Filet Crochet Book

I have a friend who is a crochet master....at least I think so. It seems she can crochet anything with anything....yarn, string...don't sit too close or you'll become part of the project...one of those kind of people. I sit awed watching her crochet. The hook seems to take on a life of its own in her hands. She does the most amazing filet crochet....like the projects in this book. 

The Filet Crochet Book by Chris Rankin, 1990

Love the stars! 6 points!

These trims would be wonderful on a crib blanket for a new baby....So cute!

OMG! An heirloom to swoon over.

Beautiful!

Beautiful way to add color to a room. Fabulous patterns.

So, I think this is a great way to challenge one's self....add a bit of oomph! to already-owned skills. Or just look at the book and OOOH and AAH over the pictures....then find some thread and a steel hook and get started dazzling everyone...

Post by Eileen Patterson.....GoofingOff

Use the coupon code BLOGGIN and get 15% off this book and anything else in my Etsy shops....GoofingOff Sewing, MissEileen (vintage), PatternHaus (yarn, patterns, and now pattern books), and Metal Woods N' Water (handmade and beachy stuff).

Sewing Patterns: Edwardian Dinner Dress and Capes

There are times I want to hoop and holler when I am foraging for patterns. When I found these two it was all I could do to maintain composure and look like the totally cool mature woman I am. So I'm hooping and hollering now. 
A little make believe, a little mystery, a bit cosplay....Whoo Hoo!

Simplicity 1517 Bust 36-44 inches UNCUT.....Whoop! 

Simplicity 1582 Misses' Capes, Tunic, and Hat....UNCUT.....Whoo hoo!

Blog readers and followers get an additional 15% off by using the coupon code BLOGGIN during checkout. 

Post by Eileen Patterson....GoofingOff

Sewing Pattern: Very Easy Vogue 8848

Vogue 8848 size 16, Bust 38 inches Complete A Hard-to-find Gem

Some of the most flattering dresses are made of knit fabric with easy, flowing lines. Vogue 8848 is that kind of dress. 

Short sleeves, v-neckline, optional patch pockets and A-line makes this pattern flattering for most figures. Short and it is a great summer dress for the office... full length and it looks dreamy. It's a Very Easy Vogue Dress with only 5 pattern pieces....that's a bonus!

Blog Followers: Use the coupon code BLOGGIN to get 15% off your purchase.

post by Eileen Patterson.....GoofingOff Sewing

Cooking for the Weekend

I work every other weekend and have been doing so for years. One of the best things about working on the weekend is the people I work with. We appreciate each other....our strengths, our weaknesses, our sense of humor.. We celebrate our getting to work with our peeps (as my good buddy Denise calls us) by cooking. 

This weekend I decided to make BLT Rollers, broccoli salad....and a strawberry-lime jello dessert (it's top secret).

BLT Rollers

The BLT Rollers are from a Kraft email I received. The hubby and I love to make burritos for supper but for some reason we always have 2 or 3 tortillas left over. Well, guess how many tortillas the recipe calls for? Yep, 2 big ones and I had 3 small. The recipe was made for me. 

BLT Rollers

The rollers don't look exactly like the ones from Kraft but they don't look too bad, either, and they taste pretty good.  They are easy to make.  Get the recipe HERE.

Broccoli Salad

The broccoli salad is my old standby. Very yummy, gluten free, and easy to make, too. Great for a summer get together. Making it ahead of time gives the flavors time to meld together. Recipe HERE. 

Curried Chicken Salad

The curried chicken salad is for supper. It was an inspiration from a friend's recipe and chicken salad I had at the Korbel Delicatessen in Napa, CA (at the champagne vineyard)....left over rotisserie chicken, celery, currants, Vidalia onion, almonds, mayonnaise, and curry powder. Tastes pretty good but I think I need a little more curry powder....Now all I need is a glass of champagne to go with it. As for the strawberry-lime gelatin thing.....We'll see how that goes. Jello, whipped cream, and pudding...what could go wrong? 
Oops, I think I just jinxed myself. 
Have a wonderful almost weekend Friday and a wonderful weekend. 

Post by Eileen Patterson.....who's GoofingOff

Cheers!

Me and My Dolly: Daisy Kingdom Dress Patterns

There's nothing much sweeter than a little girl dress up in a special dress....except a little girl in her special dress and her baby doll wearing a matching dress. Too cute!

Simplicity 9355 in size 3-4-5-6 with Bonus Doll's Dress Pattern. UNCUT $10 

Simplicity 9733 in size 3-4-5-6 with Bonus Doll's Dress Pattern. UNCUT $10

Simplicity 9732 in size 3-8, Misses' size 4-18 with Bonus Doll's Dress Pattern. UNCUT $10

Simplicity 9735 in size 3-4-5-6 with Bonus Doll's Dress Pattern. UNCUT $10

Simplicity 7550 in size 3-4-5-6 with Bonus Doll's Dress Pattern. UNCUT $10

Post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff Sewing. 

Coupon code for 15% off for blog followers and readers.....use BLOGGIN at checkout

Fat Cat

Cute face, afraid of NOTHING, lover of dog food, Poodle Terrorist,  and twice as big as all his litter mates.....Fat Cat (or Ted).

Sewing Patterns: Clothes for Cabbage Patch Dolls

Cabbage Patch dolls were the rage in the 1980's. The pudgy faced little dolls represented different ethnic groups....different color skin, hair, and eyes. Kids loved them. The dolls were in such high demand that lines formed outside toy stores overtime new dolls came in. 

McCall's 9286 Blossom Babies by Faye Wine. UNCUTThis pattern is for soft sculptured Brother-Sister Dolls....16" (40.5 cm) Tall. The pattern also includes a toy horse and tiny baby doll. 

McCall's 2135 Soft Sculptured Doll Clothes in Two Sizes....T-shirt and Sweater for Stretch Knits Only UNCUTFor 16 inch and 18 inch dolls

McCall's 2134 School Clothes for 16" and 18" Dolls UNCUT

McCall's 2348 Sail the Seven Seas.....Sailor clothes for 12", 16" and 18" dolls

McCall's 2002 The Sporting Life...Sports clothes for the Cabbage Patch DollThe clothes fit 12", 16", and 18" dolls.

Post by Eileen Patterson..who is GoofingOff.

Remember to use the coupon code (just for blog followers) BLOGGIN and get 15% off your order.

Trike Painted For Harry

I usually don't share the things the hubby's up to. Too many to list...sometimes too crazy to describe. This one, though, is fun. His buddy, Harry, found this trike....a combination of a motorcycle and a car...and brought it to the hubby to paint. 

 I didn't get any "before" photos but this is the finished project. Here's Dan-the-Man taking it for a spin around the driveway.

 It looks like a car got hold of a bike. Like a dog that didn't let go. It's a little long but it's a comfortable ride, at least from the passenger's seat.

Now the hubby wants to make one like it...at least similar. Well, we'll see.....Happy Trails, Harry!

Post by Eileen Patterson

Coupon Code For Blog Followers

Do you 

a) follow this blog? 

b) Love the patterns featured? 

c) Love a good deal? 

If you answer "YES" to these questions then use the coupon code BLOGGIN and get 15% off your purchase from the GoofingOff Sewing Shop on Etsy. 

#Ditch the Plastic....Bags That Is

To say I am obsessed with market bags would be an understatement. I have at least a couple dozen...some I made, others I buy at the store when shopping, still others given to me (you need a bag?). I use them for grocery shopping, thrift shopping, dirty laundry when I am on vacation (TMI?), everything and anything I used to use a plastic bag for. 

What's not to love?  The reusable bags hold more than plastic, are stronger than plastic, and look a heck of a lot better...not to mention the environmental impact plastic bags make. My state hasn't done away with plastic shopping bags yet, but I recently returned from a couple of places that did. No plastic shopping bags...none. Lucky for me I had one in my suitcase....a just-in-case bag.

So, what do I look for in a recyclable bag? For me, sturdy fabric, like canvas, duck, or lined cotton...quilted, is a must,  straps long enough to carry the bag on my shoulder, and a bag that is big enough to carry a load but not too big a load that I can't carry it. A market bag is pretty easy to make and a great way to recycle some fabric lying around.

Here's a few ideas:


Fold-up Tote

Asymmetrical Color Block Tote from Haberdashery Fun



fat Quarter Reusable Grocery Bag by Crystal



French Market Tote with Coco Channel Type Handles from Sew4Home Cute and I love the handles but I'm not sure about carrying lots of groceries in it.



Fat Sack from Terry Atkinson...so gorgeous in Amy Butler fabric.

No-Sew T-Shirt Tote Bag OK, technically not a market bag but too darn cute to leave out. No sewing experience necessary and great to make for the grandkids.....send them home with goodies in an environmentally safe bag. Make it real special by letting them find a t-shirt to make it with. 

Ta Da....Here's a quickie I put together. This gorgeous fabric was a markdown at the local Dollar General....a table runner. I folded it in half and sewed up the sides. Sewed a hem at the top, too. The straps were strips of fabric from a pair of pants that had seen better days....cut to the length I wanted then folded lengthwise and sewn for extra strength...then attached to the bag. Strong enough to hold more than a few patterns but lovely enough to hold my crochet.

So, with sew many to choose from, is it any wonder I am obsessed? #Ditch the plastic.
Post by Eileen Patterson...who is GoofingOff

Miss Eileen's Vintage Scarves

I have to start off by saying I love vintage scarves.  Whenever I see a beautiful vintage scarf I am reminded of Hedy Lamar....the scene in the movie "Come Live With Me." She took a scarf, wrapped it around her head into a turban and captivated James Stewart. Glamourous. Just glamourous. Here's a few beauties I found on my trip to Petaluma, California. I couldn't just drink wine....there's lots of vintage stores to pick through. 

Vintage 30 inch Silk Scarf

Blue Flowers

Vintage 1960s

Blue Flowers on Cream Scarf

Soft Fringe

30 inches square

Vintage Honey Silk Scarf. 30 inches Square

Blue with an abstract pattern. Honey signature on the corner.

100% Rayon Scarf, 1950's. 

Made in Japan. Hand Rolled Hems.

Lee Fashions

Post by Eileen...Miss Eileen...who is also GoofingOff.

New Fabric and Embroidery Listings At GoofingOff Sewing and PatternHaus

Why is it my day off is busier than my day at work? After cooking supper for tonight and tomorrow night, getting the laundry done, ironing my scrubs (yes, ironing...with an old-fashioned iron from the 1950's), I fit in time to list a few things. .... after I tried to take the boxer-baby out for a walk...until she saw the cat and pulled me into the gate post. OUCH! I'm going to have a few bruises from that mishap...thankfully no broken bones.
Anyway, here's the listings. Lovely fabrics to make pretty little dresses.....stamped linen for embroidery and crewel...

Fabric Remnant Lavender Dotted Swiss 1.58 yard 44 inches Wide 

Camelias At the Front Steps Stamped Embroidery Linen

Flower Bouquet Stamped Linen for Embroidery by Lee Wards. Yeah, whatever happened to Lee Wards?

Cardinal Stamped Linen for Embroidery

Owl on a Branch Stamped Linen for Embroidery

Gathered Eyelet Lace Lovely 13 inches wide, over 4 yards total. For sale as one piece.

 Post by Eileen Patterson...who is GoofingOff...and putting ice on it. Bye!