I'm finally re-making my favorite coat. UPS lost the first one when it was being shipped back from a photo shoot for my second book. I had everything I needed except the zipper and the ribbing... I like adding knit cuffs to the sleeve which prevents snow from getting in the sleeve when I'm clearing snow off the car. Compliments of Wal-mart not carrying fabric and notions I set out on my 62 mile jaunt for a zipper and ribbing.

I went to the closest Joann's and found the zipper without a problem. Ribbing was another story. I even asked if they had the packaged cuffs and collars that used to be available, but I just got waved off to an obscure by-the-yard location. I did eventually find where I was waved off too. They had a decent weight knit ribbing in every color except the one I needed, black. They did have a lighter weight ribbed knit so I settled on it and bought a half yard of something I didn't really want... I wanted to have some on hand so I could make other coats when the whim hit.

As I headed for the checkout I found the perfect weight ribbing... in a ONE DOLLAR section! I don't know why I hadn't thought of this solution before! You know the bins of serger thread, dollar gloves and bargains? In that section, to match the gloves, they had ear warmers which are nothing more than a wide hair band. Removing one seam would give me ample material to make coat sleeve cuffs. So I bought 6 black ear warmers to have on hand... and the matching gloves so they will always match the cuffs on my coats.

A couple of days later I was in Target. They have a great bargain section as you walk in their doors. In that section I found simple kids hats and scarves... in a rainbow of colors and with very limited seams that would have to be removed to have the perfect color ribbing for any coat.

The moral of the story... fabric and the notions we want may be getting harder to find but there are solutions. I learned I have to re-think finding some supplies... and from now on when I need ribbing for coats or other items, I'll be stocking up on ear warmers, hats and scarves. They make a very economical solution! All the beautiful colors that Target had would be perfect for the ribbing on towel bibs.

• Economical Fabric Solutions

• Save Money By Sewing
• Sewing Knits
• Sew a Baby Bib From a Finger or Hand Towel

When my kids were little, the anticipation of Christmas almost sent them over the edge. There is always so much going on and so much to do that they got caught up in the chaos. One of the things that I did to bring them back down to earth and so they could still think about Christmas was to play dress up. Halloween was still fresh in their minds so costumes are fun. One would be Santa and the rest would be elves. We had a stash of hats from the dollar store and I made these elf shoes in a variety of colors which made being the elf even more special than being Santa. If you try this to keep the kids entertained... beware... once the neighborhood kids see the elf shoes, you'll be making more elf shoes! Then again... a dollar store hat and a pair of elf shoes might be the perfect Christmas gift for the kids!

• Free Pattern and Directions for Elf Shoes

• Free Pattern and Directions for a Christmas Tree Costume

We take all the advantages we have today for granted... when you compare how we sew today to how it was done in yesteryear, it suddenly becomes a breeze to sew our own clothing. Not convinced? Be sure to read this article and follow the blog post for even more detailed photos. Their "crazy venture", made my eyes pop and convinced me I can make that shirt I've been thinking about... and get it done in no time... comparatively at least.

• History, high-tech woven into jacket -- Museum reproduces 17th-century embroidery

• The Embroiderers' Story

Just to give you an idea of how much the family relies on me baking Christmas cookies...My son put in his Christmas cookie order at the Thanksgiving dinner table. I do a lot of baking. One of my newest favorites that has to be added to the Christmas baking list are these Easy Meringue Cookies that taste like your eating a cinnamon bun... but with none of the guilt in these no fat, no cholesterol cookies! My one girlfriend may disown me if I don't make them for her soon... she's been begging for a while now.

This year I'm going one step further than baking all the cookies... I'm making fabric recipe boxes and including the cookie recipes. I'm using the same design I came up with to create a fabric coupon box and I'm making the boxes to match the kitchens of the recipients.

• Sew a Fabric Coupon or Recipe Box