Month: January 2010

Elizabeth’s due date came and went on Monday. Here it is Wednesday and Miss E still doesn’t want to come out and play yet.

The finishing of her quilt on Monday did nothing to entice her. It seems that she is quite cozy where she is, thank you very much.

The front:

The back:

Stats:
Design: My own, if you can call it a design. Truly it’s nothing more than a huge 9-patch square enclosed by 2 borders.
Quilting: I used a combination of stitch-in-the-ditch, following lines in the themed fabric, and using cookie cutters to draw designs in the plain fabric squares.
Fabric: The princess squares and the back fabric are from a line called “Once Upon a Time”. I found it in my local quilting store (how spoiled I am to have both a quilting store and a sewing store within walking distance). Additionally the red heart fabric was also found in my local quilting store. The blue fabric was “donated” by Dan; it’s an old work shirt of his that no longer fit. The white fabric was from an old sheet. I just love to incorporate at least one “old” fabric in each of my quilts.
Duration: 1 week from start to finish; I think it’s the fastest I’ve ever completed a quilt. I should bottle this nesting instinct and sell it. I could make a fortune!

Pressured by the fact that my sewing machines will have to packed away for a month and extremely motivated by the nesting instinct, I have been sewing up a storm for Elly.

I recently completed bloomers for Elly

Stats
Pattern: Tessa Bloomers
Designer: Marie-Madeline Studio
Size: 2T – it was the smallest size the pattern came in
Alterations: None that you can see. Since I’m a stickler about seams especially when it comes to children’s clothes, I ignored the pattern’s suggestion to use a serger (mainly because I don’t own a serger) or a zigzag stitch. Instead I used a mock French seam in most areas and double bias tape where the bloomers are gathered.  
Review: Great pattern and cute design!

along with a kimono robe and bonnet to match the pink dress made earlier

Stats:
Pattern: Simplicity 2900, a vintage pattern from 1952
Size: Small, 6 months
Alterations: Mainly I ignored their suggestion on where and how to place the embroidery. The fabric I used was already embroidered so all I had to do was cut the pattern pieces out carefully. Additionally, the lace on the kimono robe hides the fact that I had to piece together the front of the robe in order to get the embroidery on the bottom.

Review: As thrilled as I am with how the dress, kimono robe and bonnet look together, this pattern required too much hand sewing to get an A+ from me.
Note: I have already informed Dan that we will have to take Elly someplace special so she can wear her pretty dress and accessories even if all we do is drive over to her Granny’s house.

and finally a pillow to preserve the cross stitch my MIL made for Dan many years ago.

Stats:
None. This was simply a matter of adding sashing around the cross stitch and a plain piece of fabric to the back.

Next up, I’m thinking of starting a daybed cover for the guest bedroom unless I change my mind and sew something else for Elly. It does seem slightly silly to make a daybed cover when the daybed is going to be used almost daily for a month after Elly is born. Which is to say that the cover is going to spend most of its time folded away in the linen closet whilst the bed is in use.

So, should I sew a Mei Tai sling (noting that I already own the Ergo sling), a robe for Elly, a play outfit for Elly, or curtains for the guest bedroom?

Or should I just pack away my last remaining sewing machine and focus on my knitting projects? I have yet to complete Elly’s baseball blanket or her heirloom shawl.

Decisions. Decisions.

This is a post from Knitted Gem’s blog, authored by Marie Haigh.

As promised, I put together a short tutorial on how to make your very own nursing cover, a.k.a. hooter hider.

It’s a fast and easy project that should take no more than 1 afternoon to complete. Make one for yourself or make one for a baby shower gift. Heck, make two.

Materials required:
1 yard of main fabric in 100% cotton
1 yard of coordinating lining fabric in 100% cotton
2 two-inch-wide D-rings
thread to match fabric

Cutting specifications:
Cut 1 rectangle each from main fabric and lining fabric for the body:
33″ wide by 31″ long

Cut 2 strips from the lining fabric for the 1st strap:
3″ wide by 30″ long

Cut 2 strips from the lining fabric for the 2nd strap:
3″ wide by 13″ long

Seam allowance:
Unless otherwise noted, the seam allowance is 1/2″.

Instructions:
First, with right sides together sew around the edges of the 1st strap, leaving one short end open. Trim corners. Turn right side out. Press. Top stitch 1/4″ from edge around sewn edges.

Next, with right sides together sew the along the long edges of the 2nd strap, leaving both short ends open. Turn right side out. Press. Top stitch 1/4″ along sewn edges. Then, slide on the D-rings. Fold strap in half with the D-rings at one end and raw edges at the other. Stitch 3/4″ underneath the D-rings securing them in place.

Pin right sides of the body together. Then, insert straps into the top of the body 9.5″ from sides. Match up the raw edges of the straps with the raw edges of the body. Make sure the finished edges of the straps are tucked safely into the center of the body, away from where the stitching will occur.

Stitch body together, leaving a 5-inch opening at the bottom to turn right side out. Back-stitch over straps. Trim corners.

Turn body right side out. Press. Top stitch 1/4″ all around the body.

This is a post from Knitted Gem’s blog, authored by Marie Haigh.