Saturday, August 04, 2012
A year already!?
My little girl is one! I can't believe a whole year has gone by already. It's been a year filled with fantastic firsts, sweet snuggles, amazing new friends and new adventures. I can't wait to see what the next year brings!
Here's a look at my girl over the year.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Williamsburg
I spent a wonderful week in Williamsburg with my parents and Amelia last week. The weather was gorgeous and the flowers were blooming - what more could you ask for?
I will leave you to enjoy the gorgeous pictures:
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Sheep and Wool festival
Last weekend was the annual Sheep and Wool festival at the Howard County fairgrounds in MD. It was also the first time Amelia got to go (on the outside of me at least!)
We had our annual tail gate again this year and it was just Coleen and us but we still had a fun time eating bagels and drinking coffee outside the festival.
Amelia was sporting her hand knit sweater by her awesome Auntie Sarah!
Believe it or not I didn't buy a single thing! I mostly enjoyed seeing friends and looking at the cute sheep. Amelia loved the sheep and had fun sitting on Daddy's shoulders.
I haven't knit a stitch in a while so I was hoping to be inspired by something at the festival - alas there was no inspiration but it did get me thinking about knitting again. I will hopefully pick something up again soon!
Amelia was sporting her hand knit sweater by her awesome Auntie Sarah!
Believe it or not I didn't buy a single thing! I mostly enjoyed seeing friends and looking at the cute sheep. Amelia loved the sheep and had fun sitting on Daddy's shoulders.
I haven't knit a stitch in a while so I was hoping to be inspired by something at the festival - alas there was no inspiration but it did get me thinking about knitting again. I will hopefully pick something up again soon!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Another sewing day with a friend brings a new pal for Amelia. We sewed these cute owls:
We didn't really have a pattern and just kind of made it up as we went along. My friend had a new sewing machine with an embroidery function - so we got to play with adding a letter to our owls:
I'm definitely having a bit of sewing machine envy there! The bright colors make me happy and I'm so glad Amelia seems to like it too!
We didn't really have a pattern and just kind of made it up as we went along. My friend had a new sewing machine with an embroidery function - so we got to play with adding a letter to our owls:
I'm definitely having a bit of sewing machine envy there! The bright colors make me happy and I'm so glad Amelia seems to like it too!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Baby dresses!
I am forever seeing so many cute baby dresses to sew on sites like Pinterest. I decided I better take the plunge and try sewing a baby dress for my own little girl.
My first try was the easy Pillowcase Dress from Prudent Baby.
It was really was as easy as they said and I think it came out great! I will definitely making more of these. I added a contrasting binding instead of ric rac to the Freshcuts fabric I used and I love how it sets off the flower print.
My next attempt the Infant Peasant Dress from Sew Much Ado.
Amelia is wearing a 6-9 month size and the pattern was for a 0-3 month size - so I attempted to also make the pattern larger to fit her. I managed to succeed in making it larger but I will definitely make it a bit longer next time. It's more like a shirt than a dress - but still cute!
This was much harder than the pillowcase dress for this novice dressmaker. I definitely see a serger in my future one of these days if I continue to sew clothes! Having to run a zig zag seam over all the edges definitely got old :) I also had to install elastic and ric rac for the first time. Definitely a learning experience and I will try again now that I know where I went wrong. I only had to rip out the sleeves three times :)
Amelia seems to like it thought - which makes it all worth it!
My first try was the easy Pillowcase Dress from Prudent Baby.
It was really was as easy as they said and I think it came out great! I will definitely making more of these. I added a contrasting binding instead of ric rac to the Freshcuts fabric I used and I love how it sets off the flower print.
My next attempt the Infant Peasant Dress from Sew Much Ado.
Amelia is wearing a 6-9 month size and the pattern was for a 0-3 month size - so I attempted to also make the pattern larger to fit her. I managed to succeed in making it larger but I will definitely make it a bit longer next time. It's more like a shirt than a dress - but still cute!
This was much harder than the pillowcase dress for this novice dressmaker. I definitely see a serger in my future one of these days if I continue to sew clothes! Having to run a zig zag seam over all the edges definitely got old :) I also had to install elastic and ric rac for the first time. Definitely a learning experience and I will try again now that I know where I went wrong. I only had to rip out the sleeves three times :)
Amelia seems to like it thought - which makes it all worth it!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Tag Blanket Tutorial
I don't about your baby - but my baby loves tags. The best part of all of her toys right now is the tag! She likes to pull on them, suck on them and just generally keep them close at hand.
One of her other favorite things to play with is an empty wipes bag. She loves the crinkly sound it makes and it keeps her busy and entertained while I'm trying to change her diaper.
So with this in mind - I decided to create a blanket that had all of her favorite things!
A tag blanket with a crinkly inside!
It was fairly easy after all the pinning! Here is what I did:
Tag Blanket Tutorial:
Supplies:
- Fat quarters of 2 different fabrics
- Decorations (Ribbons, tags, fabric, hair ties etc.)
- Notions: Pins, Sewing thread
- One empty bag of wipes
1. Cut out your fabrics to your desired size. Mine were about 14 inches square.
2. Grab your empty wipes container,
and remove the plastic bits and open it up
3. Grab your ribbons stash... you can also use fabric, hair ties or anything at all that may be fun to chew for your baby.
4. Cut your ribbon to the desired size, and start pinning them to the right side of one of your fabrics. Make sure the ribbon loops are laying toward the inside with the ends on the end of your fabric.
5. Put your second fabric on top of your ribbons right side down, and add the wipes package on top of that. So - the layers of your "sandwich" will be: fabric one, right side up with ribbons pinned on, second fabric right side down, and finally the wipes package on top.
6. Bring everything to your sewing machine and sew around leaving a hole about 3 inches wide. Make sure to remove the pins as you go. To make neat corners, stop sewing at the corner and lift your pressure foot, turn your fabric 90 degrees and then replace your pressure foot and keep on sewing. BE SURE TO LEAVE A GAP SO YOU CAN TURN YOUR PIECE RIGHT SIDE OUT.
7. Trim your corners and any excess fabric and then turn your piece right side out through the hole you left in step 6.
8. Fold the raw edges to the inside and re-pin any ribbons that were in the hole you left.
9. Top stitch all the way around to close the hole and you're done!
Hopefully it will keep your baby happy and entertained.
Good luck!!
One of her other favorite things to play with is an empty wipes bag. She loves the crinkly sound it makes and it keeps her busy and entertained while I'm trying to change her diaper.
So with this in mind - I decided to create a blanket that had all of her favorite things!
A tag blanket with a crinkly inside!
It was fairly easy after all the pinning! Here is what I did:
Tag Blanket Tutorial:
Supplies:
- Fat quarters of 2 different fabrics
- Decorations (Ribbons, tags, fabric, hair ties etc.)
- Notions: Pins, Sewing thread
- One empty bag of wipes
1. Cut out your fabrics to your desired size. Mine were about 14 inches square.
2. Grab your empty wipes container,
and remove the plastic bits and open it up
3. Grab your ribbons stash... you can also use fabric, hair ties or anything at all that may be fun to chew for your baby.
4. Cut your ribbon to the desired size, and start pinning them to the right side of one of your fabrics. Make sure the ribbon loops are laying toward the inside with the ends on the end of your fabric.
5. Put your second fabric on top of your ribbons right side down, and add the wipes package on top of that. So - the layers of your "sandwich" will be: fabric one, right side up with ribbons pinned on, second fabric right side down, and finally the wipes package on top.
6. Bring everything to your sewing machine and sew around leaving a hole about 3 inches wide. Make sure to remove the pins as you go. To make neat corners, stop sewing at the corner and lift your pressure foot, turn your fabric 90 degrees and then replace your pressure foot and keep on sewing. BE SURE TO LEAVE A GAP SO YOU CAN TURN YOUR PIECE RIGHT SIDE OUT.
7. Trim your corners and any excess fabric and then turn your piece right side out through the hole you left in step 6.
8. Fold the raw edges to the inside and re-pin any ribbons that were in the hole you left.
9. Top stitch all the way around to close the hole and you're done!
Hopefully it will keep your baby happy and entertained.
Good luck!!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Happy Valentine's Day!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's day! I was lucky enough to have a babysitter (my mom) and my sweetie and I went out for a lovely dinner.
I hope you had a great day too!
Amelia wanted to wish you a Happy Valentines' day!
Here she is with the beautiful flowers from my hubby...
I hope you had a great day too!
Amelia wanted to wish you a Happy Valentines' day!
Here she is with the beautiful flowers from my hubby...
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Burp cloth tutorial
Happy new year everyone! I hope you all had a great start to 2012! I thought I'd share a sewing pattern that I whipped up for burp cloths. With a new baby in the house, you can never have enough of these! And, they make great gifts for new moms.
This is a wondering first sewing project for beginners because it's all straight lines.
Materials Needed to make 2 burp cloths:
- 1/2 yard of quilting cotton
- 1/2 yard of terry cloth
- Sewing thread to match fabric
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Scissors
- Straight pins
- Iron
Directions:
1. Cut out your fabrics using your rotary cutter and cutting mat – I cut 2 pieces 14 x 22 inches. I tend to cut out pieces two at a time to save time. If you fold your fabric in half you can get two pieces easily by cutting off the fold.
2. After cutting out your fabric – put one piece of cotton and one of terry cloth on top of each other with right sides facing. Pin around the outside to make sure it doesn’t move while you sew.
You are going to turn your sandwich inside out when you are done, so you have to leave about a 2 inch hole in order to do this. I like to put a green and red pin at the start and end of this hole so I know where I am. (sometimes I get carried away and forget to stop sewing at the hole! The red pin helps prevents this.)
3. Using your machine’s foot as a guide for the seam allowance, position your fabric on the machine so your foot is even with the edge. Start sewing at your green pin, but remember to remove the pins before you sew over them so you don't break a needle.
4. When you get to a corner, stop sewing with the needle in the fabric, lift the presser foot and rotate your fabric 90 degrees and put the presser foot back down. Continue sewing on the next side. This helps give you neat right angles at the corners.
5. Continue all the way around until you get to the red needle. At the red needle stop sewing and backstich a few stitches for extra strength since you will be turning your fabric at this point and putting extra stress on those stitches.
You are left with a two inch opening.
6. Clip the corners of your burp cloth to remove extra bulk.
7. Turn your cloth inside out.
8. Find the hole you left and turn the ends of the open fabric under to make a neat seam and pin closed.
9. Iron your cloth to remove any bumps.
10. Starting at one end of your hole, make a top stitch as close to the edge as you feel comfortable and stitch all the way around. Don’t forget to make your neat right angle corners by lifting the presser foot and turning your fabric before starting the next side.
11. Once you are finished with the top stitching, I like to add a few rows of quilting to the top. I ran 3 straight lines down the length of my cloth. This helps the cloth keep it’s shape. You could even get fancy and add some decorative quilting!
12. Trim all your loose threads and you are done! Go find a drooling baby to mop up!
This pattern is for personal use only.
This is a wondering first sewing project for beginners because it's all straight lines.
Materials Needed to make 2 burp cloths:
- 1/2 yard of quilting cotton
- 1/2 yard of terry cloth
- Sewing thread to match fabric
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Scissors
- Straight pins
- Iron
Directions:
1. Cut out your fabrics using your rotary cutter and cutting mat – I cut 2 pieces 14 x 22 inches. I tend to cut out pieces two at a time to save time. If you fold your fabric in half you can get two pieces easily by cutting off the fold.
2. After cutting out your fabric – put one piece of cotton and one of terry cloth on top of each other with right sides facing. Pin around the outside to make sure it doesn’t move while you sew.
You are going to turn your sandwich inside out when you are done, so you have to leave about a 2 inch hole in order to do this. I like to put a green and red pin at the start and end of this hole so I know where I am. (sometimes I get carried away and forget to stop sewing at the hole! The red pin helps prevents this.)
3. Using your machine’s foot as a guide for the seam allowance, position your fabric on the machine so your foot is even with the edge. Start sewing at your green pin, but remember to remove the pins before you sew over them so you don't break a needle.
4. When you get to a corner, stop sewing with the needle in the fabric, lift the presser foot and rotate your fabric 90 degrees and put the presser foot back down. Continue sewing on the next side. This helps give you neat right angles at the corners.
5. Continue all the way around until you get to the red needle. At the red needle stop sewing and backstich a few stitches for extra strength since you will be turning your fabric at this point and putting extra stress on those stitches.
You are left with a two inch opening.
6. Clip the corners of your burp cloth to remove extra bulk.
7. Turn your cloth inside out.
8. Find the hole you left and turn the ends of the open fabric under to make a neat seam and pin closed.
9. Iron your cloth to remove any bumps.
10. Starting at one end of your hole, make a top stitch as close to the edge as you feel comfortable and stitch all the way around. Don’t forget to make your neat right angle corners by lifting the presser foot and turning your fabric before starting the next side.
11. Once you are finished with the top stitching, I like to add a few rows of quilting to the top. I ran 3 straight lines down the length of my cloth. This helps the cloth keep it’s shape. You could even get fancy and add some decorative quilting!
12. Trim all your loose threads and you are done! Go find a drooling baby to mop up!
This pattern is for personal use only.
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