Wool Diaper Covers

A couple of weeks ago I made another wool wrap diaper cover. I used a blue skein of Paton's Merino Wool. The pattern I used was the Tickle Turdle Wrap pattern. Below are pictures of the wrap in action on my little guy. I made the small size, but somehow this one turned out bigger than the first one I made. Oh, well. It will last longer that way I guess. Also, I have read that fitted diapers work better under wool covers than prefolds or flats.



What a sweetie! Look at those fat rolls.
this pattern. I also used the body of the sweater to make a pull on diaper cover using my Mile High Monkeys pattern. I had enough of the sweater left to make another one, but I have to figure out what to use for the leg cuffs and the waistband because there wasn't enough sweater left. One thing I did for the cover was to cut an oval out of the sweater fabric and sew it into the wet zone. This helps give added wetness protection.

Diaper Cover


Longies

Wool Diaper Covers

Wrap Skirt

I was inspired to make a wrap skirt by a thread on Diaper Sewing Divas. I used the tutorial from this site. I made one on Saturday and wore it to church the next day. I liked that I didn't have to use 60" wide fabric like this tutorial showed. I think I didn't fully read the instructions and need to figure out the tie. I think it was supposed to go on the inside and not on the outside. That's what I get for going too quickly. The material was given to me, so it was a free skirt. I love that! This site had some ideas for altering the pattern I used.

Here is a picture of the skirt. It is wrinkled because I took the picture after wearing it.

Here is a modeling shot so you can see how it looked while I was wearing it. The baby started to cry, so it isn't that great of a picture.

Wrap Skirt

Fleece Pants & Poncho

I decided to make some things for Julia today from some fleece I got recently online. I made a pair of pants (a pattern I drafted) for her and used an old t-shirt of mine to make the waistband. I had a few issues trying to do this. I thought I would like it better than elastic, but I had to take it off and make it smaller. I guess I picked a shirt with too much stretch. However, I do love the concept and will try again with something else soon.

I also made a poncho for her loosely based on a knitted one my mom had bought her a while ago. It isn't so big that she has to use it only for outerwear.

Here is a picture of Julia showing off her new outfit. The outfit is far from perfect. She loves it though and wore the poncho after her bath tonight. Thanks for looking.

Fleece Pants & Poncho

Crochet Hook Roll & Some Bags

I decided to make a crochet hook roll last Friday. I had seen some knitting needle rolls online and decided to come up with a design that would hold my crochet hooks.



First I cut 2 peices of fabric at 12 1/2 inches square (I like to use my rotary cutter and quilter's rule which is that size.). I also cut a piece of flannel that was 12 1/2 inches to use as a thin battting. I cut 2 pieces of a contrasting fabric at 2" x 12" to make the straps. I folded them, wrong sides together, and pressed them. Then I folded each cut edge towards the fold and pressed again. then I folded it closed so that there were no cut ends showing and it was 1/2" wide. I sewed along the open edge, and along one short end of each strap. I also cut a piece of contrasting fabric at 10" x 12 1/2". I folded it (wrong sides together) so that it was 5" x 12 1/2". I pressed it and topstitched along the fold. Next, I used chalk to mark lines, starting 3/4 of an inch from the right side, at 1/2" increments leaving 2 1/4 inches unmarked at the left to hold a small pair of scissors. I placed that fabric on a piece of the larger fabric with the flannel behind it. I sewed on all of my chalk lines. Then I sewed the straps just above the scissor pocket on the left making sure the straps were laying on the fabric not to the left. I placed the other 12 1/2 inch piece of fabric, right sides together, on the fabric with the pocket and straps. I stitched 1/4 inch all the way around leaving about an 1 1/2 inch opening for turning. I turned it right side out and pressed it. I topstiched around the top, (above the pocket on 3 sides) but I think I could have just whipstitched the opening instead.

Below is a picture of it all rolled up. The top folds down over the crochet hooks so they don't all out. Then you roll it up and tie it closed. I am enjoying it much more than the plastic zip bag I was using.



I also decided that I needed a bag to hold my crochet hook roll, yarn, and current projects. I had some placemats that I bought over a year ago when I made several placemat purses. So, I decided to use 2 of them to make a bag. I cut 2 inches off of each placemat on a short end to make straps. I folded the cut edge of these strips over and then folded it over again. I stitched the length of each strip. Next, I overcast the cut edge of each placemat to prevent raveling. I then sewed the placemats, right sides together, and made sure the cut edge of the placemat was going to be the bottom of the bag. I used a 1/2 inch seam allowance. I then folded each corner of the bottom of the bag into a triangular shape and stitched it. It is kind of hard to describe and I didn't take a picture. However, this is what makes the bag have the ability to stand upright. I turned it right side out and attached the straps using a straight stitch and went over it several times with a zigzag stitch. I cut a piece of cardboard for the bottom for extra stability. This project was very quick. (I think it took me longer to explain it here.) :-) Below is a picture of how it turned out.



My daughter saw the placemats I had and wanted me to make her a purse. She picked out a suede placemat. I made the purse by folding the placemat and sewing on three sides. I stitched each bottom corner just like I did for the bag. I cut a piece of cardboard to fit inside the bottom. Then I turned it right side out and used grosgrain ribbon to make the handles. I also made a bow and sewed it to the middle of one side. She really likes it, and was so happy I had made something for her. One note, always heat seal the ends of grosgrain ribbon or they will ravel. I just run each end near a candle's flame and it works well. Just make sure not to have the ribbon near the flame too long or it will burn and turn black. If you do, just cut it off and try again. Below is a picture of the purse.

Crochet Hook Roll & Some Bags

My New Hobby

I have wanted to learn to crochet for quite a while, but was never industrious enough to teach myself. I had tried to have my grandma teach me about four years ago, but all I learned was the chain stitch. She passed away a few months later. I inherited all of her crochet hooks, and they have been in a box ever since. Now that I am sitting a lot more (because I am nursing the baby) I decided to try to learn. I looked at some sites on the web. Here is one that had lots of useful info. http://www.nexstitch.com I also bought a book by Leisure Arts at Joann's called 10-20-30 Minutes to Learn to Crochet. I got it because it wasn't too expensive (used my coupon) and had pretty good drawings and instructions.

I also bought a blue Pound of Love and a skein of Paton's Merino Wool. I have to say that if I can afford it I will try to use wool as much as possible.

I have had a lot of time over the last two weeks to sit and crochet while I nurse the baby and all of the kids have been sick for the last week. So, I decided to start right in and make a baby blanket for the baby. It came out wonky (the picture kind of hides that), but it is snuggly. I learned a lot. I used a double crochet stitch. I then made a hat which I really enjoyed. I also made some booties to go with it. I found the pattern for the booties at Bev's Country Cottage. Bev's Country Cottage - (FREE patterns for humanitarian, home and family!) I can't remember offhand where I found the hat pattern. Below is a picture of all of them.



Here is a modeling shot of my baby wearing the hat and blanket. He is 8 weeks now and such a joy. He is getting so big as well (almost 15 pounds).



I also made a wool diaper wrap to go over his cloth diapers. I used the Tickle Turdle pattern from this site. http://www.tickleturdle.com/wrappattern.html

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Thanks for looking. Now, I need to get to some of my sewing projects that have been on the back burner since before Christmas. I think I will make a holder for my crochet hooks next, and maybe a bag to hold my current projects and hooks. If only there were enough hours in the day. :-)

My New Hobby