A Gift For Rhea

Rhea is turning 25 on Saturday.  She is incredible fond of her little niece and is always asking to babysit.  I came across this photo from Andrea's Birthday and thought it would be perfect.  This is a little throw pillow for her room.  This was the first time I have used lace trim and it was much more difficult than I thought it was going to be but well worth it, I think it made a huge difference. 

This morning, baby blanket was done, washed and finally dry.  Perhaps tummy baby wants his blanket from Amma before s/he is born.  It is going in the mail tomorrow.  Amma promises.

Baby blankets

Today I finished the second of two baby blankets that I intend to be Tummy Baby's soft, security blankets. I'll make a few mini loveys out of the scraps.  They are really simple: minky on one side, flannel on the other, satin border. I will say that sewing the minky and the satin was a challenge because they pull and so your pinning gets off quickly.  Especially with the satin border.  I did a lot better on the second go around with the corners, though!

Wooden Rainbow Arches

Quay made this beautiful toy out of a piece of Hickory wood that he had in his shop.  I showed him a website with instructions for this toy when I was in Denver with Edie and he immediately ran into his shop and came out with the wood he ultimately used, saying he'd been looking for something to do with it.  I never thought he would find the time to make it - much less for Edie and our new arrival! What a guy! I just had to show this off somewhere. 

Here is where the instructions are:  http://prudentbaby.com/2012/01/baby-kid/wooden-rainbow-arches/

Activity Blanket

This activity blanket was made for Rachel Wider (Silva) whose baby boy is due June 16th.  I chose a little firmer cotton for the top and soft fleece for the backing.  Three Velcros, with two on opposite sides in case she wanted to fasten it to a stroller or a car seat.  Next time, if there is one, I'll chose a similar color for the backing and not a contrast that is so different that it interferes with the pictures on the material.  Perhaps making the tags using different feel material instead of just ribbons might be nice.

Hat and Leggings

 This hat and leggings are for age six months to one year.  It was knitted for a friend's grandchild.  It was knitted with Berroco, Comfort DK, 50% Super Fine Nylon and 50% Super Fine Acrylic.  Very soft but probably not very warm.  I knitted it on size 7 needles and the stitches were about 24-26 per four inches.

Activity / Travel Blanket for Infant

This blanket is a gift for a baby shower.  It is meant to be a small blanket with ribbon tabs and velcro loops to attach different toys to that a parent can use either in a stroller or car seat for baby to play with, or as a clean surface to let baby stretch out on when you are out of your house.  I would have gotten a lot of use out of this with Edie! I am planning to make more.

I have been planning this for ages.  It is not that hard to make at all.  And I am happy with how it turned out.  I used flannel on the back, so that is very soft.  I simplified the pattern I found a little, only adding one pocket and not adding velcro to the pocket (though things could fall out if you used it in the car or stroller, I thought velcro on the pocket would be annoying overall).  Also, I didn't have any of the fancy loops of self-stick velcro mentioned in the pattern.  What I did have was little squares of velcro, so I cut pieces of ribbon, sewed under the edges, and then sewed velcro to the ends and this accomplished the loops for changing up the toys you attach.  It would've been faster with the other stuff, but this turned out fine.

Here is the pattern / inspiration:  http://www.merrimentdesign.com/kids-travel-toy-blanket-with-velcro-loops-and-ribbon-tags.php

Monster Pants

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 Finally, a pair that is long enough is done and ready to be sent. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

Sofia's first hat

Sofia had some leftover yarn from amma and a pattern and the results are perfect. A purple hat with little flaps.

Sleepsack for Edie

This was my second and a half attempt at sewing a sleepsack.  The seams came together better, although not perfect.  It washed well and the left over material was used to make a sleepsack for Edie's baby, Diane. 

Expecting it to be washed often, I reinforced the bias tape with a decorative top stitch. Very sweet. 

Sleepsack for Andrea

Greta told me that the only sleepsack Andrea has is the one that Rakel sent her. She said that Andrea used it all the time.  Well, one sleepsack doesn't seem enough so I set out to test my new sewing machine.  The material was purchased from Jo-Ann's, chosen because it was amazingly soft.  I washed the material after I zigzagged all around it.  Afterwards working on it, it was hard to work with.  My clothes were full of lint and a layer on the floor.  After cutting the pattern and zigzagging the seams it improved some.  It is so fluffy that it was giving my machine fits.  I'd take a little brush and keep cleaning it.  Then the half-finished project sat and cured.  Weather got colder and once again, I was back to it.  This time, I found it more tolerable to work with.
The bias tape, after I sewed it on was not quite to my liking so I stitch little curly things half on the bias and half on the material to secure it.  It's a size nine months and it's huge.  Also, the two front pieces don't line up and getting a nice straight seam when I put in a zipper was impossible for me. 

But, after I finished it, even though I wasn't 100% satisfied with all aspects, I was charmed by it.  Told Tim that I was putting it through a cycle on the washer and dryer and if it started shedding or any other thing, it would end up in the garbage.  It held up beautifully.

Latch Rug Made from T-Shirts

Saturday night, armed with all material on hand and one granddaughter, Moira, I set out to make this cute, green, rug.  Moira and I were excited.  It didn't take me long to see that it would take super-human effort.  A terrible attempt with a granddaughter who seldom spends the night with me.  "This is impossible," I announced after latching a few.  "No, it's not that bad," Moira tried her best to encourage me to continue.  She tried and tried.  At 9:30 pm I told her we were going to the store and I got her a latch hook kit.  She latched away and we tossed out the rest of the project.
What good came out of this? 
1. Don't do a project with your granddaughters unless you have done it before.
2. The cutting wheel, 45, is wonderful.  I used it to cut my next project and for me, it was so much better and a cleaner cut than scissors.  You need a cutting board though.  Jo-Ann's has a 40% coupon online so my Fiskar was only seven dollars.  That was worth all the effort.

A Present for Edie

I made this skirt for Edie. I apologize, Rakel, for sending a summer skirt...that part was not well thought out. I think it turned out really cute and I am pretty happy with it. The inside of my sewing projects are looking increasingly cleaner which is very exciting.

Throw Pillows

Since we got a new couch, I wanted new throw pillows. I am not going to say Quay said no but the word "divorce" did come up so I just decided to make my own. With Rachael's help with color schemes, here is what I created. They are actually slip covers so I can wash them or make new ones at anytime and I won't have to worry about getting new pillows.

Fall Swing Coat for Edie

 

This sweater is knitted with super soft yarn and should be handwashed for it to keep the feel.  It's wonderful to knit with.  Since this is for a child, I'm questioning myself and the use of fine yarn.  It's more enjoyable to knit with but I'm going to check out the washable yarns.  That's more practical for moms.  However, for tiny ones, feel is so important that I will stay with Debbie's yarn.
This swing coat turned out perfect.  It is light with warmth.  The button has blue in it to match the color of the "sweater" and large so little fingers can try to push it in the hole.

Sensory Mat for Andrea

I finally finished the sensory mat for Andrea to hopefully make tummy time more interesting. Each pattern has a different texture. She is sitting so well these days that we just let her sit on it and she sat there rubbing the different squares. I filled the inside with quilting matting so I can put it on the wood floor and it's still soft for her. The back is a fleece material which was probably not that well thought out since it attracts dirt and dog hair :(

Reversible pants

My first sewing project with the new machine - which I LOVE! I can't believe how much different it is than my first machine. Smoother, quieter, and far less fussy. The pants I made - for Edie, of course - are fully reversible, which made for substantial pants with absolutely no seams. It is a great project for using up little scraps, too. Here are many pictures, since there are so many angles of these rather eccentric duds. I am very happy with the fit and feel of them. The pattern came from the Anna Maria Horner book: Handmade Beginnings. The pattern was pretty easy to use, but annoying to trace. I am glad I'd done a few simpler things, but over all I did these in one day during baby sleep times.

Crayon melting in the name of art

This project has been all over the internet craft world lately. So Edie may be one of many of her peers with the likes of it on her wall. But, nevertheless, I like it! And it was fun and simple to make - so simple I made the whole thing while she was awake. No small feat. All you need is canvas, crayons, a hot glue gun, and a hair dryer. And *voila*! You've got a fun piece that is engaging, abstract, and full of texture. It will go above what is now a changing table but will soon hopefully be a blank space since obviously Edie will potty train herself before she's two. Right?!

A link to another example.

Potato print art

Our new house has high ceilings and that demands big art! Especially in Edie's room where the furniture is low to accommodate her toddler stature and where, more than any room, we want it bright and happy. I saw this project online and loved it. The original maker didn't use it as kid-room art, but I think it suits it perfectly. It is colorful and happy, but still interesting and modern enough to grow with her and her room. And using potato printing gives it an organic quality that is more appealing that if it were perfect (at least that's what I tell myself when I notice all the poor alignment!). It was fun to work with acrylics. I read somewhere that the colors you mix are much better and more vibrant than those you buy. It's true and I wish I'd believed them sooner into the project. The printing took awhile, but it was a peaceful activity that you can do while listening to podcasts and whatnot.

Here's the original link.

Head Huggers

I knitted these hats for the cancer treatment room at Beaumont.  They turned out very nice. Good fit around the head without sliding down or being tights.