Browsing Tag

baby clothes

Non-lingerie making!

Uncategorized April 24, 2016
Have you ever tried doll-making? I had never really made stuffed toys, besides some witch legs last halloween, but I wanted to try to make Isabel a rag doll.
I wasn’t entirely sure where to start, so I bought a pattern on Etsy from Create Joy Make Stuff. I followed the directions exactly for the body, but decided to do yarn hair instead of felt. I also embroidered on the face, which was a real challenge for me, but I am happy how it turned out! I don’t have a lot of experience with embroidery so I did a lot of stitch ripping.  I found this blog post from Big Little to be really helpful. 

I embroidered a little french knot for a belly button. Isabel is obsessed with belly buttons. She always wants me to show my belly button to everyone in the grocery store…
Anyway, I was SO happy with how the doll turned out that I decided I’d try another toy. This time I kind of made up my own pattern, using the doll pattern as a bit of a jumping point. Since it was Easter, I throught I’d make a bunny doll.

I made the tiniest little underwear set for her to wear, as well as a matching easter dress using a Riley Blake Bunny Print.  I used Heidi & Finn’s Pumpkin Spice pattern for Isabel’s dress. I really love this pattern! I want to make Isabel a ton of these. It has a comfortable loose fit, is easy to sew with three sleeve variations, and looks super adorable!

Bunny’s Top
Isabel’s top
So I’m kind of obsessed with making them matching outfits now. I made a striped replica of a Brindille and Twig Ragland Sleeve Top I made for her earlier in the winter.  
Doll making is almost as addicting as lingerie making!

Post-Halloween

Uncategorized November 3, 2015
I love halloween! I love ghost stories and candy and dressing up… it’s just the best. One of the best parts of having a kid is being able to re-live that feeling that surrounds the holidays.
We didn’t go out trick or treating. Isabel is still a little young and I don’t need to eat any more chocolate than I already fit into my diet.  But, we did dress her up and went for a long, fall walk, and even let her have a piece of candy or two.
I made her dress using Puperita’s Hula Hoop Dress Pattern. It’s  a great little pattern that goes together easily. I made some alterations to the pattern. I didn’t line it, and instead just used bias tape around the neckline.  It buttons up the back, but I used KAM snaps instead because I really hate sewing button holes… I also added a 3 layer skirt, with the top layer being made of spiderweb netting. I cut the hem jagged for an extra witchy look.

I also made her striped leggings using Brindille & Twig’s Legging Pattern. It literally takes minutes to sew. I use fold over elastic around the waist.

Maybe I’m biased, but she’s definitely the cutest little witch I’ve ever seen!

My current favourite baby sewing pattern

Baby, Uncategorized May 11, 2015
Before I had Isabel, I looked high and low for a cotton bubble romper sewing pattern. I found one from one of the Big Pattern Manufacturers but it had a zipper down the back. I hate sewing zippers! The other day, I came across the perfect pattern from Puperita on Etsy. 
I sewed version A with the buttons on the shoulders though I made a few adjustments. I lined the top instead of bias binding the edges. It was just a little quicker and easier for me than doing the binding. I also used KAM snap instead of buttons because I don’t like sewing button holes! Instead of binding the leg openings, I shirred them with some soft elastic. This is a really great pattern with and is easy to customize to your liking. It’s hot here already so I think I’ll be making quite a few of these this summer!

Here’s the photo from Puperita so you can see the changes I made.

I made the one Izzy is wearing in chambray but also bought some gingham and some pastel, summery checker fabric. I’d like to get some nice eyelet too… I am totally addicted to sewing baby clothes.

Sewing for Baby… Bonnets!

Uncategorized February 17, 2015
I don’t know what it is about me, but when I have to do something, it feel so hard to motivate myself to do it… but finding the motivation to make several bonnets? I’ve got that… Getting myself to sew an order sometimes feels excruciating, but I can whip out three bonnets at 4am no problem.
I saw some baby bonnets come across my Instagram feed recently. They were simple, not frilly… just the perfect thing for Isabel! 
So, I went on the hunt for a pattern, since I have no idea how to make a hat for a baby… 
I ended up using the Rabbit Hat Pattern from ithinksew.com. 
I cut the smallest size, which is still a little large for Izzy, but she will grow into it!  Instaed of simply lining the bonnet, I bound the edges with bias binding. I did two plain versions and one with ears. On both, I omitted the dart at the back because I didn’t read the instructions! Typical me… 
The bonnet I made with the bunny ears is made of a single layer of fleece. I used some vintage floral cotton that my best friend, Abbey gave me. It came from her grandmother!

I’m pretty obsessed with these now and have a couple more cut out and ready to be sewn… I’ve spent way too much time now looking at pictures of baby bonnets. Now I want to get some striped and polka dot linen for my next batch….
I also bought the Storybook Woods Bonnet pattern from Alicia Paulson, which also looks very nice.  The weather has been so cold here lately, so these light bonnets are perfect for Isabel.