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[Brambleberry]

Any crafty mamas out there?  I'm starting some sewing projects for this little bean, and I'd love to see what you all are making for yours!

This is a cashmere sleep sack that I'll lanolize so that it can double as a diaper cover.  I loved sleep sacks as daytime wear for DD when she was a newborn, but I didn't get around to making any wool ones for her until she was crawling, so her wool sleep sack was just for night time.  We did all wool covers over fitted diapers, and switched to wool pants (longies) at around 10 months.  The nice thing about longies is that you have a cover and pants all in one, so there are less diaper layers.  I'm hoping that the wool sleep sack will work the same way without the hassle of trying to maneuver stiff newborn legs into pants.  we'll have to use t-shirts rather than onesies under it, but I hate the extra snaps on onesies anyway!

This sleep sack I sewed out of up-cycled cashmere sweater vests that I pre-shrunk/slightly felted in the washing machine.  It should be able to be machine washed now, since it's already shrunk.  The zipper opens from the bottom and comes apart at the neck, so that diapers can be changed without exposing the chest to cold air.  Because I want to use this for day time wear, there's a slit in the back between the legs for a seat belt (the zipper comes up to allow the belt through in front).  I went back and forth on whether to make it long-sleeved or not, since overheating is a sids risk, but the cashmere is pretty light weight, wool breathes well, and this is a winter baby.  I probably will make another one or two without sleeves.  

I'm honestly not crazy about the colors, but when you find nice used cashmere sweaters for $1 you don't fuss about what color they are .  I'm not sure if they're totally gender neutral colors either, but I have no problem dressing a boy a little feminine (or vice versa). 

[loveandgarbage]

Wow the sleepsack looks great!! That's a great idea to lanolize it. I don't have any crafts planned yet, but wanted to post here for when I get more creative! I'll probably make boring stuff like cloth wipes and might do a diaper cover or two. Because we have a few knitters/weavers in the family, we already have some nice blankets saved.

[odinsmama]

Very nice!

I've started making flannel wipes, made one tiny diaper and a couple of fleece covers. No pics, but maybe I'll get inspired to take some.

I have 2 wet bags from before that I made using PUL and snaps around the edges so they open up completely to wash. Always hated the wet bags that end up holding detergent residue even when washed inside out.

[Brambleberry]

Originally Posted by odinsmama 

I have 2 wet bags from before that I made using PUL and snaps around the edges so they open up completely to wash. Always hated the wet bags that end up holding detergent residue even when washed inside out.

Great idea!

[TallToriV]

That is really beautiful! And I think that pearly blue is a perfect neutral - of course, blue is my favorite color and I've said repeatedly that I'd happily dress a girl baby in cobalt and then slap a pink bow on her head just so I didn't have to correct people! 

I'm going to lurk on this thread. I'm not crafty yet, but I think I might want to be. My mom and grandma-in-law are quilters, and we have some LOVELY quilts already nearly finished for the little one. Also, my mom is pulling apart 2 sets of my DH's old uniforms for camouflage baby slings! ^_^ Lined with soft fabric, they're going to be very sturdy. 

[josie423]

I am not crafty, but I wish I was! I will be watching this thread and will daydream of being able to make stuff. 

I love the sleep sack and personally think the colors are beautiful. It would work well for a boy or girl.

[Teles]

I've made a bunch of diapers

 a stack of wipes (and will be making the solution, as you can see by the stuff around them)

a lamp shade for this lamp I picked up a nearby thrift store

and also this thing because I had some scraps and it popped into my mind. Admittedly, he's kind of sloppy and needs to be reinforced before baby could play with him, but I think he's pretty cute.

I have a few other things on the go at the moment, but I'm holding off on making more diapers until a friend of mine has her baby and can test out a couple models for me.

[Brambleberry]

The diapers look great, Teles.  And I love the little monster guy.  Very graspable, and I'm sure those ears will be a big hit with the LO.  Love the fabric on the lamp, too! 

[Jenny01]

Amazing stuff in here!  I'm not "crafty" - I'm more artsy I guess, and I do fine art photography as a hobby so I'm thinking I might do a self portrait series, I just haven't figured out what exactly I want to do yet.

[typebug]

Teles I love your diapers! You've got skillz! I'm crafty in terms of paper crafts but useless with sewing. I think my big project will be doing the birth announcements. 

[sweetestday]

I'm knitting a blanket, like I have for each of my babies. I am doing some little leg warmers, too. I did make up some cloth wipes, but am already using them on my 11mo, so I suppose they don't count. I'm going to try to fix my serger so I can whip some more up soon. Hopefully I'll be able to get a few more things knit, like wool soakers and some cocoon sleeper things.

[Adaline'sMama]

I want to learn to knit!!

[TallToriV]

Tiny leg warmers! Squee!

Teles, your stuff is just gorgeous. 

[Teles]

Thanks all!

I bought a sewing machine when we decided to start trying for a baby (January-ish), so I'm still learning, but I find it really rewarding to be able to make something useful from old scraps. You also can't beat the price on those diapers! 

[iamkateiam]

Here are the two baby carriers I made.  The first one is a ring sling and the second one is a wrap.  The wrap didn't take a whole lot of sewing (it's basically 5 yards of fabric), but I'm still counting it as "crafty".  Everything above is awesome!  You guys have given me some ideas- and made me wish I was a better knitter than I am.  I can basically knit anything- as long as it's a rectangle (c:

[josie423]

I need to learn to sew!! I have an old one from DH's great-grandmother that is in perfect condition. I find it very intimidating, though. I did learn to thread it. :) I love the carriers, Kate!

[Brambleberry]

I just finished up another sleep sack/diaper cover, this time out of upcycled merino sweaters.  I put the zipper to one side this time so that it won't dig into baby's chest as much when s/he's pressed up against my chest.  The zipper opens from the bottom and comes apart at the neck for easy diaper changes, and there's a seat belt slit between the leg area in back (the zipper comes up to allow the belt through in front).  I accidentally felted the brown sweater too much and it's a little thick/stiff, plus it made it almost too small to use for this project - I would have liked the sack to be a little wider at the bottom for more comfortable kick space.  But I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out overall!  

[HouseofPeace]

such beautiful little diapers and slings and sacks!

love the sacks.

where did you get the pattern?

[Brambleberry]

Originally Posted by HouseofPeace 

where did you get the pattern?

The one with the long sleeves is loosely based on an old baby pattern I got at a thrift store.  I can never follow a pattern or recipe without making a few changes!  I used a couple of other hand-me-down fleece sleep sacks as patterns too.  One of them had seat belt slits which was useful to figure out how far down to cut it.  It's actually kind of hard to use a real paper pattern when I'm making stuff from up-cycled sweaters, since they're not big flat pieces of fabric.  I usually use a piece of clothing that's the size I want as a rough pattern and hope it turns out!

[1234babies]

I love the idea of the tiny leg warmers.  We're lucky to be having February babies because we can knit to our hearts content.  I've only started a hat so far but I *plan* to make a soft wool sweater, some knit pants, and a baby quilt of bright colors.  Or I might cut up some of the other kids' t-shirts and make a quilt out of those.