Boxer Briefs

Found this free tutorial today and decided to make some for my 3 year old. He has a 19 inch waist, so I cut the waist band 3 inches by 15.5 inches. The gusset wasn't my favorite, but I love how easy it was, and that I can repurpose all those old shirts of my boys I was just planning on giving away. :)

By the way, I think if you just did the steps until you finished the waistband, you could have a cute skirt for a girl.

Another To-Do List

I started a to-do list when I was pregnant with Isaac. Then we moved and I never got to really sew him anything up. But now I get to do it all over again. :) I have a lot to sew up this time. I really want some nb, and smalls instead of just prefolds. I loved using the prefold, and I got a good deal on them, since I couldn't sew my own with moving and fixing up the repo.

To-Do for Joel
1. Finish 2T/3T trainers


To-Do for Isaac
1. Fix elastic on all the BG's.

To-Do for New Baby
1. NB QSFW -6 5
2. NB EZ-Dipe - 6
3. NB La-Di-Da -6
4. NB Fattycakes -4
5. NB diaper cuts - 3
5. Finish small fattycakes I startetd for Isaac, then he outgrew.
5. Small QSFW -6
6. Small EZ-Dipe - 6
7 Small La-Di-Da -6
8. NB Upcycled Wool Soakers -3
9. NB Fleece Soakers - 3
10. NB PUL Cover DDNB - 1
11. Small PUL Cover DD- 1
10. Small Upcycled Wool Soakers -3
11. Small Fleece Soakers - 3

To-Do for Mommy
1. Family Cloth
2. Post Partum Pads -6

To-Do Misc.

I'll add to this list and cross off as I get things done. Sounds busy. Now if only I wasn't so tired when the kids were sleeping, I might have time to get some started.

Win Free Diapers on Facebook

I love making my own diapers, but I came across on kissaluv's facebook page that you can win free diapers from them. All I had to do was write about their diapers on my blog or tweet. To me, free cloth is better than sewing your own. Though I still find myself pulling the ones I made first before any bought ones. :)

Check them out to see how you can enter.

Hooded Poncho

Another off topic sewing project. Anybody with babies and toddlers know that carseats are required for the first 6 years of their life. Good weather or bad. But in the cold weather months we bundle our children in coats that are thick and bulky. They make carseats potentially not safe if left on. But when it's blizzard-like outside, you don't really want to take the time to get that coat off. I found myself waiting until the latest I could to put coats on my children. All the while wondering what outsiders are thinking of me and my parenting skills. Walking in with them wearing sweatshirts and no winter coats... I found somewhere a poncho made for carseats and thought, that is just what I need. So I made one for Isaac. This is just two layers of fleece and then a hood sewn to the layers.

I got the pattern from diaper swappers, here. I just left the bottom layers unfinished for now. Fleece doesn't need to be finished, so I'm happy with it. I kept this real long. This year it won't matter much since Isaac won't be walking. Plus it doubles as a blanket for him. And I'm hoping it will still fit him next winter, as well.

Don't mind the sour face. He'd just woke up from his nap and did not like something thrown over his face. When trying it on before the hood, he loved it. Laid right down and snuggled up into it like a blanket. :)

La-Di-Da Diapers Grand Opening

Not too long ago I tested the La-Di-Da Diaper Pattern. I loved making these diapers up. They were quick and easy and Jennifer has done an amazing job writing directions easy enough for beginners but great for experienced seamstresses as well. There are some ideas for sewing that I hadn't thought of myself that makes sewing snapping pocket diapers easier and quicker. With my two kids I was able to test the small, medium and large diapers. It is a hip snapping diaper. This has been my favorite style of snapping diapers easy to snap and get nice and tight. I find with side snaps they are too far on the side to snap easily. The front snaps are nice, but is hard sometimes to get nice and snug. The La-Di-Da diapers are trim fitting with a scooped belly fit, yet the rise is very generous. The medium fit both my 8 month old baby (17lbs) and my 2.5 year old 27 lb son, comfortably. The diaper fits below the belly and "hugs" the hips. I wouldn't put pants on my baby when he was in these diapers just because they are so cute. They still are the ones I grab first in my diaper stash. And it's been almost four months since I've tested these diapers.

Small-Medium-Large Comparison

The medium on my baby...

And then on my toddler...

La-Di-Da Diapers pattern is $8.50. You will be able to download it right away for instant gratification. All who purchase the pattern through October 29th will be entered into their drawing to win some prizes. If you would like to hear more about their Grand opening, or to purchase this pattern, visit here for more details.

Olive 'N Tea Tree Oil with Chamomile

I have made my own cloth wipes. With Joel I just used plain water with them. But I didn't like how it didn't "glide" and clean as well as with other solutions. With Isaac I tried using baby oil and baby wash, but his skin was too sensitive. I decided to try one more solution, and we have yet to get a bright red rash for his skin yet!

Ingredients:
4 cups HOT water
2 chamomile tea bags
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/8 cup Baby Bath (just used Parents Choice brand)
5 drops tea tree oil

Mix all together. I left the tea bags in until I replaced, but you don't have to. I just pour my wipes solution onto some cloth wipes in a wipes container.

Chamomile Tea has some amazing benefits including helping with skin problems or diaper rash. Tea tree oil is a disinfectant and deodorant. We started using this also in our diaper pail and it has help with stink issues. Extra Virgin olive oil is a moisturizer. And the baby bath is a mild cleaner that also helps the olive oil mix with the water so everything is oily and greasy.

One thing I did find when making this is that it is best to let it all sit awhile. The first time I used it, the wipes were a little oilier, but the next time, it was all mixed really well. So make it up a day or two before you need it, then it'll be ready to go.

Tinkle Time Trainers and Fleece Shorts

I bought a trainers pattern for Joel. Since our potty learning has been good, but he likes to pee for some reason at home all over everything, I wanted to start having him wear some thicker undies.







The problem??? He refuses to wear these. :( Not sure why he doesn't care for them. All he wants are pants. He did put a pair of shorts on later and call them undies.. Maybe I need to buy the ditto daddy boxer pattern??

This is the second pair I made. The first one was made like my EZDipe I have listed on my etsy account with brown waist band.


Here is a pair of fleece shorties I sewn up. I meant to make them pants, but got confused and measured from the top instead of the waist for the inseam...so shorties they became. Not sure if I'm going to list these on etsy or not. What do you think?