2021 Our Homemade Christmas

Christmas, Grandchildren, homemade, Reflections

Hello and Welcome!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We sure did!

Before we move into the new year let’s take a look back at what kept me busy throughout the month of December.

You may remember this post back in October back in when my daughter, Lindell, saw me wearing one of the shirts, a hoodie, that I had made and decided I should make one for her. I told her “Christmas is coming”. Then when I asked my other daughters, they all decided they would like one. Each of the girls told me what color they would like, except Tina, who said “anything but pink”. Before I went fabric shopping, I decided to give them the option of having me make them a cardigan instead of the hoodie. Kara was the only one who took me up on this offer.

I also asked Tina what I should make for Jackson and Addie and she gave me some ideas.

It was toward the end of October, when I had my materials list ready, that I grabbed my sister and dragged her to the fabric store. LOL! Just kidding. If you know my sister, you’ll know she was more than happy to go to the fabric store with me. It’s one of our favorite places to spend time together.

I will say that I took some creative liberties with choosing fabrics for the girls. I didn’t want to make shirts that were just one solid color; I wanted to design one-of-a-kind garments that I thought would suit their individual style(s).

Hanna’s color choice was black, so I selected the snakeskin fabric then trimmed it in solid black.

Lindell asked for this army green, so I selected this tied dye green and white for trim.

I chose this blue print for Tina and the solid blue trim is actually sprinkled with glitter.

This shimmery stretch corduroy for Kara’s cardigan was so beautiful that I decided to use it for the entire garment.

Making these garments for the girls went pretty smoothly since I had previously made the hoodie pattern three times for myself, and I had made the cardigan pattern once before.

Then it was time to learn something new. The patterns that I selected for Jackson and Addie were both new to me and both posed some new challenges. While all of the garments were made with TLP (Tender Love and Prayer) there was probably more prayer that went into these.

For Addie, who loves to dress up, I made this dress with color blocked sleeves and a double layer skirt.

For Jackson I made this dragon hoodie.

I was so excited when Christmas finally arrived, and I could give the girls their gifts. Kara and Lindell had both told me that they were excited about getting them.

Christmas was a wonderful day – the house was filled with life, laughter and love (and food). After brunch (breakfast food for lunch) we opened gifts.

Below are a few pictures of everyone modeling my handiwork.

Beautiful Addie!

I was thrilled to see that Addie’s dress was a perfect fit. Actually, I was amazed as I watched each recipient open their gift and slip it on, that they all seemed to fit just right – answered prayers.

Jackson showing off his dragon wings.

After seeing Jackson’s dragon hoodie my daughters asked when I was going to make them each one. HaHa!

The sister picture. (Ranger photo bombed this one. LOL!)

Each time I get together with all four daughters I try to get a sister picture with the four of them together. It doesn’t happen very often nowadays. The last time we were all together was over a year ago.

Here’s a challenge for readers who don’t know our family personally: can you put the girls in order of age from left to right?

I also try to get a picture of me with the girls. This time around we were able to get Aunt Donna, my mom’s sister, in the picture and my granddaughter Addie. Four generations.

My husband doesn’t mind me saying that he is not a very good photographer. He needs to work on focusing and staging because while I wanted this picture to highlight their new Christmas clothes, I can’t help looking at those feet. LOL.

In the meantime, at least I can edit/crop the pictures to change the focus – the beauty in digital photography. No more crazy feet.

Well maybe one more look. LOL!

Thanks for visiting.

As 2021 comes to an end, we wish you a Happy New Year and a blessed year ahead. May God’s light guide your way in 2022.

20 thoughts on “2021 Our Homemade Christmas”

  2. You cracked me up with the feet crop.
    When I saw you were making the dragon wings for your grandson, I knew that it was going to be a hit. No wonder everyone wants their own. So cool!

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    1. I’m glad someone appreciates my sense of humor. I was beginning to wonder… It’s amazing the things one will do for their grandkids. I never imagined I’d be making a dragon hoodie.

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  5. I’d better not take a guess on the ages in the “line-up” – I’m terrible with guessing ages. Funny with Ranger and the photo bomb. You are a great seamstress and your crocheted creations from other posts, as well as that tatted tablecloth you featured, all were amazing. Plus a great cook … you are a smart cookie Ruth. Best in the new year to you and those who make you happy.

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    1. You give me far too much credit Linda. At this point I’d call my sewing skills ‘improving’. There are a lot of details that don’t show in the photos. Who knows maybe if I keep sewing someday I will be great at it. I think my next challenge is to learn to make buttonholes.
      I wish you all the best in 2022.

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      1. Buttonholes weren’t my favorite thing to do back when I sewed Ruth and I may have mentioned that it was a joke in our house that I told people I sewed my own clothes, but my mom would baste/set in the sleeves, baste in the zipper and she’d hem it … so she said she made the outfit as much as I did. 🙂 One time I made plaid wool shorts (which were all the go at the time). I thought I laid the pattern out to match the plaid … I did not. Lesson learned! Best to you in 2022 too Ruth.

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      2. My machine does have a buttonhole foot which should make it easier. I have just never taken the time to figure out how to use it. You really have to think it through when working with different prints. That in itself can take me a lot of time.

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      3. I think I had a buttonhole foot too – I have not sewed anything since 1983 when I made a two-sided cover and seed catcher for our parakeet. I used to sew most of my clothes as I was so tall and had long arms and legs. They didn’t have tall clothes in those days.

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    1. Thanks Joni. That dragon hoodie was tricky. The most challenging was attaching the wings and making sure they would face in the right direction and both the same as the back has a plain fabric. I spent more time thinking it trough and making sure they were right before I sewed them on than I did sewing them. Happy New Year to you too.

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  8. That was marvelous to see your creations on hangers and then on the recipients. They are all lovely. The dragon hoodie caught my fancy. If I had a young grandson, I’d want to make one for him. (Grandsons are 21 and 26.)

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