Crafty

I have never taken a sewing class, but when my great-grandma passed away I inherited her table sewing machine (more than 10 years ago). I have had it through the years and when Oliver and I purchased our home I finally went and had it serviced and tuned up. I have made two rag quilts since then (but I never took pictures of either) and just this past weekend I have continued to try my hand at sewing. I really like it - I'm not great at it - but I enjoy it. Hopefully soon I will sign-up and take a sewing class because there is so much that I don't know how to do!

The first thing I made was Baby X's duvet cover for her comforter. I just can't justify buying a $150+ bedding set that she can't even sleep with - so for $12 I bought the fabric I needed to cover a $15 IKEA crib comforter. Much more within my price point :)

My mom helped me pick out the fabric while she was in town the other week and then it has sat in Baby X's crib for the past while. This weekend I was finally motivated enough to cut out all the squares and then Oliver helped me lay out a pattern.
Since I just guess at stuff, when I originally bought the fabric I forgot to take into account that when you sew the squares together they get a little smaller because of the seams. Oops. So Monday I went back to the fabric store to buy some more fabric to make a border so that it would fit her quilt. I lost 8" in seams and fabric shrinking when washed...experiment and learn!

I'd say it turned out great for my first duvet cover - patternless!

It makes me even happier that Oliver loves it so much and I feel accomplished for saving a few dollars too!

When making rag quilts and the duvet I have always just guessed at how it should go and never used a pattern. This weekend brought a change to all that with my second project. My cousin Sarah is having a baby girl, Ava, and she is due just a month after me. I thought it would be easier to work on her baby gift now then after our baby comes. I wanted to make her a car-seat cover and Baby X was kind enough to allow us to use her car seat to model how it turned out (however, Oliver was not happy that I opened her car seat for my modelling session).

I followed a stupid simple pattern written by a brilliant woman who showed pictures at every step of the way. I also learned, that since my sewing skills are all self-taught, just because the pattern is stupid simple doesn't mean that it looks just like the pattern when completed. I have a thing or two to learn about seams and Velcro and in-seams and ironing and closing seams, etc, etc. But, since you can't see it too closely, it looks great!

I love that it keeps strangers from breathing on your baby, touching her, and shades her from the snow, sun, and rain, all the while allowing you to easily grab the handle and keep the blanket in place.

Super cute...if I do say so myself!

Yes, I will happily make one for you too! Just call and I'll tell you how much fabric to send my way!