I know exactly what you mean. I used to sew for hours when DH was away, that doesn't happen much anymore but I still try to sew as much as I can. My Grandmother was also special to me and I named my Featherweight after her (something a group of us here began doing). I also have a few things my grandmother crafted over the years for me - a Kitty PJ bag and a rag doll (who came with a full wardrobe most of which is sadly gone). Even though I don't have the "things" I remember the toys like yesterday and now realize what a labor of love it must have been for her. You are doing the same for your grandies and think of the memories they will have of your times together. Lucky you! Budster who wishes you happy sewing times.

Thanks Budster. We sound alot alike.. One good thing is my daughters will teach their children how to take care of them and they will have them forever. I also have all of the Fisher Price My friend Dolls and lots of patterns for them. I want to make a big wardrobe for each of them to play with while they are at Grandmas and then they will inheriet them when the time comes. This means alot to me..

I have bought the two oldest grandaughters a Bitty Baby with some outfits. This is such a great doll for them. They have named them and always bring them to grandmas when they spend the night. I also will buy them each an American doll when they get a little older. I always watch for the outfits to come on clearance and keep them back for birthdays or Christmas. The silly things are so expensive. And now I have to buy 3. Great fun..

Have a great weekend.

I love being a "Sewing Grandma" too! Right now I am making shorts and skorts for my 9 and 10 year old granddaughters and some shorts for 5 year old grandson. I always make them Easter outfits too.

I, too, had a loving grandma who did a lot of special things for me. I still have some doll clothes she made.

I sewed a lot of shorts, t-shirts and pj's for my two sons, but sewing for the girls is really a lot of fun!

Have fun, Grandmas
Eunice

My oldest granddaughter has at least 6 American Girl dolls. When she played with them, I made lots of clothes with all the scraps and pieces of lace that I had. I don't know if American Girl still sells patterns. I also made them little quilts. Collddn

isn't being a grandma fun? I love it! our third one is on the way...and I'm just getting into quilting, so a baby quilt is nearing completion...along with a dust ruffle, curtains, wallhanging, lol...couldn't dote on the new one (a girl) so had to make the boys spiderman curtains for their room, too.

I can't wait to start making little outfits, with hats to match, like I did for my daughter...and I'm sure doll clothes will come into play at some future time. I made my daughter the cutest little "cradle" from a peck basket and she still talks about it.

I just turned our spare room into a sewing room...so no clean up for me..I just shut the door! lol.

It's great to see other grandmas making memories.
Lynn

what patterns do you use to sew for bitty babies, please? thanks from molly in ri

molly..I've used mostly Simplicity patterns. But McCall's and Buttericks have some nice patterns too.
Lynn

I bought a whole buch of American girl doll patterns on ebay. My grandaughters are to small for one yet but hopefully I can get ahead of the game and get some clothes made. I just received an e-mail from them and they have a bunch of the clothes on clearance. I buy them this way and hold them back for Christmas and birthdays.

Right now I am making all the little girls, plus some friends girls the sundress that has a short bodice and it ties on the shoulders. The pattern goes from size 2 to 8. It is in my car but if you would like the number just email back and I will send it along. They are so quick and easy to do. I have made 4 in one day. I copied the pattern top off in all sizes and I just keep the entire pattern in a ziplock bag. I am always on the lookout for fabric on clearance. No just never know where the sewing bug is going to hit ya...

As the mom of a small child...THANK YOU GRANDMA's! You have no idea how much this will be remembered by your little darlings 30 years from now :)

Awwww igloochic, thanks for the nice compliment. (And if they don't remember...we'll remind them! lol.)

Every now and then I get a desparation call for a special outfit or a costume. This month I made a poodle skirt for a music program. I have also been knitting hats on a round loom and have made 94 for our local hospital and several more for my family members. I like the web site for looking at patterns. I have not ordered from them yet, but I sure have looked at the site a lot of times. http://www.sewingpatterns.com/

Here is a link that might be useful: Sewing Patterns

Sooner, it's funny you mentioned knitting hats for the local hospital. I have a very well cherished hat that I just loved on my little guy when he was first born in the NICU. One of his monkey's wears it now, but we'll be adding it to his "Special cloths" quilt in the future.

We also have a little quilt given to us by some lovely ladies at another hospital we stayed in (he's not been well most of his life). Even though I quilt, and most of my finished projects are charity quilts, I really cherished that little quilt :) We'll turn that into a large pillow someday. I can afford to go out and buy all the hats and quilts that we want, but when you're in hospital, especially those who go again and again like us, those little things are so special to us. I already thanked you :) But for that alone, thank you again :) The joy that silly little hat gave us on our 3 lb baby still brings tears to my eyes.

I've been sewing for 35 years or so and love it. Oh, what fun to sew for granddaughters! I have never made doll clothes or quilts, but my kids cherish the things my mom made for them when they were little. Maybe I should consider it. It seems almost too hard to work on such tiny things, though.

Our youngest daughter, 30, just had a baby girl 7 weeks ago. I got to keep her the other day and when mom came back we were talking about the dresses that I made for them when they were little. I still have the pattern and I am going to surprise her with one just like it for her baby. My girls even remember what colors they were. We have lots of pictures of them, too. Surprise, surprise..

The dollie clothes are the best. I have all of the Fisher Price My Friend dolls and they have the cutest patterns. You can still buy them on e-bay. Just look for My Friend Jenny, Mandy, Nicki, Mikey and Becky. They are adoreable and so easy to sew. I made them for my girls when they were little, too. They have dresses, nightgowns, pant outfits, robe, all kinds of things. You can buy a bunch pretty cheap. I want to make a bunch that I can keep here for them to play with when the are here to stay all night. Check them out..

Enjoy...