cloth diaper tutorial

I have been working on a project this week and it has taken me all week to perfect it!
A lot of you are going to think I am crazy, but the past 2 weeks I have been giving cloth diapering a try.  And to my surprise it has been really easy.  Now I still use throw aways when we travel or go to church, but when we are home I have been sticking to cloth!

So I have fallen in love with the ease of Bumgenius diapers... but I don't like the cost {I have one}.
So this week I worked on a homemade version!
I made one, tried it, and tweaked it several times, before coming up with what I liked best.

Here is the tutorial I used:::

Cloth Diaper Revolution Tutorial

I made the Sham pocket version, using PUL and used Suede for a soft inside.
The tutorial was great and very easy to follow, providing great sewing tips along the way!
The only alterations I made::  I added an extra layer of PUL under the velcro strip at the top, to prevent leakage through the seams and altered where the sham pocket was located inside the diaper.

This diaper has a removable soaker pad inside, for easy washing and drying.  For the soaker I used a combination of terry cloth, ZORB, and fleece.  I am still testing out which soakers work best for day and night time diapering.


I hope by simplifying cloth diapering that I will actually stick with it!

And for all those wondering... the poop really isn't that bad!! :)

       

onesie up-do

Lately I have been working on putting together a few things for baby E's fall wardrobe.

My boys are officially B.O.Y.S. and they live in camo pants and super hero t-shirts.

Perfectly okay by me, because this year I get to play dress up with my new baby doll!!

{and isn't she a doll}

I mean I could kiss those cheeks all day... and I do :)

Let me tell you about this outfit!

The onesie was not anything special and I actually had to remove a small rose from the front.  

Other that that it was simple and plain, which makes for a great canvas!

The red material was a old, thin sweater that I cut to make the heart applique, skirt, and headband.

By using the already finished seams for the hem of the skirt and ruffles, it cut down on a lot of sewing time and I was able to make more per minute :) 

{3 kiddos has really cut down on my sewing time, nobody warned me!!}

Tricks to sewing on a skirt::

use the elastic bobbin thread to allow for stretch and use a zigzag stitch

{brother surprised her and stole kiss} 

{baby leg warmers 75 cents at consignment, boo-yah}

{used a zigzag stitch around the heart and to attached the skirt} 

{who doesn't love a flower on a baby's head!} 

{flip that skirt up and you find ruffles on her cute baby bum}

More to come... I actually made 3 outfits in an afternoon for her.  

I hope to play dress up again and get more pictures!

     

hootie hoot pillow

I have have a new problem...

and it is called Pinterest!!!

Seriously I know it has taken me a long time to jump on this band wagon.

And to be honest, I tried to avoid it {just like facebook} but I caved.

It has sucked me in and now I will never have enough time to do all my sewing projects.

It is a do-it-yourselfer's best and worst nightmare.

TOO many ideas and not enough time!!!!

Seriously, I am in love :)

One sewing project was this cute Hootie Hoot Pillow.

Made just for baby E's room, this pillow will give you a preview of more to come!

I have made her bedding and can't wait to show you soon.

     

how to wind your bobbin.

bobbin:: is a spindle or cylinder, with or without flanges, on which wire, yarn, thread or film is wound. Bobbins are typically found in sewing machines,cameras, and within electronic equipment {from wikipedia}


Now a bobbin is that small spool of thread found in a small compartment under your needle.  Although it may look complicated it really is simple.  It basically it used to create the underneath side of your stitch.  But before you can use your bobbin, you must wind it!


There are 2 different types of bobbin compartments: a horizontal bobbin {drop in and no bobbin case} and a vertical bobbin {has a metal bobbin case}

{horizontal bobbin, pic from here}

{vertical bobbin and case}

Again, just like threading sewing machine, winding your bobbin is different for every machine.  For exact details look at your machine manual or google it!


But we will give it a go...


General Ideas behind winding your bobbin::


1.  Remove your bobbin case from under the needle compartment if you have a vertical bobbin, by either opening the small bobbin case door.  For horizontal bobbins, simply slide the plate open and pull the bobbin out of the case. 

2.  Tip the bobbin case over and let the bobbin fall into your hand out of the case{vertical bobbins only}.


3.  Clear the bobbin of any thread!  You want to begin with a clean bobbin... don't be lazy and add on top of your other thread :)  It isn't that big of a deal, but does affect your sewing towards the end of your bobbin thread.  


4.  Place your thread on the spindle.

5.  Loop the bobbin thread over the bobbin thread tensioner.  My machine sends the thread through the tensioner and then around a small metal knob.  This will be the tricky part :)

6.  Next thread the end of the thread through the small hole on top of the bobbin.


7.  Holding the thread in, place the bobbin on top of the bobbin spindle.


8.  Disengage the needle mechanism, which usually also engages the bobbin winding mechanism.  Every machine does this differently, but mine you slide the bobbin hook over and this will wind the bobbin and prevent the needle from going up and down.

{pushing that hook towards the bobbin disengages the needle and engages the bobbin}

atleast on my machine :)

9.  Continue holding the free end of the thread and begin pressing the foot pedal, which will begin to wind your bobbin.  

10.  Let it wind a few times, then stop and clip the top free thread.  Begin winding your bobbin again until it stops.


9.  Fill you bobbin completely.  It should be smooth, even, and snug!


Now you need to place your bobbin back into its case!

 {make sure to thread it through the bobbin notches}

Make sure the thread is pulled through the bobbin tensioner on the bobbin case {vertical} or is threaded correctly through the tensioner on the machine {horizontal}.   

{hold the lever and place back in your machine} 

Horizontal will look more like this...

{horizontal bobbin picture from here}

If you want to pull your bobbin thread up to through the machine, turn the hand wheel and move your needle up and down. This should grab you bobbin thread and move it to the top of the needle plate.


like this...

{hold thread tight}

{turn handwheel making needle go down and then back up}

{your bobbin thread will be pulled up through your plate}

{pull tight}

     

my diaper bag.

{my crocheted diaper bag}

One of the first sewing projects after our little girl came, was out of necessity!

I needed a diaper bag that could function as a purse, diaper holder, and 3 kiddo cup holder.

I knew it needed to be cute, so I could carry it every where!  I cannot take credit for the inspiration... it came from a dear friend and so my crocheted diaper bag was born.

I used on old crochet table cloth to create the outer shell and detail for the straps.  And just fabric scraps for the main body, pockets, and straps of the purse.  At first I was a little scared to cut the table cloth, because I thought it might unravel.  But it did great and has continued to hold up after 2 months of use already!  I also used the detailed edges of the table cloth for a little detail on the straps of the purse... it was already so pretty.

As I was sewing I was thinking about the sweet older lady who made this table cloth forever ago and never imagined it would be used for a diaper bag for a precious little girl :)  I love flea markets!

{inside pockets of my purse... excuse the mess and the random string :)}

{who doesn't love a big pink button}

 

general idea of threading a sewing machine.

Now this post is a little tricky.


Some of you may have inherited a sewing machine from a grandmother, mother, or even yard sale, but you may not have inherited the owner's manual.  What good is that machine doing you if you can't thread the dadgum thing?!?!  I have been there and threading a machine can be a little intimidating.  But don't let this seemingly impossible task keep you from pulling your sewing machine out of the closet.  Get that baby out and let's figure out how to thread it!!!


Now the best thing for you to do is to find a great seamstress friend that can come over and teach you/figure out how to thread your machine.  There is nothing better than an expert!


However, we may not have the resources to her or you may live out in the sticks {I used to}.
So next I would recommend Googling it!!

I google everything and most people ask me how I learned to sew... I googled it!

Try typing in your machine's name and then "how to thread" or "owner's manual."
You maybe surprised what you find!

I am going to try to explain the basics behind threading a machine.  Understanding the parts of the machine is crucial, so go back and review if you need to.

{picture from here}

The General Idea Behind Threading Your Machine:

1.  You will first place your thread on the spool pin.

2.  Make sure your presser foot is in the upper position.

3.  You will guide the thread along the top of the machine and into atleast one thread guide.  Typically you will go around a round button looking thing before going into the thread guide.

4a.  {older machine:} On an old machine you will see a round knob that will be the tension mechanism.  You will pull the thread down through the metal disks and back up around the knob.

4b.  {newer machine:}On a newer machine you will not see this part, but it will happen when you pull the thread down and back up inside of the machine.

5.  Next look for the thread take-up mechanism {area on a machine that will go up and down when you turn the hand wheel}.  Place the thread through this arm.  Some machines will let the thread slip in and others require you to thread it through the hole.  Do what you need to.

6.  Now the thread will go down on the left side of the take-up mechanism.

7.  Most machines have a thread guide right above the machine sewing needle.  Place the thread through this guide.

8.  Lastly, thread your needle from front to back.

9.  Next test your machine, by hold the end of the thread and turning the hand wheel.  Look for any thread flying around... if you don't see any you probably did a great job :)

Now you are going to have to wind and thread your bobbin, but we will do that another day :)
so for now...
 

2 months

I cannot believe it has been 2 months since she was born!!!

I am sad to admit I have only sewn 4 things since she has been here :(

two jumpers with bloomers, a diaper bag, and her baby bedding

{maybe I could post some pics}

But who could walk away from these sweet cheeks to sit behind a sewing machine :)

I love this girl!!!