School Time- Ethan's Stuff

My almost 20 month old (sniff, sniff) will be starting a Mother's Day Out program on Friday :) and he needed a few things- Lunch Bag, Diaper Bag and Nap Mat. Well, this sewing Mama wasn't going to go and *buy* any of that!

Lunch Bag. You think they will know who it belongs too?

I forgot to add a handle and I couldn't get him to hold it.

He loves his nap mat!!

I used this tut from Prudent Baby. Let me just tell you, if you make this nap mat, make sure to have extra straight pins and machine needles because you will bend many pins and break many needles! I think I broke 3? I made mine pretty thick because I wanted him to be comfortable for his naps. It may be the last mat I ever make him! He will just have to sleep with his legs curled for a few years :)

My hopes are that they will use his cloth diapers and not make me buy disposables so I made him a diaper bag and bought a great zippered wet bag from Sarah at Star Crossed Stitches. We go to meet the teachers today and I will ask them (beg) to use his very easy BGs!!

Wish us both luck for Friday! I'm sure he will be fine but I don't know what I'm going to do for 4 hours without him. I'll probably just sleep or sew.

The Joy of Serging

When I was in college I worked in the Theatre Department building Costumes for all the shows. We had lots of great sewing supplies but by far the best were our sergers. After becoming a Homemaker and picking up the love of sewing again I have been wanting one of my own. I started watching Craigslist for the best deal but didn't have much money to spend. One day a lady posted a Bernette made by Bernina for $25!!! Wow, what a deal! If it worked.

It looked like it had been sitting in an open box in an attic for about 10 years and the lady confirmed that it had. The gears were so tight and stuck together that even Eli (my husband) couldn't get them unstuck. We took it all apart, cleaned it out and WD 40ed it! We got everything moving except the upper loop and I think if we had kept working at it we would have gotten it, too.

My parents sweetly gave me the money to have it serviced and now it works just like new!! I LOVE it! I serge EVERYTHING. Oh, that towel has a ragged edge, let me serge it. We need some new cloth wipes, let me serge some. I can't get enough of it.

My first project was a Yoga Mat Bag. I had a scrap piece of material and a matching solid that was the perfect size.

I got another bag almost finished for the Etsy store! I've also been working on cloth snack bags to sell.

Happy Birthday Party- ReannaLily Designs!

Jen of ReannaLily Designs is having a Birthday Party!! Starting today she is having 5 giveaways in 5 days, one each day. The contest will be open until Monday 23. I'm sure she has some great stuff in store for us! Run over there and join the fun!

School Time! - Lunch Bag

I am working on some projects for my son, Ethan. He is starting a Mother's Day Out program at the end of the month and needs a few things to get him started (lunch bag, nap mat, diaper bag). He will be taking his lunch and I want him to have a bag that I made. This lunch bag was my tester bag and it turned out pretty well!

The one for Ethan will be made out of the same fabric his nap mat is made out of plus it will have PUL inside so it will be easy to clean without washing the whole thing.

Now if I can only get my husband to carry a cloth bag instead of plastic......

A gift for Violet

My good friend from college just had her first baby, a girl! I had this beautiful Indian (I think) print skirt I got at the thrift store and I had been holding on to it until I was able to find the right project for it. When I was looking for some material to make Violet a gift I knew that this was it!

Instead of a one piece back, I had to cut it as two pieces, but I think it turned out really well.

Of course, no kimono is complete without little shoes!

Welcome to the world, little Violet!!

Replacing Elastic in an AIO

I've been working on my newborn CD stash for awhile now. I've bought new, on sale, used on craigslist and a few at a LLL yard sale. These AIO's came from a yard sale. I paid $3 each! I checked out the velcro before buying, because you know that is the first thing to go on a BG diaper, and they both looked in perfect condition. I never thought about the elastic till I got them home and realized that it wash SHOT!!! Now I know why I got such a good deal on them.

I found this tutorial on diaperswappers but can't seem to find the link now.

These are both size Small AIO BG's. The diaper on the right has had the elastic replaced. You can tell the difference is amazing!

 Start by cutting a small slit in the end of the elastic casing. Make sure NOT to cut through the elastic or the outer shell. Do the same on the other end. Pull the elastic out of one end.

Cut the old elastic leaving around 3/4in attached to the diaper. Using 100% poly thread, stitch one end of the new elastic to the old still attached piece. Stitch the other end of the new elastic to the old piece that is still in the casing. Pull the old elastic from the other end and pull the new elastic through the casing.

Now you have your new elastic attached to one end and attached to the old elastic on the other and it is in place in the casing. Cut the old elastic off of the new elastic and cut it completely off of the diaper leaving 3/4in like before. Here is where you need to look at the length of the elastic. I had a few replacement kits from Cotton Babies so my elastic only needed to be cut a little to make it the right size for these Small diapers. If you are doing a One Size you will need to leave it a bit longer. Try comparing it to another diaper of the same size.

Once you are happy with the length of the elastic sew the end to the remaining old elastic. Use a whip stitch to close up the slits. All done!! I now have 2 like new AIO's for around $8!! Good luck on yours and if you have any questions please ask.

Sewing for Baby- Handmade Beginnings

Can you believe I didn't sew anything for my first born? Well, I take that back. I did sew him a blanket from a yard of pre-quilted fabric from Joann's and a wall hanging along with a few other smaller blankets and burp rags. That's it. This baby I'm going to do much better by. Especially if it is a girl!

After reading about Anna Maria Horners new book Handmade Beginnings on this lovely blog I knew I had to own it and make my little one and myself some handmade items.

This dress is super cute!

     This bag and Thank you notebook just for me.

These two look a little more complicated and time consuming but I've got another 25 weeks!!

My sewing goals this next week include: replacing elastic in newborn diapers and sewing down velcro on one of Ethan pocket diapers. It should only take me about 15 minutes to do if I ever take the time to sit down and do it. Wish me luck!