Pony Pouches!

Every year I hold Happy Trails, a small live show/pony party, in my home the first weekend of June. This year I am celebrating my 50th year in the formal hobby, and I had big plans and some surprises for Happy Trails. 

Due to the pandemic, Happy Trails had to be canceled. I was disappointed, but I figured we could still hold it virtually like BreyerFest. (On a MUCH smaller scale, of course.) I put the class list online and invited my friends to post their photos in class albums. 

And while Happy Trails may not be happening live, I am still sending out swag bags, giving out ribbons, and have one more treat for all who enter.

Pony pouches! All entrants will receive a pony pouch made by me, even if they entered just one photo.

I made myself a set in orange fleece about ten years ago. I also have a couple of Breyer pony pouches and some made by Lori Batchelor. Amazon gift bags work in a pinch, too, although I usually bubble wrap any models I put into those.

But it is one thing to sew pony pouches for yourself and quite another to make them as gifts. I don't mind if there is a flaw in the fabric or if I have a messy seam on my own pouches, but if I am making them for friends, then I want them to be really nice. And since it has been so long since I made any, I had to sit down and figure out measurements before I could get started.

I kept notes as I worked because models, even in the same scale, differ. A Weather Girl or a Cigar model need width, whereas the Moody Saddlebred or Belgian mold need a taller pouch.

I have a roll of pattern paper from making clothes for living history reenactors, so I pulled it out and began making patterns for a variety of pony pouch sizes. (Pepper is hoping that I will play with her.)

I experimented with scale size as well as the closure. I do not like velcro closures - too risky for scratching the models. Instead, I make deeper flaps to fold over the top of the model.

These are the experimental pony pouches. I will keep all of them for myself. Their flaps are not as deep as I want them to be. A few are padded with quilt batting, another sewing staple that I have on hand. But I have padded pouches in my own stash for shows, and I find that that extra padding takes up a lot of space when the models are packed into tubs for a show. In my opinion, my plastic models do just fine without the padding. (Chinas are another story - I like the padding for them.)

I had found a basic pattern online for the experimental pony pouches. The size definitely needed tweaking, but that was an easy fix. 

What I did not like about that pattern was how the flap ended up being partially twisted in at its base.

But that was an easy fix - I adjusted my pattern and while it added a couple of steps to the stitching process, I like how the side seams no longer twist in.

The photo show is this coming Saturday, so now that I have figured out the patterns and am happy with them, I am cutting and sewing several hours a day. I made 18 the last week of May.

And I figure that, as long as I am at it, I will replace my old ones and maybe even make some for donations to live shows or to sell.

Plus, with all the extra fabric I have from past sewing projects, I should not have to buy any more to make my own pouches.  

Better get back to the sewing machine!

More Pandemic Sewing

As the shelter in place order has continued, I have kept sewing masks. I'd run out of elastic, but Cristine Holt sent me some from her own sewing supplies.

 Sarah requested four masks for herself and her family.

Looking good!

 Craig asked for grey. (I ended up using the argyle for Cole.) This is a snakeskin patterned fabric that I use to make dinosaurs in quiet books.

I participated in an early Secret Santa swap and made one for my recipient. I love this fabric!

Then I began sewing for friends - since I now had more elastic, I could do more than just my family.

 I made a birthday present for model horse collector Nancy Falzone.  Nancy wrote,

I just received my gift from you.  What an absolutely wonderful thing for you to do!!!!!  I know that was chosen just for me, it is so beautiful, I will proudly wear it when I go out.  Thank you, Lynn, you are such a good friend. Gloomy day here, but you sure brightened it up with that lovely face mask!!!!! Thank you so much.

I made masks out of the same fabric that I used for Nancy for several other horsey friends: Liz and Sam Cory, Nancy Kelly, Jennifer Buxton, and Susan Bensema Young.

Jessica confessed (I had to push her to do so) that the masks I'd made the kids were too small.

 So, I double checked with friends who had also made kids' masks and changed my measurements and made two new ones.

I hope these work better for them.

All told, I have now sewn twenty-five masks. I still have a little elastic left, but I don't plan to make any more unless I get a specific request or see a need.

Susie & Lukie's Easter Pillowcases

What with working on Melissa's quiet book and pandemic mask sewing, I forgot to post about the Easter pillowcases! Luckily, I remembered to make them on time.

These were the fabric choices that I had. (Thank goodness I have a stash of fabric on hand since I can't go out and shop while we are sheltering in place.)

Emily asked that I use the green bunny fabric for Susie's pillowcase,

and Vanessa asked for the blue Easter egg print. I delivered it to them along with a care package for each grandchild.

Pandemic Sewing

I am staying at home during the pandemic as asked by Indiana's governor. But even though I am retired and home quite a bit already, I have felt restless. I like to sew, I like to serve, and so what better way to do something worthwhile than to sew masks?

I looked at several online patterns and tutorials before selecting the pattern I liked best.

I have lots and lots of fabric on hand, both in the form of scraps from other projects as well as fabrics that I have bought because I liked them and knew that I could find something to make with them. (Every sewist does that, and we pile up tubs and tubs of fabrics!)

 Small prints work best for the masks and I have plenty of that in the fabrics I use to sew quiet books.

Other past sewing projects have included Christmas stockings, pillowcases, tablecloths, and pot holders. Leftover fabrics from those work well.

 The adult masks aren't hard to make, but the children's masks are so tiny and more difficult. This set is for Jessica and her family in Utah.

Since people around the world are sewing masks, too, there is a real shortage of 1/4 inch elastic, and I have had to get creative since I ran out of my supply yesterday.

I had some colorful rolled elastic and tried that in the masks for Julie, Kate, and Susie in Nashville.

Their mama is getting this fabric (one of my favorite fabrics ever!) and I am still working on Cole's plain black one. He gets my last two pieces of elastic.

Lisa asked for orange fabric, and Craig requested argyle.

I still need to hear from Sarah, Kyle, and Curt if they need masks, too, and I need one as well. I will choose something horsey, of course.

I love all three of these and have enough to make pot holders, tablecloths, and aprons out of them, but I think I can spare an 8 x 14 inch rectangle to make my own mask.

Now I wait on more 1/4 inch elastic. Everywhere in town is sold out as are the online sewing places I shop. Amazon has it, but it comes from China and there is a two week to one month wait to get it here. I'll either have to use the rolled elastic for myself or keep digging and see if I can find another source.

In the meantime, it has felt good to use my sewing skills to help out my family. And if I am able to get more elastic, I'd like to make some for the two local hospitals as well.

Susie & Lukie's St. Patrick's Day Pillowcases

Fabric for St. Patrick's Day without drinking motifs is a little tough to find, so I used the same fabric for both Susan and Lukas when I made these pillowcases.

 A finished pillowcase.

A close up of the print.

Lukie's Valentine Pillowcase & Some for Siblings, Too

I made this Valentine pillowcase for Lukie,

and when Ian and Mila saw it, they asked me to make them some more pillowcases. I was happy to oblige - I love sewing for them!

Mila wanted Belle and Ian couldn't decide between Mario and Spiderman so he got both.

Christmas Aprons!

Using a pattern, fabric, thread, and bias tape that I already had on hand, yesterday I whipped up Christmas aprons for Ian, Mila, and Lukas.

 This fabric looks black in the photo, but it's really dark brown. Lukie got this one.

 Mila wanted this one when she learned that it had sparkles (glitter) on it.

 Ian really wanted the penguins.

 I think they turned out very well.

 Purple frosting on a horse cookie. (She asked me to make horses when I asked what shape to use.)

 Ian wanted gingerbread men cookies, so I made five of those for him.

 Oh, dear! It looks like Lukie's nose is running but that's really frosting on his face.