The New Girl

Normally this time of year I'd be frantically making teacher gifts but this year Dex's teacher is expecting so we organized an end of year baby shower for her.  The kids each decorated a onesie and contributed a gift.

Still an excuse to go handmade:-)  I'd gotten so many positive comments on my Oh, Baby Wet Bag I decided to make another one, this time with a science theme.

This Joel Dewberry Heirloom laminate coordinated perfectly with the Good Chemistry print and I found the perfect zipper in the stash of ZipIt prize pack I scored on retreat.

And I threw in some coordinating burp cloths because let's face it, you can never have too many burp cloths.  We can't wait to meet the new girl!

Linking up to the fabulous Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.

Oh, Baby Wet Bag

I was on such a roll finishing up the Baby Preppy the Whale quilt for my friend I decided I should also make her a little bonus gift.  I went browsing in a high end baby boutique to get ideas and spied a cute little Wet Bag with a hefty price tag.  Obviously, I can make my own;-)  This is sized to hold wipes, a diaper, and a spare outfit and has a waterproof lining for keeping those accidents contained.  It's perfect for those times when you want to be prepared but don't want to drag your entire diaper bag around and so much classier than Ziplocks!

This bag is loosely based on the technique used in the Gathered Clutch Tutorial by Noodlehead.  I've included my own measurements and some additional directions so you can adapt it to make your own.

Cut the following:
(2) 8 1/2" x 11" laminated cotton or oilcloth for lining

(2) 8 1/2" x 11" quilting cotton for exterior (whales)

(1) 8 1/2" x 9" quilting cotton for exterior pocket (whales)
(1) 8 1/2" x 10" quilting cotton for pocket lining (orange)
(2) 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" quilting cotton for zipper ends (orange)
(1) 9" zipper

Seam allowance 1/2"

Make your pocket by aligning the exterior pocket and pocket lining along one 8 1/2" side, right sides together.  Stitch along the edge with 1/2" seam allowance.

Press seam towards the lining and fold over wrong sides together matching bottom raw edges.  Topstitch along the top edge of the pocket.

Follow the Gathered Clutch instructions for making the end tabs for your zipper and installing the zipper.  STOP before sewing all around the edge!!!

Add your pocket to the front of the pouch aligning the bottom raw edges with the exterior right sides together.  Pin or baste your pocket in place.  Be sure to OPEN your zipper before continuing!

Now sew all around the edge leaving a small hole in the side of the lining for turning.  Turn your bag right side and stitch the hole closed.  Remember NOT to iron your laminated cotton.  

While I was at it I whipped up some coordinating burp clothes.  These OsoCozy diapers are much nicer than the Gerber cloth diapers and are perfect for gifting.  

Can't wait to meet the new kid;-)


Linking up to the fabulous Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.

Boy Oh Boy!!!

So one of the reasons I haven't been blogging much recently is I've been making gifts that I couldn't show on my blog until I gave them to their intended recipients.  The adorable Pippa Patchwork is having twin boys later this summer and I was lucky enough to be invited to her shower.

I knew she'd already made quilts for the babies so I went with a couple practical and cute items.  The diaper clutch is loosely based on Cluck Cluck Sew's Changing Pad Kit tutorial, which is to say it looks the same but I made mine totally differently.  It's nice not to have to take your entire diaper bag every time you leave the house.  This is perfect for a pack or wipes and a couple of diapers.

I'm trying to get better at using my stash so I dug out this adorable Ann Kelle corduroy for the outside and more of the Joel Dewberry laminate I got at Marden's last summer with a layer of batting in between to make it a bit more comfortable.

I basted the 3 layers together and then added binding to the edges.  It was a little tricky sewing down the binding on the laminate but I took it slow and was pretty happy with the way it came out.  Amy Butler has some great tips for working with laminate!

In my experience you can never have too many burp cloths so I whipped up a few coordinating ones also.

I can't wait to meet these guys!!!

Linking up to the fabulous Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.