NEW!!! FLUFF Project Tags

So excited about the new addition of tags for our FLUFF Project donations!

Starting with our next deliver, each of our stuffed friends will now include a tag with a personal message.

 The message reads,

This friend is especially for you! 

Provided through the FLUFF Project of Hopeful Threads.

Share HOPE. 

#FLUFFproject

Thanks to our creative and generous friend Amy, many of these tags are hand stamped & colored!!! Aren't they beautiful!?!?!?! The others are punched from colorful, printed cardstock with this handy new gadget I couldn't resist!

All 165 stuffed friends we have prepped for delivery next week are tagged with one of these special tags! A little personal touch can really make such a difference! 

Stay tuned as I share some of the wonderful fluff friends I've been working on and be sure to visit our Flickr group for a look at everything being delivered!

1st Quarter Project FINALE!!!

Wow! What an exciting intro you all have provided for our new quarterly project focus and 1st Quarter Project!!! There has been an overwhelming and positive response and level of participation that I am both humbled and inspired by. I look so forward to delivering all of these goodies in the next couple of weeks. I know they are going to be such a blessing and frankly, knock the socks off of those who help organize the foster closet and supplies for the kids. 

Please be sure that your donation items ship as soon as possible in order to be a part of or delivery. 

Shipping and project info can be found HERE.

2nd Quarter Project to post tomorrow! 

Can't wait to share with you! :) 

Entering the FINAL STRETCH!

Hey Friends!!!

I can hardly believe I'm typing this, but it's true! We are nearing the END of our 1st Quarter Project for 2014! And I am so excited about all the great support and generous donations we have already received and that many of you have said are still on their way! We can't wait to deliver all these goodies!!!

Not only are these gifts going to be so helpful and I believe meaningful for the children that receive them, seeing such an outpouring is always so encouraging to caregivers and staff working with the kids too. Your efforts to "Sew to Share" are making such a difference in the lives of so many! 

THANK YOU!!!

If you haven't had a peek yet, be sure and drop by the Hopeful Threads facebook page or our 1st Quarter Project Flickr album to see some of the incredible piles and bags full of goodies being delivered! Makes me SMILE!!!

 There are only 2 weeks left in this month, still plenty of time to be a part of the project, but also a great time to start wrapping up any sewing and stuffing you may have on your list! When you are ready to ship your donations, you can find all the information you need HERE. 

Due to limited space to store, I'm asking that you please ship as close to the end of the month as possible, and consider Saturday, APRIL 12th the deadline for your items to have arrived to be included in our delivery the following week. I will OF COURSE post photos and let you all know about the response received! :)

Thanks so much for caring and choosing to be a part.

Every. Stitch. Matters.

Pattern Review: Hooded Scarf by Whimsy Couture

I'm very thankful to Whimsy Couture for providing this pattern for me to sew for DCS this month!

I shared with you all the need for some kind of hooded towel or blanket needed for some children being treated for lice when they come into foster care. It's very cold here right now, and if their hair hasn't had a chance to fully dry, that means having to go out with a wet head....not so good. When I started looking about for patterns and ideas for what to sew that would be practical yet something the kids wouldn't mind wearing, I found the Whimsy Couture pattern. When I shared with Denise what I was working on, she did not hesitate a single moment to send over the pattern for me to use. She has always been so very generous and supportive of my efforts, and I am so very grateful!

Isn't this adorable!?!?!?!

This is the Hooded Scarf pattern from Whimsy Couture. 

And it's what I used to make a bundle of 15 Hooded Scarves for the children. 

Knowing that a little absorbency might help, I made mine of fleece lined with flannel. They were very quick and easy to make too!

The pattern provides variations for different styles and accents, along with step-by-step pictures for the entire sewing process. It also covers sizes from Baby to Adult, so you get all you need to sew for the whole family in 1 pattern!

And I think it sews up as perfectly for boys as it does for girls!

SUMMARY

Sewing Experience Level: The pattern is listed as an intermediate level pattern, but I think a confident Beginner would do fine with it too. The directions are very clear. 

Size Range: Infant - Adult

Special Techniques: Fleece ruffles.

Pattern Format: PDF

Materials Used: Fleece outer, flannel inner.

Personal Notes: I think this would be the perfect thing for the kids to wear after swimming during the cold months too. May just have to stitch up a few more for my crew now! :)

A reminder of WHY....

In case you didn't see the post shared on the Hopeful Threads facebook page earlier this week, this is an excellent post over at The Forgotten Initiative blog that shares a perfect and beautiful post of how receiving a bag filled with personal care items encouraged a child that recently came into foster care. 

FIND THE STORY HERE.

YOU can make a difference this quarter!

Find all the details of our current project here. 

Sewing Suggestions with Tutorial Links for the 1st Quarter Project!

Ok, let's get this party started!!!! :)

I figured it might help if I included links to a variety of sewing tutorials that I have come across that could be used for our 1st Quarter Project. Please don't feel limited to these in any way, if you have a pattern or tutorial that you prefer, run with it! This is just a spring board to help us all get started. Oh, and if you do have a great pattern and/or tutorial, Please Share! :) We might love it too!

THINGS WE CAN SEW:

This list will provide links to a variety of FREE Sewing Tutorials for the following items....

Tote Bags and/or Diaper Bags: LOTS of options on my "Pouches, Purses & Bags" pin board here.

This Cargo Duffle from Robert Kaufman is a perfect option for the older teens, especially BOYS!

Pillowcases: There are more pillowcase tutorials than I could count on THIS BOARD that Melissa & I created for a project back in September 2012.

You can also find MANY Pillowcase tutorials from the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge HERE.

Laundry Bags: Marie-Madeline Studios has a darling one HERE.

And this Wash & Go bag from Sew It All Magazine HERE.

Cosmetic/Toiletry Bags & Pouches: Again, there are a bunch of these on my "Pouches, Purses & Bags" board here, but I just LOVE this Overnight Bag from The Purl Bee found HERE.

Hooded Towels: Crazy Little Projects shares a BUNCH of ideas HERE!

Or there is an adorable and easy to sew Hooded Fleece Poncho at Blessings Overflowing HERE.

Other Useful Items:

Links to a variety of tutorials for Bibs, Burpcloths and load of other handmade baby items can be found on my "Baby Sewing" board here. 

Links to a variety of tutorials for Headbands/Hair Wraps/Hats can be found on my "Head Gear" board here. 

Again, if you know of others, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email. 

Thanks for sewing along this Quarter!