Just before Christmas, I bought my first sewing machine. I figured out how to do a bobbin and thread the machine and only had to call my mother-in-law to ask how to get the thread from the bobbin up to the other thread. The book showed how to put the bobbin in and then just said to thread it up, but didn’t explain how to. I had some old t-shirts that none of us were wearing and I usually would have thrown away. Instead, I cut them up and tried out a few different stitches and then made a little bag for each of the kids out of them. I had enough left to make bags for Naomi and Tabitha too, which I took and put into their stockings. Tabitha didn’t use it at the time, but Naomi seemed to like it and put all her presents that would fit into that little bag. Both Amie and James had made stuff with Grandma Wall on her sewing machine, so they had wanted to make stuff for the sibling they had drawn in our little family. This was the whole reason I finally bought the machine since I’d been wanting to for a while, but just kept putting it off. Amie made a pillow out of a t-shirt for Noelle and James made a rice heating pad in the shape of a cat’s head for Amie because she kept taking my rice heating pad and she collects cat stuff. When I bought the material for James, he wondered why I bought 2 yards when only a quarter of a yard would have been enough for his project. The material is a somewhat thick red cloth that is slightly fuzzy-soft on the outside. Well, he found out. I’ve been making a lot of rice heating pads. Each of the kids have a small one to heat up at night to help warm up their bed and I made one for Jeremy because he also kept taking mine. I still have some left, so I made one today for my mother-in-law. It is E shaped, except without the middle line, so she can drape it over her shoulders. I have also cut out and mostly made another one (about 6×12″) for Jeremy to give to a co-worker for his pregnant wife. I don’t have anymore rice though, so I have to pick some up before I can finish it. I’ve been thinking of seeing if I can find more of that material in different colors and selling them, but I don’t know if there is a market for them.
Edit: Went to Walmart for essentials… laundry soap, trash bags, and Dr. Pepper and decided to stop by the craft department to see if I could find the material again. I remember telling my mom that it was kind of like flannel, but a bit thicker. Guess what? It’s called super flannel. They had a few other colors and some prints too. Most of the prints were baby style though since they will most likely be used on blankets. I think pastel balloons would be a cute heating pad though.
My sister made me one of those heating pads, and I love it! I use it on my back a lot since my pregnant belly is getting so much bigger. I’ve used it so much it’s almost worn out. Mine has dried corn it it instead of rice, but it works the same way. I have a sewing machine and some extra rice at home. Guess I need to get some cheap material and make another one.
For me, the last sewing project was a draw string change purse. You are going to have fun, like I am