I have mostly been making diapers and other things for other people for a swap. I make them something and they make me something in return. Here is what I've made recently:



and she sent me 2 diapers and a pair of fleece longies with matching hats for all 3 kids



Big brother showing off one of the diapers I received (I forgot to take pictures of the other diaper)

Little Sister got to try out a pretty AIO diaper from another swap (it's OS so it fits Baby Sister and Big Brother has even worn it too)

and Baby sister got a pretty ruffle butt diaper for another swap but made by the same mama who made the bird diaper (shown above)



I made these for the last 2 swaps to different mamas. Longies and a pocket fitted

Ergo Giveaway

Mom's milk Boutique is giving away an Ergo baby Carrier here. I've always wanted to try one.

1 day in cloth diapers with 3 kids

Crafts from Aug

My computer was sick (it had a virus) for about 2 months - since Baby Sister was born but I have still been sewing. Just not diapers right now. I made a carseat canopy for Baby Sister.

Big Brother's birthday presents were all homemade this year he got a backpack, a car cozie, and a crayon roll. I'll post links to the tutorials I used after I look them up.



And Little Sister needed a new towel so I made her one - it was very easy.


I have some diapers cut out and ready to sew together and I'm working on some trainers because Little Sister wants to wear "underwears" and I'm getting a bit tired of cleaning up little messes all over the house.

Cloth Baby pattern Testing

Obviously this is Baby Sister in some brand new fluff. I tried out a new pattern last weekend for another mama. She really wanted to see how it looked on a new little baby since she is due to have a baby next month I think. Anyway here is how a newborn (currently 7lbs 6oz and 21.5in) fits in a OS snappiable diaper. The diaper is made with thermal knit outer a hidden layer of fleece (Blizzard from Joann's if you want to get technical) and an inner layer of cotton velour. I'm thinking that most of the bulk was from the hidden fleece layer. I also used a cloth wipe folded in half as an insert since I haven't made one yet. I felt it was way too bulky on my little one so I added a bamboo insert and Little Sister wore it. I like the way it fits on her much better.

First day in cloth

Her first cd - a newborn size RRP another mama gave me.

Then a TWH I made with snaps and there is still gapping at the legs.

but with the Thirsties Duo Wrap cover over the top there aren't any gaps at the legs.

Here she is at 2 weeks (today) in a small BG AIO and it is still a little big on her.

I started Baby Sister in cloth after the first week. Since she was having issues with Jaundice I waited (and that was a good thing). The diapers drown her right now but soon enough they will fit her and then be too small. There were some lovely bf poop stains but a few hours in the sun did the trick and the diapers look brand new again.

Baby Sister is Here

I was playing around on Facebook on Sat July 3rd and got up to get Little Sister a drink. I got to the fridge and went to turn around to ask her if she wanted milk or water when I started leaking all over. I was able to get to the bathroom where fluid just gushed and gushed. Little Sister had followed me into the bathroom and started slipping on the wet floor. I'm holding her by the arm and sitting on the toilet so I started yelling for Hubby to come here (he was sleeping). He came in and I told him that my water just broke and he was still sleepy and asked me "are you sure?" I just looked at him and showed him my wet pants and said "this is different from peeing my pants" Anyway, I didn't have any bags packed for me or for the kids so Hubby and I ran around the house getting things ready to go. I also had to change my pants again from the leaking. Anyway, after dropping the kids off at my SIL's we got to the hospital about an hour after my water broke. I think we got there after 6:30 and was hooked to an IV and had some pitocin around 7pm. Oh and the day before I was dilated 1cm but when I went in I was dilated to 3-4cm. I got an epidural around 8:30 and every single time the anesthesiologist went to do something to me I was focused on breathing through a contraction so I didn't really feel anything. Around 9:45 (I think - I can't remember) the nurse had me turn onto my left side and upped my pit to get things moving faster - I was just supposed to tell her if I was feeling pressure. I was laying there reading a book and Hubby was watching a movie. The resident came in to check on me and I mentioned that he should let the nurse know I was having a little pressure. She came in a few minutes later and wanted me to turn over onto my right side. I turned over to my back and just kind of thought "Oh there is something there." The nurse decided to check my cervix again and she was looked at me with her eyes wide and said, "Are you sure you haven't been feeling any pressure? There is baby's head right there!" She then went to call my OB in. She came back in with the resident and started getting the room ready. She also just told me "whatever you do DON'T PUSH!!!" So I waited it out through the contractions where I felt her coming but I didn't push. My OB arrived and started saying I was very nice to let him finish lighting fireworks with his family and Hubby mentioned that I had let him finish his movie too. The nurse had to remind my OB to get gowned up (he came in a t-shirt and shorts) because the baby was right there. My dr looks at me and says "OK don't cough, sneeze, laugh, or push in any way" I just looked at him like he was crazy - then the nurse the resident, and my OB start teasing me about not having a 4th of July baby and her coming into the world with a bang and just teasing me about not even feeling that the baby was there. I couldn't handle it anymore and I burst out laughing. Hubby tried to get me to stop and the nurse just looked and me and said, "Come on! I've never had someone laugh their baby into the world." I couldn't stop laughing and out came my baby girl - no pushing at all at 10:41pm.

She was 8lbs 4oz 21in and she looked different than my other kids. She has been really sleepy and had to deal with Jaundice because my milk didn't come in until 5 days (but that is typical for me). We spent 2 nights and a day trying to get her to stay in the bilibed. She is a strong little lady. She is almost 2 weeks and is finally starting to get a pink color back in her skin.

Newborn Diapers

I think I have found a love for newborn diapers. They are so little and I can make them cute. Here is my newest one - a newborn Tighty Whitey Hipster with velcro this time. I'm not sure if I like how the velcro looks. Anyway, it has a knit outer and a suede cloth inner. I made a different pocket again (I'm trying other ways of doing pockets to see which one I like). I sewed a rectangle around a mark I made for the size of the pocket I wanted and then cut the material inside the rectangle. Next time I need to make it a little bigger because I could barely get my hand in there to stuff it. Oh this is another pocket fitted and for the picture I stuffed it with an infant microfleece insert that came with other pocket diaper inserts.

Pocket Fitted Tutorial

I have gotten a few requests to show how I make my diapers. This is what I had in mind when I started the blog in the first place. Enjoy!

First choose your pattern. I really like this pattern and I transferred it to an old box. It's the Onesize pattern.

Make sure that the stretch of your fabric goes across the hips of the diaper. Cut out the fabric (an inner and outer fabric). I like using the rotary cutter because it is easier than marking the pattern and cutting with scissors.

Now add snaps. I add an extra piece of my fabric on the back to help reinforce the snaps.

The front side.

Or sew some loop velcro to the outside(this diaper still needs the rise snaps though). Rounded edges look and feel nicer in my opinion.

This is the diaper I'm sewing together. I've had it ready to sew together for a few months. I only had enough material to have half of the fabric so I cut out what I could from the fabric. I then cut another piece so I could have a whole diaper and sewed together the 2 pieces.

Since the outside is flannel I added a hidden layer of fleece to help with absorbency.

I cut in the seam allowance at the back elastic markings to make my pocket.

Then measure your elastic by stretching it between the 2 cuts and cut just a little more elastic off. Just in case you measured wrong and have a little allowance.

I use a 3 step zig-zag sitch set to 1.5 width and tack it down just on the ends. This means you sew and back-stitch over the elastic only on the end. I like to make sure to sew and back-stitch at least 4 times. Sew it on the wrong side of the material.

This is what it looks like tacked down.

Fold over the material wrong sides together and sew a channel along the edge of the top material. Make sure you don't catch the elastic as you sew otherwise your elastic won't stretch like it should.

The right side looks like this when you are done.

Do the same thing to your outer material.

Line up the material so that the seams of the elastic match up. Put a few pins in it to hold the material in place. Then sew from the edge of one of the openings to the other end. I try to keep the presser foot as my guide along the edge of the fabric.

What it looks like when sewn together.

Now measure your elastic for the legs and front and tack it down on the ends. It will look like this when it is done.

Trim around the edges for nicer turning.

Turn it right side out and try to get the corners looking nice.

Here it is fully turned.

I start at the edge of the elastic pocket to top stitch.

First I reinforce the elastic one more time before top stitching. Then I turn the diaper and top stitch.

Feel for the beginning of your elastic and move the diaper so that you don't catch the elastic with your stitching. I feel for the elastic before stretching and sewing a casing around the elastic. When you get to the end of the elastic, move the diaper back over so you are back to sewing close to the edge.

Your diaper is top stitched. Now you are almost finished.

Using your awl make holes where the pattern shows to put the snaps. Or you can sew the velcro on right now. Sew the hook closest to the edge of the wings and then sew a piece of loop about 1/2 inch away to use as laundry tabs.

My lovely snap pliers.


Don't the snaps look lovely? Now make sure all the snaps work and don't come off.

Stuff your diaper. I use either a trifolded prefold or microfiber auto towel to stuff.

And there is your completed pocket fitted diaper.