New and Old Projects

This is Cardi, so named because his sweater was a cardigan. I had two very soft but sadly moth-eaten sweaters from J.Crew that really wanted to be made into a little doll for my nephew. He was a gift in Christmas '08. He is quite dear. These are some cloth bags made from remnants: red one was the batik shirt for Aud, middle bag was Lila's diaper bag fabric, other one was pockets from the blue & brown diaper bag.
The mei tai in use! It came on a hike earlier this year and was alternately used by Manny who found it so comfortable he fell asleep, and 4 year old Audrey who rode in a back carry for a while.
Pile of little bags to sell at the farm stand. Most have been bought already.
More bags.

Fall Collection Preview

Given the problems that this fabric and pattern have given me so far, I am not sure if it will actually be done in time for the start of nursery school, but we can hope. Here is a list of the snafus so far: 

• Zipper needed to be sewn in at least 3 times. My stitch ripper is getting dull. I finally basted it and then sewed, but I still don't like it.
• Cut the back on the fold, and started to cut the front not on the fold and then realized it was wrong. But figured it would be ok to keep the back cut on the fold, until I realized that would mean it was 1 1/4 inches too big which matters because of the hood. So now I have to take the back in by 1 1/4 inches. 
• Had to sew the shoulder seams about 3 times each because the fabric kept stretching. I think I need to switch to my roller foot and baste the seams.  

But I love the fabric and I think it will get easier, so I'm going to keep plugging away. Burda patterns always are a little tricky in the beginning. 

Photo Shoots

Finn in his auntie-wear and his mama
Manny and his papa (the only photo of him that was not completely blurry) 
Manny in his Amy Butler outfit (worn by Aud 3 years ago.) 

Jungle Love

These are for (in order) my nephew, 6 mos., my niece, 3.5 years, and her brother, 6 mos. I thought they should have matching outfits for the 4th of July.  

This was the first thing I've sewn in quite a while. And probably not the best thing to start with because it took me almost all day, even though I've sewn it a few times in the past. It has a lot of steps, and the snaps took me about 15 minutes to figure out how to put them on, but I am very happy with how it turned out.

Close up of the snaps, which are very easy once you figure it out.
I'm really hoping this dress fits. I only had a pattern for a 12 month old, and the 12 month old is now 3 and a half, so I did my best to adjust the pattern but am fully prepared to add some side panels or extend the straps if necessary.  

Small shorts. I really do not like trying to make a tiny narrow hem in a tiny leg opening, so I devised these cuffs to incorporate the strips and avoid the whole hemming issue.  

All the buttons are on, the stray threads snipped, the fabric was washed and dried before sewing, and even the elastic waist seam is closed.  I think I'm going to make a gift bag for the dress, and then some bean bags with the left over fabric.  

Pink Elefants

The lions are sold out. The elephants and tigers and giraffes and hippos will have to do.

Spring!

Finally hung up the scissor holder I got for Christmas. I love it. It makes things so much easier.

A little outfit. I don't know who it's for. I loved the fabric, and had just enough extra. The pattern is Butterick 3846. It took about 3 hours, 2 for the shirt, one for the pants. Or, it took Playing By Heart, plus Episode One, Season 4 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

I'm amazed that I actually hemmed it and put the elastic in and sewed up the elastic casing. I have a tendency to not finish them, thinking that I can't finish the waist because I don't know the exact size, but I just estimated and sewed. And so it's all done. And just needs for me to figure out who will wear it. It is size 18-24 pounds.







































Here's one I made for my niece in June of 2005, I think it was the first thing I sewed for her. It fit her from 6 months to about 2 years.



















Here is another one from that time. Amy Butler fabric, and eyelet lace on the cuffs. That's really just because I hate hemming. I couldn't find any eyelet for today's project.

I am envisioning

2 small boys dressed in this:

Is there anything better

than getting a box of presents in the mail at Christmas?




Funny plastic baby tied to package.



Full stockings and presents.

I think I have carpel tunnel

Blue fleece pants with booties.
Pink heart pants that still need elastic and booties. Very very soft, not as thick as the blue.
Thick warm pants that need elastic still, and a hat.
2 pants, 4 hats, 5 pairs of booties cut out and waiting to be sewn. They can wait until tomorrow.

Fleece pants and booties

Green fleece pants with some embroidery on them.
Sherpa fleece booties with dog print accents.
Side view of booties.
Cut outs waiting to be sewn.

The Softest Diapers in the World

Minky on the outside, sherpa on the inside.



















Inside of green dipe. And feet.



















Purple minky and sherpa.



















Outside of purple diaper, weird shadow on bottom, not discolored fabric.


















Inside of purple diaper.




















Lots of Terry, jersey and other fabric.

Diaper Sewing Party

Some cut out Very Baby Fitteds















Very Baby Fitted. No Aplix yet.
















Lila's contours and soakers.

Bean bags

I was on my way to the grocery store this morning to get lentils and split peas, and I didn't want any plastic bags. So, I quickly sewed up a couple of bags to put the beans in. This one is squarish, with the tie sewed on about 1/3 of the way down the back. Then you just roll the corners of the top in and down a few times, wrap the ties, and knot them.

I made a long skinny bag out of the blue and brown fabric, with a drawstring at the top, but a seam came loose while I was filling it with lentils, so that one had to come back home empty to have the seams reinforced.

Sunday Sewing

Doll diapers, very small.
































Minky whale. Very soft. Made from lavender and green scraps.














Bottom of whale.















Front of whale. Had trouble envisioning how the bottom piece would fit in. I knew it had to be shaped like a pointed oval, but I didn't quite see it until I was almost finished sewing and found myself with that triangle space, and no lavender to fill it.















ETA: The whale, if you turn it on its front end, looks like a penguin. And it is now, along with the diapers, on a plane to Tennessee.

new bag

Amy Butler Nappy Bag Pattern with some modifications. No cell phone pocket on strap, or bottle pocket on end. Added another pocket inside, and shortened the inside pockets.

Alexander Henry fabric.