clutch "Diaper Pocket" Pad

{Exclusive Invitation}

Congrats to you! You may not have had front row seats to the Academy Awards last weekend, but you are officially invited to the viewing of the 1st item in my "Travel Line" of simple sewing tutotials. {Wink&giggle...;)}
Introducing, The "Clutch" Diaper Pocket Pad {Pattern&Tutorial}!


If you missed my last post about the inspiration for this travel inspired project you can get the background here. {I always like to share why I decided to make something--then you can better understand how this crazy brain of my works!:)}

Now before you begin, lets talk fabric. A cute cotton print for the outside and soft material {flannel, fleece, minky, etc} for the inside will work wonderfully. Although I used a white microfleece for the inside of the pad I made during the tutorial, I wouldn't recommend it for obvious reasons...but it was what I had on hand.:)

Pictured below are a few changing pads I made {and one that my friend Janeen made} and just rolled up. If there is enough interest {let me know in the commments or email me} I can show you how I actually made some pads like this--they just don't have the pocket for the diaper/wipes, but they roll up nicely to throw into a diaper bag and then into the wash.

I would call this a very easy project...and I'm a beginner. I think it would be a great one for someone who just got a machine or who hasn't used one in a while. {Been there...not so long ago!} I'd like to think that ANYONE could follow this tutorial, but I guess we'll see!:)
*{Please feel free to follow my pattern&tutorial in this post to make as many of these as you wish , but please do not make them for profit without my permission.}*
Intro: 2 sizes are included in this pattern--Infant and Toddler. Once you print the pattern feel free to adjust it to your needs if the sizes I provided don't work for you. Have fun and good luck!
Clutch"Diaper Pocket" Pad {pattern&tutorial} by Toad

What you'll need:

-A computer to download the pattern and a printer to print the pieces. Download the pattern here.
-Material for the inside and outside of the pad {see pattern for deminsions}
-4 inches of velcro {I used the sew-on, but I'm sure the iron on would work too.}
-About an hour of time {most likely less!}










































And if you've made through the post this far you deserve a pat on the back and a chance to win one of these!:) So, I'm going to give away 2 of these great little prizes! Just leave a comment telling me if you'd like one for a boy or a girl and you are entered to win.

Now, if you don't sew, but would still like one of these babies I did stick a few in my Etsy shop. I usually don't sew items to sell --for a number of reasons--but the thought of some sweet mom laying her baby on one of those dirty changing tables softened my sewing heart.:)

I hope you like and use this pattern! And don't worry, I still have a few more family trip pictures to post...:).

Read more: http://ashbyfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/clutch-diaper-pocket-pad-pattern.html#ixzz1K7rDN5Lc

Scraps baby bibs

Who doesn't love a cute baby bib? I made these bibs to coordinate with some baby blocks I made for 2 friends who are expecting. Since I only had scraps of the fabrics left, I pieced them together to make a scrappy baby bib.

For my bibs, I needed my scraps to be about 8 inches by 20 inches. If you make a smaller bib, you'll need less.
Sew the pieces together the long way and press the seam open.

Trace your favorite bib. My favorite bib was a gift from my friend Roselee, and as you can see, has been well loved.Here's the best part, sew first, then cut. Make sure to sew just inside of your drawn line or you'll see the marker when you turn. Also make sure you leave an opening for turning.

Cut just outside of your seam and clip the curves.

Turn right side out and press.
Topstitch around the edge of the bib making sure you close the opening you left for turning. Add a closure, velcro or a snap works well.
Done! Paired with a baby soft block, this makes a great baby shower gift.

Sippy Cup Leash

Make

Make it and Love it

 

Remember when I made the sippy cup leash over a year ago, here?

Well, it needed some improvements.

Before moving across the country last winter, I realized that the sippy cup leash needed an upgrade.  The velcro on the old one was finicky and didn't stick as well after a while.......especially if the sippy cup was completely full and heavy.  (Sorry if you made one and had the same trouble...)

Anyway, I created a new one for our long trip cross-country 9 months ago, eliminating the task of retrieving dropped/tossed sippy cups from little hands back in their car seats.  And there the leashes have stayed.  Permanently.

And I never shared my newest upgrade.  Until now.

It hasn't been a secret, I just kept forgetting to share.

 I now make them with elastic.  And with this style of sippy cup (from Gerber, found at Walmart) the elastic keeps them perfectly in place.

And oops, if the sippies take a tumble, they won't go far.

And they attach simply to any sort of bar or strap.....by simply pulling the elastic portion through the loop at the other end.

Then pull tight to secure the sippy cup leash in place.

Our leashes spend most of the time in the car, attached to the car seats.  

Then I just remove the sippy cups and wash them as needed.  The kiddos love having water in the car anytime they want it.  Works for us.

(I just made these new ones to show the actual process but the previous ones spent every day attached to car seats for the past 9 months.  And were still working great.)

Would you like to revamp yours?  

Or create some for the first time?

I started with a piece of ribbon that was 28 inches and a piece of sturdy elastic that was 9 inches.

Then I heat sealed the ends of the ribbon and elastic.  Don't hold it on there long enough to catch fire.....only long enough to melt the edges and keep them from fraying.

Then measure how much of an elastic loop you'll need to keep the cup securely in place but also to be able to still slip the cup in and out of the loop.  I needed a loop that was about 6 inches around so I pinched my fingers there.........

.......then attached it to one end of the ribbon, overlapping about 1 1/2 inches.  I made several seams to secure the elastic to the ribbon.

At the other end of the ribbon, I tucked under the end about a 1/4 inch, then folded it over 3 1/2 inches....creating a loop.  Again, I made several seams to secure the loop into place.

Then I slid the leash right onto the sippy cup.  

Perfect fit.

And really, a much better version than the last one.

Give it a try.

**Alteration for different sippy cup shape:

My sippy cups work great for these elastic style of sippy cup leashes.  If your sippy cups are straight and not contoured, try adding small pieces shelf lining like I did with the last sippy cup leash version, found here.  But place little pieces of the shelf liner along the inside of the elastic loop (before sewing it into a loop) about every inch.  The tackiness of the shelf liner, along with the tightness of the elastic, should keep the sippy cup leash in place......even on straight sippy cups.  This technique just wasn't necessary for mine.

Good luck!

Modern & Comfy DIY Booster Seat

The phone book is a reliable tool for helping "big girls and boys" sit at the table with the grown-ups, but I think this handmade booster seat is way cuter. I hope you make one, if only because I sewed right through my finger making this (through the nail and out the other side - impaled) and I'd hate for that to be in vain.

Get the full DIY Booster Seat Pattern and How-to after the jump...


DIY Booster Seat Pattern / Tutorial

This booster seat how-to uses a foam inner and a removable cover, so you can wash it (and I made it with no zipper just to be easier).  The cushion is 12"X 12" X 4" which is perfect for my almost-two-year-old.  You can scale the size up or down from there, I'll tell you where.  

-First purchase or cut 1 piece of 12"X12"X4" foam or 2 pieces of 12"x12"X2" foam (that's what I used)

-Wash, iron, and cut your fabric:

Top: 1 piece 12.5" X 12.5"

Bottom: 1 piece 12.5" X8 inches, 1 piece 12.5" X 6.75"

Sides:  4 pieces 12.5" by 4.5" (or one piece 48.5" but it's not possible to get all of these pieces if you only have a yard of fabric)  To make the booster seat taller or shorter, increase the width on this/these pieces

Ties:  4 pieces 6"X2" (or longer or wider if you like)

You'll also need 2 packages of piping (at least 4 yards), or you can make piping, but I'll post a tutorial on that later.  Or you can skip the piping, but what's the fun in that?  (note: saving your finger could be fun)

-On each of the two bottom pieces, fold over one of the 12.5" edges 1/4" and iron, then another 1/4" and iron, then sew in place.  These will be the inside edges of the envelope for removing the cushion.

Set that aside.

-Now to make the ties.  Fold each tie in half the long way and iron, then sew:

Loop turn inside out by inserting a safety pin and working it in on itself like so:

Until it turns:

Iron the ties with the seam in the middle of one flat side:

Turn one edge under and iron, turn it under and iron again, then sew in place:

Set your ties aside.

-Now take your top piece and lay it right side up.  Pin your piping facing inwards, with the edge aligned to the edge of the fabric:

Where the piping meets, cut it a little longer on one side.  On the other side, pull open the piping to reveal the cord:

Cut the cord so your two pieces of piping will meet when you slip the other edge inside:

 Then wrap the fabric around like so:

Score the corners, then sew in place with a basting stitch right along the stitches on the piping using your zipper foot.

-Choose which side will be the back of your booster seat.  Pin a tie to each corner, wrong side up, with the length of the tie to the inside:

-Now take your four side pieces and pin each one along one side of the top piece, being careful not to pin them into each other:

Turn the piece over so you can see your basting stitches and sew them in place on each side along the basting line.  Don't sew the corners yet.

When you turn it over, it will look like this:

-Fold your piece into a triangle so you can see where the two sides meet up:

Sew the two side edges together:

When you've done all four it will look like this:

But your corner will be a little loose like so:

Turn it back around and pin the edges open and finish the corners nice and tight next to the piping:

Iron the inside seams open:

-

Now you've got the top and sides assembled.  You can trim the edges with pinking shears to prevent fraying or serge:

-Now to assemble the bottom of our booster seat.  Take your two pieces and lay the bigger one right side up, then lay the smaller one right side up on top of it.  Arrange them into a 12.5" square.  Double check to be sure!

Pin your piping all the way around with the piping to the inside and the edges aligned.  Repeat the step above to align the ends of the piping and score the corners. 

Sew in place using your zipper foot and a basting stitch:

Remember to sew right on the piping stitches:

-Now lay your bottom piece right side up and decide which edge is the back of your booster seat.  Take the other two ties, this time facing right side up, and pin them close to the corners:

Take the top of the booster seat, inside out and pin it to the bottom (right sides facing), starting at the corners to make sure they line up, then pinning all the way around.  Make sure you have the edges with the ties on the same side:

Now turn your piece over so you can see your basting line and sew together using your zipper foot on top of, or even just inside, the basting line.  Take extra care at the corners.

PAUSE IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AT THIS POINT AND IN REMEMBRANCE OF MY PREVIOUSLY UNBLEMISHED FINGER.  TAKE NOTE:  BE CAREFUL USING YOUR ZIPPER FOOT AND PIPING NOT TO LET YOUR FINGER SLIP AND IMPALE YOURSELF.

Above picture taken moments after impaling.  I was so pleased no blood got on my booster seat.  But, OMG, it's still threaded!!  It went through the top of my nail, came out the other side, and was still threaded!  I was worried my machine couldn't sew leather...THIS BABY CAN SEW BONE!

But anyway...

-You're almost done, just trim the edges with pinking shears or serge:

OK, now you're done.  Flip it inside out and stuff the foam in.  

I ask you, was it worth it?