The boys Christmas presents

Dh and ds1 got Jalie 2918 long sleeve shirts done in yellow interlock with kelly green ribbing. Ds2 got Ottobre baby shirt from issue 3/2004. DS1's pants are sewn from New look pattern 6641 and ds 2 copied from an existing pair of pants. Don't they all look so handsome.

Taggy Blanket

Made for ds2 who is 8 months old. Done in minky with a Christmas teddy embroidery design. Ds loves this as there's so many different satin edges to play with.

Niece's Christmas present

Made using Ottobre's Baby Skirt from issue 3/2003. The changes I made were to leave off the slits on the side. I also did 4 rows of topstitching on both top and bottom and instead of doing the fabric choice listed I used stretch denim. I love this skirt. I also paired it with ottobre's baby's shirt from issue 3/2004 done in jersey knit and cotton rib knit binding.

Sewing links

Below are my sewing links. If there are any problems (ie broken links etc) please let me know. (There shouldn't be any right now as I have gone through them all)

Baby / kids

http://trintje.blogspot.com/2008/04/how-to-make-best-bibs.html bib tutorial

http://bitowhimsyblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/ruffle-bum-diaper-cover-make-n-take.html - ruffled diaper cover

http://babypatterns.atspace.com/overview.html - shirts and pants etc from 0 thru 1st year

http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/pdf2/kimono.pdf - kimono shirt for baby

http://www.dana-made-it.com/2010/06/amore-italiano-and-warhol-dress-free.html girl dress

http://home.inreach.com/marthac/craft1.html - sock monkey

http://www.perestroika.ca/html2/free_patterns.php - barbie patterns

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2008/07/led_firefly_booties_tutorial.html#more - light up baby shoes "led fireflies botties"

http://www.ohelene.net/blog/?p=118 - leather baby shoes

http://anewchelseamorning.blogspot.com/2007/03/such-mystery-not.html burp cloths

http://melissasews.blogspot.com/2008/04/beginners-sewing-tutorial-baby-taggy.html - taggy blanky

http://www.purlbee.com/fabric-beach-balls/ - fabric balls

http://greenappleorchard.blogspot.com/2009/05/easiest-quilt-ever-rag-quilt-tutorial.html - rag quilt

http://www.make-it-do.com/sew-it/baby-car-seat-cover-tutorial/ - baby car seat cover

http://blisstree.com/live/free-pattern-to-sew-your-own-nursing-cover/?utm_source=blisstree&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=b5hubs_migration - nursing cover

http://sewingdork.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-make-ruffled-bum-baby-bloomers.html

http://justsewsassy.com/2010/05/25/tuesday-tutorial-tiny-tabs-ribbon-blankets/

http://www.agplaythings.com/AG%20Patterns/DollDressPatterns.html free american doll clothes

http://www.molendrix.com/strihy1.html free barbie doll clothes patterns

http://simplytogether.blogspot.com/2010/08/simply-sweet-frock.html - girl frock / dress 2-5

Clothes

http://whatthecraft.com/tutorial-directory/whatthecraft-tutorials/ - various clothing tutorials great site

http://www.whatthecraft.com/tuts/circ.htm - circle skirt tutorial

http://www.ehow.com/how_4811196_make-a-crinoline.html

Around the kitchen / home - how to make a crinoline

http://lostinstash.blogspot.com/2009/04/pettiskirt-tutorial-wip.html - pettiskirt tutorial

http://www.ladyharvatine.com/2007/06/summer-slippers.html - women's flip flops

http://primprettys.blogspot.com/2009/04/tutorial-make-your-own-ballet-slippers.html - ballet slippers for women size 7.5

http://underwear.sew-ing.com/ - underwear sewing women and children

http://www.ikatbag.com/2010/02/catch-me-and-my-boy-pants-on-made-by.html - boys refashioned pants

http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-make-your-own-pattern.html - refashioned tshirt to boys shirt

http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/braconvert.html - converting regular bra to nursing bra

http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/sweater-boots - sweater boots

http://madebybronwyn.blogspot.com/2010/01/pettiskirt-or-what-i-did-on-my-summer.html

http://sewfrog.blogspot.com/2009/11/garmentsuit-bag-tutorial.html

http://alisaburke.blogspot.com/2010/03/petticoat-tutorial.html

http://sew-ing.com/make/gloves.html

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=195700.0 - woman's dress

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=355326.0 - various women's dress tutorials

http://leko-mail.net/mod-e.php?t=4&a=0&n=0 Lekala patterns - some are free for download and other only certain sizes are available for free. clothing for women, children and men

Around the house

http://tumblingblocks.net/blog/index.cfm/2007/7/31/oilcloth-lunch-bag - lunch bag

http://www.diaperpin.com/content/newsletter.asp?article=57 - resusable swiffer pads

http://www.ehow.com/how_5006671_make-storage-box-grommets.html - storage basket with grommets

http://handmaiden.typepad.com/handmaiden/2009/02/fabric-covered-box-tutorial.html - fabric box

http://craftblog.com.au/2008/07/21/notebook-cover-tutorial/ - note book cover

http://www.make-it-do.com/make-it/make-it-do-gift-cozy-bed-warmers/ - bed warmer

http://jenduncan.typepad.com/whats_new/2008/11/roman-blind-tutorial-in-20-pictures-or-less.html - roman blind

purses

http://creativelittledaisy.typepad.com/creative_little_daisy/2006/01/basic_purse_tut.html -

purse tutorial

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=54769.0 - triangular purse tutorial

http://elily00.wordpress.com/tutorials/wallet/ - wallet tutorial

http://www.linda-matthews.com/free-purse-tote-handbag-patterns-tutorials/april-2010/ - links with pictures to various purse tutorials

Cloth Pads Mama cloth

http://labyrinth.net.au/~obsidian/clothpads/DIYpads/Patterns.html - All the different styles with printable pattern

http://www.needlepointers.com/displaypage.aspx?ArticleID=36394&URL=http%3a%2f%2fthebolsachica.blogspot.com%2f2008%2f08%2fpleated-purse-tutorial.html

http://lilblueboo.blogspot.com/2009/11/scrap-ribbon-walletclutch-tutorial.html

http://tamdoll.blogspot.com/2006/12/triangle-bag-how-to.html

http://flossieteacakes.blogspot.com/2009/05/lined-zippered-pouch-make-up-bag.html

http://aprilsoriginals.blogspot.com/2009/04/tutorial-how-to-sew-zippered-pouch-with.html

Links to various sewing links

http://www.angelfire.com/planet/mcshelpsite/sewingstuff/freepatterns.html/#accessories

http://sewchicandunique.com/tutorial-list/

http://everythingyourmamamade.com/its-all-about-the-free-tutorials/

http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/downloads.php

http://www.oneprettything.com/ - hand made gifts (not really sewing but could be useful)

http://whatthecraft.com/tutorial-directory/clothing/free-open-source-patterns/

http://thelongthread.com/?p=2021 - top 100 tutorials of 2008

http://thinkliz.com/free-sewing-patterns/

http://sew4home.com/

http://thinkliz.com/free-sewing-patterns/

http://vintagesewing.info/category.html#general - overview of sewing from textbook etc

techniques

http://blankenmom.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/hemming-jeans-with-the-original-hem/ - jean hem

http://flossieteacakes.blogspot.com/2009/05/lined-zippered-pouch-make-up-bag.html - great covered zipper tutorial

http://www.cynthiahoweminiatures.com/Sewing.htm - French sewing techniques

http://fruitofthewombdiapers.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-modify-drill-press-for-use-as.html - modify drill press to snap press

http://craftapple.wordpress.com/2007/08/15/sewing-tip-installing-a-magnetic-snap/ - installing magnetic snap

http://prettyjanebackstage.blogspot.com/2008/10/continuous-bias-tape-tutorial.html - continuous bias tape tutorial

http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa112500a.htm - sewing with knits

http://newlymade.blogspot.com/2008/02/low-immersion-dyeing-experiment.html - low immersion dyeing

http://myenchanteddandelions.blogspot.com/2009/02/tutorial-for-dyeing-prefolds.html - dyeing prefolds

http://www.theindigoonion.com/swirldying1.htm - dyeing clothing - swirls

http://www.fabrics.net/fabricsr.asp - burn test how to determine your fabric

http://katiekadiddlehopper.blogspot.com/2009/10/buttonhole-elastic-tutorial.html button hole elastic

http://sewingtutorials.blogspot.com/ - various

http://www.daciaray.com/?p=38Labels - jean hem

http://duhbe.com/blog/?p=632 - how to make labels

http://patchworkpottery.blogspot.com/2008/09/fabric-labels-tutorial.html - how to make labels

http://seesuziesew.blogspot.com/2009/06/fabric-covered-snap-tutorial.html

http://stitchesandseams.blogspot.com/2001/01/coverstitch-all-stuff.html coverstitch information

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3839/video-a-neckline-binding-for-knits neckline binding for knits

http://tumblingblocks.net/blog/index.cfm/2008/9/22/Honeycomb-Smocking-Tutorial

http://mymeasuringtape.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-divide-serger-thread-into.html

http://everydaybeautiful.typepad.com/everyday_beautiful/free-patterns.html

http://cyatutorials.blogspot.com/ various sewing tutorials * great site

tea

http://noblepig.com/2009/12/04/chai-concentrate--for-giving.aspx chai tea

Jalie pattern 2918

jalie 2918
Originally uploaded by angeleyes_88

Oh how I love this pattern. This will definitely be my go to shirt pattern for all the boys including dh. It's also nice to be able to match all of boys in the same shirt although dh rolls his eyes when I say that. There is a size range from size 2T (approximately) all the way up to size 22 men's. I only wish it came in some smaller sizes for ds2 who's 8 months but the size range is amazing (as with all of Jalie's patterns). It also has 3 varying styles to choose from in both rounded and vneck including tshirt, long sleeve, and tshirt with a contrasting long sleeve underneath. Although I have a ton of patterns now because I was able to get back issues of Ottobre design magazine at a substantial discount (30% off) plus free shipping, I desperately needed a Men's pattern for DH as I think that he's starting to feel left out because I don't really make him anything. I tried a simplicity shirt pattern a while back but didn't like the result as it was just to big in the neckline.

To be perfectly honest, I love sewing but the one of the reasons I started sewing was because I can make things for cheaper than I can buy them (usually, lol). The others are that since my mother past away I feel closer to her when I sew because it was something that she loved so much (although she never had the time to teach me much about the craft). The bonus of sewing, is that it has given me so much pride. I just love seeing things that I make.

I used navy interlock on this shirt and cotton ribbing. I absolutely love interlock. It definitely has more substance than Jersey does and will hold up to the abuse that the boys (including dh) will show it.

Mini Superman

Mini Superman

Here's ds2's halloween costume. How come last minute ideas seem to turn out the best? I used ottobre design magazine, issue 6/2009 Naava coverall. The only difficulty that I had was the crotch gusset but it turned out nicely. The only advise that I have is go slow here. The bootees and cape are also from ottobre, issue 4/2004. I also added snaps to it (not pictured) in blue post and yellow sockets and studs. Pardon the enormous diaper bum, thats what you get when you put 6 doublers in one (cloth) diaper :). I had all the material here left over from previous projects so it cost me nothing! Yay for free!

Old Ironing board makeover

So here's my old ironing board. Dull and lifeless. Not at all theinspirational motivation that I need when sewing inthe wee hours of the morning. I also wanted to make a tailor's ham and seam roll as they want like $10+ in the stores for them. I read that you have to use saw dust or hamster shavings to stuff into your tailor's ham, as it needs to be really compact. I preferred the saw dust, only didn't really know anyone that has any/enough to make a tailor's ham. So low and behold I asked at home depot if they carried anything like that. The gentleman asked me how much I needed and then proceeded to walk me to the cutting table. I got a big bag of it for free. Hum, I'll have to keep that in mind for future projects. So the total cost of this project was.....free because I had all of the supplies already. It took about 8 cups of saw dust to stuff my ham but I could have stuffed it more if I had more patience today.