Thursday, May 19, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Nursing cover tutorial (giveaway ended)
Sew first, the tutorial!!
My girls were both born in Ohio, were everyone nursed, and in public, so we would cover up with a blanket or just make sure nothing was showing and it was no big deal. Here it is a little different. Modesty is a big deal, and while nursing most moms cover up with a nursing cover if they have to be in public. Most times, moms find a private place and still cover up. Being a plus size gal, the store bought (and even mail order) covers did not work well for me. I need just a little more cover. So I made a few of these...
They cover everything, and when Bubba squirms he can't "expose" me!
Supplies
1 yard fabric
2 1 inch D rings
1/2 yard boning
Start by cutting a 4 inch strip of fabric for the straps. The body piece is about 24 inches by the width of fabric (usually 44) I just trimmed up the salvages. I say about, because if you are taller or bigger boobed, you might want a little longer.
Start by hemming the 2 sides and bottom.
I have a roll hemmer for my machine (which I love) but if you don't, just press about 1/4 in, then again for your hem.
Take your 4 inch strip
fold and press in half
open up and press edges in towards center
Then press those together. press both ends inward and catch them in the folds to create 2 finshed ends.
Cut a piece about 9or so inches off, so one piece is longer than the other
Take the top and roll and press 1/4 inch
Then roll over and press again about an inch down.
With a washable fabric pencil mark the center of the boning and the top roll. Place so marks meet up and pin.
about a pinky width away from the edge of the boning, put the straps in raw side into the fold. push it into the end, then fold over and pin.
Sew the bottom of the fold first, about 1/8 away from the edge.Then do the top. This step is tricky because of the boning.
then go back and stitch down the sides of the straps.
put on your D rings(I start at the bottom of about an inch and a half fold, then sew in a square getting as close as I can to the rings)
and you are all done! Thread the D rings with the free strap and you are set to go!
Now, I made this cover specifically for this tutorial, so I am going to GIVE IT AWAY. That is right, if you would like to win this lovely larger nursing cover made with Thomas Kincade Pinocchio fabric (I kid you not, I know it is super tacky, but trust me, every old lady will compliment you on it! I have a matching one!) All you need to do is:
follow my blog! then...
Leave a comment, it can be about nursing, motherhood, sewing, crafting, or just about anything!
That's it, so if you are already a member, just leave a comment! The random number drawing will be Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. central time (a little later if I am feeding Bubba at that time!) So entries are from now until 6:00p.m. central time on Wednesday!!!
Happy Sewing, Happy Nursing!
My girls were both born in Ohio, were everyone nursed, and in public, so we would cover up with a blanket or just make sure nothing was showing and it was no big deal. Here it is a little different. Modesty is a big deal, and while nursing most moms cover up with a nursing cover if they have to be in public. Most times, moms find a private place and still cover up. Being a plus size gal, the store bought (and even mail order) covers did not work well for me. I need just a little more cover. So I made a few of these...
They cover everything, and when Bubba squirms he can't "expose" me!
Supplies
1 yard fabric
2 1 inch D rings
1/2 yard boning
Start by cutting a 4 inch strip of fabric for the straps. The body piece is about 24 inches by the width of fabric (usually 44) I just trimmed up the salvages. I say about, because if you are taller or bigger boobed, you might want a little longer.
Start by hemming the 2 sides and bottom.
I have a roll hemmer for my machine (which I love) but if you don't, just press about 1/4 in, then again for your hem.
Take your 4 inch strip
fold and press in half
open up and press edges in towards center
Then press those together. press both ends inward and catch them in the folds to create 2 finshed ends.
Cut a piece about 9or so inches off, so one piece is longer than the other
Take the top and roll and press 1/4 inch
Then roll over and press again about an inch down.
With a washable fabric pencil mark the center of the boning and the top roll. Place so marks meet up and pin.
about a pinky width away from the edge of the boning, put the straps in raw side into the fold. push it into the end, then fold over and pin.
Sew the bottom of the fold first, about 1/8 away from the edge.Then do the top. This step is tricky because of the boning.
put on your D rings(I start at the bottom of about an inch and a half fold, then sew in a square getting as close as I can to the rings)
and you are all done! Thread the D rings with the free strap and you are set to go!
Now, I made this cover specifically for this tutorial, so I am going to GIVE IT AWAY. That is right, if you would like to win this lovely larger nursing cover made with Thomas Kincade Pinocchio fabric (I kid you not, I know it is super tacky, but trust me, every old lady will compliment you on it! I have a matching one!) All you need to do is:
follow my blog! then...
Leave a comment, it can be about nursing, motherhood, sewing, crafting, or just about anything!
That's it, so if you are already a member, just leave a comment! The random number drawing will be Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. central time (a little later if I am feeding Bubba at that time!) So entries are from now until 6:00p.m. central time on Wednesday!!!
Happy Sewing, Happy Nursing!
Tardis cake!
So for my annual 23rd birthday this year my husband got me 2 great things. The first being a serger, which was more of a mothers day gift, and then...
A TARDIS cake!
This is from a local woman, Angela Thomas, who makes art cakes locally.
Unfortunately, this TARDIS is not bigger on the inside...
but it was totally delicious!
A TARDIS cake!
This is from a local woman, Angela Thomas, who makes art cakes locally.
Unfortunately, this TARDIS is not bigger on the inside...
but it was totally delicious!
Friday, May 13, 2011
May sewing
I had posted a post about the gifts I made for the teachers in our lives, and how good teachers are worth their weight in gold, but it was lost :( So here are the projects again...
Giant beach tote for Evie's piano teacher!
Lap quilt for Serena's preschool teacher. She meant so much to us this year, and truly is a teacher worth their weight in gold!
For Evie's teacher and assistant we made this little wall hangings/table toppers with the class picture in the middle and all the kids got to draw or write on the border. Evie helped stitch it together!
Last Sunday for Mother's Day and my birthday Kevin bought me something I have wanted for a long time... a serger! Hancock's had a great little Janome on sale, perfect for a beginner like me! Of course, I also hit up their clearance fabric and found this adorable M'liss city signature for Hong Kong and had to make my little Vasili an outfit...
Also bought the London version! Working on a Hawaiian print one right now, but got sidetracked today with wonder wallets for a few little friends of Evie.
Happy Sewing!
Giant beach tote for Evie's piano teacher!
Lap quilt for Serena's preschool teacher. She meant so much to us this year, and truly is a teacher worth their weight in gold!
For Evie's teacher and assistant we made this little wall hangings/table toppers with the class picture in the middle and all the kids got to draw or write on the border. Evie helped stitch it together!
Last Sunday for Mother's Day and my birthday Kevin bought me something I have wanted for a long time... a serger! Hancock's had a great little Janome on sale, perfect for a beginner like me! Of course, I also hit up their clearance fabric and found this adorable M'liss city signature for Hong Kong and had to make my little Vasili an outfit...
Also bought the London version! Working on a Hawaiian print one right now, but got sidetracked today with wonder wallets for a few little friends of Evie.
Happy Sewing!
An even lazier way to install a zipper into a wonder wallet
I am a big fan of Lazy Girl Design patterns, and end up making a ton of wonder wallets for gifts and donations. I like adding a zipper to the back, and originally wrote this tutorial to do so.But being a little on the lazy side, I came up with an even easier way!! This is not a pattern. You need the LGD wonder wallet pattern already to understand what is going on here, but you can use the same general principal to add an exterior zip almost anywhere!
First, cut out your pattern as normal, and sew the main piece as directed, turn and press. Cut an additional piece, about 5.5 by the the width of the wallet. Fold that piece right sides together, press, place around zipper and sew
Then flip and topstitch
on backside of wallet, position about 1/8th inch down from edge of the top of the wallet, and stitch close to the zipper top (in the pics my pocket piece is longer than the wallet itself...)
It actually helps a lot if you stitch all the way around at 1/8 inch seam allowance so it doesn't shift when you sew the inside pockets.
lined zippered coin pocket!!
stack and add your interior pockets like normal, and viola!!!
Super easy!!
First, cut out your pattern as normal, and sew the main piece as directed, turn and press. Cut an additional piece, about 5.5 by the the width of the wallet. Fold that piece right sides together, press, place around zipper and sew
Then flip and topstitch
on backside of wallet, position about 1/8th inch down from edge of the top of the wallet, and stitch close to the zipper top (in the pics my pocket piece is longer than the wallet itself...)
It actually helps a lot if you stitch all the way around at 1/8 inch seam allowance so it doesn't shift when you sew the inside pockets.
lined zippered coin pocket!!
stack and add your interior pockets like normal, and viola!!!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Teacher Gifts!
I can't believe the school year is over already! I am ready for Summer, and I know the girls are. It has been a roller coaster year, especially for Serena.
With all that we went through, I came to realize a few things. The first being is that a good teacher is worth their weight in gold.
Teachers don't just teach. How a teacher treats children can effect their emotional well being for the rest of their life. Think about it, when you look back on your education, can you remember a cruel teacher? a nice teacher that changed you? I know one of the reasons I love to sew is my middle school sewing teacher Mrs. Hank. Middle School is an awful time for pretty much all kids. She not only taught me how to sew, but encouraged me to keep at it. I would get a pass to visit her class during study hall to learn more from her. I was devastated when she retired after my 7th grade year. But because of her, I asked for a sewing machine of my own for my 13th birthday and got more involved with sewing with my grandma and great grandmas, which created wonderful memories for me.
So if a positive experience with education effects a 13 year old, think about what a negative experience can do to a 4 year old. Yeah, not pretty. Which is why after finding Serena's current preschool, I am more grateful to good teachers. Her teacher at Carriage Hills Baptist, Mrs. Jan, rocks. She was able to guide and direct Serena in positive ways, which actually taught her how to better handle situations like waiting her turn and interacting with other children. I hope Kindergarten next year goes as well!
So for Serena's teacher I wanted to do something extra special, so I made her a quilt
It's a 50 by 50 lap quilt, done with Civil War Repro fabric. Teresa Pino, our guild president and new owner of a long arm quilter, quilted it for me.
I love how the quilt finished. She like it to. It takes me so long to piece a quilt because I never have longer than a baby nap to sew! But like I said, a good teacher is worth their weight in gold.
For Evie's piano teacher, I made a big beach bag
I found this jazzy music print a while ago and it took me forever to figure out what to do with it. As you can see, it could easily fit my sewing machine in it.
I know Serena will be OK in Kindergarten because I trust the school. I have meet most of the teachers and the support staff at the elementary school. I feel lucky to live in an area with excellent public schools.
Evie had a really sweet teacher this year. Our school has a teacher and assistant in each k and 1st classroom. For Evie's teacher and assistant we made (her choice, and she helped sew the borders!!) little wall hangings
In the center I printed a class picture on fabric then just added a big border for the kids to sign and draw on!!
I am looking forward to next school year, but for now we are sooooo ready for summer!
Happy Sewing!
With all that we went through, I came to realize a few things. The first being is that a good teacher is worth their weight in gold.
Teachers don't just teach. How a teacher treats children can effect their emotional well being for the rest of their life. Think about it, when you look back on your education, can you remember a cruel teacher? a nice teacher that changed you? I know one of the reasons I love to sew is my middle school sewing teacher Mrs. Hank. Middle School is an awful time for pretty much all kids. She not only taught me how to sew, but encouraged me to keep at it. I would get a pass to visit her class during study hall to learn more from her. I was devastated when she retired after my 7th grade year. But because of her, I asked for a sewing machine of my own for my 13th birthday and got more involved with sewing with my grandma and great grandmas, which created wonderful memories for me.
So if a positive experience with education effects a 13 year old, think about what a negative experience can do to a 4 year old. Yeah, not pretty. Which is why after finding Serena's current preschool, I am more grateful to good teachers. Her teacher at Carriage Hills Baptist, Mrs. Jan, rocks. She was able to guide and direct Serena in positive ways, which actually taught her how to better handle situations like waiting her turn and interacting with other children. I hope Kindergarten next year goes as well!
So for Serena's teacher I wanted to do something extra special, so I made her a quilt
It's a 50 by 50 lap quilt, done with Civil War Repro fabric. Teresa Pino, our guild president and new owner of a long arm quilter, quilted it for me.
I love how the quilt finished. She like it to. It takes me so long to piece a quilt because I never have longer than a baby nap to sew! But like I said, a good teacher is worth their weight in gold.
For Evie's piano teacher, I made a big beach bag
I found this jazzy music print a while ago and it took me forever to figure out what to do with it. As you can see, it could easily fit my sewing machine in it.
I know Serena will be OK in Kindergarten because I trust the school. I have meet most of the teachers and the support staff at the elementary school. I feel lucky to live in an area with excellent public schools.
Evie had a really sweet teacher this year. Our school has a teacher and assistant in each k and 1st classroom. For Evie's teacher and assistant we made (her choice, and she helped sew the borders!!) little wall hangings
In the center I printed a class picture on fabric then just added a big border for the kids to sign and draw on!!
I am looking forward to next school year, but for now we are sooooo ready for summer!
Happy Sewing!
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