Corny And Tacky... part 2.. sleeping bags

As promised... I am getting to this.
I baught from an Israeli online fabric shop (badim-dim) two pieces of cord fabric... that match!
And here's what I made out of it
Sleeping sacks
I don't even know if I'll use it! I never used a sleeping sack before for my girls, but this time I plan for the twins to share a bed for the first few months, so I don't like the idea of having two blankets in one bed...


The pattern if from Anna Maria Horner's baby patterns' book Handmade Beginnings
I baught the book for this pattern, since I wanted a non-zippered pattern, that allows the baby to sleep not only on his back.
I like the book, it has some great patterns in it. A lot of them I'll not make (having no more then two months left to carry this pregnancy, I do not intend to make the clothing items from the book). I may want to make the baby shoes. These are adorable..
The instructions were pretty long and complicated for me, but that's probbaly because my English isn't that great, but the illustrations were just fine.
As for the measurements, I think this sleeping bag is pretty good. I tried using it on a 40cm baby doll :-)

Granted, babies are bigger then 40cm, right? So I believe this pattern should fit babies from start till they are several months old.
I used fleece for the lining, not flannel, thinking it'll be warmer this way.
No other changes were made.
If it's a success I'll be making this bag again, as I think it'll be a great baby gift. don't you???
And it's corny, I know... these matching items. But I DON'T CARE!!!!

yes, it's corny and tacky... I don't care!

I am very tired these days. I have a lot going on, between work and the girls I hardly get any crafting time. Since it's getting warm outside, we spend most afternoons in the playground, which is great for the girls... but when I get home I'm usually too tired to do anything!
But I have been doing some things. Not much, and I'm getting a bit worried, that I'll not finish all that I planned before the babies arrive. I still have so much to do, and it should all be finished this month, I'm not sure in June I'll have any energy left, or time...
Anyway, I decided to sew for the babies only the very basic things that I need. I have many baby clothes from my girls, as well as from my sister's kids. So really, I don't plan on making them an clothes, What for? As a rule, all pretty babies clothes end up being poped on or puked on... right?
So I narrowed it down to a very few objects.
1. sleeping sacks
2. cute outfits for going out of the hospital
3. cloth diapers
4. bed sheets
The cloth diapers
As for the cloth diapers, I have baught the patter from YMCT, from right here.
I like the pattern, and it is explained well, but I cannot comment on the size, since I cannot try it on a real baby.
I have made two so far, one for the girl and one for the boy, and I plan to make at least one more for each, I want to see that it is really working, and easy, before making more.
I am not sure which is the perfect AIO diaper. my first try (the girl's diaper) is made as follows (from outside layer to inside)
1. cute cotton print
2. PUL fabric
3. two rectengle layers in absorbing fabric
4. fleece fabric (on the inside) the keep the baby nice and dry.


Inthis diaper I top stictched the leg openings. It looks good, but I'm afraid it will leak.

The second version I made:
1. cutecotton print
2. PUL fabric
3. two layers of flannel
4. fleece fabric with a pocket
In this pocket I can put as many absorbing layers as needed.




In this version I did not top stitch the leg opening. It doesn't look good.

Do any of you have any good comments about these diapers? I would love to hear what fabric combination will be best from your experience!

Anyhow, I didn't even get to the tacky part! This will come next, really soon!!!

Ottobre 03-2008-35

I have an old debt… the dress I made for my niece (as it turned out, just in time for Passover).
I used Ottobre 03-2008-35, it was her choice.
I made it first in some old fabric I had around. I made size146, as that's my niece's exact height. It was HUGE!!! I had to narrow every part of it.
I also had to shorten it a lot, but that's because this is the way my sister wanted it.
When we finally had the pattern fixed, I asked my niece to select fabric. This is what she choose.. dark pant's fabric.
I am so glad my girls still prefer colorful dresses… (and longer dresses )
Anyway, this is the final outcome!



As for the instructions…
This issue is what my parents bought for me from Germany… meaning I have it written in I don't know what language… but it's not English. Still, t is a very easy pattern, and if my niece asks for another dress, it should be easy enough.
I am now preparing a matching bolero for her… Will show pictures when ready!

Simplicity 2924 - Diaper bag

When I was pregnant with my big girl, I baught this functional diaper bag, that was blue (in case I'll have a son a baby boy the next time). I didn't like this bag, but it served its purpose.
It's now pretty dirty and I was happy to replace it with a new bag.
This is the pattern I chose...


This is a pattern for a cute diaper bag, with a flap (that closes using volecro), two side pockets for bottles, one inside pocket divided to two and one back pocket on the outside.

But I made some changes...
For one thing, I want my bag to have a place for 4 bottles, not just the two on the sides, so I made similar side pockets on the inside of the bag..
I also added a zippered pocket on the front for my cell phone.
And two additional inside pockets, other then the two already in the pattern.
I think this bag will be good, I hope it has enough pockets...
For some of the pockets I used the lining fabric (denim) on the outside, to have some contrast. I like the result.
Here are the pictures...
The front..


The side pocket on the outside


The inside pockets(there are many :-))


And the zippered front pocket


I used cotton for the front, and denim for the lining, and I interfaced all parts...

The directions are very good. I recommand this pattern!!

Passover is nearly over... too bad...

Burda 08-2006-125 - Maternity top

I thought... or hoped... that I could get through this pregnancy without buying/making anyspecial clothes. I got from a friend a couple of pants, and I hoped that would be enough.
For when I'm at home that's no big deal. My husband is a big man. I can wear his shirts. But when I go to work, or anywhere else...
I am not really 'presentable' never mind what I wear. still, I'd like to wear clothes that do not reveal my belly botton :-)
I am just starting my 7th month... and already I have NOTHING to wear. So I spent a couple of hours this weekend and this morning maiking myself two maternity tops.
This is the pattern I chose, Burda 08-2006-125, This is what it looks like on the model...


Well... It doesn't look this way on me! For one thing, I'm so much bigger then the model!
I made some changes in the pattern to fit my needs better, and I like the result. Really... still, I wish I could find a maternity pattern that makes me look THIN!
never mind...
The changes I made:
1. I changed the neck line to V shape, I like it better. And I finished it with binding.
2. I cut the back and front a bit longer.. I still need growing room.
3. A note for the long sleeve- not long enough! If I needed the long sleeves version, I'd make the sleeves a couple of inches longer.
4. The back - I narrowed it just a bit in the center back near the neck, and the back in the neck area kind of gaped...
I made it twice... in very stretchy fabric. The fit is good (I made size 40). I onlytook pictures of the first one,
Don't lough. I know I look like a whale...



I hope that with these two tops I can manage the next two months.... I really don't like spedning any more time and effort on maternity clothes when I have so much cuter things on my mind...

crochet blanket...

I've had many opportunities lately to wait for a doctor's appointment... (Have you noticed? you never get to hold the appointment in time! Doctors always run late!).
Also, it happens pretty often lately that when the girls are finally in bed for the night, all I can do is lie down and rest.
I have tried to use this time to crochet...
I first saw the blanket in this blog, and then I saw Hebrew directions in here... (Thanks so much for these!!!)
I actually understood the directions!
So I started.
I have a lot to improve, I didn't really make the squares well... nut well enough!
After 25 squares - I put them together and this is what I had.


I realized this is too small... so I asked in the Knitting Israeli Forum how to expand it. I made some mistakes again, and it didn't come out exactly as I planned it (somehow it expanded a bit..)
But I like what I have!


I have another blanket started, boy's colors this time.

On sewing related issues...
I sent my niece her new 'muslin' dress. She's supposed to try it on and send me a picture. I hope she does that soon.
I have a lot planned for April - May, but at the same time I need to get some order and work on my hours, we need to build a new room, which means clearing up the 'mess room' that we have.. a lot of work, I hope I can make it...

Happy Passover all of you!

Passover dress for my little one...

I made it...
One more dress.
Still a lot do before Passover!
I'm almost done with the muslin dress (that I hope will be wearable too!) for my niece. She just needs to come over so I can out the buttons in the correct place. Then, once I have her approval, I need to make it one more time in another fabric. And a bolero too...
I also started sewing for the babies too... very few things, hope to have something to show soon.
Back to the dress...
I have so many dress patterns, but I saw this one in YCMT. I do not usually buy pdf paterns for clothes (because I hate having to tape papers togther), but I made an exception this time. To be honest, I think I could have drafted this pattern myself, since I have another pattern that looks very similar, but then I would have felt uncomfortable... taking someone else's idea without paying for it.
So I baught the pattern.
I changed it though... The long back option of the original pattern is made with shirring, which I hate...
So I made it with elastics.
I took the main pattern piece (the bodice) and made all other parts for myself, considering the fabrics that I had. I did't have enough for the sash... so I gave it up.
I think the result is cute... not the best, but cute enough. And my little girl is HAPPY!
The dress deserves better pictures then the ones I took (very rainy in here lately) and I'll do that as soon as it warms up outside...
to the pictures


There was really no need for the instructions... very simple dress.But I looked at them anyway, so I can report they are very well written, very clear, it is a great pattern for any beginner sewer!