Sewing For Adults - and Fun!

Ok, so I did a list for babies, and I did a list for kids. Now I feel like I need a list for the rest of us!

• I put these headbands at Brown Paper Packages on the kids' list, but I also want to make some for me. I think they'd be great for housework and bad hair days!
• Amy Butler has quite a few free patterns on her website. They include several quilts (if you're into quilting...I haven't attempted that yet), a couple of scarves, a yoga bag, a portfolio, and a cloth necklace.
• There are a bunch of projects to choose from at You Can Make This. Pot holders, oven mitts, table runners, pillows, window coverings, holiday decor, a scarf, and even a mystery quilt!
• Homestead Revival has tutorials for a bread bag, a dinner napkin, and a reversible napkin.
• I originally bookmarked the "Poppy Top in 10" tutorial at Hungry Hippie, but I've just noticed that she has quite a few other tutorials. I really like the mug rugs! I may make mine a little smaller, though.
• I found a large (13"x12"x10") tote bag on All People Quilt. There seem to be a bunch more ideas for the home or gifts, too.
• Have a tunic-style shirt (or just a long t-shirt) that you'd like to add a pocket to? Made By Rae shows you how. Just scroll down the left side of her blog - I believe it's the last tutorial. She also has a couple of quilt tutorials and a purse that you might be interested in, too.
• Love pin cushions? You'll love the list of pin cushion tutorials at Craft Passion. Be sure to also click on the "Free Pattern," "Tutorial", and "Freebies" categories at the top of the page!
• Again, if you like to quilt, Pink Penguin has tutorials down the right side for things such as a wristlet, a lunch bag, placemats, and a tissue box cover. I'm sure you could also use the instructions with solid fabrics, too (rather than piecing them).
• I think the "Sailing on the Lake" blouse at Sewing Princess looks so comfy - and easy! There are also instructions for a couple of other tops and things called a "tailor's ham" and a "seam roll" - apparently these are used in ironing? I'm not sure I know what "ironing" is...
• Need maternity pants? There's a great tutorial at Grosgrain. I'd like to try these, but would probably make the knit panel rise higher.
• Prefer a maternity skirt? How about the one at Pink Picket Fence?
• The Prudent Homemaker has a lovely list of tutorials and free patterns that she's found online.
• Ok, the gal at Make It And Love It just has a great list of tutorials - some of them are for sewing from scratch, and some of them are for repurposing articles of clothing.
• Want reusable grocery bags without the cost? Want ones that are sturdier than those weird it's-not-quite-cloth ones that are often free or $1? Sew 4 Home has instructions to make your own.
• Check out mmmcrafts - there is a cute ruffled pillow sham, a messenger bag, and tutorials on how to repurpose trouser-style jeans into shorts, boot-cut jeans into skinny-leg jeans, and how to tailor the fit of a t-shirt.
• Are you a fan of glass or ceramic bowls? I am, and often find them second-hand, where they are either missing their lids, or "vintage" enough that they never had lids. I am definitely making myself some of the pot-luck bowl covers at The Cottage Home! I'm planning to try it out with PUL fabric, in hopes that it will keep food fresher in the fridge than just cotton. I'm in love with her other projects, too!
• If you are interested in trying your hand at making your own ... ahem ... unmentionables, there is a pattern you can download along with instructions at The L-T Experience (the elastic she uses is fold-over elastic - she doesn't give the name for it). There is also an option for boy-cut briefs.
• Want to make your own custom bias tape? I'd love to try this technique at Stop Staring and Start Sewing!
• Sarah at Welcome to the gOOd life is just too darn cute, and so very talented! She has all kinds of DIY posts on how to make store-bought clothes more modest, and how to knock off more expensive clothes (like Anthropology) for less.
• There are also Anthropology DIYs at Adventures In Dressmaking - you just have to wade through her other DIY posts about her wedding, though some of the things she's doing for it are really cute and creative!
  
• And, last up, there is a tutorial for a pieced shower curtain at Sweeter Than Cupcakes.

I know there are thousands more tutorials out there, and I'm sure some other time I'll do another post. But for now, this clears out my "sewing" category in my bookmarks. Plus, I've been working on this post for a few days, it's getting late, and I'm ready to be done. Kinda like pregnancy, but the labor was a cinch, in comparison!

What's For Dinner: Chicken Meatballs with Sweet Peanut Sauce

For the most part, since we moved in with my parents, my mom and I have been either taking turns making dinner or collaborating. Tonight was a "my turn" night. I came across a recipe for Chicken Meatballs with Sweet Peanut Sauce in the most recent issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine, and thought it sounded yummy.


Since I can never seem to make a recipe the way it's written, here are my alterations:

• We seem to have a plethora of ground turkey in the deep freeze, so I chose to use that instead of chicken.
  
• My mom's cilantro has gone to seed, and the grocery store was out of fresh cilantro, so I used dried, and just guessed the amount.
  
• I used some sort of red spring onion, which I chopped, since that was what I had on hand.
• I used Bragg's Liquid Aminos instead of soy sauce. I will probably start out with a little less than the amount called for next time, as it was really salty the first time I tasted the sauce, causing me to add more honey.
  
• I used honey instead of sugar.
• We didn't have any peanuts, so I didn't use any for garnish.
• I didn't put 1/2 the sauce on the meatballs, as the recipe instructed, as my mom had stated that she doesn't care for peanut sauce. I served it on the side instead.
  
• I also added some garlic to the sauce, as I felt like it needed it, and cooked it on very low on the stove top, rather than microwaving it.

I will definitely make the recipe again. It was all really good, and I can see making the peanut sauce for other recipes, like Chicken Satay. I think next time I will try just baking the meatballs, rather than cooking them on the stove, however. I dished up my own plate by putting the meatballs on top of some rice, and ladling the sauce over top of it all. I doubled the recipe for 4 adults, 2 kids, and a toddler, but I guess I could have made more - the meatballs were completely gone when I went back for seconds!

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Photo credit: Kate Sears