Sew Sweetness Minikin Desktop Cube~smallest

Sew Sweetness Minikin  Desktop Cube~smallest

I'm not sure why I consistently do this.  I find patterns that have multiple sizes and then I make the smallest first.  Why?  The smallest is the hardest to make!  You have tiny seams and have to make tiny turns with this big machine that has a sharp needle right next to your fingers.  It's insanity, I tell you!  And yet....I do it. 

Anyway, I made the smallest desktop cube.  I will work perfectly to sit on the windowsill in my tiny laundry room to hold the change that inevitably falls out of everyone's pockets. 

I think it would look neater if the lining was a bit smaller.  I should have made a 1/4 inch difference in the lining and the outer edge.  It would have been a crisper final product.  Note to self......

It's hard to tell from the photos but the back of the cube is slightly taller than the front so you get a nice look at the lining inside.  I like that look.  This is definitely a scrap buster particularly with the foam interfacing.  I have a box of smaller pieces left over from making totes so I will definitely have another project to use those up. 

Here's how it looks....

Sew Sweetness Cotton Candy Pouch~Minikins

Sew Sweetness Cotton Candy Pouch~Minikins

In my never ending quest to finally finish my Christmas sewing, I've made 2 of the Cotton Candy Pouches by Sew Sweetness.  They are part of her Minikins series.

The pouch has foam interfacing so it is very structured and easily stands up once it's done.  I made the medium and they are a nice size when finished.  The zipper is a a bit tricky but once I really studied the directions, I was able to figure it out. 

These are fabulous scrap busters as the medium only takes a 6.5 X 8 (2) pieces of fabric for the body.  The inside could be scrapped as well. 

I like the way they turned out. 

On the bee fabric I top-stitched all the way around with black thread but I'm not sure I loved the way that looked so for the musical notes, I top-stitched in black on the sides and white in the middle.  I was happier with that outcome. 

Simplicity D0713 and Emmaline Small Retreat Bag

Simplicity D0713 and Emmaline Small Retreat Bag

I've finished the legging pants for my granddaughter.  I found this interesting pattern that had Misses sizes, children's sizes and doll sizes.  It has a tunic, a shirt and leggings in all three sizes.  Since my granddaughter is growing OUT of child sizes but is not quite into adult sizes, I thought I'd give this a try.  I actually cut out an adult medium for her, basted the pants together and then tried them on.  I had to cut about an inch off the sides and 5.5 inches off the length but the rest seems to fit.  Final fitting this evening. 

I enlisted her help for my husbands family Christmas party on Friday.  She baked all the cookies for dessert and made the salad.  She also made chocolate dipped pretzels which were a huge hit.  I wanted to do something special for her to thank her for her help so I made her an Emmaline Small Retreat bag out of Michigan State University/Emoji fabric.  She LOVES MSU....(frankly, I'm not sure why that is but it's her fav!) and emoji's are her thing now too.  Fabric with BOTH of these on it...I couldn't pass it up so I bought 1/2 a yard a while ago.  I wasn't sure what I'd do with it but this small bag is just the thing.  She has asthma so she totes an inhaler and now she has lip gloss and hand lotion, etc...  All of which will fit nicely in this bag and hopefully, her 2 year old brother will not be able to get into it. 

 The bag has a small frame in it which holds the bag wide open when it is unzipped so it is easy to see inside. 

I have just a couple things left on my Christmas sewing list.  Back to work....

Simplicity 1574A Children's PJ's & food poisoning

Simplicity 1574A 
Children's PJ's & food poisoning

I started these PJ's for my grandson last week but had the misfortune of contracting food poisoning so intense that I spent 3 days in the hospital.  Hoping to NEVER do that again.  Laying in that hospital bed you appreciate the time that you have to do what you enjoy so as soon as I could, I was back to sewing.

So this pattern...Simpler because it has less steps?  If I were a newbie, I'd be lost.  In fact, I had some issues on that collar because it's been a while since I did one and I followed the directions.  I really think that newbie patterns should have fewer pattern pieces and MORE instructions. 

I got to use the buttonhole setting on my Bernina B740.  This setting is one of the reasons I purchased this machine.  Buttonholes have always been really had to make uniformly and this machine saves the settings and automatically does it for me!  LOVE that! 

I do like the way it turned out and it's PJ's so I'm not going to sweat the collar to much.  Here's hoping the little guy who loves trucks & dinosaurs will love these PJ's too.