Tumble dyed baby outfit

This was a quick little refashion and sewing project for my darling baby niece. I had found the leggings at an op shop for $1. I decided to make them more girly by spraying some Tumble dye flowers on to the legs. I just made a simple flower cut-out from some printer paper and held it in place by hand while I sprayed the dye. I used some scrap knit fabric to blot the excess dye from the paper.

I used pink and yellow dye, which mixed in places to make orange. When I'd finished the leggings I decided that they just had to have a top to make a proper outfit. I found an old baby pattern (Kwik Sew 2596) and made this cute little top from some more knit fabric scraps. Then, I used the blotting fabric, now covered with pink, yellow and orange dye, to cut out little flowers. I sewed these on to the top and pants with a quick spiral stitch.

A very quick and cute baby outfit. It was fun to make too. I can't stop using these Tumble dyes - my wardrobe needs to watch out!

Click below to see my other Tumble dye projects.

Ombre dyed, polka dot t-shirt


Tumble dyeing with a stencil

Jalie 3132 nursing hoodie

In a recent post I mentioned that I'd made a breastfeeding top for my sister who has just had a baby. I know there is considerable interest in this Jalie pattern so, as promised, here is some more info about this top. The pictures are of me wearing the top, not my sister.

I made it using Jalie 3132 in size U. The breastfeeding options are shown below in the patterned and teal fabrics. I've made the regular top previously as a t-shirt, which you can see here and here.

Unlike my previous versions of this pattern, I followed the pattern exactly for this top apart from making the sleeves full length. I chose the shorter version of the top, although it is still quite long on me and I'm fairly tall. My sister is even taller (almost 6 foot) so it should be fine on her.

I made the hooded version and I really like the sporty style of this top. The fabric I used was fairly heavy t-shirt fabric from Textile Traders. It worked out really well for this top as it's heavy enough not to be see-through, but still wearable on the cool, but not cold, days we are having here in Perth. It's a comfortable weight for wearing inside the house too.

This photo (above) shows a close-up of the pocket detail. I attached the pocket by sewing the bottom edge right sides together first, then topstitching, which differs slightly from the Jalie instructions. The pocket is quite small for my big hands, but the proportions look fine on the top. You can also see the flap of fabric that lifts to allow breastfeeding. When the nursing flap is lifted...

...it reveals a singlet-style top that can be easily pulled aside to allow breastfeeding (excuse my bra here!). My sister has already worn this and tried it out and she says it works beautifully for breastfeeding. The raw edges of the singlet are finished with a serged stitch.

I finished the hood with grommets and used some wool with pom poms as the tie.

I am really pleased with this top. It is not at all obvious that it's meant for breastfeeding and the nursing flap just adds to the sporty style of the top. The pattern is great and easy to follow. My sister loves it and wants me to make her another one. She would like one long enough to wear as a dress or tunic with leggings for winter. Anyone who has breastfed knows that dresses don't quite work when out in public!! I can't wait to get started :)
 

I forgot the penguin!

In my last post, when I showed the presents I'd made for my sister and her new baby I left one thing out....

...this little stuffed penguin!

I used this pattern and tutorial by the Purl Bee. The fabric was just scraps from my stash. I tried to choose patterns and textures that would be interesting for a baby.

I used circles of felt for the eyes instead of buttons. and I added several different coloured ribbon loops as a tail. Babies love to play with ribbons and tags.

This is a lovely little free pattern and makes such a sweet gift for a baby.

Sewing for a new Mum and baby

1 day old

The best thing ever has happened this week, my sister has had a baby! What's more, it's a girl so naturally I have been sewing up a storm of girly gorgeousness. This is my second niece and it's so lovely to have a girly outlet after sewing for my own two boys. Sewing for boys and girls is just so incredibly different. My sons always want something understated and 'cool' whereas I can go crazy with tulle, ruffles, hearts and flowers for the girls and they lap it up.

Here is what I've made so far:

The first thing I made was this breastfeeding top using Jalie pattern 3132. It is made from thickish t-shirt fabric. I was really pleased with this (modelled here by me) and my sister loves it. I will blog more about this soon.

Then I made this little outfit using Simplicity 7807. I made the newborn size, but it has turned out more like a 12 month size. In fact, my 6 year old could probably wear the pants (if he were that way inclined). This outfit was made with scraps left over from this baby blanket, then embellished with appliqued hearts and ribbon and finished with a strip of pink ribbing folded and stitched with a twin needle. It is pieced together based on the sizes of scraps I had. I think it turned out pretty cute.

After seeing the size of the above outfit, I quickly returned to the drawing board to make something that would fit the baby now. I used a 6 month size bodysuit to trace a newborn-sized pants pattern and made some weeny trousers from scraps of the knit fabric I used to make the breastfeeding top. Again I had to piece fabric together to have enough. This time I used a strip of printed jersey down the sides of the pants and some more to make a matching hat. The hat was made using this simple tutorial found on Freeneedle.

The 'ears' are tied together to make this cute design.

This outfit turned out well and was very quick and easy. I'm pleased to say that it fits and has already been modelled by this little sweetheart (one day old in these pictures).

My two beautiful nieces

My boys with their new baby cousin

I don't usually put lots of family photos in my blog, but this time I just couldn't help it. I am so besotted by this sweet little girl. I was living in England when my sister had her first baby so I missed out. I am not usually a baby person, but this one has captured my heart. My boys and my niece are also completely in love with her and have talked of nothing else since she arrived. A very special time in all our lives ♥

 

Boy and girl baby blankets and toys

Two close friends were dur to have babies with two weeks of each other, one was expecting and boy and the other a girl. So, time to get cracking and make some baby things. Yippee, it's not often I get the chance!

I decided to make baby blankets from a tutorial I found here. I chose a floral print stretch knit for the girl and a soft wool blend black and white check for the boy. The back of the blankets was super-soft white fabric from the towelling section of the fabric shop. I'm not quite sure what it is made from. The tutorial is easy to follow and results in a gorgeous blanket with a border, formed by the backing fabric, and diagonal corners (these were the trickiest part).

I also decided to make little matching soft toys from the 'Misfits' book by Fumie Kamijo and Rosie Short, which I found in the local library. It was very hard to choose which animals to make, but I eventually settled on A reindeer for the girl and a raccoon for the boy. I used scraps of the blanket fabric to make these and then added embellishments later, including a little skirt and antler-bow for the reindeer!

I have to say that both gifts were very well received by my friends and I just loved those thank you cuddles from the newborns!

Flowers in a pocket

I made this little jacket for a friend's 6 month old baby as a thank you present for a dog rescue mission we went on - long story!