Sewing projects: nursing cover

I am expecting another baby but we didn't plan on having anymore kids and I've already donated all my baby goods.  Well, I didn't want to spent any $ buying the much needed nursing cover.  Well, I'm happy to say I found a youtube tutorial on how to make a nursing cover.  A bit complicated at the end of the video which I'll clarify for you.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YgIlgNZgks  Ok so when it gets to the last bit about measuring 10" from both side to place your straps.  The center of your strap should be where you mark 10".  Make sure you have 16" between the two straps for your boning.  Get the boning that doesn't come w/a liner as those get bunched up when you try to thread the boning through.  My next one I think I'll modify it to make the boning shorter as I don't like to have such a huge opening.  But these weren't hard to make at all.  Cost over all was under $10.  Fabric pattern I got at Hobby Lobby.  They do sell boning there in a pack not by the yard like JoAnn.  Some think that it's stiffer to get size 1/2 for boning but it was darn near impossible to find anywhere.  However the 1/4 works just fine.

Sewing Projects: Fabric High Chair

I saw a fabric high chair featured on Stealbaby while checking out facebook.  I thought it was  great idea.  So I went online searching for a pattern and what I found was even better than what I originally saw.  I ended up making two fabric travel high chair in a day.  One as a gift and the other for my son.  I found the pattern and very clear direction on youtube.  Here is the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKMSYNrfutA.  hope you have fun making yours and it was really easy.  The patterns I got was from Hobby Lobby.  I modified from the youtube video in that I didn't use any batting lining.  Instead I chose quilting fabric for the interior side.  You could chose a fancy pattern quilt fabric for the outside.  But they were too costly for me.  I used gift wrap paper that has the grid on the back side and that what I use to cut out my patterns.  Then I lay down my fabric to measure, pin, and cut.

Valentines or Mother's Day present

This is so neat but it took a lot of work trying to get the kids to cooperate. You simply have them post with their hands forming a fist. They have to extend the fisted hand and say "cheese". Make sure that they form a fist instead of just curling some fingers. You can tell from the two boys that the tight fist looks better.

Then you make two slit one above the fist and one below it. Insert your lollipop for Valentines Day or make a paper flower for Mother's day or teacher appreciation. I got the idea from http://24-7-365.blogspot.com/2009/02/lavish-me-with-praise.html

Teachers Appreciation for Valentines Day

I saw this post by simplyjstudio.blogspot.com. It's very simple to do but it took a while for me to find Rolos. You'll have to get the Rolos that are in a tube form. What you'll need : yellow color cardstock, pink color cardstock, aluminum foil, Hersey Kisses, dot glue, something to score with, edging scissors, and a cutter.

1) cut yellow cardstock paper to 4.5 x3.5. Score 1/2 an inch along the length of the paper. I prefer 1/2 inches rather than 1/4 inches. I use Martha Steward scoring board you can get 40% off at Hobby Lobby with their coupons. Cut bottom of the short end of the paper with the edging scissor.

2) cut pink cardstock paper 3.5x 1/8 inch. No need to score. Trace a circle of the Rolos to be the top of the eraser later.

3) cut aluminum foil smaller than pink cardstock.

Now wrap yellow scored paper around the roll of Rolos and glue the long side together. Do the same thing with the pink paper and foil. Use glue dot to stick the bottom of the Hersey Kisses to the Rolos. Add a heart with some ribbons and saying and you're done!

Crochet Train hat

This is too adorable not to recreate. My sons love trains. We have train table and ride on train so naturally he should also have a train hat. Thanks to Amanda Brooke Crochet for the design inspiration. You can follow her on facebook through Bobwilson 123--Youtube Crochet channel. Tons of ideas and video tutorial sure to please. Message her on facebook and she can share with you this free pattern.

Crochet Chocolate Kisses and detachable beard hat

Let me tell you I had so much fun making this project in time for Valentines Day. I saw this chocolate hat on Pea Pod Accessories on Facebook. I made the hat using the tutorial for "How to Make an Elf's Hat" by Bobwilson 123 on youtube. I just skip the tail part and started working a 6 hdc into a magic circle. Then I just follow the rest of the instruction on the video tutorial. Clare also provided written instruction. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkQCpLk9xMA Yes, we're on first name basis now since I also follow her on Facebook. After I was done with the hat I added a ribbon with the printed word KISSES on there, like the chocolate kisses. I may go back and color in the words red for Valentines Day. I made one for each of my boys. **edit** To custom fit for different size head just measure the circumference of the crown of the head. Where the side start to go straight down. Work your increases up to that point only and continue with straight stitches till it measure down pass the ear a bit. At least I like mine below the ear a bit in case it shrinks in the wash.

I also made a detachable beard to go with my older son's hat. He can wear it alone or with the hat and I also gave it a try and it fits :-). I used a size J/10 6.00mm hook and Baby Bee Pitter Patter Eyelash Yarn in chocolate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5djCKMi4sIE

Felt board sight words sentences

You can make your own board using any frame and adding felt material to it. I have an easel from Ikea and I don't use the blackboard side so I decided to cover it with felt. I attached it using velcro to the four corners. You could stick it in more places if you want to really secure it. I laminated the sight words so they can last a long time. I also attached a small piece of velcro to the back of the words. They easily stick to the felt material. My son likes legos and building things and he already had a tool box with mega blocks so I just use a label and wrote sight words on them. He can put the blocks together to make sentences too. You can also just use masking tape and stick that on the block and just write your sight words on it. I recently also got word family bingo from Amazon to help improve his reading skills.

I have a youtube video that shows this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujgBfQD-31c&feature=youtu.be

How to hem jeans/pants keeping the original stitch hemline.

It's hard for me to find pants that fit me at the right length. Petite Sophisticated went out of business so now it's even more difficult to find the right pant size. I remember a friend of mine in CA, Sharon, who paid to have her pants hemmed. She said that they didn't just cut it and hem it up. The hem like looks just like the original. Well, I think there is a technique that will cover that. I am not a seamstress so I don't know what the right terms are but it's not hard to follow. I'll demonstrate it here. I took my son's pants that was too long for him and I folded it to the length that would fit. Then I measure up about 1/2 inch from that folded line (that's the same measurement as the original hemline). I folded the pants again using the new marker. Then I just sew along the stitch line. I then tug in the pants and it is done. I have a video on youtube here to illustrate better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P45aeoa6TTM

Diaper Cakes for any Shower

I thought these were so cute at craft events but then thought why not try and make my own. There are lots of tutorials on how to make the regular roll diaper cakes but not the smooth diaper cake so I will let you in on a secret. When making the smooth diaper cake use any size 1 diapers. Place the decorative side on the inside so it doesn't show. Use a round baking pan any size you like for your foundation. Just continue to place all the diapers in till it fills the container. Then use a big rubber band to secure it in place. Add a ribbon around it to make it decorative. I also added white tulles on the outside to fancy it up a bit.

Crochet Owl Hat With Tassels

This was my third project after teaching myself how to crochet from watching youtube videos. Seriously, is there anything you can't learn just by watching youtube these days. I love video tutorials especially the cooking recipes (save for another post). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IaN5_gBQZw I started out with a multicolor yarn that I thought would be nice but it turned out to look too busy for an owl hat. It looks cute enough as a tassel hat but not as an owl hat. So I started again. I use yarn from my local craft store Hobby Lobby. If you don't have one close to you. Here is their website. http://www.hobbylobby.com/ There yarn brand is called "I Love this Yarn!" and you will love it. It's inexpensive yet it's soft and it's fuller than even Red Heart brand. You know how when you tug at it turns really fine well not with the Hobby Lobby brand. I just use size H hook for most of my projects. The second attempt at making this hat as a gift I use two color to give it a two tone look without making it look busy. I modified the eyes to not have a third round but to have a little sparkle in the center. I did that with just a couple of stitches.

Crochet Bunny Hat

The Angry Bird hat was my second project and one of the most popular. My first project and first time ever picking up a crochet hook was to make a Bunny Hat. I wanted it in time for dress up on the 31st. But I was surprise that it took me only two days to finish. I started crocheting end of Oct. 2011. The video tutorial I use is from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yLhJucsSWM. It's in 5 parts but it was worth it. Clare/Bobwilson123 will show you how from start to finish. She does it so slowly and even if you didn't catch it the first time, guess what you can alway rewind. Love video tutorials!

Crochet Angry Bird hat

Who knew I can make this Angry Bird hat after teaching myself how to crochet in just a couple of weeks. I started out knitting because a couple of my friend said that it was easier to knit. Well, it wasn't easier for me. I tried and it felt easy to hold two needles but there wasn't much I can do except make scarves. So I gave up and took up crocheting. I found great youtube video on how to make and Angry Bird Hat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQGuTAa5cDo. I posted pictures of my finished work on my Facebook wall and it was a hit. Even people who I never hear from started commenting on how great it turned out. I was thrilled everybody wants to know if I can make them one. I just got started so it took me about 4 days to finish one hat so it wasn't cost effective to go into business doing it. So I decided to make it for people who would donate $30 to one of the local charity. The Pregnancy Help Center. http://phckaty.org/ if you like to have me make it for you too let me know.

Christmas Tree Keepsake

This is my own creation to capture both my boys prints. I have the younger son's feet be the top part of the tree then I added the older child hand prints to be the lower part of the tree. It is done with embossed powder after inking the kids with clear versamark ink. I wrapped wired ribbons around the tree and added hanging charms as ornaments. I also added little pictures of them with melted clear embossing powder. How to make photo charm will be on a different post. I cut a small rectangle piece of brown construction paper for the trunk of the tree. The star is made with clear stamp star image. This made a great gift for grandma.