everyone who stops by will leave her a comment!

SueEllen's Insights

Today’s guest blogger is SueEllen! She shares a bit of insight into her world of sewing–

Who taught you to sew?

I first learned to sew in junior high home economics class.  It was only a 2 week segment of that class, so we only learned the basics.  After that, my paternal grandmother helped me whenever I got “stuck”.  She was a wealth of information and knew a lot of shortcuts from having worked in the garment industry.  I fondly remember working on her Singer treadle machine.

Why did you start sewing?

At the time, I was between girl sizes and misses sizes.  There were no size 0-6 at the time either.  Clothes went from girls 14 to misses 8.  So, I started sewing all my own clothes, and my grandmother taught me how to fit a pattern.  I loved to stay in my room and sew all weekend.  I even made my prom dresses, then my wedding dress and one of the bridesmaid dresses.

What inspires you?

I love to ‘surf the net’ and look at what others have done.  When I find something I want to be able to find again, I pin it to Pinterest.

Now, I mostly enjoy quilting and sewing for my granddaughters.  I love to make things for other people and see the joy on their face.  In quilting, I enjoy the design and deciding the colors the most.

What do you love most about sewing?

I can do it at home anytime, and I can share my love of sewing with others at local shops and take classes to learn new things.  I love the social aspect of ‘sit n sew’ groups.  I attended my first quilt retreat in August and really enjoyed it.  I’m going again in October!

What are your favorite things to make?

Dresses for granddaughters, pillowcases, and quilts for family.  I made a pillowcase for all 8 grandchildren last year – and put their gifts inside and tied it with a bow!

What is your favorite sewing tip or trick?

I have really appreciated the sidewinder bobbin winder I bought.  I no longer need to unthread the machine to fill a bobbin.

What is your favorite project you have created?

Last Christmas I made a quilt for my mother’s bed.  She lives in NH and the winters get very cold.  I made it using the Summer Breeze and Wildflower fabrics to cheer her during the long winter.  I also made pillowcases to match.

Summer Breeze Quilt made for Mom, 2011

Summer Breeze Quilt

This quilt was made with love for Mom

Christmas 2011

To bring some Summer cheer to the

long cold nights of winter in NH

Blueberries – for the bush by the lake

Texas Bluebonnets

Daisies to remember our Easter dresses

with matching capes

Birds – look for a red breasted Robin

to know it is Spring

Blue – Mom’s favorite color

Pink – Sue’s favorite color

Yellow – for Sunshine

By SueEllen George

What are you currently working on?

I am almost finished making a t-shirt quilt for my niece who just started college in Kansas.  I just lack sewing the binding, then it can be mailed off to her.  She wants to use it on her bed in the dorm.  She played volleyball all through high school and gave me those t-shirts to create her memory quilt. Soon I hope to start my first Carpenter’s Star quilt.  I intend to keep this one for my own bed!  All the quilts I have made I have given away! I also have a wedding ring quilt in process using paper piecing. I just found out today, our 9th grandchild will be a boy!  He is due Feb. 12, 2013.  So, I need to get started on a quilt for him, too! And, I plan to make table runners for the 5 kids for Christmas presents.  Not sure yet what I will be making for the grands for Christmas! So much to do – so little time!                            

Thank you, SueEllen for being a guest blogger at Lanettta’s Creations. I hope everyone leaves a comment for SueEllen!

Linda's Insights

We have our first guest blogger today! I hope everyone enjoys reading Linda's insights into her world of sewing.

Who taught you to sew?  I haven’t a clue who actually taught me to sew. Did someone actually sit me down and say this is how you sew?  I hope not for their wellbeing. As a very young child I remember my mother and I going to the Sewing Center in Wynnewood Village, Dallas, TX.  During the hot months of the year, it was really hot in the store (no air conditioning in those days). The fabric had so many different textures and smells. My favorite smell was dotted swiss, but I didn’t like the texture - it was itchy. While my mother looked at the pattern books, I couldn’t sit still, and would often fall backwards out of the chair, hitting my head, and embarrassing her. She always consoled me, then back to looking for patterns.  If we finally agreed on one for a new dress, the material had to match “exactly” to the design on the pattern envelope, or I was not happy.

 I was born a girl, among an immediate and extended family of women sewers: Mother, Grandmothers and many aunts.  I hated sewing! Most of my neighborhood friends were boys, my close-in-age cousins were boys….I wanted to play ball and dig in the dirt.

Why did you start sewing? I haven’t a clue why I started sewing. Well, come to think of it, I guess, I do know.  I don’t have enough room in my current back yard to put in the size of garden I want, and I needed to do something with my time now that I’m retired.  Gardening is very slow in January, and during the periods of seed germination and plant growth.  I started hanging around a quilt fabric store in my neighborhood. Now don’t get excited and think I am a quilter! I’m not (that’s for another post), but I was again drawn to the textures of the fabrics, their softness.  The smells, well there weren’t any, not like I remembered as a kid.  Newer methods for removing excess dyes from the material had improved the eye burning experiences and the smells, in addition, air conditioning! The only patterns in the store are for quilts, pillowcases, etc…NO CLOTHES…my kind of store!

What inspires you? The smiles on the faces of those who receive the sewn gifts I give.

What do you love most about sewing?  One BIG point needs to be made clear…I do not love sewing.  I LOVE gardening, I love photography, I like sewing.  I must also admit, sewing now supersedes cooking, and maybe even canning; but I’m going to have to think on that one.

What are your favorite things to make? I enjoy making things that are NOT to be worn by anyone or anything.  So far, pillowcases have been the most rewarding. I have made a couple of table runners. I will be making table runners as Christmas gifts this year.  I hope to have the runners made and mailed out by the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, so folks can use the runners during the holidays.  I will be adding one special item to each gift, which will make the runner extremely unique, but can’t share details until after Christmas!

What is your favorite sewing tip or trick? My favorite tip: STOP SEWING when getting tired or frustrated with a project. In the past, I have been known to cut up the material into little pieces or to light the barbecue grill and burn it!

What is your favorite project you have created? Actually, I have three…the first being a throw for my mother to use when she is sitting in her chair, second, pillowcases for my grandsons, and third a reversible Christmas table cloth for a small side table.

What are you currently working on:  My garden!  However, I will begin Christmas table runners in a couple of days.  I just completed making a standard and a king size set of coordinating pillowcases for a dear friend’s birthday, and need a sewing break while the weather is a bit cooler.

Thank you for sharing, Linda! I hope everyone who stops by will leave a comment for her!

It's Live!

Back in August, I was reading posts on Facebook and happened to catch a call out by the folks at National Sewing Month. They asked something like, if you had a sewing blog, and wanted to list the link to it, then do so in the comments and they would get back with you. Well, they got back with me! I received an invitation to write an article for their blog! This honor/article went live yesterday!! They also include a giveaway! I hope you check out the article, leave a comment, and enter the giveaway!

You will not be surprised when you read Simply Priceless.

The Sewing Camp 101 at So Sew Etc was so much FUN...

... and went along with the theme for National Sewing Month!

I know I mentioned it Monday, but didn’t explain then that it was the NSM post, and their invitation that got me to thinking! This is why I reached out to a few women I know personally, and those I've met through Facebook, and extended an invitation to complete an “interview” for Lanetta’s Creations! The first begins tomorrow!

Hope you have a Splendid Saturday!

World of Sewing

It’s National Sewing Month and I thought it would be fun to have a few guest blogger appearances sprinkled over the remaining days. I am so excited! Yesterday morning, I sent emails to some special women in my life inviting them to join in the celebration. I have heard back from over half of them already! The women invited do not have their own blogs where they can share their knowledge, experiences, and love of sewing. I wanted to offer them an opportunity, a venue, to give a bit of insight into their world of sewing.

You know, it’s not just an opportunity for them. It also gives us the chance to hear from women across the USA, from different walks of life, and various age groups. And through it all, it's amazing how the world of sewing binds us together!

On Sunday, September 16th, we will have the first guest appearance! I hope you will give her, and those that follow, a warm welcome by leaving a comment!