Crafty Mamas! Week of 2/21

PleaseSendPicklesNow · February 2016

The first craft thread was getting huge, and quite a few people liked the idea of a weekly check-in. So I thought I'd distract myself from my worries about our baby's health, and get the ball rolling with some craft related GTKY.

What are you working on this week?

What is your favorite technique (sewing, crochet, etc.), and who taught you how to do it?

What's your favorite finished project? Share pictures, if you want!

PleaseSendPicklesNow · February 2016

What are you working on this week?
My mom and I are making a quilt to hang on the wall in my son's room. The top is almost finished--it still needs the castle gate and clouds in the sky. It's my first quilt, and I have NO IDEA what I'm doing. Luckily, mom has done this before, and I've learned a lot about cutting carefully for pattern matching.

What is your favorite technique (sewing, crochet, etc.), and who taught you how to do it?
I love to knit. I learned by watching Youtube videos.

What's your favorite finished project? Share pictures, if you want!
I really, really love these socks. I made them last summer.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/nj/ceibo5mathc7.jpeg

oneliloaktree13 · February 2016

I'm trying to finish a scarf for myself I started a year ago, then then next project is knitting a throw blanket(simple pattern only need 7 skeins of yarn for it). I'm a knitter.

noelietrex · February 2016

@PleaseSendPicklesNow LOVE this idea!! I hate to post constantly in the crafting monster thread, but I have weekly project updates! Also it should be a good distraction- keep the hands busy

What are you working on this week? A new cloth mama goodie bag for a friend! I love the idea and I'm still experimenting and considering ways I might open an Etsy shop with little gift sets like this, just for the sake of funding my sewing habit which is getting a bit out of control. A new cloth mama bag would include: a few PP pads, a few nursing pads, a NB cloth diaper cover, and a one-size cloth diaper cover. Considering including a bib, burp cloths, cloth wipes, and prefolds as well but not sure what makes the most sense as a set. Thoughts?

What is your favorite technique (sewing, crochet, etc.), and who taught you how to do it? SEWING! I also knit and crochet but I stink at those and can only make basic scarves successfully. My grandmother taught me all of these things as a little girl, but I didn't get really into sewing until now with the nesting instinct driving me.

What's your favorite finished project? Share pictures, if you want!

Maxaloones! It's a paid pattern for joggers that's really popular right now. The circle bum is to accommodate cloth diapers which can be bulky. This is size 1 (medium size, I also made newborns). I LOVE this space fabric- the stars glow in the dark!

pinkpenguin32 · February 2016

Question! If I were to sew/make myself nursing pads, what kind of material do you recommend? I went through a ridiculous amount of the disposable ones so I'm leaning towards this route this time around.

What are you working on this week?
Im currently crocheting a corner to corner blanket. No purpose really, I just need busy hands and we don't find out the sex until next week.

What is your favorite technique (sewing, crochet, etc.), and who taught you how to do it?
I'm best at crocheting. I do love to sew. I'm self taught with both and crochet is more forgiving with fixing mistakes. Lol

What's your favorite finished project? Share pictures, if you want!
A quilt I made for DD1 or the wooden paintings on her walls. I want to try a more complicated quilt for this July baby. Maybe it'll be a wall hanging? That's a good idea.

ninji15 · February 2016

Working on some cute pokemon nursery letters.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/85/hqduxr5dw5a7.jpg

rakel88 · February 2016

@pinkpenguin32 that quilt is so pretty

[Deleted User] · February 2016

Love this!

My grandma just gave me this old fabric she's had since I was little of a little quiet book for baby, so I plan to start that this week! Still working on my burp cloths too.

My method is hand-sewing. I used to know how to use a machine, but since I moved out of my parents and lost use to my mom's machine, I kind of lost any crap skills I had to begin with! I also enjoy cross-stitching but that I have to have a lot of patience for. Cross-stitching and using the machine were both taught to me by my grandma, and my mom taught me how to hand-sew when I was little. I would "sew" on scraps on fabric while she used her machine. Fun memories

My favorite finished project so far is the Loch Ness monster I made last week. Posted that one in the big long crafty thread but it is seriously adorable and my absolute favorite.

pinkpenguin32 · February 2016

Thanks @rakel88! I love it, but can also pick out a million imperfections in it.

PleaseSendPicklesNow · February 2016

Ah, I love these projects! That little neon bum is adorable, @noelietrex. The quilt made by @pinkpenguin32 is so pretty and sort of elegant because it's so simple. And those nursery letters are going to look so cool standing out against the wall. Is the design decoupaged onto wood, @ninji15?

About a cloth mamas set--YES. I could see an etsy shop offering a cloth diaper set (with covers in various sizes, cloth wipes, and prefolds) and a cloth mama and baby set (PP pads, nursing pads, bibs, burp cloths). And maybe a super-deluxe cloth set that includes EVERYTHING. And this is probably a really stupid question, but are the nursing pads machine wash and dry? Because if so, I'd invest in a stash myself.

@oneliloaktree13 I have always wanted to knit a throw, but I'm intimidated. I keep telling myself that maybe I could do it if I worked in a REALLY large gauge. What gauge is the pattern you're going to do?

ninji15 · February 2016

@PleaseSendPicklesNow No haha, I didn't have the patience and they aren't real wood letters. I used a book and cut out traced letters. Then I used mod podge to make it look better. I am not as crafty as some of these lovely ladies but I figured for once I would have something to share!

noelietrex · February 2016

@pinkpenguin32 I make cloth nursing pads from scraps of larger projects. I've been using flannel on one side and terrycloth backs for absorbency and because they lay relatively flat. I tried using fleece backs which are more water resistant but they're too bulky and show from under a bra. Bamboobies brand uses a cotton/poly layer against the skin, a cotton/hemp absorbent layer, and TPU outer which is waterproof. I'm considering making some nursing pads with PUL outers as they'd be completely waterproof and even thinner, but with the cost of PUL at $12.99/yard I'm not sure I can justify using it for that. I'll probably just make a few from any scraps large enough and those can be "going out" nursing pads with flannel/cotton/terrycloth for home or casual days. Hope that helps! Definitely try them out though- they're super fast, easy and fun to make!

pandamonium20 · February 2016

@noelietrex if you have a Joann near you, they have a 50% off regular priced fabric til Wednesday. I used that today to get some PUL to get me through until my order comes in a week or so.

noelietrex · February 2016

@pandaferhWhat?! Thanks for the heads up! I have 2 yards of PUL in the mail currently and plans to attempt sewing pockets next. 50% off fabric sounds like a great reason to drop by Joann's too though...

kcossey528 · February 2016

I'm so jealous of everyone and their craftiness! I can do basic wreaths and soaps, but nothing fancy. Maybe now that I'm on indefinite rest I should pick up a new hobby. I used to know how to knit, but only a straight line. I was really interested in starting mosaic, but that may have to wait til after baby.

avanderl · February 2016

I've been working on it for a while. But this week I am finishing this blanket for DD I just need to make a couple more flowers.

Her nursery is going to be purple, blue, and green. The flowers and edging are n purple but the photo is a little dark.

I mainly crochet which I learned from my college roommate and tutorials on pinterest.

My favorite project has been the Disney Princess dolls I crocheted. I posted a picture of Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Ariel on the other thread. I think I'm going to make Elsa next.

pandamonium20 · February 2016

@noelietrex The awesome lady I had today scanned all three coupons in a row on my phone so it applied the 50% to one fabric, 40% to something else and then 10% to the rest. I'm pretty excited to get some work done tonight.

I'm painting my vinyl ottoman and the cushions to my glider currently. The glider was a $30 used deal with nasty faded pink velvet cushions and the ottoman was $15 because someone had gotten tar on a display. It came off with four coats of goo gone but stained it slightly. Perfect reason to just go yellow.

pandamonium20 · February 2016

Also, never go to a craft store without DH. That second person using a coupon means you're not limited to one sale item. I got PUL today while he got Batman fabric for my quilt attempt. And it took half as many trips to get the letters for our nursery. Now if only the 4 year old could get big enough to check out as well.

mamafox14 · February 2016

Tonight's craft: burp cloths!

PinkLady2015 · February 2016

This is about as crafty as I'll get!!

PleaseSendPicklesNow · February 2016

@ninji15 It totaly fooled me. It looks like an expensive wooden letter, decopauged. Nice work!

@stellaluna14 That lion fabric!!! So cute! I am making heart eyes at it right now.

@pinklady2015 That fancy flowery letter is gorgeous.

pinkpenguin32 · February 2016

@pandaferh I like you shopping style!

@PinkLady2015 I think that letter is adoarble! Definitely qualifies you as crafty.

chanfa · February 2016

What are you working on this week? shirts and onesies!

What is your favorite technique (sewing, crochet, etc.), and who taught you how to do it? I know how to knit and crochet but I do a variety of other crafts. All self taught

What's your favorite finished project? Share pictures, if you want!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/ue/8s5ikkks9zgh.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/xy/p3l2ey7c7d4b.jpg

[Deleted User] · February 2016

@chanfa oh my gosh I love that LOTR onesie! DH and I are (nerd alert) obsessed with those movies. How did you do all of those?

chanfa · February 2016

@schaze All are heat transfer vinyl that I heatpressed onto the onesie! I have a die cutter that cuts the vinyl for me according to a design so all of these were made the same way.

jolydan · February 2016

Hello ladies! Just joining!
so far I finish 2 projects and working on a quilt! We are making a woodland nursery. I also just received my knit fabric to do some Harlem pants and rompers!!!

mamafox14 · February 2016

@jolydan I love your quilt fabrics! So cute!

mamafox14 · February 2016

I can't stop sewing! Even though my sewing machine is being quite the twat today...

jolydan · February 2016

Can someone help me with a jersey knit fabric problem?? With the zigzag stitches it get stuck under the needle and the thread make a huge mess !! @noelietrex any input?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/06/rubh6c0r9mu2.jpeg

mamafox14 · February 2016

@jolydan I am no expert but I do know that when my stitches get all fucky like that I usually need to adjust my tension. My machine is a real piece of shit but that usually helps.

noelietrex · February 2016

@jolydan I haven't run into that issue, but the stretch on the knits I've worked with looks like it's less stretchy than what you're working with. This article is all about sewing knits with a regular machine and has a specific section on knits and the zig zag stitch. Maybe helpful? I'm also a beginner level/ totally faking it as I go along seamstress. https://www.seamwork.com/issues/2015/06/knits-without-a-serger

jolydan · February 2016

Thank you both! My MIL suggested the tension too and possibly the type of needle! I'll do my homework, good thing it was only a practice with scrap fabric

pourmeanothermocktail · February 2016

@jolydan My experience with stretchy fabrics is to get a ball-pointed needle (they're less sharp so they shouldn't "catch" on the fabric, to decrease the foot pressure just a smidge, and to increase the thread tension a smidge. I have a machine from the 1950s, and I'm an amateur, but my first ever sewing project was on all swimsuit like material - great move me! Hopefully that helps!

paigeystuff · February 2016

Ahhh. Need this motivation. Bought a lot of fabric for receiving blankets and only finished 2 before I became distracted. I enjoy sewing, and occasionally hate it, but seeing all of these projects makes me want to get back to work!

pandamonium20 · February 2016

Made my quilt today! Yea, the lines are off. My MIL cut some of my squares uneven and I didn't realize it until I was sewing it all together. Im stoked though!

PleaseSendPicklesNow · February 2016

BATMAN! Awesome fabrics, @pandaferh.

elenabrent · February 2016

First project! Some Carolina drool bibs.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/v4/mik0y3obi5qm.jpg

Pankers · February 2016

You all are doing great, I'm slacking at the moment.

ach298 · February 2016

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/mp/028sgtu4u96l.jpeg

This is what I've been working on lately. I made a Doctor Who bow holder for our little girl. We had been holding off making anything until we knew what #3 was going to be, but now we know so it is full steam ahead. We are mostly just converting DS#2 Doctor Who nursery in to a girl nursery by adding a few more accents and adding a gold star motif. I found some awesome Tardis fabric that I'm going to make sheets out of. I also plan to make sheets out of the sushi fabric. My boys picked out the cupcake fabric for their sister, which I think I will use to make a bubble skirt and a bow and maybe a few diaper covers.

I'm kind of an equal opportunity crafter. I like making things, either by sewing, knitting, painting, decoupaging, etc. My grandmother was pretty crafty, but I'm mostly self taught or like with sewing, learned via college classes.