Repurposing T-Shirts

I guess saving all those shirts throughout the years has payed off ;) 

For a cousin's new baby... to remind them of the connection back to Sinai, SD!

There's only a few people that I can sew using shirts that has my maiden name on the back!

Patterns: Peekaboo Pattern Shop's Lullaby Bodysuit and Patterns for Pirates' Playground pants.

A fun reminder of the hours playing T-ball and softball under the summer sun!

Pattern: Peekaboo Pattern Shop's Lullaby Bodysuit

It was a hard year for my high school graduation class - this fall, one classmate lost her husband to a hard-fought battle with brain cancer. Two months later, we lost a classmate in a tragic hunting accident where he and his younger brother both lost their lives. I graduated with about 40 other students after spending the previous 13 years together in the same building... so we're a tight-knit class, and these losses were very hard to deal with.

Well, that classmate who died in the hunting accident died about a week or so before his birthday. On that birthday, his little girl was born. I wasn't quite ready to cut up my senior shirt, but thankfully a classmate mailed me his, so I could make this bunny for the new baby. May she always know the love of her father and the support from his classmates.

Patterns: Bunny Lovey by UnlikelyNest

I also made this outfit for her - the top uses a shirt that my mom decided was too small for her (she still teaches at our school). 

Patterns: Peekaboo Pattern Shop Violet Tunic and Go-To Pattern's free baby legging pattern

These were made for a benefit for that same family. I was thankful that I could do something to help!

Pattern: Peekaboo Pattern Shop Violet Tunic 

Emery's Baby Bag

I had a particularly happy phone call from a friend back in November. She and her family were moving to our town! Woohoo! 

She has a son about 9 months older than James and had a little girl in August. I usually give myself 6 months to a year to finish these special baby gifts, but since she was moving to town, I wanted to hurry and finish it for when she first visited our house - so, a baby bag finished by the time little Emery was 4 months old! (Gotta love a great reason to have a deadline!)

A big thanks to my Mom for sewing the name (as always), and for sharing her machine - hers sews through the thickness of the denim, corduroy and interfacing much better than mine. Most of the fabric came from fat quarters won from giveaways, but some of it was purchased. I loved using the more feminine decorated demin on the back which was a remnant from JoAnns, I believe. 

So, welcome back to SoDak friend!!! I'm so excited to see our kids become friends :) 

Paper-dolls on a Quilt

Wow! Just realized that I never shared this post once I gave the quilt away! I made this quilt when I was making quite a few other baby quilts for friends (link to all posts about baby quilts), but then I saved it while waiting for someone to have a baby girl :)

A friend of mine finally had one this past summer, and this quilt made the journey to New Mexico. As it turns out, that friend actually moved to my town just four months later, right after Christmas - I am loving having my friend and her family so close!!!

The quilt was made with panels of paper dolls - I don't have any information about it, as it was a gift when we were still living in Montana. I made the corner blocks from some 30s reproduction squares that I had in my stash. The yellow was also in my stash, along with the backing fabric. Since I didn't want to machine quilt through the paper doll blocks, I did some straight line quilting around the blocks and then used embroidery thread for inside the blocks.

There is nothing like quick baby quilts for stash busting! (My goodness, she was so little... but I guess these were taken two years ago!)

Onesie Gifts are Complete!

Eek! I've had this post ready to go, but I just forgot to post it!

These onesie sets took me longer to sew up than they should have just because I kept choosing to accomplish quick sews between the different steps.

But finally, these are done and all but one has been delivered!

Pattern: Peekaboo Lullaby Line Bodysuit and the Peekaboo Spunky Skater Skirt

Fabrics are a mixture of stash knits and old t-shirts that have special meaning to each of the recipients

(Three SDSU Jackrabbits, one city rec softball, one 4-H and one band and choir shirt that was designed by the little girls' mom)

I've been pleasantly surprised with the reception of these onesies. They have all been so appreciative and it's been so fun to see a few of the babies in their special creations! (They fit!!)

I should go pick out two more shirts to upcycle... a classmate and a cousin are both due in September!

March Goal Complete!

My goal for March was to finish 6 baby onesies that at the time I had cut out but hadn't sewn together... here they are!

As usual, the pattern is Peekaboo Pattern's Lullaby Bodysuit. This time I branched out and used the 3 month, 12 month and 18 month sizes along with my usual 6 month size. 

Here are the college onesies :)

One is for a high school friend of mine who also attended the same college, one is for a running teammate and one is for a math fraaaaand (we used to have math parties together... aka study groups, ha).

And the hometown onesies... one is actually for a 18 month old little girl. Her mom actually designed the shirt out junior year of high school for our band and choir trip to Colorado. Then the other two are for one high school friend... a softball onesie and a 4-H onesie :)

It felt so good to finish these! There is four of them that will be going to girls, so I'm hoping to sew up quick circle skirts for those. Only one of the babies is due in April, while the others will be arriving later... I work better under pressure, so maybe it would be better if they were all due sooner!

Two Baby Quilts Finished! {February Goal Success}

My February Goal is complete :)

I finished two baby quilts this month. One top was already ready for the quilting/binding process, but I ended up making another top for the 2nd quilt (even though I have several tops ready to go - I really wanted a boyish I-Spy quilt, which I didn't have on hand already!).

Here is the quilt that already had the top and binding ready. All I had to do was baste, quilt and bind. Both quilts were basted and quilted at my parents' house when we were there the first weekend of February. Mom's workhorse of a Viking sewing machine has a much better walking foot than my machine, so I know I can trust hers to work well (and quickly!) for me! 

The top fabric came from Fat Quarter Shop several years ago when I realized I didn't have many fabrics on hand that would work for boyish quilts. This is the second and final quilt made from this line. You may still see a few matching squares here and there in I-Spy quilts, though! 

The backing came from a destash purchase a year or two ago. Both quilts are quilted with straight, diagonal lines... simple yet effective!

 "Oh the Places You'll Go!" Perfect for a little baby boy!

And here is the I-Spy quilt! This baby boy has an older brother who may need some entertaining while Mom is busy with the new baby... so really, this quilt is for both the baby and the brother! 

This backing also came from an Instagram destash back when destashing over social media was just taking off. I haven't looked on the destash hashtag in a long time! But, what I did buy back then has surely come in handy :)

I hope the two babies feel loved and prayed for when they are cuddled with (or crawling over) these quilts!

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WIP (works in progress) List

• Pattern Testing a Dress for E     (Finished! - link and link)
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew) - up next are the birthday and Easter dresses, but I have a bit of time before they are needed :)
• Baby Quilt for a friend ~ the top is finished, now to baste, quilt and bind - completed!
• Baste a baby quilt for another friend... then quilt and bind - completed!
• Onesies! - 3 finished (link and link), several more to go... the pregnant friend list just keeps growing!

UFO (unfinished objects) List

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 5 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding 
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc
• A new table runner from a mini charm pack won from a giveaway recently

Two More Upcycled Onesies

Valentine's Day Weekend was a busy weekend for my friends :) 

One baby boy was born on Saturday and another on Sunday. One was a day after his due date while the other one was right on time!

Both Moms (and one of the Dads!) were teammates of mine in college, so of course both babies needed SDSU creations! 

One of these is already on the way to its new home, but the other will have to wait for a baby shower. 

I still have several cut out and ready to go... more babies are on the way!

Pattern: PAB's Lullaby Line Bodysuit

Fabric: Upcycled T-shirts along with black, blue and grey cotton lycra from various shops - both online and local

February Goal

A friend is having a baby this month... time for another baby quilt!

While I have several tops all made up, I wanted a special I-Spy quilt for this baby. I like the idea that the quilt can help entertain the toddler big brother a little during nursing and rocking sessions :)

My goal is to finish this by the end of the month! I also hope to have one onesie made to send with it... wish me luck!

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WIP (works in progress) List

• Pattern Testing a Dress for E 
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew) - up next are the birthday and Easter dresses, but I have a bit of time before they are needed :)
• Baby Quilt for a friend ~ the top is finished, now to baste, quilt and bind
• Baste a baby quilt for another friend... then quilt and bind
• Onesies! 

UFO (unfinished objects) List

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 6 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding - will need 2 done in February (see above)
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc
  
  

My First PAB Bodysuit

Right after high school graduation, I starting making a t-shirt quilt. It didn't use as many t-shirts as I had saved, but I couldn't make myself throw out the extras. I finally took them from my parents' house and have been hoping to upcycle them. High school sweethearts and good friends of mine from my class recently had their second baby - a little boy, so it was the perfect time to start using up my old shirts!

I use Peekaboo Pattern Shop's Bodysuit from the Lullaby Line. I used a heathered grey cotton lycra for the back and the bands while the sleeves came from a scrap piece of blue interlock. I used blue thread to accent the top stitching and match the Kam snaps. I made several mistakes, but I still think it turned out pretty well. The pattern itself is very easy to follow, and I look forward to making more!

I just cut out several more front panels from t-shirts... now to cut out the accent pieces... soon I'll be ready for all the upcoming babies that will be arriving over the next couple of months!

Lots of Jackrabbit Hats!

With all the new babies in my college friend group, I decided to make some matching "Go Jacks!" hats for Christmas presents :)

My kiddos each received one as well. This was my first time making fleece pom-poms!

I was in such a rush to mail all the hats out, that I didn't take a picture of the big pile prior to packaging them up. In total I made 5 little ones and 3 bigger ones. I hadn't made a hat out of fleece since the 4-H days, so I enjoyed the easy construction of this pattern. I also used my snap press for the first time! Of course, I didn't decide to use snaps in place of the velcro until it was too late to put interface in the straps... next time! Always learning!

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Pattern: 

Tie Dye Diva's Aviator Fleece Hat 

Fleece from JoAnns.

For the New Nebraskans

My brother-in-law recently accepted a new job position...

So, the family who recently moved back from New Zealand, will now be turning into Nebraskans.

Therefore, some specialized Christmas gifts were in order!

I used patterns that I already had on hand and bought the fabric on sale at a local store.

My nephew will be correctly decked out with a fleece sweatshirt and cotton/lycra comfy pants :)

He is only two months younger than JT, so he also got a grey pair of the footed comfy pants (I just made it at the same time that I made JT's pair). 

 Go Huskers!

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Pattern Links

Peek-A-Boo's Classic Sweatshirt (Link)

Peek-A-Boo's Happy Feet Pajamas (Link)

(The infinity scarf was put together after reading several different tutorials so I could get an idea of the different methods and sizes.)

October Goal Complete {ALYOF ~ Zander Bag}

The no-longer-New-Zealanders are back on USA soil, all safe and sound. 

We look forward to having them nearby again! 

Zander's bag is finished! 

The fabric came from a giveaway from a New Zealand blogger. I had no idea a the time how well the three fat quarters would come in handy! Who knows if Zander will ever return the land he was born in, but I'm sure he will have a lot of souvenirs to remind if of where he lived for the first three months of his life :)

*ALYOF Note: Number 29 on the Goal Linky Party

*Link to my goal post

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WIP (works in progress) List

• Christmas lap quilt (finish binding)
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew)
• SDSU hats for Christmas gifts (6 cut out, a few started... need to buy more fleece!)

UFO (unfinished objects) List

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 6 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding - will need 2 done by February
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc

A New Zealand Bag {October ALYOF Goal}

October Goal: Finish the bag for Baby Z

After being in New Zealand for 2 years, my sister-in-law and her husband (and almost 4 month old cutie) are on their way back! Knowing that they'd be coming home 4 months after Little Z was born, we haven't given them their baby gifts yet... their Monikered Baby Bag needs to be finished this coming weekend, so it is ready by the time they fly in on the airplane! 

We are so excited to welcome them home!

WIP (works in progress) List

• 1 Monikered Baby Bag (fabric chosen, cut and interfaced... waiting on Mom for the name appliqué... then need to sew it)
• Christmas lap quilt (finish binding)
• E's Halloween Costume (dress/bloomers finished... just need to finish two bows/ears)
• Several dresses/tops/etc for E and me (patterns and fabric chosen... need to cut and sew)
• SDSU hats for Christmas gifts (6 cut out, a few started... need to buy more fleece!)

UFO (unfinished objects) List...

• Twin size quilt top needing a border then quilting and binding
• A quilt top from my grandma needing quilting and binding
• 6 baby quilt tops needing quilting and binding - will need 2 done by February
• A pile of Christmas half-square triangles that need to be trimmed and then organized into a table runner/table topper/pillow/etc

Beau's Bag

Another friend... another baby... another bag! 

Last weekend, Beau and his parents traveled north from their home to visit his grandparents (who live about twenty miles from Dan's parents) so I was able to see my college roommate/teammate and her little Beau! Beau was born a few days before JT, so I'm thankful that her roots keep bringing her back to the Midwest so we can see each other (and our babies)!

Since I finished this bag, I have one more to make before October. I recently found out another running friend is due in February, but that's a few months before I have to worry about picking out fabric ;)

Fabric lowdown: The cottons and denim were from my stash, while the corduroy is from Mom. 

Mom's Viking workhorse sewing machine did wonders on the multiple layers of the straps and the topstitching! It's amazing how fast one can finish a bag when you don't have to worry about skipped stitches :)

School Days for a Baby

I finished this quilt up last winter... and I was happy to find the perfect recipient! 

A friend of mine is being induced this morning (please send up a few prayers for her strength and patience!), and her baby shower was just a few weeks ago.

She is a school teacher and she loves Laura Ingalls Wilder... this School Days fabric by Moda was just a perfect combination of pioneer education :)

The backing is a solid navy combined with another vintagey-children print (sorry I'm not sure the name/designer/manufacturer). Quilting was a simple grid of 1/4" away from each seam. It washed up well!! 

The mommy-to-be said the fabrics match her living room perfectly, so I hope Baby Addy gets to have lots of floor time on it :) 

The Bags Keep Coming! {ALYOF}

This bag needed to get done before the first Thursday of the month... and I did it! The sweet little recipient and her mother traveled up for lunch. Two other friends joined us as well... just a little college teammate get-together :) Friends forever!!

Except for the side fabric, the rest of the cottons were all giveaways. Such a great way to use up those fat quarters when I don't have time (or the need) for any more quilts.

I had some trouble with my machine not liking the thickness of the straps, but we powered through. The Brother machine has served my mom and I well since I was in high school (my ten year reunion is next summer!), but it may be time to upgrade. Mom recently purchased a new Viking machine, which I am currently testing to see if I like... she is starting school soon, so she won't be needing it for a few weeks. I have plans of making another baby bag, quilting a lap quilt and working on a knit outfit on the Viking to make sure the machine works well for all of my sewing interests. Oh, and I also need to test the buttonholes! Good thing we are done with most of our summer traveling and that James is past his colic-y stage ;)

 Just a few shots of the back, straps and inside. Only one more of these bags to go (for my newest nephew)! Well, until this winter when another teammate is due with her second :) Babies, Babies, Babies!

ALYOF Info...
Goal Post Here
#29 in the Goal Linky Party

Burke's Bag Done {July Goal Complete}

I can't believe I finished this month's goal! It's been a busy month, so I barely finished this in time... but I knew I needed to finish this by Saturday. The recipient, who lives in the PNW, will be here and I wanted it done before she arrived (aka... I wanted to save on shipping cost, ha!).

Again, Mom did the name appliqué for me... she also provided the red corduroy for part of the lining - I already had the green on hand. 

The cotton fabrics all came from giveaways :) Actually, the novelty pieces came from the very first giveaway I ever won three years ago. I love being able to use up a few fat quarters on these bags!

I'm down to only needing to sew three more bags to make! Then, I can focus on a few more fun items... like clothes for E!!

Goal Post Here
#3 in the Goal Setting Linky Party