Nursing Cover...

I bought this fun fabric to make a car seat tent, but was quickly told by my Mom that I couldn't make it (she was already making me one). So I had two yards of fabric, and didn't know what to do with it. After some time, I decided to make a new nursing cover. I followed Sew Much Ado's tutorial (with a few changes of my own).

Materials:

1 rectangle 28 inches x 40 inches (main body)

1 rectangle 3 1/4 inches x 10 inches (strap that attaches to D rings)

1 rectangle 3 1/4 inches x 26 inches (strap)

16 inch boning

2 1 inch D rings

2 4 inch triangular pieces for the pockets

*Note, you can use coordinating fabric for the straps/pockets if you'd like, but you don't have too.

Fold in half and sew along the open edge 1/4 inch in.

I decided to use a coordinating fabric for the straps.

Take the shorter piece and slip it through the D rings. Fold in half, and sew as close to the D rings as possible. (I sewed a 1/4 inch around the outside of the strip to keep it from moving much).
On the long piece, leave one end open and sew a curve to close it off. Cut off the excess fabric after you've sewn it. This creates a nice point when you turn it inside out. For a better picture check out Sew Much Ado's site.

At this point, I took my large rectangle (forgot to take a picture of this), and hemmed the edges by folding the sides and bottom edge 1/4 inch, ironing and folding it over 1/4 inch again. I didn't the edges until the very end.

*Note: At this point, I only folded the top over once because you add the boning before folding over again (directions below).

I wanted to add some pockets to the bottom corners of the cover for binky's or whatever else I wanted to put in there. My triangle ended up being 4 inches from point to the flat edge bottom.

I hemmed the flat part of the triangle only, and placed the pointed side into the corner of the cover underneath the hem. (I made two of these, one for each corner).

Fold over once, and place boning in the top/center of the fabric (I folded the fabric in half to know where the center was). Sew along the top part of the boning. Now fold the fabric over again, but do not sew it up yet.

Place strap right next to the boning. Put raw edges underneath the fold, and flip the strap up before sewing it in place.

Place the longer stap on the other side of the boning,and do the same thing as the other side. Once straps are pinned in place, sew along the bottom. Finish sewing all the hemmed edges closed.

Here is the finished pocket all sewn in.The finished product.

Men's Shirt Refashion - Skirt

I saw this on someone's blog (I can't remember who's...sorry), and thought it was a really cute idea. So here is my version of a men's shirt turned into a toddler skirt.

The finished skirt
(probably ended up being more like a 3T/4T skirt)

Start with a men's dress shirt (this was size L)
Cut right below the arms, and even out the bottom. Remove the pocket and any buttons that might get in the way of sewing. The middle piece will be the skirt. I did not cut the sides to make it smaller...just used the elastic to sinch it up small enough. I also cut another inch off the bottom before heming it up.
For the top waistband, fold over once and then again leaving a space big enough for the elastic to fit in. Sew it closed. Remember to leave an opening for the elastic to go through.

I put a 21 inch piece of 3/4inch elastic through the waistband.

Pull both ends of the elastic and sew together. Then sew the open hole closed.

Do the same thing (minus the opening/elastic) for the bottom hem.

The Front

The Back.

Finally Finished...

I've had a few projects that needed to be finished, so I finally got around to it today. Here are a few that I finished.

Another variation of the ruffle-bum onsie with matching felt flower/headband.

A binky Clip
And another blanket done just like the one from my previous post.
A close-up on the fun stitch I decided to use this time.

Baby Legs (Attempted)...

My friend has been busy making these lately, and I thought I would give it a try. I didn't have the right type of socks (too small/thick), but I at least learned how to make them. Once I get to the store, I'll try again. I followed this simple tutorial from Little Birdie's Nest.

Start with your socks.

Cut the toe and heel off.
Fold the foot part of the sock in half. Wrong sides together.
Attach the folded portion of the sock to the bottom of the top part of the sock. Raw edges together. (hope that made sense). Right sides together.

Sew three layers together (notice the grippers on these socks, they caused a lot of grief when I sewing them up). Use a longer stitch length to avoid stretching the sock.

Finished.
Notice how the sock looks stretched? It's because the grippers were getting stuck under the foot, and I had to pull the socks through.

They ended up a bit short, and too stretched out at the bottom.

Flannel Swaddle Blanket...

I had the opportunity to go to M&L Discount Fabric Store this weekend (If you live in Southern California...you MUST go! I've had a couple friends recommend it, and why I waited so long to go I'll never know). It was very theraputic after a LONG week of potty training. I found some great flannel prints, and decided to make some receiving blankets inspired by the ever so popular Swaddle Blankets. It was my favorite blanket with my first, so I was hoping to make a few of my own for a fraction of the cost.

Materials:

1 yard of flannel

Matching Thread

I traced a large dinner plate to get the rounded corners.

Cut on the line.
After it's been cut. I took a lot of time ironing, folding and pinning it into place. I folded it over once about a 1/4 inch, ironed, folded it over again, ironed and pinned into place.

I used a decorative stitch to sew it up. I think it added a fun touch to the blanket.
The finished blanket folded and sewn!

Mini Burp Cloths...

My good friend Elise is always making these mini burp cloths, and I thought I'd give it a try. The best part about these is you can use scrap fabric, because there really isn't an exact size. You can make them as big or small as you'd like.

I used ribbed terry cloth and circo receiving blankets to make mine.

I cut my fabric 9 in x 7 1/2 in.
Pin right sides together and sew it up. Remember to leave an opening to flip fabric out.

Pull the fabric through.

Sew 1/4-1/2in in to reinforce it (and it's an easy way to sew the open edge up)

The finished product.

P.S. I'm in the works of learning photoshop elements, and am still not exactly sure what I am doing with it.

Infant Pants...

My Mom bought a pant pattern by Jackie Clark, britches & bloomers months ago, and we never got around to making them. We always said we needed too, since pants, jeans inparticular are hard to find/fit my 2 year old. Today I finally made a pair. They are size 6-12 months, and I think they are adorable! I can't wait for Baby A to wear them!!!

I finally resolved to take more pictures of the sewing process, but since we bought this pattern, I'm not going to give any instructions today. Enjoy!

This is one side of the pants with a pocket and ruffle bottom. The other side was identical.

A closer look at the ruffle.

My first pocket...not the best, but not the worst.

The front of the pants...they are a bit wild. ha.

The back with the pockets.

Onesie Refashions...

I had some extra onesies lying around, and decided to dress them up a bit. The first one I added a ruffle bum and flower to the front. The best part about this ruffle is it is pre-made ruffled fabric from JoAnn's. All you've got to do it measure it to the onesie, cut and sew on top of the ruffles. EASY!!!

A close-up on the fabric.

I used a strip of the fabric to add a flower to the front.

I ruffled some tulle and added a little tutu to this onesie. Again a very easy project!

Baby A's Blanket...

I've been on my own this weekend, so I decided it was a good time to make a baby quilt for Baby A. She will be joining the family in 3 months! I'm so excited to hold this sweet girl, and just love her! I went to the fabric store with a completely different color pallet in mind, but when I saw this Moda fabric I couldn't pass it up. It was a package set of fat quarters which made cutting the fabric way easy. I quilted it in the ditch using a wavy stitch to avoid seeing my mess-ups.