Wool Diaper Covers

We've finally made the switch to cloth diapers. It's a different experience than disposable. I think I'm going to love it though! I didn't realize how little attention I payed to when she went potty! I would pretty much just change her at each feeding since with disposables she never fussed no matter how full her diaper was. But now she's started fussing when she's wet which is really helping since she's a heavy wetter. I just feel so much more in tune to her body. Hopefully dad warms up to this soon, he's not liking how quickly her diaper will soak through.

I've gotten 2 wool covers that fit done. Still have a couple more in her current size I want to do and then some more in bigger sizes. 

Pattern: Fancy Pants. Click here for the website. And here for it's Ravelry page.

Yarn: Sensation Kashmira. I still have plenty for another cover. 

Because this pattern was meant to be a larger size I used a thinner yarn, smaller needles and made it a bit shorter than what the pattern calls for. This fits a bit high in the front but it's nice and trim and is just right around her legs. So far I really like this one. 

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Pattern: WHW Plain Wrap. You can find it here on Ravelry where you can download the pattern for free.

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool. 1 ball make both that you see here.

This is the newborn and the small sizes. Idk if my gauge was off or my little girl is just that much of a skinny mini. But the newborn is more like a small and the small is more like a medium on my little girl. The pattern calls for velcro but I've been using pins and it works just fine. But I don't think I'm going to make any more of these. They are to loose around the legs and doesn't cover her diapers all the way and I've already had several items get wet because she soaked her diaper and the exposed fabric got other things wet. 

Here are the other 2 balls I have for the other covers I intend on making. I've got a couple more patterns I want to try out. And the favorites will be the ones I make bigger sizes with. 

Binder Cover Tutorial

I love a cute binder! I mean who really wants to carry around one of those plain old plastic ones? I know I know I don't. I've dabbled with making covers before but this one takes the cake!

1.Gather Supplies:

• 1/2 yard of fabric or 2 fat quarters would work as well. 
• 4 feet of wide rick rack
• 13 inches of  3" wide lace
• About 4 feet of ribbon or double fold binding, width of your choice. I used 1/2 inch. 
• Optional: 1/2 inch wide elastic. 1-3 feet. 

2. Lay out open binder on fabric. Cut around binder with just enough for a seam. This is the outer piece.

3. Lay out closed binder on fabric. Cut 2 with enough for a seam. These are the inner pieces.

4. Take the inner pieces. Hem the edges that will lay right along the rings. I just serged mine.

5. If you want a pen or a notepad holder take your elastic and place and sew down your elastic on your inner pieces. 

For pens

For a notepad. I used 2 pieces to help keep it in place

6. Take your outer piece, center and sew down the lace. 

7. Pin and sew down the rick rack to the upper and lower edges of your outer piece. Sew straight down the center. This will help later on.

8. Sew your outer piece to your inner pieces just along the side edges. 

9. Take binding and cut off as much as you want for a tie. I used 43 inches. Center and mark off where you want it to attach. Now sew along the edges of just the part that will be used as the tie. And then pin and sew it to your cover. Mine is centered but I think it could look really good off centered as well. 

10. Now it's time to sew the top and bottom seams. Making sure you are centered on your rick rack. Easiest way is to do so is to follow the stitching that you did to attach the rick rack.

11. Turn the cover right side out and fold it in half with the inside facing out. Now fold you binder inside out and slide your cover on.

12. Now load up your binder and enjoy!

Doesn't that planner just look perfect in this! 

Hope you like it. If you have any questions please ask. 

Blog Planner

As anyone can see I'm not the greatest at getting myself organized and getting blogs posted. But I found this awesome free blog planner on Pinterest. Ahhh Pinterest! How did us crafters live before you?... What was I talking about? Oh right, blog planner. I mean just look at this!

Isn't this nice! Each week is organized by projects/posts instead of days. So much better for the person who doesn't have a daily schedule like me and just has her projects for the day/week or whatever.

I didn't use the exact download, I recreated it with just a few tweaks like the font. But instead of a full month per page I opted for 4 months per page. But here is hoping that this may actually help me get organized and more consistent about my blogging. *crosses fingers* I've just started using it this week and I know it's already helping me set and keep my goals.

And what's in store for tomorrow? The adorable binder cover that I make for this planner/pattern binder.

Sewing Machine Quilt

I made this several months ago. It was an idea I got from a blog. I for the life of me can't remember which blog it was but thank you to whoever it was. This little thing has saved my poor desk. I need to make another one for my serger. 

It's just two pieces of fabric, a layer of batting and some binding. Super simple. I used some random scrap fabrics. I don't care for the combo but it still works. I intend getting some cuter fabrics and making matching ones for my sewing machine and my serger. But seriously this thing is so helpful. My machine is heavy and I move my machine around a lot. I was on my way to destroying the top of my desk before I made this. 

Sorry for the even worst than normal pictures. The lighting in our apartment is abominable and my camera doesn't always like to focus in bad lighting. 

My New Toy!

Lookie what I got last weekend!

Isn't it a pretty serger! It's my first and it's been a long overdue purchase. I dropped a pretty penny for it to! But it was totally worth it. This thing is a beast and runs like a dream.

And guess what else! I found this in with some of the crafting stuff that was my grandmother-in-law's.

It's a ruffler foot! And it fits my sewing machine and it works perfectly! I'm so stoked! I was so happy when I found this that I said words that I'm pretty sure made Grandma roll over in her grave. And grandma was awesome and it actually had the instructions with it so I didn't have to figure it out on my own. I was seriously one project that needed gathering away from buying one. I have avoided gathering for a long time because frankly, I suck at it and all it does is cause me to curse. With a baby girl avoiding gathering and ruffles has become near impossible, so like I said before, I'm stoked about this!

Car Seat Cover and Blanket

I love Winnie the Poo but I just couldn't stand the generic pastel cover. So I made this awesome bright yellow fuzzy cover. I love the color and it's nice and cozy but not to warm for this abnormally warm winter we are having.

 

And with a seat cover I just had to make a matching seat blanket! It's got awesome tabs that velcro to the handle so it's not going anywhere. And I lined it with the same yellow fuzzy fabric to help keep the heat in and help block those not fun winter winds.

  

And yes this floral fabric is a coordinating fabric with my diaper bag! I couldn't resist the color combo and those beautifully fun flowers!

Shell Stitch Beanie Baby Hats

  

Aren't these cute! This pattern is so simple and easy. It took, at the most, maybe 45 mins each to make these. I made a few different sizes but even the smallest one doesn't quite fit my sweetie's tiny little head yet. But I'm excited for when they do! They are just so cute!!!

This pattern is wonderful for those project leftovers. The yarns I used where: Mint Green: Caron Simply Soft. Dark Green: Bernat Softee Chunky. And Purple: Patons Classic Wool Merino.

Diaper Bag

I love this diaper bag! It's huge, has tons of pockets and actually holds all baby's and my things very easily. This tutorial isn't for the beginner but looks much more daunting than it really is. Once you get through it once it seems easy. I fully intend on making another one down the road! 

Inside: Divider and lots of pockets.

  I used quilting fabric (from JoAnn's) instead of home decor like the tutorial calls for and just used extra interfacing to make the fabric hold it's shape better. But do make sure you get extra of any fabric that is directional. This is something that any experienced seamstress knows! But this girl in her, at the time, 8 months pregnant brain completely forgot. *facepalm* So I did have to get creative and switch out what pieces I did in what fabric. But personally I think it turned out amazing despite.

Introducing.....

This is the little angel that has been keeping me and her daddy very busy and exhausted. She came a few weeks earlier than I was expecting (Dad was right on the ball) but I'm so glad she's here. It's been the best 5 weeks imaginable. You can't not be happy when you look into her little face. I wouldn't change this for the world. But I've actually gotten lots of crafting done over the last few months, mostly knitting and crocheting mind you, and I'm going to finally start getting some of these fun projects posted.

Tissue Paper Jar Tutorial

I love these jars! They are so fun and easy to make. And are a great use of those empty food jars instead of filling up those land fills!

Supplies:

• Clean jars, with label removed. If you don't have goo-be-gone (like me) you can run your jar under some warm water to loosen up the glue and any stuck paper left on your jar. With a little elbow grease, some glue will rub right off under the warm water. Others you may need to scrape off with a straight edge knife. But a bit of sticky residue won't hurt this project a bit.
• Mod Podge or other decoupage medium of your choice
• Tissue Paper
• Paint brush
• Scissors
• Paint for lids of jar
• Ribbon (optional)
• Paper for tags (optional)

1.Gather supplies and protect your work area if need be.

2. Paint your lids. I used acrylic craft paint. I recommend using spray paint if you have it because in order to get good coverage with the acrylic I did 2 coats of white and 2 coats of my chosen color and you can my brush strokes. Ick!

Make sure you let each layer dry well between coats or you'll lift the previous layers up as you paint! You don't want this to happen, trust me!!!! When the paint dried I put a coat of Mod Podge to help "seal" it and get rid of the chalky matte finish the acrylic left, but you don't need to. 

3. Decide on the design you want on your jar and get your tissue paper ready. Remember the more layers of tissue paper the more opaque your colors will be.

Jar #1: Pink pockadots

Using one piece of tissue paper, cut a rectangle that big enough to wrap around your jar once. Secure your first edge down, then working around your jar about 1-1.5 inches at a time glue down the paper with the mod podge. When you've gone all the way around cut away any extra tissue paper from the seam and the top and bottom.

Jar #2: Pinks and orange

Tear off approximately 1 inch squares of tissue paper. Don't worry about being exact. Variations in size and shape of pieces are good. You need a minimum of 3 colors could have as many as you can fit on your jar. Start gluing your pieces down. Overlapping your edges just a little. Try to keep from placing 2 of the same color right next to each other. With only 3 colors it's hard to avoid at least having a few pieces touch but don't fret over it. Continue till your jar is covered.

Jar #3: Pink and Green

With scissors cut out squares that are just big enough that when placed on diagonal 2 will fit from top to bottom with a little overlapping at the tips, if you have a taller jar or want a smaller pattern you could do more but 2 worked great for me. Then take your secondary color (green) squares and cut half of them in half to make the triangles that go along the top and bottom. Then glue them down in the diagonal checkerboard pattern you see. Then with the leftover squares cut them into quarters and place one little square of the opposite color (green on pink and pink on green) in the middle of each of the big squares.

4. Coat your decorated jar with a layer of mod podge. This is to assure you have all your tissue paper secured down and to protect it from any moisture they may come into contact with.

5. I made some very simple tags but you could go as fancy as you want. All I did was cut some rectangles from some cardstock. I used my nifty round corner punch for the corners.

Then a simple hole punch to lace the ribbon through, and a calligraphy pen to write my words.

6. When your jar and lids are dry attach your tag with a simple piece of ribbon or yarn and fill your jar!

Easy peazy and they are such a cute way to store those little odds and ends!