Easter Dress

I wasn't planning to make an Easter dress for the little sweetie until I pulled out my patterns and saw this one that I believe was my grandmothers (I borrowed it from my mother). Isn't it fun? I'm going to make it out of pink gingham. Classic. I love those chubby little legs showing. Now it's just to decide lace or white collar? 

the heart headband

I'm really not usually a huge valentine celebrator-you couldn't tell from all the posts, eh? Maybe it's something about kids or having a girl now? I don't know, maybe it's freebie friday that's got my mind thinking about it.

This idea for a headband popped into my head about the time I was going to sleep. And like any practical mother who has to take that moment when it comes (aka when the kids are asleep) I got out the felt right then and there and made this fun little headband. It took about 10 minutes-

All I did was fold the fleece in half, cut out a heart (from two layers of felt at once), and then stitched them together with a little embroidery floss and stitched them onto some headband elastic. Pretty simple, but fun for Valentine's eh?

headbands & clips

This last week I and a friend made a bunch of headbands-well, most of them are clips that can clip onto a headband. I was inspired by these headbands on Homemade by Jill. I learned two things-they are very addicting to make-even now I have more ideas of things I want to try. And two, they take more time than I think they are going to-pretty much like every craft I think I can whip up in a few minutes, eh? Anyway, they were fun, and now the little sweetie is more identifiable as a girl even with her little fuzzy duckling hair :)

a jean skirt

I LOVE this tutorial from homemade by jill featured on kojo designs. It was a very easy, and fast skirt to sew up, and stinking cute I might add. I think I'm going to have to make a couple more . . . They're perfect to pair with tights for the fall! Corderoy . . . mmmm.

Just a few observations about the tut-I don't have a serger so I just zigzagged where it said to serge. The pattern is also made for 3-6 month old, but mine fit my 6 week old okay, a little big, so I think it will fit for a while, but I'd say it was on the small side of 3-6 months. Overall it took me about an hour from start to finish. An even better reason to make lots!



the sweetie in all her wiggly glory wouldn't keep her legs down. This is the best of the bunch . . .

great finds: changing pad

I always get a little bit frantic when a baby shower comes around. What's the perfect gift? What might they already have? What would be useful, but unique? About a million different options come up, and are simultaneously rejected. Now I wish I were telling you that I've found a solution to this problem, but alas, I have not. Every baby shower is different. But, the last baby shower I went to was a diaper shower, and I found this great tutorial online that seemed to fit the bill perfectly. Diaper related, but not diapers per say. I found this changing pad wallet at chickpea sewing studio. It was easy to follow and quick to make-and surprisingly big. The only thing I would change if I made it again would be to sew a flat button on the front rather than one with a shank-so it doesn't stick into your baby's back when you lay her down on it. (but maybe that was my problem with placement). Anyway, I was really happy with the way it turned out. I may have to make myself one now . . .


are you sick of baby posts yet?

what we've been up to . . .

This little sweetie has been keeping me pretty busy . . . but I'm still here!

finished!

I finished my little memory book. I used a coptic binding because I like how it lays flat when it's open. That's easier to write in. Being able to see the sewing on the spine is kind of fun too!

on my mind: onsie upgrades

all images via linked blogs below

I've been eyeing quite a few onsie tutorials. There are some great ones out there!

Check these out:

V and Co: Heat Press Vinyl Tutorial

Little Birdie Secrets: Silhouette iron on flocked transfer Onsie
(doesn't it just make you want a Silhouette a lot a lot? me too.)

Ucreate: Ruffle Butt Onsie by Crap I've Made


Ashley Ann Under the Sycamore: cat eye glasses onsie

nesting or ADHD?

Yes, this is me, and yes, I am ready to have this baby. I can't decide if I'm nesting or just have ADHD (which honestly, I might-I'm not trying to be insensitive to those who struggle with it). I've started 3 or 4 projects in the last day or two. I keep coming up with something else, and put aside the current project. It's getting out of control. Yesterday one of the projects I started was designing and printing out the pages for a little memory book I can take to the hospital with me. The plan is to bind it some time today, or tonight . . . a nap doesn't look like it's in the works today for the little buddy. I'll post it if I get it done before I get distracted with something else :)




On a side note I was happy to be included in a list of organizing and learning printables over at ABC and 123. They have a lot of great things over there. Go check it out!

blessing dress

This is my blessing dress. My mom made it. She also made my wedding dress. (someday maybe I'll post a picture). She's amazing. With the sweet little ones arrival fast approaching I'm thinking about blessing dresses. Should I make one? Should I buy one? Should I find a vintage one at the thrift store? Or should I just use mine? It is starting to yellow at the top a bit, I need to to do something about that. I just am feeling indecisive about the whole thing. Any suggestions?

a yellow quilt

I've decided to tackle a baby quilt. I haven't made a quilt in probably 8 years. I blame it on hand quilting a full size quilt last time around. We're going to see if my machine can handle the quilting with a baby quilt this time. I'm keeping it basic with a stripe of pieced yellow strips off centered and white on both sides.


I'm also pretty excited about this yellow and orange vintage sheet I found thrifting a few weeks ago. It will be perfect for the back!

Have I ever mentioned I really like yellow?

little booties for the little cutie

I'm really having a hard time keeping up with all the projects my mind can generate, especially with our sweet little girl only six weeks away. I'm starting to feel frantic. Too much to do, so little time. Cutting out all the little pieces was probably the most time consuming part of this project. The top is all one piece, and the bottom is one piece, but then everything needs interfacing, and fleece interfacing, and then it starts to be a lot. But aren't they so cute? I think I'm in love. The hunny wasn't as excited as I was. Anyway, the pattern comes from the Amy Butler book, Little Stitches for Little Ones. I think these booties are my favorite project in there.

soccer mom

Nope, actually I'm not a soccer mom yet. But in a year or two I hope to watch some hilarious preschool soccer. In the mean time, I'm getting the little buddy ready. I found this cool patchwork soccer ball pattern in the book Seams to Me by Anna Horner; another happy find at the library. I also think it will be perfect for the sweet little one coming in August-when she gets a little bigger. The little buddy thought it was a lot of fun to pick out the fabric for it, I might have helped a little bit too.

ruffle headband tutorial

This idea came to me one night while I was trying to sleep-most of my ideas come then. But they aren't always good ideas :) I think this one might be though. I thought it would be perfect for a baby because it's not very tight. I'm always worried about those little elastic headbands squishing tender little baby heads. All you need are the following:

1. an old T-shirt
2. sewing machine, thread, etc. . .
3. 1/8" elastic
3. buttons


1. Cut off the bottom hem of the T-shirt.

2. Cut a 1-3/4" strip off the bottom of the T-shirt-this is your headband.

3. Starting an inch from one of the seams, pinch the jersey material.

4. Fold the "pinch" forward an inch. (no rhyme intended).
5. The T-shirt side seam should now be on the bottom (as shown), and you have a nice little one inch fold. Pin in place.

6. Continue measuring and inch forward, pinching it and pulling it forward another inch and pinning them. Do this until you have enough to make your headband the desired circumference. (A newborn's head is usually around 17"). If you're measuring it laying flat remember it's doubled over-so you need to double the number to get your circumference.


7. Baste through the center of all your folds.

8. Cut a piece of 1/8" elastic an inch shorter than the total number of all your folds (So if you have 5 folds cut a 4" piece of elastic, if you have 7 folds cut a 6" piece of elastic.) Center it at the end of your folds and start sewing, back stitch. AFTER you've backstitched pull the elastic while you sew it down the middle. Pull it so it reaches all the way to the end of the last fold. It's kind of tricky to pull it, make sure it stays down the center and sew through the elastic all at the same time. Take your time.

When you're finished sew a simple button on the end-or two. Make sure you sew it securely (I have fears of babies choking on buttons too).

You now have a ruffled headband. Model it on a patient little buddy:

girly things

Using this great tutorial from Little Birdie Secrets I have discovered a love for crocheted flowers-especially using ribbon instead of yarn. I've also been trying my hand at girly headbands. Especially because we're expecting a little girl in August! Got to get started early . . . (and yes, my little buddy is modeling them. He's a good sport :)