Crafty Mama's! - Page 5 « Back to Group Discussions

[flavorfull1]

Thanks everyone! I did quilt it on my machine, I think it is called free style quilting? Definitely time consuming but fun and a learning experience lol.

[Thursday Girl]

love the gowns, covers and that quilt, Oh my, so beautiful!

[chapluqa]

flavorfull, that quilt is just gorgeous! 

I've done a few baby quilts for friend, but I needed help from my parents who are big into quilting (both mom and stepdad, it's cute).  They are making me one for this baby, I'm really excited to see what they come up with.

[piratemere]

Originally Posted by chapluqa 

flavorfull, that quilt is just gorgeous! 

I've done a few baby quilts for friend, but I needed help from my parents who are big into quilting (both mom and stepdad, it's cute).  They are making me one for this baby, I'm really excited to see what they come up with.

That's cute that they do it together. My DH will hold my yarn while I wind it, and appropriately oooh and aaah over my finished products, but that's about it.  My mom's uncle is a big time quilter.  He's like 90 years old, and my mom still sends her pieced quilts to him to quilt.  He does a fabulous job, too.

[saudade]

Here's another diaper I sewed. This one is the QSFW pattern (Quick Snap Flat Wrap). I really love the simplicity of these! This is  two layers of Organic Bamboo French Terry that when folded makes 6 layers in the wet zone. This stuff is super absorbent and trim and will wash up really well. This is a size small...but seems more like a medium to me. Either is fine...I'm working on larger dipes because wee little ones are taken care of!

[brusselsmama]

chapluqa- do you have a pattern for your gowns?  or anyone with a suggestion for a pattern? Also, do you think it would be hopless to try to hand sew a few gowns (I do not have a machine here) or would it be doable given that I have plenty of time at the moment?  Having just moved I dont have a ton of extra shirts or anything but its pretty easy to buy them second hand here, or just nice fabric, and I can not find gowns anywhere.... guess babies dont wear them here?

Thanks!

[lalazap]

Brusselsmama, try this link for a gown pattern and tutorial. I'm pretty sure that's what chapluqa used for her gowns. I have made one from the same pattern already, with a couple more cut out and ready to go. It's not a terribly difficult pattern and I'm sure you could hand sew it if you have the patience for that. Maybe some craftier mamas can weigh in about handsewing knit/t-shirt fabric though ... I was worried about fraying and only have a machine without zigzag so I ended up triple stitching most of my seams. That would be pretty tedious by hand I think. 

[Tulafina]

Instead of making the entire thing from scratch, what you could do is buy some second hand onesies with long sleeves, chop the bottom portion off and then attach the t-shirt bottom(preferably a small kids size) to the bottom. All you would have to sew is the seam joining the two pieces and then hem the bottom(adding the elastic in). Have fun! I plan on doing exactly this but instead of Tshirt fabric, I'll be adding recycled wool sweaters to create a wool bottomed sleep sack:)

[Rasa]

Originally Posted by Tulafina 

Instead of making the entire thing from scratch, what you could do is buy some second hand onesies with long sleeves, chop the bottom portion off and then attach the t-shirt bottom(preferably a small kids size) to the bottom. All you would have to sew is the seam joining the two pieces and then hem the bottom(adding the elastic in). Have fun! I plan on doing exactly this but instead of Tshirt fabric, I'll be adding recycled wool sweaters to create a wool bottomed sleep sack:)

What a nifty idea Tulafina!! I loooove wool! Will definitely keep that one in mind for later. I fear if I start any more projects, the remaining important stuff on my to do list (um...taxes, updating the will) won't get done. It is hard seeing all these great gowns, quilts, diapers, handknits, etc that you ladies are turning out!! Love the eye candy in this thread!!

AFM, I was 60 stitches from binding off on my knit baby blanket last night when it became clear my 12" piece of remaining yarn wouldn't make it...ARG!!! I have an extra skein but really don't want to add it in on the bind off row (would insert head slap icon here if I could find it quickly enough) and I also feel bad about adding it in really close to the end of the blanket...seems like it would be a structural weakness? But oh how I don't want to rip out an entire repeat of the lace and pick up all those stitches (of course I didn't use lifelines, repeat head slap).
All night I tossed and turned dreaming about running out of yarn. Will have to just do something today, this WILL leave the to-do list.

[Rasa]

Oh (sorry to double post) as for sewing on knits, they won't unravel! Great thing about knits! Make sure you pick something soft like jersey.

[NCMtnMama]

These are wonderful! I may have to try my hand at some gowns, but the quilting and diapers are definitely out of my range!

But I was thinking of making some inserts - what kind of material would work best, for those of you who have been there done that with cloths? I have a lot of fleece; I'd read that if you wash it a lot it can be absorbent enough to use for diapers. Is that a good idea, or should I get something else? 

[saudade]

Originally Posted by NCMtnMama

But I was thinking of making some inserts - what kind of material would work best, for those of you who have been there done that with cloths? I have a lot of fleece; I'd read that if you wash it a lot it can be absorbent enough to use for diapers. Is that a good idea, or should I get something else? 

You don't want to use a polyester fleece for anything absorbent. Poly fleece will wick moisture away from baby's skin and allow fluids to pass through (has a stay dry effect), but is not good for absorbency. Also, fleece is prone (as with any synthetic) to stink issues whereas natural fibers such as cotton, bamboo and hemp don't. Bamboo and hemp both have antimicrobial properties and are more absorbent than cotton. Any type of cotton will work...flannel, birdseye, muslin, woven, knit, cotton fleece, cotton terry, etc.... If you want inserts to stuff pockets, just regular birdseye or flannel flats that are "pad-folded" work great! I wouldn't use Gerber that you can buy in stores. I'd order some premium flats, however...or you can make your own. If you are looking for super absorbent inserts that are trim...you might invest in some hemp fleece or bamboo fleece to make inserts out of. www.naturesfabrics.com is a great place to see lots of different options. You can also use microfiber (like the microfiber hand towels that you can buy in any store these days) but again, they are synthetic, so prone to holding odors. For me, I try to stick with natural fibers for all the beneficial reasons of using natural fibers. The only exception is a few FB pockets I have that are lined with microfleece and came with microfiber inserts which I may or may not use with them.

HTH!

[NCMtnMama]

Excellent, thanks!

I know there are websites with this info, but I prefer to get it straight from moms who KNOW what works and what doesn't! I'll check out that link.

Originally Posted by saudade 

You don't want to use a polyester fleece for anything absorbent. Poly fleece will wick moisture away from baby's skin and allow fluids to pass through (has a stay dry effect), but is not good for absorbency. Also, fleece is prone (as with any synthetic) to stink issues whereas natural fibers such as cotton, bamboo and hemp don't. Bamboo and hemp both have antimicrobial properties and are more absorbent than cotton. Any type of cotton will work...flannel, birdseye, muslin, woven, knit, cotton fleece, cotton terry, etc.... If you want inserts to stuff pockets, just regular birdseye or flannel flats that are "pad-folded" work great! I wouldn't use Gerber that you can buy in stores. I'd order some premium flats, however...or you can make your own. If you are looking for super absorbent inserts that are trim...you might invest in some hemp fleece or bamboo fleece to make inserts out of. www.naturesfabrics.com is a great place to see lots of different options. You can also use microfiber (like the microfiber hand towels that you can buy in any store these days) but again, they are synthetic, so prone to holding odors. For me, I try to stick with natural fibers for all the beneficial reasons of using natural fibers. The only exception is a few FB pockets I have that are lined with microfleece and came with microfiber inserts which I may or may not use with them.

HTH!

[miss_honeyb]

I just bought a 100% wool blanket (about throw-size) at the thrift store for $7 (it still had tags on it!) and I felted and lanolized it yesterday. I'm planning on using it for a "puddle pad" type thing in our bed when baby comes, to protect the mattress from wet diapers and leaky boobs.  =]  Would you guys put it under the sheet, on top of the mattress, or on top of mattress and sheet? It's a little itchy so I don't know if I'd want to lay right on it.... maybe I could put it on top of the sheets and lay a receiving blanket on top...then I wouldn't have to change the sheets. Anyway, one more project checked off the list! Yay!

[thomatuttle]

honeyb--i would say lay another blanket on top of it, or make a duvet type cover for it out of some old sheets so that you don't have to change the whole bed if it gets wet in the middle of the night. 

[saudade]

Here's some more of my projects:

I have a matching little newborn fitted diaper in the works, too. But I gave up on it for tonight because my sewing machine was hating this stretchy cotton knit and it's late. :)

This Quick Snap Flat Wrap diaper is a layer of flannel and a layer of bamboo fleece with a doubler that has two layers of each. This gives 10 layers in the wet zone (5 flannel, 5 bamboo fleece). I'm done making these, the crotch is kinda wide on them, I might alter this and make more with a slimmer crotch or just make more extended tab prefolds. I'm really diggin' these flat wraps and prefolds and ETPF this time rather than fitteds. I'm just not into fitted diapers this go 'round.

[miss_honeyb]

Originally Posted by saudade 

Here's some more of my projects:

I have a matching little newborn fitted diaper in the works, too. But I gave up on it for tonight because my sewing machine was hating this stretchy cotton knit and it's late. :)

This Quick Snap Flat Wrap diaper is a layer of flannel and a layer of bamboo fleece with a doubler that has two layers of each. This gives 10 layers in the wet zone (5 flannel, 5 bamboo fleece). I'm done making these, the crotch is kinda wide on them, I might alter this and make more with a slimmer crotch or just make more extended tab prefolds. I'm really diggin' these flat wraps and prefolds and ETPF this time rather than fitteds. I'm just not into fitted diapers this go 'round.

Love these!! I made a dress from that same fabric (top) for DD last summer.  =]  I also have a matching fitted diaper out of it. Very cute!! And I love the QSFW diaper! I'll have to try making one, if Baby gives me enough time. I don't have a snap press but maybe I could use sew-on snaps, or just pin it...

Here's my latest projects:

This is my first ever fleece soaker, I hope it works! The booties are SUPER tiny.  =]

Knit pants, newborn size:

Newborn leggings from a t-shirt. Can boy babies where leggings?? We don't know the gender of our baby, but I'm hoping these will work for either!

My version of the extended tab prefold. It's a layer of cotton knit on front and back with microfiber middle.

[AiryFairy]

My birthing outfit

[piratemere]

How have you avoided stretch marks?!  I would never be able to wear something like that for fear that my Freddie Kruger attacked belly would scare others.

I just finished this cute sweater. It was supposed to be 12 month, but it just about fits my 2 1/2 year old. 

[justKate]

miss honeyb, do you have a pattern for the baby pants, or a tutorial?  I can't stand the girl colors in the stores....