I wish I could quilt

And more so I wish I could make this! Actually instead of R2-D2 I'd really want Wickett, yeah I admit it. I have a soft spot for Ewoks.

Technorati Tags: R2-D2,quilting,flickr,starwars,crafts,awesome

Big Butt Baby Pants

When it comes to sewing patterns made by RAE has some great ones. Last fall I purchased from her the Big Butt Baby Pants pattern which is specifically designed for the big butt of a cloth diapered baby and I finally got around to sewing 2 pairs this weekend for Wee Rose. See we were starting to run into an issue with her in regards to pants. Because of the cloth diapers and that she's a chunky monkey she's gone up in sizes by leaps and bounds. She'll be 11 months next week and already we're putting her in 18 month clothes. If it's a t-shirt often she can wear a 12 month size but if it's pants the 12 months look like Speedos.

 

I'm happy to say that the pattern is a huge success!! I forsee myself making quite a few pairs of these in the next few months. For my first try I used some quilting cotton I had laying around which I have no pictures of her in. It was really to make sure I didn't screw up using the cute fabric. For the second pair I used this adorable cotton print fabric I made a dress out of for my niece. There was the perfect amount left to make Wee Rose the pants.  The size I made is a bit long but I just cuff the pants up and she seems to get around okay. I may do a basic hand stitch to keep them where I want but easy enough to remove once she grows taller. The patterns has directions for multiple variations including a ruffled butt panel. I think I may try that out for the next pair. I also want to set some jersey knit and make up a few that would be great for pajamas. This may call for a thrift store raid to look for interesting fabric.

made by RAE has a lot of great patterns for boys and girls. Please go check her out!

 

Technorati Tags: baby,sewing,pants,made by RAE,cloth diapers,infant

Cloth Diapering

So the route of making cloth diapers is coming along. I posted a bit back all the resources I was using to design my own. Well with so input from Hobby who really changes most of the diapers I think I've come up with my final design. It includes gussets on the legs to help contain blow outs.

There are a few things I've learned.

1. Don't use too much fabric in the actual pocket diaper or the elastic won't bring it in much, they can't be top stitched nicely, and they take forever to dry.

2. People use cloth wipes not for the reason to be green but because it's easy to just plop them after use in the dirty diaper and throw it all in the laundry bag. With normal wipes trying to figure out where to put the dirty one now in the middle of changing is ridiculous.

3. The baby will need bigger pants because wow does it give the baby a booty.

I am planning to do a full tutorial on my diaper once I've finalized and test drove it for a bit. Keep checking back and if you cloth diaper what things have you learned?

Apologies for the eh pictures. They are from my phone and it did something weird to them. I think it makes the point though of showing the leg gusset.

Craft with Confidence: Rockin' Boy Slippers Tutorial

Instead of a blog that has Influenced me exactly, this one is more like "Hell I want to make these!"

I know Lil 'R would love a pair of these so I've book marked it and hopefully for the holidays next winter he can have a nice cushy pair.

Craft with Confidence: Rockin' Boy Slippers Tutorial: "These slippers were supposed to be part of Hero's Christmas. But then my machine decided to die. . . so I didn't get to them before the holi..."

Stripes Oh My

Plushie number 2 has been completed. I would like to introduce my first zebra. One thing I need to work on is the scale. I've just been creating these guys on what fits on a single piece of paper and I would like them a tad bigger than that. I'm trying to fix that with my next critter. He's a tad bigger but not by too much though.

I actually took a series of photos as I worked on him. More than the ferret.

Here shows the zebra cut out using the freezer paper patterns. The pattern has no seam allowance so I just cut a bit larger than it. Doing that lets me see the smaller details that would be lost if I added a buffer around the guy.

First I stitched together the ear and attached it through the slit on his head and sewed on the muzzle to each of the 2 body pieces.

This shows how the ear is attached to the head through the slit. Make sure all the fabric is pulled in so that no loose strings will show around the ear.

The under gusset shown stitched together with one of the feet added.

A close up of the mane sandwiched between the two body pieces which are right sides together. This was very tricky. I had to think a bit about the placement so that when he was turned right side out the mane would be in the correct place.

The head all pinned up ready to sew. When the plushie is turned right side out the mane will stick straight up.

The plushie after turning.

With the safety eyes added. I found these at Joann's though I know there are loads of online sellers too.

And finally stuffed. I purposely didn't sew the under gusset at the tops of the legs. I didn't want him to stand. He's intended for a small child and I though the laying down was cuter. I wanted him slightly floppy too.

Featured Influence: While She Naps

While She Naps is a blog I've mentioned previously but I can't say how much of a great influence this blog has been on me. It finally gave me the nuggets of information I needed to move forward in my desire to start designing and making plushies. This is something I've been thinking about for awhile now and finally I'm moving forward with it.

When she completes her series on the basics of plushie making I hope she combines into successful into a book. I know I'd buy it. Her manner of writing is clear and concise. Her photographs show what she is doing clearly. I rarely have questions regarding what she is showing. The biggest thing though is I find her incredibly inspiring. Since I first found this blog but 3 weeks ago I have created 2 plushies. Yes I finished a second one last night and he will be featured tomorrow. I may also provide the pattern I created for him if I can get it cleaned up and written out better.

Today's blog on While She Naps is about head gussets and I look forward to trying my hand at adding them into my toolbox of plushie making.

Happy creating!