Fabric Projects – Page 5

Recycling a Wedding Dress Part 1

Sometimes potential projects fall into my lap and I can’t resist! A friend asked if I could do something with her daughter’s old wedding dress (thanks Peggy!). She had stored it for 15 years and the dress did not hold any positive memories for anyone. However, it did represent an investment in money, time and storage space. Of course, I agreed to see what I could do with the dress.

It arrived in its archival storage box, straight from her attic.

Before I opened the box, I spent several days researching my options. I found many possible projects on Pinterest using a wedding dress. However, most were special items to preserve the memories of the owner. For example, I found Christening dresses for the first baby, Christmas ornaments and even a lovely memory bear!

Those ideas were great if the dress was a special heirloom to the family. However, this particular dress did not hold any special memories for me or the family…it was basically a beautiful dress with lots of material that could be recycled into something else. I remembered hearing about recycling wedding dresses into tiny dresses for NICU babies that had not survived.

Recycling a Wedding Dress for NICU Babies

I started with the various charities who accept wedding dresses that are recycled into tiny dresses for NICU babies. Such a sad thought, but what a wonderful service! I was unable to talk with a real person, but the website, https://www.theangelgownproject.com had a complicated application process to submit a dress (a filled out application, all bows and ribbons removed, dress packed in the tiniest box possible and mailed someplace in the U.S.). They would not be able to acknowledge receipt of the dress or tell me what happened to it. It felt like I would be just shipping it to a landfill!

Then I discovered a number of organizations across the country that provide this service and encouraged local groups of seamstresses to get together and make them for their local communities. To help with this effort, I found many patterns available to freely download. I decided to make the tiny dresses myself. Once they are made, I’ll find a way to donate them to a hospital nearby.

Tiny dresses for NICU babies (from Pinterest).

Deconstructing the Dress

My first step was to get the dress out of the box…no small task! I thought children’s Christmas toys were wrapped up tight! The dress was clean but very wrinkled…except for the very front that showed through the plastic. I laid it out on the floor to get a feel for its design and decoration.

I unstitched the zipper carefully and removed it.

A total of 23 tiny buttons were sewn on top of the zipper, so I removed them. They could be used to decorate the tiny dresses.

I removed the lining in one large piece. Then I made two cuts down the sides of the dress to remove the train section of the dress. I wanted to leave it in one solid piece to preserve as much of the fabric as possible until I was sure what I was going to make.

Lots of edging lace and plain fabric in this section.

Now I have a huge pile of satin fabric with sections of lace, a huge pile of lining fabric, 23 lovely fancy buttons and a long white zipper! The fabric will need to be ironed and my pattern figured out. Look for that in Part 2, coming soon!

Let me know if you did something special with your family wedding dress…who knows, I may want to try some other things. Enjoy!

Please comment or email me directly at marykisner@comcast.net.

More Creative Mending

My dear son-in-law gave me a new challenge at Christmas time. He is in construction and landscaping and his hard work is reflected in these sweatshirts! (I do suspect he asks me to try to mend things just for fun.)

This particular challenge involved two hooded sweatshirts that probably should be thrown out, but the main issue was the pocket pouch on the front of each. They were ripped and shredded because he shoves his keys and tools, etc. into them. He also gave me a third sweatshirt that I could use as replacement fabric. Apparently, he wants to have his company logo visible, not a football team. I offered to buy him a new sweatshirt, but noooo, he thought I should try to fix these! See what I mean…he’s teasing me!

Here are the steps I followed to mend them:

First, I cut the damaged pocket pouches off the shirts.

Note the stress holes where the old pocket was attached.

Next, I prepped the inside front of the shirt with a large piece of sturdy cotton so the pocket would have a stable base to be sewn to.

Then I used the old pocket as a pattern on the extra sweatshirt to cut two new pockets. I used the fabric under the arm because it didn’t have much wear and tear.

I sewed a hem on the curved sides of each pocket and placed them on the front of the shirt. I was not about to try to unstitch the leftover pieces of the old pocket. They aren’t pretty, but don’t affect the new pocket’s use.

I pinned and sewed the new pocket down.

I also took the ribbing off the bottom edge of one of the old shirts because it was shredded. I used the ribbing off the replacement shirt and fixed that too.

If either of these sweatshirts end up back in my mending basket, I guarantee they will be disposed of! However, each time I take on a job like this, I learn something new! Enjoy!

Please comment or send me an email directly at marykisner@comcast.net.

Pocket Hand Warmers

After making hot or cold neck wraps last week I was left with assorted scraps of fabric.

I started cutting some of the scraps into 4 1/2″ squares. I made little pouches (like a bean bag) and filled them with 1/4 cup of flax seeds. They can be warmed in the microwave and placed in your pockets when you head out on a cold day.

To make two pocket warmers, you’ll need 1/4 yard or one fat quarter or scraps of:

cotton fabric, cotton flannel and muslin; cotton thread; and 1/2 cup flaxseeds.

Here are steps to make one pocket warmer:

Step 1: Cut out two 4 1/2″ squares: one of cotton and one of cotton flannel fabric. Cut out two 4 1/2″ squares of cotton muslin.

Step 2: Stack the squares with the fabric pieces right sides together and the muslin pieces on each side.

Step 3: Stitch around the edge, leaving a 2″ gap so it can be turned right side out. Trim the corners.

Step 4: Turn the pouch right side out and top stitch around the edge, leaving the gap open for filling.

Step 5: Fill the pouch with 1/4 cup (plus a little more if desired) of flax seeds.

Step 6: Top stitch the gap closed.

To Use the Pocket Hand Warmers:

Place two hand warmers into the microwave and heat for about 15-20 seconds. Put them in your coat pocket. They should stay warm for 15-20 minutes and leave behind residual heat for about 30 minutes.

This was a great way to use up fabric scraps and doesn’t take very long. Enjoy!!

Hot or Cold Neck Wrap

My first attempt to make a microwavable hot or cold eye pillow was back on May 25, 2021. It was just a small pouch filled with flax seeds (about 9″ x 5″) that could be microwaved for 20-30 seconds and felt good on my forehead…or in my case, on my jaw before a root canal. I made a second one so I could keep one in the freezer to be a cold compress. It wouldn’t melt like ice cubes and could be re-chilled and used again. (See: https://marykisner.com/making-a-hot-or-cold-eye-pillow-for-headaches-or-toothaches/)

I’ve been asked by a friend to make a longer version that would wrap better around the neck. From what I could read about making and using a neck wrap, if I just made one long “pillow” the stuffing could shift all to one end. If it was too full, it wouldn’t wrap around the neck and stay put. Time to experiment!

First, I had to go to Nature’s Pantry to buy more flax seed. Luckily, they carry it in bulk so I could get a bag full! Flax seeds are not terribly expensive. This bag cost less than $10.

Then I had to make a pattern. I use this thin grid “paper” to make patterns. It looks like it’s marked in 1″ squares, but be careful. The grid lines help to keep it lined up with the grain of the fabric, but it is not an accurate way to measure. Look at the discrepancy:

I wanted a pattern about 24″ x 5″. I decided to compromise and cut the pattern on the line so at least the edge would be straight. Since I’m experimenting, I was guessing anyway!

To make the bag sturdy enough to resist flax seeds poking through the fabric, I decided to line it with muslin.

To Make a Neck Wrap, you will need:

2 pieces of muslin, about 24″ x 5″

1 piece of cotton fabric, about 24″ x 5″

1 piece of cotton flannel, about 24″ x 5″

Cotton thread

About 3 cups of flax seeds

Making the Neck Wrap…First Try

Step 1: With right sides together of the cotton fabric and flannel and the muslin pieces on the outside, sew around the rectangular “sandwich” stack of fabric, leaving a 3″ space at one end to turn it right side out.

Step 2: Trim the corners.

Step 3: Turn right side out.

Step 4: Top stitch close to the edge around three sides leaving the end open for stuffing.

Step 5: I marked the stitching lines that I would use as I filled each section. Mark out larger sections on the end with the smallest section in the center. I thought the smaller sections around the back of the neck would help it bend better.

Step 6: I started with 1/2 cup of flax seeds in the larger sections on each end, with the center section having only 1/4 cup of seed. As I filled each section, I stitched it closed.

When I was done, it wrapped well around the neck and the larger pockets on each end anchored it to stay put. It just seemed a little flat. I’m not sure if it will hold enough heat.

I passed the neck wrap on to the person requesting it to see if it would work for her. If it does, I’ll make a second one for her husband. I think it could be rolled up and fit well in the microwave.

Second Try…Revising the Pattern

I’m already considering alterations, with fewer sections, so I started another neck wrap. I think this might feel softer and still bend easily.

I marked the stitching lines…5″ from each end and a line in the center which turned out to be about 6″ from the first line.

This time I’ll put 1/2 cup of flax seeds in each end section and 3/4 cup in the two center sections. I think I’ll make a few more so I have them on hand…you never know when I might wish I had one too! Enjoy!

A Year of Door Quilts

A year ago, about this time, I gave up trying to decorate my front door with seasonal wreaths. Anything I would put on the door that was thicker than an inch or two would get smashed between the door and the screen door that we leave on all year. After a month or so the wreath would look really smashed and bits and pieces would have dropped off, leaving assorted crumbs behind every time I opened the door.

Last Christmas, I decided to try something different. A small quilt based on a single quilt block could be decorative, season appropriate and still be flat. The first one I made was a Christmas stocking…based on the crazy quilt technique but without a lot of hand stitching. I used recycled neckties and ended up with this:

After a month, it still looked good and had not dropped any stuff between the doors. About every two months, I made seasonal quilt blocks to decorate the door.

The best thing about this project was how little space the whole pile took up, compared to 6+ door-sized wreaths. They fit into a large zip lock bag and was less than an inch thick! I could easily store the bag with my sewing supplies. Success!

So now, I’m starting over with the Christmas stocking. I may feel like making more blocks as the year goes on to add variety but I can stop wasting my money and my patience with wreaths.

If you would like to see how each of these were made, scroll down on my Welcome page and search for the Door Quilts category. The articles will be there with the most recent one at the top.

If you would like to see a list of the first 100 articles I’ve posted, take a minute to subscribe to my website (also on the Welcome page) and I will email you a PDF of my first 100 postings with active links to each article. Enjoy!

Please comment or email me directly at marykisner@comcast.net.

Plan B When the Sewing Machine Needs a Check-Up

Nothing is more frustrating than to be in the middle of a huge project and have an equipment malfunction! I’m trying to crank out as many greyhound coats as I can now that I have a huge pile of fleece to work with.

This time of year is a great time to be at my sewing machine because all the Hallmark Christmas Movies are on…on three different channels! Some of the movies I have seen before but the background music is usually Christmas themes so I can sew like crazy and not be too distracted.

Until my machine stops working properly. After I cleaned out the fleece fuzz, checked that the machine is threaded correctly, checked the needle for any issues, checked the tension, etc. and still…the thread broke, the bobbin jammed and I’m out of business. Grrrr!!

After a quick phone call to the local repair shop (Frye’s Sweeper & Sewing in State College) I was able to lift the machine out of the table case and set it in the back seat of the car…secured with the seat belt, of course…and headed off to the shop.

So…I’m out of the fleece dog coat business for a week or so. However, I still have some other sewing to do that isn’t fleece. Time to bring out the smaller portable that I use if I need to sew away from home. Works great…just can’t handle fleece.

I have to close up the table and work on top, but this 3/4 size Janome will work fine with regular cotton fabric. So, for the next week, I’ll be working on other projects…probably making more Christmas ornaments for gifts.

Hopefully, my workhorse machine will be all fixed up soon so I can continue with the dog coats. I know the dogs will appreciate them!

Always have a Plan B! Enjoy!

If you have any questions, contact me directly at marykisner@comcast.net.

When Does a Chicken Need a Coat?

A few years ago I had a request to make a coat for a chicken. Who knew they would ever need one!

Apparently, hens can get damaged feathers and broken skin from mating males or even from other hens pecking on them…you’ve heard of the “pecking order,” right? I had no idea, but I guess folks that raise chickens see the need for these now and then.

A chicken “saddle” or “hen apron” are all names used for the same thing. It’s a little “apron looking” little piece of material that is used to put on your hens’ backs to protect their feathers. It protects their feathers, allowing them time to grow back. The soft elastic wraps around their wings.

Turns out a friend had some free-range chickens and they were picking on one in particular. Her tail feathers were being pecked out and the poor thing wouldn’t come out of the corner to eat. Hmmm…first a little research was in order. Amazingly, Pinterest had several patterns to make these little “coats.”

The pattern was pretty simple, but of course I didn’t have a chicken to measure so I made one first and had the owner try it on the chicken. Then I adjusted the elastic and general shape until it was right for that chicken.

My first try was a double layer of flannel (see above). The second one was made of denim so it could withstand the pecking better.

It protected the chicken at risk and eventually the tail feathers grew back and the chicken finally risked coming out of the corner to eat dinner. I guess it helps break the habits of aggressive chickens.

I ended up making 3 or 4 coats, including a few that were barely half this size for a very small breed of chicken.

This was an interesting adventure into making unusual “coats” for chickens!

In my research, I found coats are often made for sheep to keep their wool clean until they are sheared. This is really helpful if the wool is going to be spun into yarn…much easier to process the fibers if they start out clean. Of course, it’s also common to provide coats for warmth to goats and horses, but luckily, I haven’t been asked to make those yet! I think I’ll stick with greyhound coats! Enjoy!

Please comment or email me directly at marykisner@comcast.net.

Cozy Coats for Greyhounds

Today began a marathon to crank out some cozy coats for the greyhounds. All of a sudden, Nittany Greyhounds has a full house and adoptions are happening fast. My work with Nittany Greyhounds started years ago, when I was asked to make some coats for the greyhounds. The dogs arrive in Pennsylvania from around the country…and recently, even from Ireland! The group wanted to be able to offer a coat to new adopters but at that time finding a source for coats that fit the unique shape of the dogs was difficult, expensive or didn’t fit well anyway. So, I took on the challenge to make a coat that fit. Thus began my work volunteering with Nittany Greyhounds. Now, years later, we have a coat pattern that works! Let the shopping begin!

Toni and I spent a productive hour at JoAnn Fabrics to find a stack of cozy fleece.

At one point over the years we tried to make some of the small coats to look cute for the females, but because some of the females needed large coats and some of the males needed small coats, there was always a mismatch between the number of dogs and the number of coats in the right size. It was much more efficient to make coats in neutral prints and colors in both small and large sizes.

This coat would only work for a small female, if the owner didn’t mind frills!

At the beginning the coats had a shorter turtle neck…called a snood. (Not sure where that name came from.)

Over the years the “snood” kept getting longer to accommodate their long necks and sensitive ears. Now this “snood” can be pulled up over their ears for warmth if needed.

Since many of the dogs wear coats inside and out, we had to do some testing to see how the coat worked when they laid down. This coat looked good when the dog was standing, but scrunched up when he laid in his bed:

I had to change my fabric to all fleece AND I had to expand the pattern across the chest area.

You can see how my pattern has had to change over the years. This iteration has worked for a while so it’s probably time to lay the pattern on some new grid paper and cut out a new one!

Can’t you see a greyhound in this coat running across the snow this winter!

Time to get to work! Enjoy!

Please comment or email me directly at maryjkisner@gmail.com.

Fall Door Quilt

Our weather is finally feeling like Fall…good thing, it arrives tomorrow, September 22.

That means I finally got motivated to change up the decoration on my front door. For those of you new to my blogging adventure, I’ve had trouble finding a wreathe for my front door that was skinny enough to not get smashed by the screen door. Last Christmas I gave up and decided to make appropriate small quilts to hang on the door. They stayed flat and didn’t get smashed. Success!

Here are the ones I’ve done this year so far:

If you would like to read about each one, check the index on the Welcome page and scroll to Door Quilts. They should all appear there in order…just scroll down to the article you’re looking for.

I did notice the colors of the blocks faded after two months on the front door, so next year I can just make a different block if I want.

This Fall door quilt was a challenge because I didn’t have a single piece of orange fabric in my stash. Obviously, I have not used orange at all for a long time. To the rescue…JoAnn Fabrics and their “fat quarters” so I could have a few. I also spent time trying to be creative, something like a crazy quilt, but obviously I ended up with a simple star pattern:

This pattern is called a Sawtooth Star in one book:

However, when I looked up that name in another book, these two blocks showed up:

The one on the left is named, “Saw Toothed Star”; the one on the right is called, “Free Trade”. Go figure!

If you notice, the arrangement of triangles and squares is similar to mine, except the central block is solid.

Oh well, I hand-pieced the block and then machine quilted around the pieces. They are not my favorite colors, but I guess they work for Halloween. I may have to do another one for November and then I can use the Christmas Stocking from last year in December.

Actually, I don’t think this block looks too bad on the front door! Enjoy!

Please comment, or email me directly if you have questions at marykisner@comcast.net.

Adding Vintage Lace Edging to Ornaments

Seems silly to be starting a project for Christmas in September…I know! However, anyone who hand crafts gifts knows that NOW is the time to get started. It’s barely 100 days until Christmas. All the ads for Joann Fabrics and Michaels Crafts stores advertise their patterns and supplies to make gifts and are already encouraging crafters to get started. Television ads show the latest, most desirable toys we should look for soon. The catalogs are arriving with special gifts we could choose for our holiday giving. So, I have begun making my gift ornaments!

Now that I’ve made my trek to Apple Hill Antiques and assembled what I need to make unique ornaments I thought I’d follow up the last post with a sample of what I’m making.

I shared my first “test” ornament:

Then, I assembled my base fabrics. I had these on hand and thought they would showcase the lace pieces…and would be good Christmas colors.

The first ornament I made last week (shown above) was based on a 3 1/2″ square. After turning it right side out, I decided to make the rest based on a 4 1/2″ square. It was easier to turn and gave me room to place a button in the center.

I have quite a collection of buttons, some vintage, others I just like. They give a focus to each piece.

I finished six ornaments and then decided to set up my display tree to see how they looked.

Bert made this simple tree for me many years. It is made of dowel rods and a sturdy base. Unassembled, it tucks into a corner without taking up too much space.