Practical Baby

I have still been working on lots of little things for Baby.  Nothing too exciting– more like practical things.

For the diaper bag / purse– diapers and wipes carrier.  I did not have one with LH but I think it would come in handy.

I made these (in about 30 minutes!)  They should look familiar to my sister because they are made out of an old pair of flannel pajama pants.

They have rag edges– I just snipped the edges with scissors and washed them.  The back of them is terry cloth.

This was a really pretty knit fabric I found on clearance at JoAnns a while ago.  I just doubled it up and stitched the edges with the overlock stitch on my machine (the first time I tried that stitch, and I think it turned out okay.  I’m not really sure where else I would use it though… I need to experiment).  I wanted a blanket that was stretchy– it will hopefully make it easier to wrap her up and swaddle her in it– and lightweight, having a summer baby in the Northern South.

Now that we have 2 stories in our house, I am pretty sure I won’t be climbing up and down the stairs to the changing table every time we have a dirty diaper.  So, I took a basket and created a portable changing table.  Included is:

A changing pad.  It’s terrycloth on one side with soft batting in between to lay her on the floor.  The fabric I used for this, and for the basket liner, is the same fabric I used on her bedding (which, although it’s completed, her room is not, so I haven’t taken any pictures yet).  Of course the basket will also include diapers and wipes and some burp clothes.

The last thing I made is a new boppy cover.

I found this boppy for $2 at a yard sale.  I cannot tell you how horribly ugly the original cover was.  It was almost offensive.  This was easier to put together than I was expecting– I just took apart the ugliness and cut it up for a pattern, and re-used the zipper in this one.  Much better.

So, nothing too exciting… but things I think will come in handy.  I’d like to make a larger purse / bag for the fall that I could use as a diaper bag… and also a nursing cover (I have one already, but since they are so easy to make and come in handy I hope to find time to make another one).  And I really want to make an Itty Bitty Baby Dress.  I have been meaning to make one for forev… and now that I will have my very own Itty Bitty Baby I feel like it is necessary.

Once I finally get the nursery done (with no time to spare– due date in 2 weeks), I’ll get to take pictures of the bedding and all the hand made items I made for her room.  I am so anxious to get it all done!

Baby Gear

Recently we had a baby shower for my coworker who is expecting a baby girl.  I made these:

I feel that with a newborn, you can never have too many burp clothes.

I found the most adorable flannel.  Isn’t it so cute?!

I did a straight stitch with embroidery thread along the edges.

To keep Baby Girl bundled, I also made this:

The binding went much better this time

I just love the fabric– so cute, and also nice and soft.  It’s almost enough to make me wish I had a newborn to wrap up in this blanket!

Almost. Heh.

Blankets

My Little Honey turned one a few months ago.  She is so old!!  To commemorate the occasion, and to encourage her to sleep through the night (which she still rarely does– does that make anyone feel better about themselves?), and to practice my blanket bindng skills, I made her 2 new blankets.

Exhibit A:

Apologies for the crappy picture.  I hope to also improve on my photography skills and to upgrade my camera.

Anyways.

This blanket is 2 layers of flannel with double fold bias tape for the binding.  It’s pretty big, so it will work in her bed for a while.

Waiting for her to snuggle in bed!

Exhibit B:

This one is actually a hand tied quilt.  It’s just 2 cotton fabrics with some batting in between, tied at certain points, and the edges also finished with double fold bias tape.  I love the fabric on this one.  It’s also pretty big, so it should work for her in her bed as she gets older.  Or, to take outside as a picnic blanket.  Again, sorry about the pictures.  They are pretty bad.  I promise to do better next time.

I love the pinks and greens!  I just realized I should get a picture of my LH with her blankets.  Since it’s been warm she actually hasn’t even needed a blanket in bed though.  I will try to get a picture of her soon.  However my binding skills still leave a lot to be desired.  It was really hard to sew straight and catch both sides.  I have figured out that I can move my needle to the center (it had been positioned on the left) which might make it easier for next time.  Does anyone have any suggestions for binding the egdes neatly?

Sleep well baby!

What IS all that?

One of my bestest friends is having a baby girl later this summer.  I volunteered myself she commissioned me to make her baby bedding so we headed to the local fabric store, which happens to be about 3 miles from my house, to pick out some fabric.  It was a learning experience for me, as I’d never made a bumper before.  I modeled the bumper after one I had bought for my own babe.  I made a crib skirt for my own baby’s nursery before she was born, but I make my own version of a crib skirt– it is adjustable.  I’ll show you what I mean.  I also made a blanket.  I tried it all on my own crib before I gave it to her to make sure it fit.  I had a really fun time putting it together.

The fininshed product!

detail on crib skirt

Adjustable crib skirt– all that under-crib storage!

See what I mean about the crib skirt?  I made it long enough to  go to the floor whether the crib mattress is in the high or low position.  When the mattress is high, the crib skirt ties on to the edges of the frame under the mattress.  When the mattress gets lowered, the skirt lays under the mattress enough so that the length reaches the floor without being too long.  Does that make sense?  I wanted to make mine this way because my crib had a lot of space under the mattress which would have shown if the crib skirt had been several inches off the floor– if the skirt is the same length regardless of the height of the mattress, then you would have a big gap between the skirt and the floor when the mattress is high.  Not having a ton of space in our house, I needed that space for storage, and now I’ve been able to use it!

What do you think of my crib skirt?  Does that make sense the way I explained it?