Nursing Pads

I saw this fabric and thought it would make cute nursing pads! :)

I used 4 layers of flannel and zig zagged around the edge.  I hope they work well! I won't know for a few more months. I ran out of white thread on the last one... oops.

I traced 4" circles with crayon and cut each one out carefully. I used our cheerios treat holder for diaper bags that I had. (the kind you find in the grocery store for cheap)

Recovering my carseat

         When I went into the basement to check out the baby stuff after I found out I was having another girl, the carseat made me cringe. The underside of the lining was all beat up and melted and the top just was not cute. A long LONG time ago I bought the tutorial pattern from this etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/GeorgiaLeighDesigns?ref=seller_info with the intention to redo it when keira was using it.  I was terrified to try so I decided to do it now. My husband didn't even understand my fear of doing this and he could care less about this kind of thing. I am not a pro at sewing and i'm not AMAZING as everyone keeps saying.  The only thing that makes me impressive to others is the fact that I try stuff and with each try I get better and better. All they see is the end product. I guess I'm just super determined or something!

    All I got from the tutorial I purchased was basically take a seam ripper to it, take pictures of it as you go so you know how it goes back together and trace the pieces you took apart to make new pieces. if I would have known that, I would not have bought the pattern.  THEN I found this FREE tutorial online: http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2011/02/recovering-baby-car-seat.html  SIGH.

      My seat is a very simple, basic one that isn't very tailored or forgiving if it isn't PERFECT like the one it came with. I was afraid of that.  I wanted a seperate part up the middle, shown in black minke, so I cut it and added 1/4" to the cut edges of the new pieces to make it fit.

     This new one is not a very snug fit which I'm disapointed with, but it's still better than the last one.  I might figure out some sort of velcro to attatch it to the seat better. The back is not pretty and I probably should have used just plain black cotton to line it with because I had to replace the batting.  You don't want to leave batting exposed.  Instead I used pink fuzzy material I already had on hand.  it made it more poofy and bulky.  also, at the top of the seat lining are pleats that I didn't made big enough and I tried to fix after the binding was already on.  As long as you don't look underneath, it's an ok seat cover! :)

THE CANOPY

       The canopy was more intimidating to do than It should have been.  It was the most fun to do! most come from the store without an under side, so I did one for this. 

my favorite part is the ruffles I did!!! :) I can't wait to put my baby in it! now to make strap covers and a head rest.



Sewing more for the diaper Bag

This is a changing pad I made, a wet bag I bought and a pouch I improved.

    I have a few different changing pads that I've used in the past but have not liked any of them. They all were plastic and when you'd put a new baby on them it was cold and they screamed! Plus, if they wet which they often do, the pee runs off the changing pad onto your bed or the floor and soaks them in the process. kinda pointless in my opinion.  I found this pattern online: http://www.etsy.com/listing/91296386/pdf-ebook-baby-changing-mat-little-buns   but decided to use this free pattern instead: http://cookieandclaire.blogspot.com/2011/02/diaper-changing-pad-tutorial.html 

          My changing pad turned out pretty nice, except it's ultra thick. I added a layer of all cotton batting that was super thin thinking it wouldn't really make a difference and I swear someone used it in their changing pads they sell online.  Now when I roll it up in the bag it takes up a lot of room.  oh well! it's cute and comfy! :)

          The wet bag I bought online and am so glad I did. With my first daughter I had no such thing and I remember the blowouts and the smelly clothes that she constantly threw up on. The acid reflux problem was gross!!! Anyway, the clothes just ended up getting thrown in my bag getting everything stinky.  This wet bag was bought here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/JodysDesigns?ref=seller_info   She's awesome to work with and even sold me her left over fabric to make the chaning pad with. Why didn't I sew one myself you ask? well, I've never worked with waterproof material like is used in this bag and I'd have to buy a lot of the material to make one little bag. in my mind at the time, it wasn't worth it.

         The pouch was also purchased from:   http://www.etsy.com/shop/PillowSewCute    again, at the time it made sense to buy this bag because I didn't want to buy a whole bunch of fabric to make it. However when I recieved it I was totally disappointed! There was no interfacing used, nothing to sturdy the bag at all. The plastic is really thick and it was just an awkward bag.  I ended up taking it apart, adding interfacing and adding binding along the top of the plastic. I felt like I made a stupid choice in purchasing this bag and could have done a way better job myself. again, oh well. Lesson learned.

       I also bought cute yellow flannel and white flannel to make a blanket for our new girl. All of the blankets used on my first daughter are old and not soft anymore.  Because of her acid reflux, we washed blankets A LOT! I now need to make a bunch more, or just buy some cheap ones from walmart! :)

Diaper Bag for Our new little girl

     This pattern is from the previous post I made "diaper bag for Mary" where I was disappointed in the pattern and wanted to make some changes. I figured out how to change the pockets inside to be big enough on the ends to actually use and I added a zippered pocket on the outside to keep my chapstick, lotion etc handy. 

               I found a tutorial online that helped me figure out how to do it: http://u-handbag.typepad.com/uhandblog/2007/02/zippered_inner_.html

It's a pocket INSIDE a pocket!!

   For this bag I used canvas on the oustide as well and for the inside I used "Bundle of Jungle" print by Marcus Brothers. 

     It has a zippered top and binding along the top that my poor fingers are cursing me for doing.  There are also 6 pockets on the outside .. plus the zippered one, and 6 pockets on the inside.  Now I need to make some things like a changing pad and wet bag. :)

This was an old jjcole binki holder that I took apart and TRIED to make it with my fabric. It worked, but it's not the best sewing job ever.

I also made some pacifier clips really quick. :)

It's good to get one thing on my list of many things to sew done!