So blessed!!!!

Well, ten days ago, on a regular checkup at the hospital... The doctor said I was already in labor. Seven hours later, my little boy was out!


As soon as he was out, his twiמ sister decided to change her position... legs first.. so she had to be delivered in a C-Section. Lucky me, cut on both sides :-)


They are both fine... good weight for twins (2.600 KG the boy, 2.750 KG the girl). So tiny!!!!
I look at them... and I feel so blessed!
I have four amazing kids!



The nights are difficult... very difficult. I don't get enough sleep, and I still don't feel as myself. I still look pregnant :-( very pregnant! And I have waited for so long to put my old clothes on!!!

But I know after the coming few months, we'll get a new rutine, and it will all be just fine.

I have so much to blog about, two items I made before having the babies... two new books I baught, and I have prepared about fours items, all cut, just to be sewn together, piece by piece, when I have the time...
But it'll all have to wait until I have the time!

see you soon!

hardly any sewing going on here...

Well, I am starting week 37 now. I am very heavy, tired, huge and moody. I hope this pregnancy ends really soon, with two healthy babies...
So this month... I really did almost nothing, despite of all my plans.
But some things I needed to do!
First of all, in 4 days my daughter finishes the first grade. I remember her first day of school, how excited and scared we all were... She had a great year!
To celebrate the end of the year her class had a 'Torah party',each child got a Torah book, and they had a nice ceremony, really nice.
I was asked to bring the party cake, here it is..

as always, the inspiration to the cake is from the really great magazine by Taltalim right here...


Then I decided on a very simple dress for my 4 years old... I decided on 'Hanna Suterday's dress' from the new Israeli pattern Magazine, World Fashion.
Here's the catch... I wasn't sure which size to choose... I finally chose size 4, but decided to add to each side of the front and back top parts one cm. I'm glad I did... it would have been too small otherwise. I chose a simple fabric that I bought long ago as a leftover. It has some stretch to it, and this was not a good choice...
I made some changes to the original design -
1. I added to the lower (skirt part) another pattern piece, to make the dress a bit longer and to be able to play with fabric combination.
2. I only traced the skirt front piece, the skirt back piece looks really similar except it isn't placed on the fold. These days I trace as little as I can, since even this is a bit diffcult for me :-)
3. I added a riboon beteen the top and the skirt.
So, why do I say I chose the wrong fabric???? because when I finished the neck opening (with bias tape) it got stretched and lost its shape. If I make this pattern again I'll have to try it on before finishing the neck opening and make sure it fits.
This is the photos of the dress.. please ignore the neck opening... I fixed it later..



The day after I fixed the neck - I add two darts in the back and now it looks much better. I don't have a good photo pf that just yet, though...
Just this picture...

I'm not sure... Can you see from this picture that the neck is much more fit? It really is...
Basically, it's a cute and simple dress. not much work involved.
I found the directions pretty good, but then again, I didn't really need them.
My daugther likes the dress. And I just need to remember, for times to follow, to check the neck opening before I finish it with bias tape, just to make sure the problem is the fabric, not the pattern.

I have more to share, but it'll have to wait.. too tired now,
Good week all!

Red Zucka - another great pattern

I haven't been doing much lately... and I have so much to do... between my full time job, handling the girls and trying to get things ready for the babies... I've become lazy...
Take today for example, I was home today (it's a holiday here, Shavout!) and I did nothing (well, other then taking care of the girls, making lunch, etc.)
There's still a lot to do around here before the babies come. We don't have a room yet, or car seats, or beds... And I just can't handle it right now. Maybe this weekend..
Anyway, I managed one little skirt this week... and it's a big hit!
I got Farbenmix Zucka several months ago, looking for a skirt for my girl that will be good when she grows up a bit too... a less childish skirt. I've noticed she likes these types of cloths now, and that's the way her friends dress too... But it still should be really cute!
I've never made a skirt with so many parts in it!!!! 17 pattern pieces... can you believe it?
But I left out the back pockets.. I just wanted to see that the skirt fits first, next time
(yes, there will be a next time) I'll add pockets,
Anyway, here are the pictures



When I baught the pattern, I baught in German. I think (thougn I'm not sure) the English translation did not exist yes. But I found it in the net. This is the English Instructions document, and here is a very detailed photo guide...

So, the pattern review:
The English instructions and photo guides are great!
I did everything (except the back pockets) as instructed and it turned out great.
But - when I make it again I'll do one step different - in the photo guide the instructions call for completing the skirt and then adding the ruffles, I think it might be better (and more percise) if I attach each ruffle to a skirt piece first and then attach them all.. I'll try it.
I made size 134-140 for my 135 cm tall girl. The fit is great, but maybe just a bit too long. I may make it a bit shorter next time. I also wanted the underskirt piece to be more notable... I'll make it a bit longer next time.
What I like about this pattern...
A lot!!!!
Endless options for fabric combinations!
the pattern pieces (though there are so many...) are very small, making it a great pattern for using leftover fabrics
And the result - my girl LOVES twirly skirts... but this one is shaped differently, a 'big girl' type of skirt... she loves it! she wants another one, in purple... I need to find the fabric...

I'm not sure I'll be able to complete any more projects before I have the babies... But I'll try :-)
Happy Shavout!!!!

more Elodies...

This is just a little post to show I'm still here!
I'm on week 33 now, and it's getting much more difficult to move, to do anything...
But I had to make these two dresses... as the old Elodies I made for the girls last year has gotton too small for them!
(for last year's Elodie pictures see here, and the photo toturial look here)..
Look!






World Fashio Magazine
On another matter.. I think it is common knowlegde now among Israeli crafters, but just in case someone doesn't know (from Israel, I mean), there is a new fashion magazine, called "World Fashion", it's an Israeli magazine, and it is cute!
There is a void in Israel... and I think this magazine can really fill this void.
you can see pictures from the fisrt issue right here
A little review...
first - It doesn't look like a 'first' issue.. I looks very professional, pretty photos, nice and interesting designs in a good variety of sizes!
There are about 25 patterns there.. someof little girls' clothes, some for teens and some for women.
As in most magazines, I liked some of the patterns better then others...
The instructions are very detailed, much better then Burda's instructions, for example. Still, not as good or detailed as Simplicity, Butterick, etc.
I think it is great for Isreal crafters!
I also like that it is the first time to actually get a summer magazine.... well... in the Summer :-)
There are a few 'child sicknesses' the magazine should overcome... I think the girls' patterns should be in heights.. as most sewers are used to. The explnantions for the fabrics chosen for each design could be better..
Still, all in all, a very cute magazine!
I chose from it the 'Trapez Top'(I need to check if I cann add a picture here). I wish I could show you, but in week 33... no way the top can fit me now. I chose this pattern because it looks like a comfortable, wide top, that will fit me after I have the babies...
This will be a good time to show the pictures.
Anyhow, the pattern came out very quickly.. in one evening (well, it was a very eacy top to make). I think it'll fit great, the insturctions were good!
I think I'll post a good pattern review next week on the top, I just need to find a friend to try on this top for me!

Corny and Tacky... part 3 - SImplicity 2388

So.. making these two matching bags wasn't enough...
I also needed to make them cute outfits for getting out of the hospital. I don't think I'll be making more outfits for them right now... because I have so much! But a special new outfit for getting out of the hospital with... that's a must, right?

So I picked Simplicity 2388


I chose the romper. The XXS size.
I didn't iron it.. It will look much cuter when pressed :-)

Here's what I made..





As you can see, I left out the tie on the boy's romper... still looks kind of girly I think... But it'll have to do.
In the girl's version I closed the leg opening with little snaps. In the boy's version I closed it with volcro. I'm not sure which is better.
The doll size is 40 cm, so I actually think this might be good for newborn babies. I haven't seen many newborn patterns that are really for newborn. Have you?
I don't like the tie, and if I make it again, I'll leave it out again, because the baby will be unable to lie down on his tummy with this tie. I wish I thought of that before.
As for the pattern instructions - very easy and very good. The pattern calls for snaps tape to put on the legs, but I didn't have any. I may have to buy when I get to a store.
The size, as I said, seems good...

Still a lot to do!
I have planned two dresses for the girls, bathing suits (maybe), baby bed sheets, maybe some baby toys...
We also have a lot to do around the house to get ready...

Will be back soon!

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!!!