Baby Jumpsuit tutorial

When looking around dor some free sewing patterns, I stumbled upon a playsuit by E&E (Pattern E&E). I thought it looked really cute and the instructions were included in the pattern, so I thought I would give it a try.

Step 1: Since it was my first piece of clothing, I chose this fabric with purple flowers that I got really cheap on a local market. If it would fail, at least it didn't really cost me a lot :), playing it safe! For the contrasting fabric I opted to go with black (I didn't have other fabrics that seemed to match), it's from some pants my mother doesn't wear anymore.

Step 2: Cutting the pattern. I think this took me about the longest time ever! Partly because I printed the pdf double sided so I couldn't just cut it out but had to make new pattern pieces. As you can see, there are quite a lot of pieces involved.

Pattern cut in paper, ready to transfer it on the fabric.

Finally all the pieces are cut.

Step 3: Start sewing! The instructions included with the pattern are pretty straight forward. I'm a beginning sewer and I could follow them, so I guess pretty much everyone could. My fabric option did turn out less than ideal, because it's more on the synthetic side so ironing wasn't really possible. I ended up not doing the front pleat, as it woud not stay put and just looked weird.

First project: sewing four shoulder straps.

All the pattern pieces ready to start sewing the top!

Place the straps in between the fabric and your lining (good sides facing each other).

Fold over the lining, first part of the top is done!

I topstitched the top to give it a more finished look.  Follow the same steps to create your second top piece.

Sew the two pieces together. our top is done!

Start sewing your pockets making sure part of the lining is showing, this gives it a nice touch.

Front panel done! I guess at this stage I wanted the piece to be ready, as I stopped taking a lot of pictures ;).

My first trousers done (feeling proud ;) ).

Now just sew the leg cuffs on your trousers.

Final step: secure top to bottom and add an elastic in the waist.

Step 4: Done! Now I just have to wait untill summer for my goddaughter to wear it as it is still a bit big on her. But, I think for my first attempt it turned out pretty good. (It did take me some time to make it though :), so it isn't a one-day project.)

Up next: first time making curtains!

Baby blocks tutorial

I started this project back in december, and finally I have finished it. Although it took me a while to complete these blocks are a great idea for a beginner.

In Belgium, the 6th of December Sinterklaas ( a kind of Santa Claus) comes to bring 'good' children toys, chocolates and tangerines. Since my goddaughter was only 3 months old I could hardly give her any sweets so I looked online for some inspiration. I found a couple of tutorials on making baby blocks that looked pretty cute and not that hard:

Baby Blocks 1

Baby blocks 2

So here you can find how I made my own, these are just the last two of her name, the first I already gave her from Sinterklaas and the second on Chrismas Eve. Each block took me about 30-45minutes to make (once I got the hold of it, the first two took longer ;) ).

Materials needed for one block:

20g of stuffing
6 fabric squares (9x9cm or 3.5x3.5inches)
Matching thread
Optional: Vliesofix

First, select some fabrics that go together, I found this rather hard. When looking at my fabrics I have predominantly prints that don't match up all that well together... But these are the two combinations I picked out:

Next, as you can see on the photo's, time to cut your squares. I cut mine with a 9 cm side  (approximately 3.5 inches). I chose three different fabrics, so I would cut 2 squares from each fabric.

If you want to personalise the blocks with a name, do this before you start sewing the sides together. I used Vliesofix for the first time an I have to say it turned out pretty nice. 

How to use Vliesofix: 

1. Draw the letter on the wrong side of your fabric (you can also do it on the paper-side of the Vliesofix but I found it harder to make sure the letter faced the right way). 
2. Cut a piece of vliesofix the size  of your letter and put the glue-side of the Vliesofix on your fabric.
3. Iron the Vliesofix to your fabric ( I put a seperate piece of fabric between the Vliesofiw and my iron to make sure nothing bad would happen).
4. Cut out your letter following the markings you made in step 1.
5. Peel of the paper of the Vliesofix, there should be some 'glue' remaining on your fabric letter.
6. Next, place the letter on the surface you want and iron once more (again, I put some fabric in between) for about 30 seconds.

Now, time to start sewing!

I always started with the front side (with the letter) so that if anything would go a bit wonky, at least this side looks good.

Place 2 fabric squares right sides together and stitch (I use approx. 0.5 seaming allowance). Do this for both sides of your front side, next attach the top.

Put your first 2 squares together

First side done!

Place the other side on the front and stitch.

Looking good!

Now is when things become a bit more tricky, attach the top to the sides by matching up the squares right sides together. There might by some pulling and fumbling involved to get all the sides sewn.

Top attached to the front.

Now turn so the top and sides can be stitched together.

First corner done!

Then, attach the bottom to the front, again follow up by attaching it to both sides.

Only the back to go!

Last, you still need to attach the back I had some trouble doing this the first time, but when sewing the next blocks it became easier.

Last side you attach, make sure to leave a turning gap of about 3 cm (1 inch), best thing is to leave it in the middle and not on the side, you can see I tried both and when in the middle it made it easier to close the block up. When makin the gap in the middle, just sew an inch, lift up your needle and fabric an then sew together the last inch.

Side gap, this was a bit harder to sew closed.

Better option to keep a gap in the middle.

Turn the block through the gap and start stuffing it making sure you put enough stuffing in the corner to give the blocks the right shape.

Get stuffing!

Still empty...

Last step: close the gap, you can do this by stitching very close to the side with your machine, or sew it by hand to conceal the gap ( I guess it's called a whipstitch).

Closing the gap...

First one done!

And the second one...

Done!

Cute to put next to the crib and great for my goddaughter to dribble on, 

which seems to be her favourite activity right now.

Next project: First piece of clothing!

Baby bibs tutorial

Well, about this time last year I found out I was going to be a godmother. Obviously I was over the moon when I received the news, and I still feel the same right now. I totally adore my goddaughter! Can't get enough of her little smile, and she's the perfect excuse to start sewing adorable baby-thingies :).

I started looking on the internet on what I could make for her that didn't look too difficult. So one of the first things i stumbled upon were baby-bibs. There are so many tutorials on Pinterest and all of them looked pretty do-able.

So I combined some of them to make my own 'How to sew a baby-bib tutorial'. Since trying the project, I've made three of them already and I get better and faster at it every time. I think this one took me about 40 min. Pretty good eh :). Since I've already given the other two to my sister, I can only show you the one I've made today. However, I will try to get a photo of the other ones to show you guys the result (Yes, I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out as you can tell ;) ).

So let's start the tutorial:

 

 Materials I used:

Cotton fabric (snails)
Baby towel (pink)
Fabric scissors
Matching thread
Pattern (I will add one later, but don't have a scanner at home so it will have to wait a bit)

Step One:
Cut out the pattern piece, choose matching fabrics. I've chosen to use a baby towel because it absorbs all moisture pretty well (and we all know that can come in handy with babies :) ), but I've also done one with cotton on the front and back and it works pretty well.

Step Two:
Fold your fabrics and place the pattern piece with the middle side on the fold. Trace the pattern on your fabrics. (From experience I can tell you to make the neck-pieces long enough, the first one I made was a bit tight so better make it al little long than the other way around).

Trace your pattern, make sure the middle part is placed on the fold.

 

After you cut it out, it should look like this, don't worry if the sides aren't even it'll get fixed when you start sewing.

 

Do the same with your second piece of fabric.

Now you should have two pieces of fabric.

Step Three:
Can you tell the difference?.....
I've ironed the fabrics really fast so it's a bit easier to line them up.
Put the two fabric pieces on top of each other with the good sides facing each other. Pin them in place at some important points (neck ties, bottom,...).

They don't fit perfectly together, but you turn it inside out after sewing, so don't worry about it!

Pin to make sewing easier.

 Step Four:
Time to start sewing!
I chose a pink thread to sew the bib together. First place your fabric and choose the seam allowance you like. I like it when the outside of the fabric corresponds with the outside of the sewing foot (is that the right term?), it makes it easy to keep the same distance.

Line up the fabric with your machine and start sewing!

Step Five:
Sew all the way around the bib, leaving about 4 cm (1.5inch?) open so you can turn your bib inside out.

Step Six:
After turning it inside out, I've quickly ironed it again. Now to finish off, sew along the side of the bib again, starting with the gap you left to turn your fabric. this time, sew closer to the edge so the gap will be sewed closed automatically ( I like using the inside of the foor as a guiding distance this time).

Still looks a wit wobbly, but it gets better when you topstitch it.

This time, use a smaller seam allowance.

Step Seven:
Tadaa!! You did it! That wasn't that difficult at all was it? It's really a beginners project, but I still love doing them because they don't take a lot of time (really addicting) and I bought some cute fabrics that look way nicer than the boring bibs you can buy in the store (the cute ones cost waaaaaay to much in my opinion :) ).

Step Eight:
Last thing to do of course is to add a closing mechanism. The first bib I made I used Velcro and it works really well, but a couple of weeks ago I purchased a button puncher and since I bought some colorful snaps I thought these wouls look nicer. And... it's pretty easy too ;).

Found some matching pink snaps.

You can see some sides are still a bit wonky :).

Finished!
Doesn't it look adorable? She can dribble and look cute at the same time, perfect!

Done!

And another one...

Well, all I've got left is a quick question for you guys. In a few weeks I'm goint to participate in a jumble sale that is organised by my community once a year. I was just wondering if I would try to sell some of them... So my question to you is would you buy these if you saw them? And how much would you be willing to spend?

Thanks!

Remember to let me know if you've seen Pins I could try out!