Granny Gown, part two

Set machine to longest stitch and sew two rows of basting all around, making sure NOT to cross lines of stitching.  Pull bobbin thread to gather neck and shoulder circle, making it roughly match size of yoke.

Position yoke piece as shown, adding pre-gathered lace in-between, if using.

With right sides together, sew yoke piece to body.

Turn right-side out and press flat. 

Trying it on for size. Almost done!

Use 1/4 inch elastic because hem tape tunnel is very narrow.

For Mum-Mum's size, cut two 14-inch pieces of elastic. Attach small pin to one end and push through hem tape tunnel, anchoring at one end before pulling all the way through. Anchor (sew firmly) at other end.

Starting at elastic sleeve edges, sew right sides of body together. Turn right side out. Press and hem. All done!

Granny Gown

My mother loves to sleep in what she calls a "Granny Gown." She recently gave me her pattern and asked if I would make her a new gown. These are the directions for Mum-Mum's "Granny Gown." (Directions are underneath pictures.)

Using 4 yards of cotton fabric, lay out material and pattern as shown. 

After cutting the large body piece on left (cut a little below the pattern to allow for hemming), flip the pattern over and upside down and cut out another one on the right (for a total of 4 body pieces). Also, move the smaller yoke piece over and cut another one (keeping pattern same), for a total of 4 smaller yoke pieces.

With right sides together, place 2 smaller yoke pieces on larger yoke pieces.

Place one sewn yoke piece on top of other sewn yoke piece, right sides together.

The inner circle and the two shorter edges should be sewn. (I didn't sew the shorter edges until later, which is why it's not pictured here.) The seam that I marked in the photo is the one you match up at the end with the center sleeve markings.

Turn right side out and press.

Sew two body pieces together, right sides facing.

You are marking the center of sleeve with pencil so you know where to match the yoke seam  when you get to the end.

Sew the other side of the arm piece to the other big body piece. You will now have half a completed circle.

Repeat the previous 2 steps with the other sleeve. This is what it looks like when the arms and body are all sewn together. Don't forget to mark the center of the other sleeve, as shown.

Iron up sleeve edge about 1/16 inch. (Could do this before attaching sleeves to body in previous steps, if desired.)

This is the order for attaching lace and hem tape (the tunnel for elastic), which is broken down in the next photos. This lace was not pre-gathered, which actually works better because you add elastic in a future step, which gathers it for you.

Baste on the lace by hand, using a contrasting color and large stitches.

Pin on the hem tape.

Homemade Granola

Tonight I'm making Homemade Granola. This is much more cost effective than boxed cereal and it makes the whole house smell wonderful. The kids are already asking if they can have some when it's done.

The best place to buy the oats is Costco. Honey is expensive. I bet Costco would be the cheapest place for that too, but so far, it's the Dollar Store (8 oz./$1).

GRANOLA RECIPE
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
In a large roasting pan, combine the following:
8 cups old fashioned oats
2 cups shredded coconut
1 cup flour (I used white whole wheat)
1 cup powdered milk
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt

Toss well.

Add 3/4 cup packed brown sugar. Toss well.

In a pot on the stove mix up:
1/2 cup canola oil (measure this first; then use the same measuring cup to measure the honey. The oil will make the honey slide easily out of the measuring cup.)
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Pour over the dry ingredients. Toss until well coated.

Bake in a 250 degree oven for 2 hours. Stir every 30 minutes for the first hour; then stir every 15 minutes for the second hour. Cool in the pan. Store in airtight container for up to 2 weeks - if it lasts that long!

Beginnings

I've been keeping house for 25 years now. Hard to believe! I want to start a record of all the things I've learned and all the new things I'm learning.