I played some more and came up with a new pattern for Barbie. Jeans are an essential in a wardrobe so I didn't want Barbie to be left out.  Sewing her wardrobe from my fabric scraps may keep her from searching for a job but she is going to need shoes and pocketbooks soon so I may as well plan for her to get a job. The best part... this free pattern can easily create dress slacks for her job interviews.

• Free Barbie Size Fashion Doll Jeans or Slacks Sewing Pattern
• Free Gathered Skirt Pattern for Barbie

This is the time of year that my email tends to ask  how to get started... not how to sew but how to get back in the swing of sewing.  What is it about the winter and after holiday season, that can zap you of all enthusiasm and stop you from accomplishing the things you enjoy doing?  It maybe the shorter days, maybe it's the cold weather... what ever it is it sure is counter productive to being creative.  The funny part is that once I get started I don't want to stop.. the only hard part is getting started.  Getting organized is a good way to get started but there are times, the idea of making a new mess can stop me again. So I've found that starting simple projects that I can finish in a short amount of time is a great way to get me going again.

• Creating a Sewing Room with Storage on a Budget
• Operation Organization - Sewing Room Organization Ideas
• Beginner, Simple Sewing Projects -- Free Sewing Projects for Learning to Sew

When I was a little girl, I was rewarded for being good at the dentist with a new Barbie or some sort for clothing for Barbie and I remember the Christmas packages of Barbie clothing that my mother must have spent hours working on after we were in bed at night. I'm not sure if it was lucky or not but I spent a lot of time at the dentist so I had a MAJOR collection of Barbie dolls and Barbie clothing.  The amount of Barbie things I had would probably be labeled "obsessive compulsive" today but I remember hours of fun playing dress up on those dolls. I can't help but wonder if those wonderful homemade clothing collections aren't a large part of what I will proudly admit, made me obsessive compulsive about sewing.I'm so lucky that my mother backed up those Barbie clothes with hours of patient teaching in the years that followed my Barbie years.

If you read this site often, you know how often I refer to charity sewing opportunities. Considering just how little fabric is used to sew fashion doll clothing, I can't resist the opportunity to encourage everyone who sews to use those scraps to sew Barbie clothes and if you don't have someone in your family to enjoy them, give them away.. maybe even with a fashion doll that only costs a few dollars at most department stores.

This week I'm giving you my free pattern to sew a skirt with a gathered waist for Barbie or other fashion dolls.

The last weekend before Valentine's Day is around the corner so if you haven't yet,  you're time to sew up special, memorable gifts is running out.  Use this weekend to sew gifts that will be treasured and remembered.
Sewing for the holiday is also a great way to let your kids have clothing that expresses the holiday without breaking the bank... You can transform stained clothing to make it special.

• Valentine's Day Sewing Patterns and Projects