My New Favorite Tracing Paper

I finally found it! I knew there had to be something available for tracing patterns that didn't cost more per yard than the fabric! I stop in Big Lots once in a while to buy $1 cookie mixes and ran across parchment paper for baking which was on sale for $2.30. I picked up a couple of rolls along with my cookie mixes. I needed to size down a basic skirt pattern for my daughter so I decided to try out the parchment paper. It worked great! Easy to see through, easy to write on, easy to fold up my new pattern when finished. I like to place my original pattern on my gridded cutting board so that it's easier to draw straight seam lines and grain lines when tracing or altering patterns.

I went back twice and bought several more rolls. Actually, I think I bought all they had. I think I'm pretty well set for patternmaking and tracing for a while.

And, guess what! It works pretty well for cookie baking too!

Don't you just love to find uses for things other than what they are intended for?

Goodwill Project #1

I thought I'd better get busy on that 38 yards of fabric I bought at Goodwill for $5.75. I mailed the two yards of ski fabric to duckbucket today. I can't wait to see what she makes with it. I used 2 1/3 yards of green cotton crinkle fabric to make 3 pillowcase dresses to send to Haiti. I used this pattern from Nancy's Notions which includes sizes small to extra large.

At 15 cents per yard, these dresses cost about 12 cents each for the fabric. After adding for the bias binding and elastic, I'm up to about $1.50 per dress!

Total Goodwill treasure                        38 yards

ski fabric sent to duckbucket                2

3 green cotton pillowcase dresses         2 1/3 
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Remaining yards to sew                       33 2/3 yards

Goodwill Giveaway

A couple of good friends from my high school and college days were in town last week to do a little "junking".  That's what they call shopping at the antique and consignment type shops. I went along to learn from the pros. They really know how to spot the good stuff. I found a Singer Featherweight sewing machine at an antique mall but I'm still thinking about that one. I need to do a little research on the value of Featherweights. I've always wanted to add one to my collection.

I noticed this bag of fabric at the Goodwill Store for $5.75. It looked like it had several yards of fabric in it, several of which I might be able to use.

I was amazed when I started pulling out fabric and measuring it. This half-full shopping bag had 38 yards of fabric in it! That's about 15 cents per yard. Both of my daughters have already picked out their favorite pieces and planned sewing projects for me.

I'd like to share part of my lucky find with a sewing friend. This 45" wide fabric is 2 yards in length and I believe the fiber content is rayon. It would make a nice blouse, perhaps a Sorbetto.

Leave a comment by Tuesday, February 19, at midnight. I'll choose a random winner from the comments and mail to any U.S. address. Let me know what you would create with this ski fabric or describe any sewing treasures you've found while "junking".