Project 2

Crayon Holders


For children in Sub Saharan Africa!


For project 2 we will be sewing crayon holders (super easy & adorable) to donate to Orphan Support Africa, an amazing organization that supports the vulnerable children in Sub Saharan Africa. Many of the children that will be receiving your donation are orphans and I know they will treasure this special gift!


A little information about Malawi, the country that will benefit from the crayons-
--45% of Malawi's population is less than 5 years of age
--There are approximately 70,000 HIV positive children less than age 15.
--Increasing levels of poverty and the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic have contributed to the high number of orphaned children, of which there are currently an estimated 1,050,000 in Malawi


The crayon holders look complicated, but are very easy to put together! For a tutorial please see the link here to a blog called the Pleated Poppy. The writer gives a list of supplies and a great step by step guide to sewing a crayon holder.

With Christmas right around the corner, the deadline for this project will be February 15th. Start sewing now & email us at imsewinghope@gmail.com with any questions.

Thank you & happy sewing!

Pillowcases and Smiles!

Last week, I loved receiving these in the mail

And was humbled to see the pillowcases stack up on tabletop

after tabletop

All in all, if we lined up the pillowcases we received, we could span an entire football field. Amazing!

We delivered pillowcases to every oncology patient

AND

Every single chronically ill child in the hospital. This included patients with Cystic Fibrosis, Bone Marrow Transplants, Juvenile Arthritis, Diabetes, children on dialysis with chronic kidney disease and many others. I was unable to take pictures today, but hope to have some by the end of the week that I will certainly post! I can't wait to share the smiles on these precious kids faces!

We even left many "extras" for the Child Life staff at Children's to use as birthday presents and other treasures throughout the year. They are also planning on using many of the adorable Christmas pillowcases in the Sugar Plum Shop.

The Sugar Plum Shop is Children's way of empowering parents by providing access to free toys and gifts during the holidays when they may feel especially powerless about the fact that their child is spending time in the hospital. The shop is open Christmas Eve and Christmas day for patients in the hospital to still enjoy a bit of Christmas magic.

I am humbled to see what the Lord is doing with this ministry & appreciate each of you for making it a success. Please see the post about Project 2- crayon holders for orphans in Malawi, Africa! Keep up the good work & Merry Christmas!

Project 1

As project 1 is drawing to a close, I want to take this time to thank each of you for all of your help. We have already received many pillowcases & appreciate all of your hard work! Remember the kids that will benefit from all that sewing! Conkerr Cancer

The deadline for the pillowcases is December 1st & they can be shipped to:
Sewing Hope
13 Montevallo Terrace
Birmingham, AL 35213

Thank you for all of your help & devotion to Sewing Hope. I am humbled by the positive response that this adventure has received & cannot wait to announce Project Two!

Keep sewing!

Thank you to everyone! I have been overwhelmed by the number of you sewing pillowcases & I know the children at the hospital will have brighter days thanks to your hard work. Remember, all the pillowcases need to be in by December 1. Contact us at imsewinghope@gmail.com with any questions.

Happy Sewing!

Project 1- Sewing Pattern for Pillowcase

Here is the pillowcase pattern for Project 1
First gather LOTS of fun fabric. For girls...or boys...


I usually pick two coordinating fabrics & purchase 1 yard each- this way you end up with 2 pillowcases. You use 3/4 of a yard for the body of the pillowcase and 1/4 yard for the edge or "lining"-
To cut the fabric, lay it out (still folded lengthwise how it is sold) and measure 28 inches wide and 20.5 inches tall. This will make the body of the pillowcase.
Then lay out the edge fabric and measure 8 inches wide by 20.5 inches tall. Again the top of the fabric will be the fold.

Next, using a french seam, attach the edge to the pillowcase body. To do this pin the edge to the body with the wrong sides together & sew.

Then press the seam open with an iron & fold the edge over the body so that the right sides are now together. Sew a 1/2 inch seam.
Next, press the seam open & the edge is attached to the pillowcase.

Next sew the sides and edge of the pillowcase using the same french seam method. With the wrong sides together, sew an "L" moving down the width of the lining and pillowcase and then up the height.

Then flip the pillowcase so that the wrong sides of the fabric are together and complete the french seam.

Finally, turn the pillowcase the right way & press seam open. You're almost done!

Lastly to finish the ends of the opening of the case, fold 1/2 inch and press into place.

Then fold another 1/2-1 inch and press into place. Pin this fold in place & sew along the end of the fold to hold it in place.


That's it! Lastly be sure to wash the fabric and put the completed pillowcase in a ziplock bag before dropping it off or mailing.

Thank you in advance for all you do! I can't wait to post pictures of these precious kids enjoying your hard work while they are in the hospital!

Project 1

For our first project we will be partnering with Conkerr Cancer to make pillowcases for the oncology floor at Children's Hospital of Birmingham.

To learn more about ConKerr Cancer- visit their website: Conkerr Cancer

Sewing pillowcases is easy & fun! Gather bright colored, cheery fabrics & follow the easy directions found here

The deadline for this project is December 1, 2010. Email us at imsewinghope.blogspot.com to find out drop locations for the pillowcases. Or mail them to:
Sewing Hope
13 Montevallo Terrace
Birmingham, AL 35213

Project 1

For our first project we will be partnering with Conkerr Cancer to make pillowcases for the oncology floor at Children's Hospital of Birmingham. I am so excited about this project!!!

The mission of the Conkerr Cancer program is to give a "case for smiles" and help children feel special while batteling life threatening illnesses. To read more about the program and the children that inspire the project visit their website at Conkerr Cancer

I challenge each of you to sew as many pillowcases as you can between now and December 1. We will deliver them over the holidays to bring "a case for smiles" to the kids at Children's Hospital. I can hardly wait to see the faces of the precious children as they receive your gift!

So, what to do? Gather cheery fabrics (bright colors and patterns please)- you will need 3/4 yard for the pillowcase and 1/3 yard for the border of the pillowcase.

Sewing Instructions:
1. Cut the body of the case 26 1/2″ x 40 1/2″ and the border 10 1/2″ x 40 1/2″.
2. Fold the border in half lengthwise, with the wrong sides together, and press.
3. Place the right side of the border on the right side of the body of the case. Stitch together using a 1/2″ seam allowance.
4. Place right sides of the pillowcase together. Stitch down the side and across the bottom. Turn to the right side and press.
5. Please finish seams so the pillowcases will not fray.

It's that easy! These children have fragile immune systems so wash the finished product and place in a zip lock bag prior to shipping. It is my hope that you will fervently pray for these kids during your efforts so that they will recieve double the blessing!

Mail the completed cases to:

Sewing Hope
13 Montevallo Terrace
Birmingham, AL 35213

I'm so excited about this project and cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store. Please let me know if you have any questions & I'll be sure to post updates as the "deadline" draws near.

Thank you!

Welcome!

Welcome to Sewing Hope- an organization with the goal of bringing friends together to sew handmade projects which will be donated to charities.

The organization came to be as an effort to combine my love for sewing with my desire to help others. Every few months a new project will be announced. The post will include all the necessary supplies, patterns and instructions for the project. We encourage you to gather a few friends and have a "sewing hope party" or work on the project alone- just sew, sew sew! After things are completed ship them to the address listed & they will be delivered to the selected charity after the project completion date. Happy sewing!