nap time dress

For my birthday I got a gift card from my in-laws (super sweet card) to my new addiction store... Hobby Lobby! So the other morning after we got back from our trip to the Oregon Coast, I loaded up the kids after their favorite breakfast and off to Hobby Lobby we went! after stopping at the candle shelves ( I could spend all day there and not even realize it!) we made it back to the fabrics, perused through them a bit then i meandered through the patterns and figured i had enough of both so we were just gonna leave. Well on the way through the checkout aisles a book caught my eye. It's called "Making Children's clothes" 25 stylish step-by-step sewing projects for 0-5 years, including full-sized paper patterns by Emma Hardy.

This book is exactly what it says it is, step-by-step instructions with patterns attached in the back of the book. As there are 25 patterns (not including the applique patterns for some of the projects), and there are only 2 pages for the actual patterns its best to use some tracing paper or parchment paper. I liked using the wax paper as its really sturdy to draw on and my scissors glide through it when I'm cutting it out and still see-through enough for me to get the clean lines of the pattern I'm tracing as they are all available in various sizes.


I ordered the fabric i used on Etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/LMSIAFabrics

I chose these fabrics from the same Michael Miller line by Patty Young. i just love the lotus blossoms and the little spot of pink in them that make this fabric so versatile for my girls' wardrobe





the dress pattern i chose is actually for a night gown but i love how it looked in these fabrics so i know i wont feel like she shouldn't wear it out if the house.





 My big girl was so so excited to get her dress on! she watched me cut the pieces out and pin them together...she was by my side every step of the way and ready for her close up as soon as she got it on.

  

start to finish with no interruptions it was probably a 2 hour project. i have 3 other little girls i want to make this style of dress for. So keep on the look out for my new favorite, super easy, super cute dress. It's the perfect size for her with a bit of room to grow as the sleeves are just above the wrist as it is. I cannot wait for her to wear this to school this year!

I have finally gotten my feet wet with this whole sewing thing and i must say its way harder than i thought it was! I feel very confident in my choices for first pieces and must say that they turned out much better than i anticipated! i had a few oops' where i had to redo whole 52" seams but the labor and late nights i put into them was well worth it for the love and appreciation ive gotten from my own girls and friends and family ive made pieces for :)

 above is a pillowcase dress i made for a special "niece" that matches a blanket, bib, changing pad set i made for her baby shower gift :)

 My oldest daughter showing off her first dress made by mommy

My youngest daughter showing off her first dress (pillowcase style) that is opposite big sisters'

 Big girl literally petting the fabric she helped me pick out for her very special dress

I traced this dress onto a paper bag and cut out the fabric accordingly. Little really loved this dress and wore it for an entire road trip. She's not normally my girly girl but she felt awfully pretty in this navy striped and starred dress

 This dress is still missing the sash but big girl couldn't wait to get it on! I bought this pattern off etsy from www.etsy.com/shop/BellaFabrics . This is the Kyoko Asian inspired shirt dress, pattern by Modkid. definately my biggest accomplishment with my sewing machine to date.

Hats!!!

I've been working tirelessly on a bunch of hats and ear warmers for my lovely family members! I've for 4/4 ear warmers done and 1/4 hats done for some very special little baby girls :) the link to the hat pattern is here: http://thedaintydaisyblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/shell-stitch-beanie.html?m=1

Also sewing some buttons on some leg warmers and sending those off as soon as I have access to a car again :) happy crafting my friends

jingle jingle

Over the Holidays i was EXTREMELY busy! Trying to have a baby, crocheting, taking care of my home and family, getting ready for baby, celebrating and TRYING TO HAVE A BABY!! our little Mr elf baby arrived 6 days past his due date a whooping 8 lbs 6 oz of dark haired perfection. it took 5 trips to the labor and delivery unit and 4 trips back home and a very special midwife to figure out his placement was off centered. we corrected it and he came into the world in a beautiful and completely stress free labor.

Ive been working on adult ear warmers, and toddler leg warmers as Christmas gifts that have yet to be delivered as i was having a baby and getting adjusted.

Along with our own Roman being born, our family also welcomed two BEAUTIFUL twin baby girls just a few days after Roman was born. Sweetest girls Tia Shane (after ME!!!!) and miss Layla Kay Fuchs!

 

 

So this is what has kept me so busy but I'm loving every minute of life with a son and getting to bond with him. I just lanolozed little Mr's wool pants last night and I'm very excited to get to cloth him for more than just a few hours a day. so have a great night and ill update you all very soon on our crafty adventures.

Merry Christmas!!!

Today is Christmas Eve!! I'm officially overdue with our little elf baby, and so I decided to pick up a new craft...I took the plunge into KNITTING!!! I've had a full set of knitting needles for years and learned to knit when I was little (along with crocheting). So I've been finding all kinds of tutorials online to brush up and learn the things I didn't know. I'm starting with a basic scarf with alternating with white and red :) here is a pic of what I've started so far

Ruffled leg warmers :)

I got a request from my dear Aunt Kat to make her two pairs of ruffled leg warmers so she can be cozy while still being stylish when at her events. So naturally I said yes! Right away we brainstormed and figured out the style and I let her pick the colors (her wardrobe and all). Well I got a package in the mail this afternoon and got right to work! I started at 3 pm and by 10pm (continuing daily routine with two pixies under my feet) I finished one from the first set :) so here it is just to get a feel. These can be bought for $35 a pair postage paid. Turn around will only be a few days after supplies are bought ;)

You can visit my Aunt's website to view her fine art and like her on FaceBook for both her fine arts, and jazz band! Look for Kathleen Cavender and tell her I sent you!

http://www.kathleencavender.com/kath.htm
FB- Kathleen Cavender Fine Art

Oh sewing machine!!!

This week I have been and will continue to create things for my little elf baby on-the-way. The owls and bubble minky will be a blanket for him. The snowflakes, terry cloth, and organic bamboo velour will be transormed into soft absorbent flat diapers for him to wear under all the wonderful wool covers I've been making him! I'm in the process of crocheting another set of wool shorts. I'm not sure if ill be selling these or keeping these for him yet. But here is a picture of the colors I've chosen. The link to the free pattern is here

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/widdershins-soaker

The ribbed waistband is made from Patons classic wool in "new denim". It's 100% pure new wool medium weight. The body is made from Bamboo Ewe by stitch nation in "twilight". It is a wool blend of 55% bamboo viscose and 45% wool. Very soft and warm and absorbent.

After I get done with these shorts I'm going to spend some time washing and lanolizing all my handmade wooly projects :)

Homemade laundry soap!!!

A few weeks ago, right before our big move from apartment to house, my hubby suggested that we make our own detergent as we were running low and I knew we'd have tons of laundry to do before and after. So I'm finally running my first attempt at homemade laundry detergent!! I found the "recipes" on

tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

Wish us luck! Ill let you know how it goes

Apparently after I grate my bar of Fels-Naptha I will need to run it through my food processor because I've got some pretty nice chunks. But it should wash well ;)

Adult size leggings

Well I FINALLY finished them up last night and I've already worn them to the store! Definitely needing more of these colors in my wardrobe now! And more accessories for me. Better get cracking on some of these other projects I've got piling up. An over sized cowl and another 2 sets (different pattern) of adult leggings are up next. Then I've got cloth diapers to put together and a baby blanket for my sweet little guy on the way :) busy busy mama over here
Total labor of love

Leggings!!

After months of making things for others and my baby boy on the way I've finally started a project for myself! Here is the first legging I made just for me :) I saw something similar for a little girl on Pinterest and decided I loved them so much I had to have some. I cannot wait to finish the other and embellish them so I can wear them all the time! Since I didn't have a pattern to go off of, ill just have to write out my very first pattern for these pretties :)

first projects

My first projects after "Crochet School" classes 

 pattern for this style diaper cover is found at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/adirondack-babie-crocheted-soaker-pattern  this is my go-to diaper soaker pattern, I've made many for my belly baby to wear.

 partial yarn stash!

 the first hat I ever made. Made for a very special teeny tiny micro-preemie that is dear to my heart.

One of the diaper covers made by me for belly baby.

 The very first wool cover stash to cloth diaper my baby

this was a wool diaper cover made for my friend for her brand new baby girl. I still adore the color combo of the pink/purple/green