Saturday, September 26, 2009

Simple Bandana Dress

Here is an adorable and easy dress I made together with a friend for her sweet little daughter. This Simple Bandana Dress Tutorial was easy to understand and I LOVE how the ribbon ties in the back. Also, it was fun, and kinda hypnotic, to singe the edge of the ribbon to keep it from unraveling. I didn't know you could do that.


Friday, September 25, 2009

Sock Monkey

Happy 2nd Birthday to Ben! One sock monkey made from a pair of men's socks I picked up at Target. This sock monkey pattern worked out great. It seems like there are more tutorials now with pictures. I didn't find those when I made this over a year ago. My inspiration came from looking at the wonderful creations made by Siansburys's Super Sock Monkey Shop on Etsy. I thought the sock elephant pattern was adorable, but I doubt I'll ever make it. This sock monkey was really the trial run for the way cute one I have in the works with bright colors, star patches, and a super hero cape. The problem was I got tired of hand sewing before I finished the one I intended to be Ben's gift. Oh well, maybe when he turns 4. He's 3 and a half now...hmmm...that doesn't leave me much time.





Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Katja for Emily

This is my first try at a knit piece of clothing. It was for my niece's 1st birthday. It was fun to knit and I couldn't wait to see her in it. The pattern is Katja from knitty.com.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Dress Set for Ksena Eve

A 3-6 month set I made as a baby shower gift. They all turned out great and Ksena Eve looks adorable in it all. The shoes and headband turned out to fit her a little later, so she wore them with a little orange dress.

Free Itty Bitty Dress Pattern by Made By Rae


Blankets, Burp Clothes, & Binkies

I love super soft snuggliness and beautiful fabric. The obvious solution is to make beautiful, yet practical, gifts for my dear friends and families new babies. I'm big on practical, as any of my friends can tell you. I used minky fabric for the back sides of all these blankies. It's the softest stuff in the world.

Set #1
Set #2
Set #3
Blankie #4 (click to enlarge, the pattern is adorable)

Bibs

My own creation, made with terry cloth to be extra absorbent and useful while still being completely cute. It was my first time making my own bias tape and I never want to go back to store bought. I love it. I used velcro this time as the bib closure. It worked out very nicely. This bib will best fit a toddler, as modeled by my Ben.
Bend the Rules Sewing Bib Pattern. A perfect fit for a baby. I love the catch all pocket on the front. I lined the back with a cloth diaper to make it useful and chose a cute pearl snap button for the bib closure.

Beanies and Booties

Some knit infant goodies from over the years.

My own creation for my own little sweetie.
Patterns below from the book, Adorable Knits For Tots, by Zoe Mellor



Monday, September 21, 2009

Curtain Top #2

Here is a 5T top for another niece. It turned out quite nicely. I also made this one with the adjustable straps on the inside.

Curtain Top #1

I made this for my niece last Christmas. I followed the free tutorial for a kids curtain top at stitchlounge.com, but the site seems closed now. The pattern is for a vintage valance top, which I didn't have, so I just used new fabric. I winged the dimensions for a 3T shirt since my niece lives far away.



I added button holes to make it adjustable so it can grow with her.

Tops For Me

I did it! I made my own shirt. And the best part is, it's made exactly to my own measurements! This is the Spring Ruffle Top Pattern by Made By Rae. It was great, although I did get confused once or twice. I'm sure it had nothing to do with it being my first attempt at a top or that I was working on it way too late at night. I love it. I also got to do a rolled hem for the first time with my new serger I got at the thrift store. The best find EVER! The serger has been an adventure trying to figure it out and get it to do what I know it can. I'm loving the results. It's 10 years old, but the previous owner obviously took very good care of it. It came with a carrying bag, the manual, labeled attachments, and a laminated stitch guide.

I attached the straps in a bit on the back because I have narrow shoulders and straps tend to slide off them.

This next shirt is my own creation. The decorative bit at the top was inspired by my friend's shirt. To make this, I took a shirt that does fit me, folded it in half, laid it on a big piece of paper, and traced the body to create my own pattern. I took another shirt and traced the shape of the sleeves. I attempted to make a scoop neck that attaches with buttons and button loops in the middle of the scoop, but it didn't work out. There was too much fabric in the decorative portion. So, I sewed the middle into a V and cut off the buttons and loops. That seemed to do the trick. This was a trial run anyway. The fabric is a very old yellow sheet. I serged all the edge seams in black, which contrasts very nicely with the pale yellow. Now I think I know where to do some modifications to make the next one work how I intend it to. I'm learning so much! This was my first time ever doing sleeves and I didn't even have a pattern. Yea! It was a lot easier than I anticipated. And for a bonus, my trial run shirt is a keeper. I really like it.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Nursing Covers

I had 3 new nephews about to be born, so their mommas needed nursing covers, right? I LOVE LOVE LOVE this fabric. I made 2 covers and they turned out great. This nursing cover tutorial makes a cover slightly wider than the store bought hooter hider. I really liked the added width. I also liked that I could customize this and make it longer for my sister-in-law, who is very tall. I got my hardware and boning at Joanns. The boning is found in the bra parts area. I used 1/4" Dritz Featherlite Boning with 1/2" poly/cotton cover and I used 1" metal D rings. Slightly bigger would work too. I cut a baby wash cloth in half diagonally, added a neutral cotton back, and attached to the back of the nursing cover, to add a little spit up wipe for those times you don't have a burp cloth handy.


Cover #1
Cover #2