Visit me at Sew BitterSweet Designs!

Hey friends! I'm sharing over at Sew BitterSweet Designs today. Thanks so much Melissa for your invitation to share about Hopeful Threads!

Would love to have you stop by for a visit of her blog and share a little comment support! ;)

Shorts -TO- Bloomers #1

I wanted to share a super simple way to turn a regular shorts pattern into bloomers. 

First, cut and sew together the legs of your shorts according to whatever pattern you are sewing with. I used the Simple 30 Min. Shorts (with extension as noted in pattern) for the ones I've photographed.

Assuming your serger is in a good mood...mine just happened to be this day...create a nice rolled edge along the unfinished edges of the legs with your serger. (Don't have a serger? No worries, I will share a non-serged example too!)

Next, with your shorts inside-out, you will begin sewing elastic about 3/4" from the rolled edge.

I used a nice, soft, knit elastic. This should be comfortable and not leave marks on the sweet baby's legs. :) I suggest using a 3-step zig-zag stitch for attaching the elastic. It's really about the only stitch I use for elastic. It offers a little extra security over a straight stitch for an item that will be repeatedly stretched, and it also adds nicely to the gathered look in this instance. 

 You'll want to keep a nice, even stretch on the elastic as you sew. I chose not to cut my elastic until finished going all the way around, this way you won't end up with small useless scraps of elastic waste. Once all the way around I always like to back stitch a few stitches for security, clip the elastic and you've got bloomers!

Simple as that! And isn't that lil' ruffly leg just darling?!?!?!

As always, if you run into any hiccups or have any questions along the way, please just email me. I'm always happy to help as I can!

A Reminder...

With the New Year kicking off and the commitment of Hopeful Threads carrying on for 2012, I've had the opportunity to consider and remember the "why" behind it all.

Hopeful Threads exists to help others. A place to use our unique gifts and talents to make a tangible difference in the life of someone else. A place to connect with others who are like minded and challenge and encourage one another's efforts. A springboard for ideas and opportunities to give back with our daily lives and to share what we have. A place to ask questions and learn more about sewing and handcrafting. A place that hopefully will bring blessings on both ends of each monthly project.

Participating in one of Hopeful Threads projects is something I welcome anyone with interest to do. It is not something I wish anyone to ever feel obligated to do.

I sew because it's a huge part of who I am. This is my creative outlet, my fun place! Some projects are more fun than others of course. Some organizations and outreach efforts are especially dear to my heart, while others can be simply filling a need. And yes, some of the bigger projects and even maintaining a blog, facebook and email can be "work" at times, but isn't everything of value? That's part of the joy! And I believe it is entirely worth it....or else I wouldn't invest my time and my family into it. I believe each of us has a unique opportunity to give back with our gifts and talents, and Hopeful Threads allows me the opportunity to live that and to teach my children with my actions. 

While I delight in the community that is provided here, I do not do this for praise or accolades. I see this as a place to share rather than brag....unless we're talking about my kids...then I might occasionally brag! ;) I am not superhuman. I just have the words of a really great daddy that roll through my mind on a regular basis. The words... "You will make time for what is important to you.". And you know what? He's right! He's no longer here to witness or critique the results of his upbringing in me, but his impact is very much alive and active in my life. Oh how thankful I am!

So with that, I welcome you to join me and any monthly project at Hopeful Threads that speaks to you! And if that outpouring wasn't enough of the "why", let me leave you with some of the sweet faces held in my heart as I sew...

Every stitch really does matter!

GIVEAWAY! - Night Owl's Menagerie Handmade Labels!

Well, it's about time for the first giveaway of the New Year don't you think???? 

I couldn't be MORE excited about this giveaway either!!! One of my all time favorite sewing notions....

Handmade sewing labels from Night Owl's Menagerie!!!

It's no secret that I absolutely LOVE sewing with these labels....you've seen them around here a few times I believe...

Yes, I am addicted! But look at them! It's completely justified! :) These labels finish my projects in the perfect way every time! And they never go unnoticed. As a matter of fact, my kids have developed the habit of checking to see which one was added each time I make them something new...love it!

Night Owl's Menagerie offers an excellent variety of high quality woven and satin labels that will add a little extra charm and personal touch to all of your handmade goodies. Becca, the owner of Night Owl's has sent over an assorted package of OVER 50 labels for one lucky Hopeful Thread's reader!

COMMENTS CLOSED - THANKS!
So how do you get entered to win this fabulous giveaway anyhow???

It's simple....all you have to do is leave a comment with which tag in Night Owl's Menagerie Etsy shop would be the perfect finishing touch for the project you are currently working on.....either in reality or in your head....I know all about that head creating! If it would just materialize I'd have it made....seems I sew much faster in my head! ;)

COMMENTS CLOSED - THANKS!

That's it! One comment per person. Open Worldwide!

Winner to be announced & emailed Friday, January 13th

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make sure I can contact you via your comment. If I can't reach you and you are the winner then I have to choose another winner. No fun. 

In addition to clothing labels, Night Owl's Menagerie also offers a variety of unique items like stationary and graphic designs through Zazzle. You can learn more here. You can also keep up with sales and specials on their facebook page.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU to Night Owl's Menagerie for providing this super fun giveaway! I can't wait to give this to one of you! You're gonna love them I know!

Hoot! Hoot! Good luck!!!

Shipping - How to save $$$

I like to save money like everyone, and when it comes to shipping costs, I look for every possible way to save! If you are online much at all, you will need to deal with shipping whether you are sending or receiving at some point. My friend and I were just talking about this, so here are a few savings tips I've learned that I thought might be helpful to others.

SHIPPING 

*Whether shipping with Paypal or USPS.com, Priority Mail Flat Rate is a great option. It's comparatively very reasonably priced and USPS offers free boxes and envelopes for their Flat Rate options. You will be amazed by how much you can fit in even the smaller ones! You don't even have to go to the P.O. to pick up the boxes. That's right, you can order them straight from their website and they will bring them right to your door. Let me tell you, as a mother of 5, anything that keeps me from having to drag the troops to the P.O. is a very, very good thing!!!! :)

*PRINT YOUR LABELS ONLINE!!! Seriously. This not only keeps you from having to make that extra trip to the P.O., but it's also cheaper. You can print right on paper and tape it to your package or buy labels inexpensively from places like Uline if you ship a lot. Your postal person can pick up the packages when they drop your mail. I don't ship enough to request a free regular pick up, they offer that option when you print your label, but I did have hubs install us a larger mailbox to accommodate the size packages I most often have coming and going. It has been so great!

*Check out the new Regional Rate Boxes by USPS. These offer a great size package for lower rates when mailed closer to home. The pricing is broken up by region and I have found these to be a HUGE savings even from the regular Flat Rate options. Also, the new Padded Flat Rate Envelopes will expand to hold more for the same Flat Rate Envelope price. Some P.O.s prefer the regular envelope only be used for documents.

*Weight matters! Packages up to 13oz. can be mailed First Class. First class will become Parcel Post after that and it is often cheaper to go with a Flat Rate option at that point. It isn't necessary of course, but I purchased a postage scale for less than $20 on ebay. This has saved me money by allowing me to weigh and check the prices of all my shipping options online. Also another one of the things that prevents extra P.O. trips. 

*Don't forget Media Mail! If you are shipping books, magazines, DVDs or the like, Media Mail is often the least expensive option for shipping.

*Larger boxes are less expensive when shipped with UPS or FedEx. Anytime I'm shipping something especially large or heavy, I usually go with one of these.

RECEIVING

*I always look for options to have items shipped to me via Flat or Regional Rate.

*COMBINED SHIPPING!!! When ordering from online resources like ebay or etsy where the shipping for items is individually priced, I always ask the seller whether they offer a combined shipping discount for multiple items. In my experience almost all sellers will....often the site just doesn't offer a way for the seller to provide this otherwise.

*Watch for free shipping offers. Many shops offer free shipping when your order reaches a certain point. If you haven't reached that point, maybe an extra yard of fabric will get you there and you are still spending the same amount! If not, consider waiting to place your order until you can get the discount if time allows. I'd much rather spend my money on product than shipping!

There are guidelines for all of these options and further information about domestic and international shipping at USPS.com. Hope this is helpful to someone. :)

January 2012 - Monthly Project Announcement

Welcome 2012! 

This is Jeannie, the founder of Annabelle's Wish along with one of her daughters, adopted from China.

For our first project of the year we will be sewing a special request for Annabelle's Wish. Annabelle's Wish works with a variety of orphanages and foster homes in China serving nearly 2000 children. We've been asked to sew solid colored bloomers to go with some dresses that will be sent to China for the summer months. We need at least 10 each of the following sizes:

3 Months - kmccalope from SouthernlySweet will be sewing 10!

6 Months - Garilyn from It's Time to Sew will be sewing 10!

9 Months - Sarah from Fabric Seeds will be sewing 5! Sunni from Love Affair With My Brother will be sewing 5!

12 Months - Jodi will be sewing 5! I'm sewing 5!

18 Months - Melissa will be sewing 10!

2T - Pam from Threading My Way will be sewing 10!

3T - I'm sewing 10!

4T - Kelly will be sewing 5! Lana from Elfqueenof5 will be sewing 5!
Bonnie at Fishsticks Designs in sewing 1 in each size!

I will be working with the Simple 30 Min. Shorts from Create H.O.P.E. Designs.

This is such a quick and easy pattern to sew and adding a little elastic to the legs will make them the perfect bloomers. I'll share the details of adding the elastic for those who would like to give it a try.

The newest Create H.O.P.E. Designs pattern, the Ruffled Diaper Cover would also work perfectly.

 Both of these patterns are sold to benefit the outreach of Create H.O.P.E. Designs whose purpose is to provide care for orphans and their communities worldwide, so this is a unique opportunity to help orphans on both ends of the sewing project!

So whose up to helping me reach this goal this month?

If you are, please comment below or email me with the size(s) and number you'd like to contribute so I'll know which sizes I'll need to focus on. 

Thanks in advance!!! :)

Happy New Year!!!

Let the fun of 2012 begin!