WIPs and One Finish

It's about time that I do an updated WIP (Works in Progress) post!

But first, a finish! This was my quickest batch of burp cloths in recent history! A few days ago I realized that I'd be seeing 3-4 friends who are expecting this coming Spring. Well, their baby quilts are definitely not done yet, so I figured I could at least whip up a few burp cloths for a small Christmas present :) 

Here is a WIP that has been a long time coming. I've had the fabric for ages (Dear Mr. Claus), and I finally figured out what to do with them. The lap quilt has been basted and is currently in the "to-quilt" pile. 

Evelyn was in a cuddly mood after her nap, while I was trying to baste this baby quilt (School Days by Moda). This quilt was recently upgraded from the "to-quilt" pile to the "to-bind" pile. That pile resides out by the TV in hopes that one of these nights, I'll actually get ambitious and do some hand-sewing while I'm watching a Christmas movie (especially since my December goal has not left that pile... I should get going on that!).

She seemed to also like the backing to another baby quilt. I did eventually get her to move so I could baste it! She then got out one of her favorite "toys" at my parents' house... an old trike that I refinished in my 4-H days. It spent many-a year in an outbuilding at my grandmother's farm. Mom talked me into refinishing it for her (stripping paint, lots of steel wool sanding, and spray paint). It now is the throne for my American Girl Kirsten doll :)

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So, let's do a list... 

(a list that does not include projects that have fabric pulled but haven't been cut into yet!)

2 baby quilts needing binding

2 baby quilts needing quilting then binding

1 lap quilt needing quilting then binding

2 (or is it 3?!) knit dresses for E that have been cut but need some sewing done(!)

2 baby bags that are in various stages of completion

The best part of having a list like this? 

Knowing that it means that I'm using at least a little of my stash! Little by little!

February Goals

My friend's little boy, Peter, arrived about a week early... time to get this quilt done! 

February goal: border, baste, quilt and bind :)

I have recently found the best way for me to be productive with little Evelyn underfoot... prep at night after she goes to bed, and sew during the day - either while she's playing by herself nearby or taking a nap. Prep work usually means cutting, ironing and pinning - all things that require movement and action - all things that entice little Evelyn to come check out what Mommy's doing instead of playing with her own toys. But, if I just am sitting at the desk and sewing, sewing, sewing, I can usually get quite a bit done with her in the same room as me. Yay!

You can see here a nice pile of small projects ready for me to swipe through the machine... baby leggings, baby bibs, burp cloths and quilt bindings. That top bib was one of Evelyn's cousins' bibs when they were younger and I recently copied it and made 4 bibs for gifts. I'll have to take a picture of one to show you before I package it up!

Baby Sewing!

This picture heavy post will highlight a few baby projects I sewed up last month. 

I didn't waste any time cutting into the Lizzy House fabrics I ordered with a giveaway prize gift certificate from Pink Chalk Fabrics. I pretty much whipped this skirt up one afternoon before heading to a volleyball game in town (Evelyn wasn't too happy that I was scrambling to finish the skirt while she was stuck playing by herself on the floor). Dan's happy since the colors are also of his precious Vikings (I'm a Packers fan... but I try to be fair to Dan!). The lining is a chevron flannel from JoAnns. I promise to get a picture up of Evelyn actually wearing it soon!

I was able to meet up with a college friend a few weeks ago. She is due with a baby boy in January! I just happened to find my plain cloth diapers that I use for burp cloths the night before our shopping date, so it's a good thing these are quick projects! I plan to make a few more things for this special baby boy soon :)

A cousin and a high school friend both gave birth to sweet little girls earlier this summer/fall, so it was about time I sent them their gifts (leggings, burp cloths and bibs)! I had two extra leggings that I had bought still in their packaging and then I sewed two more sets with knee-high socks I found on clearance at JcPenny's. The burp cloths are just flannel and terry cloth (obviously I made these before I found those cloth diapers I mentioned above!). This was the first time making burp cloths like this, and it wasn't too scary. I still prefer my cloth diapers, but in a pinch, this pattern will also work.

Finally, I experimented with some bib making with my leftover scrappy hexies from making Evelyn her skirt for the Hexi-Blog Hop this summer. I made two different types... one where I used the burping method (I just picked up on this vocabulary from Moneik!) and then one where I quilted and used store-bought binding. One bib has velcro, while the other three have snaps.

 This was actually the first time I used a snap that I didn't have to sew it on. Why haven't I tried these sooner! So much quicker!!! Oh, and I couldn't resist saving one of the bibs for my own little girl :)

 Here's a bit of a close up of the hexies and the vintage binding I finally got to use :)

 Cute, right!? 

(She's on the verge of reaching for my camera strap or my phone or whatever was on the floor at this time. She's always on the go, go go!)

Ok, sorry for the lengthy post. I wish I could blog about the projects sooner - like as soon as I finish them - but living out of boxes and dealing with a teething-almost-7-month old and having my sewing area in the basement without good picture-lighting leaves me blogging lengthy catch-up posts. Thanks for reading anyways!