Sewing

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Ditty bags for the Jennifer Project

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Friday night my friend Denise (you might recognize her as Craft Gossip’s Needlework editor) came over and we sewed up a stack of ditty bags.  They’ll be filled with goodies and delivered to children with Cystic Fibrosis who are staying at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. 

It’s called the Jennifer Project, named after an inspirational young woman who lived with this disease for many years.  After her death, her mother, Debbie from Roses and Ribbons, started the project in her honor.  As she knows from experience, children with Cystic Fibrosis spend far too many days up at the hospital.  That’s no fun for anyone, much less a child.  The Jennifer Project helps them pass the hours with small toys, craft projects, and other goodies.  

I had so much fun sewing up these bags with Denise!  (I wanted to get a picture of the two of us sewing together, but neither of us had put on make-up that day so we weren’t feeling our sparkly best for internet photos.)  The night was a flurry of fabric cuts and on-the-fly design.  We ended up with a total of 12 bags, each with its own personality.  They’re all made from brightly colored fabric or recycled denim, with neon shoelaces as the drawstrings.

Thank you, Debbie, for dreaming up this project and for letting us be part of it!

Comments

  1. I looked at Ribbons and Roses and was not having much luck finding information on this project. Can you get me pointed in the right direction? I think this might be a great project for our Girl Scout Troop.

    • That is a great idea!! I don’t think there’s any one page on Debbie’s blog that describes the project. But, I can put you in contact with Debbie and her sister Kimberly so you can get all the info you need. Blessings to you! –Anne

  2. Anne and Denise – these are so adorable! We had so much fun filling them with goodies! The kiddos will absolutely LOVE THEM!!!

    Thank you so much for your kindness!

  3. Agree!!! I looked at Ribbons and Roses and was not having much luck finding information on this project. Can you get me pointed in the right direction? I think this might be a great project for our Girl Scout Troop.

  4. Hello! Can you get me pointed in the right direction too? Would love to embark on this meaningful project! 🙂

Have you read?

Easy Cosmetics Bag Sewing Pattern

The bag is simple, uses very little fabric (about 2/3rds of a fat quarter), has no fussy inside pockets (although you can add your own if you like), and takes me well less than 30 minutes to print the pattern, cut out and sew. But quick and simple doesn’t mean it’s not awesome!

It’s the sort of bag that is versatile enough to be used for lots of applications, not just cosmetics and toiletries. Keep all your pens and pencils in order, use it for a small first aid kit for the car, keep it in your desk at work for a few headache pills and other personal supplies.

Make some for yourself, for gifts or to sell.