Dear Followers,

The committee has discussed the blog vs. FaceBook and concluded that our FB posts receive greater response and followings. As such we will be closing down the blog and sharing the activities of our chapter on FB only.

You may visit our FB page by going to www.facebook.com/midnightoilsmockers or contacting us at midnightsmockers@gmail.com

Thank you,

Easter is coming!

Easter is almost here and we are ready!  

This month we had an bonnet challenge in addition showing some of our Easter finery.

Our night meeting had a wonderful program by our member Kathleen Noltensmeyer.  She showed us her methods of working with sergers and overstitch machines, with her tried and true tips and techniques of sewing with knits.  And she showed us the easiest way of changing the thread on the loopers. 

 Thank you Kathleen!

Susanna brought this size 3 sundress "Child of Nature' from AS&E issue 53 using the smocking design pattern from the magazine, and cotton fabric traditions.  So sweet!

She used Splendor Silk Floss to get the color and intensity she wanted to match the fabric.

Marisol made this CC Bunny's layette with
a sweet soft knit and copied an
embroidery she saw on Pinterest.

Marisol's Little Prince diaper set
by Kathy Dykstra has embroidered frogs
from the A-Z Bullion book to coordinate
with the pique and micro check.

Marisol's Banded Diaper Shirt and nappy by Debbie Glen uses pique fabric with 'little birdie'
embroidery from Sew Beautiful #118.

Marisol's pleated boy's bubble #104 by Creations by Michie in imperial micro check
with a collar from an issue of Sew Beautiful called "Little Fish".

We have a lovely parade of Easter bonnets! 

Stuart made this jon jon from the Goodwin pattern by Sally Goodwin using poly/cotton seersucker
from Buttons'n'Bows and appliqués purchased from Jeannie Baumeister.  

Lucy made casual brother/sister outfits which are great for egg hunting! 

This is CC Johnny also in seersucker gingham with
an appliqué from Appliques for Kids.

This CC Lucy is cut short to top/tunic length and
paired with CC Robert's pants both trimmed
in rick rack.

Lucy's dressy boy's set is a monogrammed pleated shirt from CC David using white cotton pique paired with
CC Robert's shorts with elastic waist and pockets.  The plaid mini-piping ties the colors together.  The carrots on the collar are appliqués purchased from Jeannie Baumeister that are only tacked on and can be removed after Easter for longer wear.

Come back next week for Part II of our Easter post!

Is It Spring Yet, Part II!

If you are a new follower of the Midnight Oil Smockers, you may not realize that we have one of the larger SAGA groups as we are based in Houston.  We are very lucky to have a lot of members, we have day AND night meetings, and we all sew a lot!  Sometimes we can't get all of our photos up for one blog post because we have so many.  

So here is our continuing story....

Last week we told you about our program with the how's and why's of seam sticks, and showed you pictures of our night group with their sticks (if you missed that, check our last post).  

Of course our day group made them also, so here are a few photos of their work, because they were really "sticking" to it (sorry!):

They "seam" like they are getting the hang of it (I'll stop now).

And then it was time for Show'n'Share!

Melodie is showing her two Jon Jon's made with the David pattern from B&B Blueprints. 

This is a Spechler Vogel navy blue micro check,
and the smocking plate is Up, Up, & Away
by Love & Stitches.

This is a light blue seersucker and the smocking
plate is Easy Sailing by
Creative Keepsakes.

Here is a close up of the darling sailboats - the colors are perfect!

Leslye is showing 1 of her 2 Ruthies, one of our favorite CC patterns.

These Ruthless are in sweet spring printed cottons with coordinating piping.

Leslie made these spring sweeties using a Sew Beautiful pattern with baby pique.

This smocking was included with the pattern - I love the ribbon incorporated in the trellis!

Leda is showing us her Sunflower quilt design out of 100% cotton with 3D sunflower appliqués
and echo quilting around the flowers. She put a sunflower print on the back and made a table runner.

Here Beth is showing her Josie May Bonnet by Cottage Mama
with her CC Frannie Baby; fabric is from
Buttons n' Bows.

She didn't make buttonholes, she just sewed
the buttons on.  That works!

Beth made this adorable Flower Top Smocked A-line by Gail Doane using fabric from her stash, the smocking design from Gail, and the crochet directions from the pattern. 

Here is a close-up of the smocking with the matching crochet trim.

These are Gail Doane's cast-on flowers with button centers.  Fabulous!

Roberta made this Playtime Tunic by Oliver & S out of brushed cotton pink floral
and coordinating pink corduroy pants with CC Lettie.  A monogram finishes it off!

Roberta made this sweet baby dress and apron with an Old Fashioned Baby pattern
using floral lawn from Heirloom Imports and Swiss eyelet for the apron.
I love those tucks! 

Roberta's Holly & Hunter by Bonnie Blue Designs
and houndstooth twill from Fabric Finders. 

A close up of that sweet fox!

There is no one in our SAGA group who hasn't made a dress with Michael Miller's Children on Parade border print because we love it.  But this may win the prize!  Using Chery Williams' basic bishop dress, Roberta smocked Balloons by Molly Jane Taylor and combined that with Robins of Spring by Crosseyed Cricket. 

Here is a close up of that smocking which is perfect for Children on Parade.

Happy Spring!

Is it Spring yet?

Happy Spring to everyone!

We have been very busy!  Marisol showed us how to construct Seam Presses this month and she promised us that this would be our favorite new ironing tool - and she was right!  These work under those seams as a pressing aide so that the seam doesn't leave a mark after pressing.  

We each made a new one for ourselves using two quarter-rounds bound together, wrapped with  some batting and a fabric cover.  

Magic!

Marisol explaining the process.

Stuart and Laura working hard!

Kathleen always finishes first!

We are happy women with seam sticks!

A trio of CC Taylor bubbles by Stuart
in 6 and 9 mo. sizes in darling printed cottons.

Everyone is getting ready for spring and some ladies have already completed their Juliette dress from our Kathy Dykstra class!  

Trena made a pin cushion with ribbon embroidery
from Berryhill Designs by Susie Gay
made with lavender silk dupioni.
This is too pretty to stick pins into! 

Brenda made a bright cotton quilt using the longarm machine.
She swears it goes together quickly!

Juliette - a close up of the heirloom lace bodice.  Kathy's technique of sewing
laces onto silk organza was a wonderful tip!  Marisol's ribbon flowers can
be found in a book by Kari Mecca. 

Marisol's Juliette in mint imperial batiste and french laces.

Classic baby dress.

Trena made this Michie #131 dress out of linen
from a Sew Beautiful kit.

Close up of Trena's embroidery on the yoke.

Marisol showing her Juliette dresses
and a sweet boy's dress outfit.

This is Art Museum by Oliver + S in cotton and
pique in a size 4.
What a great pattern for little boys!

Busy, busy Marisol also made these CC Taylors from imperial batiste in 12 and 18 mo. sizes.
She used ribbon weaving for the bodice that she saw on Sarah's Classic Sewing on YouTube.
We love new ideas and techniques and we love Sarah!!!

The full Juliette with flutter sleeves.

It's such a beautiful butter yellow.

Another gorgeous Juliette lace bodice with ribbon flower.

This Princess Dress by Primrose Lane has a real "twirl factor"
in a Micheal Miller border print with pink and metallic gold smocking.
The sleeves are gathered with vintage beading and pink velveteen ribbons.

The new CC April pattern is a quick sew in lavender pima gingham from It's Sew Heavenly.
The bodice ruffles are a great way to embellish with rick rack or other trims, and the
front insert can be smocked quickly. With a sash in the back and covered buttons, the Easter Bunny would approve!

And now we are ready for Spring!