Costume Patterns are at GoofingOff Sewing

McCall's 7218 Yaya Han's Original Peacock Costume

Make believe....for me make believe conjures up images of capes and masks, swords were really sticks, bicycles magically became horses. My crinolined dress made me a ballerina if I twirled fast enough. A costume took make believe to a whole new level...I really was a princess or a fairy when I wore the costume. It was magic.

McCall's 4887 Girls Fairy Costumes UNCUT These aren't just cute, they come with wings, too. Totally practical.

McCall's 7212 Girls' Princess and Fairy Costumes UNCUT

McCall's 7211 Dog Costumes...Frozen UNCUT  
 Imagining Miss Boxer singing Let It Go...

McCall's 7213 Girls' Sleeping Beauty Costume UNCUT

McCall's 7214 Kid's Ninja Turtles and Minion Costumes  UNCUT

McCall's 7216 Southern Gentleman's costume pattern UNCUT

McCall's 4139 Capes UNCUT

The Annual GoofingOff Costume Sewing Pattern Sale starts September 1. I'm getting excited already.

Post by Eileen Patterson.....who is GoofingOff.
Use the coupon code BLOGGIN to get your 15% discount.....only for blog readers.

New Listings in GoofingOff Sewing: Cook It UP

Aprons are so versatile. Great to wear while cooking....obvious...but fun for the backyard barbecue or entertaining. Good for protection when welding or doing shop work.....and it's nice to have extra pockets when doing a yard sale. Here's a few recent additions to the shop.

McCall's 8231 Men and Women's Aprons COMPLETE

McCall's 5826 Men and Women's Aprons. Red Letter Transfers included COMPLETE The pattern also includes a pot holder pattern and an oven mitt pattern. I love the reference to the movie "Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice," the so popular movie of the 60's. It starred Natalie Wood, Robert Culp, Elliot Gould, and Dyan Cannon. It was about sex...my mom wouldn't let me see it. 

McCall's 2925 Misses Apron and Pinafore in size Small COMPLETE

Post by Eileen Patterson....who is GoofingOff.  Stop by and see the latest additions to the shop.

Remember to use the coupon code BLOGGIN for your 15% discount exclusive only to blog readers.

Zippered Chain Purse: A Free Sewing Pattern

While going through some my latest pattern acquisition I found some papers with this pattern in it and thought I would share. Enjoy!

The pattern looks like it could be made using many different types of fabric. 

Enjoy!

Post by Eileen Patterson....who is GoofingOff. 

Lots new listings in the GoofingOff Sewing shop...Remember to use the coupon code BLOGGIN for your 15% discount exclusive to blog readers.

#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

How to Make Broccoli Salad...A Gluten Free Recipe

I love broccoli....steamed, raw, chopped, in a soup...I love it. That being said, there are times fresh for dipping doesn't work and I want to do more than steam it. One of my favorite ways to fix broccoli is broccoli salad...and it wins raves from family and friends. 
This recipe makes about 1 1/2 - 2 pounds of salad. 

Ingredients: 
1-1 1/2 pounds fresh broccoli

1/2 cup of dried cranberries

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar (or 1 packet of stevia) 

bacon bits (about 4 slices worth), optional

I don't use broccoli slaw (I guess one could but I shop at a local flea market so I buy fresh. I see what's in it and chop it myself). 

Wash the broccoli and chop into small pieces (crowns and stems, as long as they are not woody). 

 Prepare the bacon. Add cooled bacon to the chopped broccoli. (Skip the bacon if the salad is to be kosher).

Add about dried cranberries.

Add the almonds.

Put mayonnaise in a separate bowl. Add the sugar or sweetener.

Add the apple cider vinegar to the mayonnaise mixture. 

Pour the mayonnaise dressing mixture over the broccoli salad and mix until everything is coated. Place in the refrigerator. It is best when made ahead and left in the fridge overnight.

This recipe is very forgiving. If you are out of bacon and are fortunate enough to have leftover Chinese Roast Pork, use it. Yummy! The bacon I use is bacon bits (real bacon but already made in a package). They last a long time in the refrigerator and handy. A big time saver and no pans to clean.
If almonds aren't in the pantry and walnuts or pecans are.....go for it.
As for the mayonnaise, whatever the preference. I use the mayo with olive oil but the recipe works well with low fat and fat free, too.

How many calories? No idea. I bring it to work and share so I can't eat too much of it.
It is gluten free for those gluten sensitive folks.
It's kosher, too, if it is made without bacon or the roast pork.

Anyway, it will be a welcome addition to the summer parties ahead.

Enjoy!

Post by Eileen Patterson...who is GoofingOff

T Shirt Recycle

The other day I took a trip to one of my favorite save-a-buck-or-two shops...the kind where they mark things to 25 cents when the items don't move fast enough. T-shirts....lots of t-shirts...were on the rack....which led me to...Something to Make from T-shirts.  Yarn is always a possibility...that leads to crocheting and knitting...but the yarn could be used for decorating packages or staking tomato plants. 

Here's a few more ideas...

An Infinity Scarf

T-shirt Shag Rug

T-Shirt Bracelets

Stuffed Bunny

Grocery bag

Summer Vest

T-Shirt Dress

Pom Poms

Post by Eileen Patterson....GoofingOff....who is committed to recycling. 

How to Make Post op Snuggy Blankets for a Medical Mission

Late last week one of the nurses I work with posted a cry for help...something she doesn't do often. She is going on a medical mission to do oral surgery on children and money is tight....everything goes to the most necessary supplies...they don't have blankets to swaddle the babies post op and calm them and asked for help.
I took a trip to my local thrift shops but found very little so I thought I would make some.
I bought Polar Fleece fabric to make some quick and easy no-sew blankets.
I chose fleece for several reasons.
Fleece is usually 60 inches wide. Since these blankets are for babies, 30 inches wide by 36 inches long should be big enough for a little ones coming out of the operating room and into their mothers' arms. 2 blankets per yard of fabric.
It doesn't ravel or shred making it perfect for a no-sew finish.
It comes in a wide array of colors...like a rainbow sherbet of the blanket world.
And, finally, it is inexpensive. I didn't buy the top dollar fabric. I bought the under-five-dollars-a-yard fabric. The blankets have a mission...and they are not meant to become heirlooms...and that's OK.


With that in mind I took a trip to my local Walmart (we still have a fabric section) and bought about $20 worth of fabric. Even though I figured on a yard for two blankets I went a little longer.....1 1/2 yards per color.

From each 1 1/2 yard length I cut two blankets. 

I used the instructions for no-sew fleece blankets from NebraskaViews blog....click here for the instructions. It's as easy as she says and it looks good, too. 

I used masking tape for my cutting guide, 1 inch wide and 2 inches deep with a 2 inch square from each corner. A small slit near the bottom of each strip allowed for the crochet hook to go through (I used a K hook) and the fabric to pull through. 

I drafted my buddy Diane to help me with cutting the fabric. After that, the finish was easy to do.

Mission accomplished. The blankets are on the way to Honduras to take part in a medical mission. 

I hope the blankets provide warmth and comfort for the children after their surgery. I can't be there but a little bit of me will be there. Maybe I'll get to make more for the next mission. 

Post by Eileen Patterson

That 70's Look….New Listings for the Week of September 14

A quick sampling of the latest listings in GoofingOffSewing…..That 70's Look

McCall's 2630, Misses' High-Waisted Dress, Size 8, Bust 31.5 inches. #That70'sLook

Simplicity 6082, Jiffy Knits Misses' Dress, Size 12, Bust 34 inches. Sized for Stretch knits. #That70'sLook

Simplicity 8850, Misses' Pullover Slash neck top and skirt,  size 10, bust 32 inches.  #That70'sLook

Simplicity 5541 in size 7. An easy to make smock top or dress, a cute look for school, with round neck, puffed sleeves (short or long), and patch pockets. #That70'sLook. 

McCall's 5722 Girls' Wrap Jumper or Wrap Top in size 14 #That70'sLook

Simplicity 9869 Misses' Capes and Cardigan in size 14, Bust 36 inches. #That70'sLook

New Vogue Pattern Listing At GoofingOff Sewing Etsy

A classic Calvin Klein Dress from 1996

I love Vogue patterns. The look is so elegant regardless of what era the patterns are from. Here's a few "new" Vogue patterns, at least new to the shop. A virtual feast for the eyes. Enjoy. 

Classic Anne Klein Blouse from 1996

Classic Vogue Woman jacket, skirt, and pants

Babies' Christening dress, blanket, hat, and pillow sham....Can you say "family heirloom?"

Post by Eileen Patterson #GoofingOff