Archive for the ‘My Patterns’ Category

Searching for the perfect diaper bag for mama and baby? Having a bag that is fun, fashionable and functional for both you and your new addition makes life so much easier in those first few years! I designed this bag do that and more! I think it’s the perfect size for moms who use cloth diapers or disposables—not too big, not too small. I even included patterns and instructions for a waterproof zippered wetbag and a changing pad with a hidden waterproof layer.

The outside front of the Mama & Baby Bag features two elasticized pockets and two flat pockets for those things that you need close at hand. On the back side, you’ll find a large zippered pocket to keep important documents and records safely contained. Just below the strap, a side pocket holds mom’s cell phone within quick reach. The tie-on strap easily adjusts to exactly the right length, from shoulder bag length, to stroller bag, to messenger bag. The strap is designed to be worn folded in half over the shoulder or unfolded for comfortable wear when worn across the body.

Inside, a divider separates mom’s things from baby’s. Mom’s side features a divided pocket with compartments for a pen or pencil, business cards and notes. On baby’s side, you’ll find three elasticized pockets to separate diapers, wipes and changing pad.

This pattern will be available in pdf format in my Etsy store on Wednesday, 10/19. The paper version will be available after Quilt Market on 11/2.

I’ve heard rumors that it’s getting cold somewhere, and your little ones need some bundling! My Which Way Out Jacket is designed to keep them all warm and cozy. (Here in Dallas, it’s still in the 80s, but winter will come eventually!) This hooded jacket uses two layers of fabric and with the right zipper, it is completely reversible for two looks in one.

One of the things that I love about sewing outerwear for my children is that you get a lot of wear for your sewing time! Unlike tees and pants that get worn one day and thrown into the wash until laundry day, jackets are worn every time your little one is out of the house in the cooler months and because they don’t tend to get dirty as quickly, they spend a lot less time in the hamper.

In sizes 12 months to 5T, the Which Way Out Jacket features roomy pockets and fold-up cuffs. For extra insulation, you can add a hidden layer of cotton flannel or thin quilted batting, or you can turn your Hooded Jacket into a windbreaker and raincoat by using PUL (polyurethane laminate) as the outer layer.

The PDF version of this pattern will be available on Wednesday, 10/19, along with one other pattern that I’ll be blogging about later today. The paper versions of these patterns will be available after Quilt Market on 11/2.

Shhhh . . . Don’t tell my kids that I’m showing you this picture! One of our house rules is that the dining room must stay neat and clean at all times. It’s the first room that you see when you walk into my house, and I figure that if your first impression is one of a tidy home, maybe you’ll overlook any mess that you see in the rest of the house! I just had to take this picture, though, because it occurred to me as I walked through the dining room this morning, that this is a picture of my life at the moment. The back half of the table is covered with dress forms waiting to be dressed for Quilt Market (which, if you’re counting down with me, is only a month away!) The front half of the table is covered with 50 pounds of tomatoes waiting to be canned and Allen’s homeschool books. Sewing, cooking and schooling . . . and more sewing! Don’t feel bad for me, though! I love sewing (and cooking and homeschooling), and I’m really excited about Quilt Market (and a little bit terrified, too. Am I allowed to say that?) I could use an extra me, though. If you happen to know where I can get one of those, I’d be thrilled!

I have a few fun things to share with you over the next week or so, including two new patterns and a couple of tutorials! I’m really excited about a tutorial that I put together especially for those of you who are football fans. You’ll be able to see it on Friday on one of my very favorite sewing blogs!

On the homefront, I have a few things to share. First of all, I have to share some great pictures of my oldest son, Sean, from a few weeks ago. He’s a senior in high school this year and was chosen as one of the finalists for homecoming king. Isn’t he adorable? (As a side note, the homecoming parade took place on my birthday, and I was so wrapped up in taking pictures, that I almost didn’t notice when the whole group of homecoming king and queen nominees yelled, “Happy Birthday!” to me from the parade! How sweet is that?)

On a bittersweet note, we took a week off to travel to West Virginia last week when Ray’s Great Aunt Hazel passed away at 94. Aunt Hazel, who you can see in the picture below with Charlie last June, was one of my favorite people. She was a beautiful example of a Godly woman, active and full of life, showing people the Jesus that she loved by just being who she was. Most of all, though, she was always laughing or making someone else laugh. She will be very much missed by all of her family and friends but remembered with great joy.

Have you been over to the Create Hope Designs Store yet? The Create Hope designers have created a selection of lovely pdf sewing patterns that are available for only $5 each. All of the profits made go directly to China Little Flower Orphanage to assist in the wonderful things that they do day in and day out.

My contribution to Create Hope is The Watered with Love Layette Set. This new layette is designed for simple, comfortable dressing in those early newborn days. Included in this pattern are a cotton knit snap-shoulder raglan gown and top in both short and long-sleeves. The long-sleeve version has those great fold-up cuffs that keep baby from scratching himself. (They’re really easy to do! Once you sew one, you just might find yourself adding them to all of your newborn sewing!) The pattern also includes a simple knotted hat. All patterns are sized from newborn through 6-9 months.

The name of this pattern has a really special meaning. I really wanted the name to reflect the selfless way that the caregivers at China Little Flower give to the orphans entrusted to their care. They pour an unbelievable amount of love into those tiny souls. Like beautiful fields of wildflowers are watered with spring showers, these little flowers are watered with their love.

I haven’t been checking in here as much lately as I like because I’ve been so crazy busy preparing for my first Quilt Market! It’s only six weeks away now, and I still have so much to do! I have to slow down just a little today, though, because it happens to be my birthday, and I want to celebrate another year full of blessings. Whew! What a year it’s been!

How about a little sale so you can celebrate with me? For the next 24 hours (through 7 a. m. central tomorrow morning) you can use the code BDAYSALE for 41% off on PDF patterns at Fishsticks Designs at Etsy. (Can you guess how old I am today?) You can also use the same code for 30% off of paper patterns in my main store: Fishsticks Designs.

I’ll do my best to keep restocking my Etsy store all day, but what’s in my main store is all there is for this sale.

Looking forward to what exciting things are in store for me in the year ahead! Bonnie

I’m not really allowed to pick a favorite pattern, am I? Okay, I won’t because I do honestly love all of my patterns. This one, though, I think is an absolute baby boy necessity! I love little boys toddling around in overalls. They just look like . . . little boys! Charlie will definitely be wearing these overalls all winter, and since today’s high is still over 100 degrees here in Dallas, I suspect he’ll get plenty of wear out of the shortalls before it cools off, too.

The apples on our backyard tree were ripening while I was working on this pattern last month. Since it’s been so hot and so dry, they were teeny tiny making them perfect Charlie-size. I adore all the pictures that I snapped of him pulling off apples and eating them right off of the tree.


Of course, little girls do look adorable in overalls, too, and baby Katie shows them off beautifully!

The PDF version of the Buttons & Buckles Overall and Shortall is available on Etsy: Fishsticks Designs at Etsy, and the paper pattern is available in my main store: Buttons & Buckles Overall and Shortall.

A friend called me a few days ago to check in on me. She said, “I haven’t seen you, and you haven’t blogged in weeks!” LOL! I am still here and plugging away! I have a new pattern — well, an old pattern in bigger sizes really — ready to release and I’ll have one more finished up and ready to go early next week. I’m also working on several other patterns that will feature a new fabric line from Michael Miller, and I’m wrapping up my Create Hope Designs pattern. Oh, and it is summer, and we’re trying to squeeze in a little fun in spite of the 100+ degree weather here in Dallas.

On to the Inside or Out Pocket Pants for your big kids! Just in time for back to school, I’ve finished up the Inside or Out Pockets Pants in sizes 5 to 12. Like the smaller sizes, this pattern includes multiple options for pockets on the front, back and sides.

You can buy the pdf version of the IOOP Big Kids in my Etsy store now: Fishsticks Designs at Etsy, and the paper copy of the pattern will be available in my main store on Monday: Fishsticks Designs.

I can’t promise that they’ll have your kids flying off to school like superheroes, but my boys seem to really be enjoying theirs!

Finally, huh? The Stitch Fall 2011 Issue has been on the stands for weeks now, and I’m finally showing off the third project that I have in the magazine: The Cozy Wrap Bathrobe! (Things have been so busy here! More on that later, though.)

I love this robe! It’s designed to grow with your child, so there are just two sizes: toddler and child. It’s sewn with cotton french terry which is a knit, but it’s not very stretchy. Don’t be afraid at all if you don’t have much experience sewing knits! French terry is nice and absorbent without being too heavy, so it’s a perfect choice for wrapping up your little one fresh out of the bathtub. (In case you’re on the hunt for it, you can find that great owl french terry at  The Fabric Fairy.)

I sewed up a fall robe for Jamie using the larger of the two sizes, and he’s happy to show it off to you!

You’ll have to pick up the magazine to find the instructions for this one. It’s available online at the Interweave Store (in paper or digital version) or you can find it at your favorite local fabric shop!

Have you heard about Create H.O.P.E. Designs? The wonderful designers over at Izzy & Ivy are organizing sewists, bloggers, shop owners and designers in an effort to help bring love and comfort to little ones in need on the other side of the world. Four times a year Izzy & Ivy will release a pattern specifically designed for Create H.O.P.E., and 100% of the funds received will go to a different orphan relief organization. How amazing is that?

But it gets better! Other designers are joining in, too! Several are hard at work right now. Each creating a pattern that will only be available at Create H.O.P.E. Designs. You’ll be able to contribute by visiting the website at www.createhopedesigns.com and simply purchasing a pattern. (There’s nothing to buy there yet, but keep watching!)

All of that is so exciting, but what I love most of all, is that the first orphanage chosen to benefit from Create H.O.P.E. is China Little Flower! I know many of my followers and customers know Serena from Notion Supply and the work that she does there well. I have prayed for these little ones and cried tears of joy and sorrow reading her stories.

You can go read even more on Izzy & Ivy’s blog: The Big Reveal. I’m am so honored to get to join with the other designers in creating a new pattern especially for Create H.O.P.E. Designs and China Little Flower. It’s going to be very tiny and very sweet, just like the little ones at China Little Flower who I wish I could snuggle up to and love on in person.

One more look at the baby curls . . . I waited as long as I could before taking Charlie for his first haircut. I know from experience that the first haircut changes a little guy’s appearance from baby to little boy in a flash. I brought along my camera to record the moment. I figured maybe if I was busy snapping pictures, I’d be too distracted to cry in public.

We went to this great kids’ haircut place called Sharkey’s where Charlie got to sit in a little blue car and watch cartoons. You’d think that would make a little boy really happy, wouldn’t you? Charlie was not impressed. This is what he looked like for most of his clipping session:

The “toons” would hold his interest for a minute or two before he was back to crying and trying to climb out of the chair.

We both survived, though, and I’m happy to say that in spite of Charlie’s tears, mama managed to keep it together. All finished!

Holding on to mama for dear life . . . “Don’t put me back in that thing again!”

We had a “Big Boy Charlie” photo session this morning. I totally think he looks absolutely adorable, but it’s hard to believe that the picture at the top of this post was taken two days before these.




Look! The tongue still works!

Little boys grow up so fast, don’t they? (Oh, and a little aside from the subject of this post: there’s a bit of a sneak peek of a pattern that I’m working on in these pictures. Still a few things to tweak, but I’m planning to have it ready for my testers next week!)