Mail, Mail, Mail

I love shopping online! Mainly because I love receiving packages in the mail! Girl Charlee had a fabric lot sale this past Friday and I was able to snag 2, 1/2 yard lots of slightly flawed knit fabric. I don't have much experience sewing with knits so I figured this would be a great way to practice. I received WAY more than I expected and the fabric is just fabulous! I snapped some pics as we (me and the kids) opened up the huge package! I think they were just as excited as I was!

CHEVRON

  

STRIPES

SOLIDS                                                                         

                                                                                           

PRINTS

I am looking forward to sewing skirts, leggings, shorts, and tank tops with all this fluff!

The Weekend

I did not get to sew any diapers this weekend. My wonderful sister-in-law, Jazzy, spent the weekend with us while my husband was away on a trip with his students. It was very clear to me that the children missed him. Friday evening was VERY tough for the Little Lady. She "knows" the time Daddy comes home from work. Well, Friday afternoon came around and no daddy at the door. The rest of the day was pretty crazy. Dramatic tears over E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G......

By the time both kids went to bed I was EXHAUSTED and all I wanted to do was lay down and kick my feet up! Jazzy arrived and we spent a few hours catching up before heading to bed ourselves. No sewing.

Saturday was filled with energetic children, chores, and running errands. It went pretty smoothly until late in the afternoon. It was too hot to take the kids out to play and it was obvious they NEEDED to get out of the house. So, we took a trip to the fabric store! Hancock Fabrics just down the street. I purchased some medium weight fusible interfacing hoping that Jazzy and I would be able to sew up some quick and easy wallets. Jazzy has only used a sewing machine one other time and it was MONTHS ago when we made simple, zipper pouches. Although a bit stressed, she successfully made THREE wallets! I wish I would have taken some pictures. Next time I will.

I ordered some bamboo fleece from VancouverBamboo, a shop on etsy. The owner, Liana, was so wonderful to work with. I've never worked with bamboo fleece before. I "hear" (more like I've read) all good things! I'm too excited and can hardly wait for my package to arrive. It should be shipped out today!

Sewing Cloth Diapers

I am currently working on sewing cloth diapers for Little Man. 

He is 10 months old (WOW! How time flies!)

I prefer using cloth diapers because it is waaaayyyy cheaper than using disposables and I don't have to lather all this chemical-filled stuff on their booties.  My Little Lady is now 2 years, 9 months old AND she's POTTY TRAINED! Woooo!!!! 

*I couldn't have done it without my husband. He was so helpful!*

I watched a lot of youtube videos and read through quite a few tutorials before diving into making cloth diapers. I went out on a limb and purchased the RocketBottoms One Size Fitted Diaper. I bought it on etsy from a 3rd party, but that was before I knew she had her own website and shop. I've sewed one *turned and top stitched* and I love it! It is a great pattern and comes with wonderful instructions and WITH PICTURES! I want to try making one with fold over elastic. I am hoping it will be faster since I don't have to feed and tack down elastic through the small casings. Which isn't hard to do, it's just time consuming. And in this house free time to sew is VERY limited. The only problem I had, and this was TOTAL user error, was that I forgot to take out my safety pin (used for feeding the elastic) and sewed the diaper shut. I only realized it when my thread broke as the needle got too close to it while top stitching. Oops! And that was headache to remove.

I used an old receiving blanket for the outside layer and two t-shirt layers inside.

There is a snap for the prefolds I converted to inserts.

 I am using Little Lady's old, small prefolds as inserts. I simply snap them into the diaper. Works great!

GMD small prefold converted into an insert. Pictured here is one outer section zig zagged onto middle piece.

I also made some fleece covers to use with the snap inserts. I used this pattern and this tutorial to make my side-snapping fleece covers.

 I made three using an old fleece blanket and anti-pill remnant I found on sale at JoAnns. I really like using these fleece covers at home. I want to make more! 

I've purchased some PUL from JoAnn's and am in the process of making some covers. I hope to finish at least two this weekend as well as two more cloth diapers using the RocketBottoms pattern and this pattern I found over at prefold2fitted.blogspot.com