Sewing......

Subject: Sewing...... Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:32 am

...I have been looking at baby accessories...laundry bags, cot tidys etc and whilst they are very cute in the shops they are expensive...

My mum always believed that the decor of a house should be for the parents, at least in the beginning, and as the baby will be in our room I would like to make said items in fabric I like...

I can sew well, although I do not have a machine, and I love embroidery. it has, however been ages since I did either ;)

I am determined to handquilt a satin eiderdown for when the baby can have covers...but what else....mind boggling!!

Anyone have any patterns or ideas???
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Ouissi x
http://ajournalofdreams.blogspot.com

Subject: Re: Sewing...... Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:37 pm

A laundry-bag is very simple - just sew two big squares together on 3 sides and put a drawstring along the top. If you wanted to make it even prettier you could line it with another fabric and turn the lining down over the top?

What about making bibs for when the baby is feeding? You could have real inventive fun with those, embroidery or applique.

My Gran made little vests in the days when people made baby-clothes and we still have one - we gave the other to my cousin for her first baby.
They are about hip-length and round-necked. If you cut a rectangle for the front and one for the back, and cut a curve for the front of the neckline and a slightly higher one for the back of the neckline, and then stitch up the side-seams, leaving good big arm-holes an dmaybe trimming them a little to give them more of a curve, leaving broad shoulder 'straps', that's what it looks like. She then beautifully embroidered them - flowers and tiny ducks on the front 'bib' area, and blue scalloped edges all the way round the neck, the armholes and the bottom.

I can try and post a diagram if you want - I think the vest itself is packed away somewhere for my nieces' future children.

laura

Subject: Re: Sewing...... Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:09 pm

Ouissi, I don't know if you have considered one or not....but my daughter uses slings for all her babies. Her youngest is now 14 months and still in a sling.

If you are keen to find out about them I could ask her for web addresses to either purchase ready-made OR another website where you can get patterns. The slings are a godsend if you like to have baby close to you. My daughter breastfeeds as well and it makes it so very easy to have baby feeding in an inconspicuous way when out and about. Just a thought.

The bibs that Laura describes sound delightful, especially if you can emblish your items with embroidery...you are very gifted to be able to do that.

My daughter also uses cloth nappies and I believe there is at least one website where you can get instructions for making them.

One thing my niece made for me when I was having my babies (many, many moons ago....lol) was receiving blankets. These are made from flanellette and are basically a largish blanket size which you can use to wrap baby up (especially when very young) to help them feel secure. I also used to use them across the top part of the crib (cot) to protect the cot sheet then it was only necessary to change the receiving blanket and not the whole bed if the baby was a little bit sick or dribbled iyswim.

Happy sewing and embroidery, Ouissi. It is all very exciting! Hope you get a sewing machine so you can crack on with your projects.

Jacquie x