Last minute gifts: Mini Matryoshkas

I'm still working on last minute gifts.  Along with making caramel corn today, I'm also perfecting my blanket stitch with these mini Matryoshka doll ornaments. 

 

I have long had a weakness for Matryoshka dolls, so when I saw these at Sew to Speak I HAD to make them.  Had to.  I get obsessed sometimes. 

These little ladies stand less than three inches tall, and are made completely out of felt, embroidery floss, and a little bit of stuffing.  There is a wonderful tutorial and pattern at this link.

As we decorated our tree this year, I realized that most of our ornaments belong to our children.  As they grow and leave home to start their own homes, they will take all of the ornaments with them.  And then, what about me?  I'll have no ornaments.  (I can hear you lamenting with me...) So I'm making them for Grandmas and Grandpas, and brothers and sisters, and a couple for Jeff and me, too.  (But Jeff won't care, so they'll really be mine.)  :)

I also realized that all of my older children have large collections of ornaments which have been given to them or hand-made for them by Grandmothers,  but my little guys don't have many.  Like many things that have been begun with the earliest children in a large family, the traditions kind of ran out by the time they arrived.  This should not be!  The littlest ones are the ones who decorate the tree around here, and they were a little sad when they realized that most of the ornaments belonged to the older children, not to them.  So I will remedy this, beginning this year.  The girls will have Matryoshkas, and the boys will have felt, hand-made Frosties.

Good thing they are quick to make!

Last minute gifts: Clothespin bag

 

Here's a little Christmas gift that I made.  It's a clothespin bag that takes a half a yard of fabric (two kinds) and a little bias tape.   I made one for my mom and for my sister.  I know they both like to hang their clothes out.  (The girl in the background does not go with the package....)

I have had the pattern hanging out in my bookmarks for almost a year.  It's here, if anyone is interested.  It is a quick item to make.  I'd say that the average seamstress could make it in under an hour.  For me, with a newborn and 8 other children?  Well, it took me all afternoon to make two, but I'm still really pleased with how they turned out.  I think mom and my sis will enjoy a little brightness and something new when they hang out their laundry.

As always, the pictures I take indoors in the evening lack a little clarity.  As usual they will have to do.  :)

I made only two changes to the instructions:  1) I double seamed both the lining and the outer fabric.  The weight of the clothespins would eventually pull at the seams, and 2) I cut a 1 inch piece of bias tape, flattened it out, tucked the ends in, and sewed it at the top where the hanger neck emerges from the fabric.  Same reason - the constant tugging would quickly tear the seam without it.  I spent twenty minutes de-icing my van this morning so I could venture to the store, where I bought a couple of new packs of wooden clothespins for each bag, and now I'm off to wrap up these two little presents.