Maternity... again!

Ok, so I'm back to looking at maternity wear. I'm currently 15 weeks pregnant and showing big-style!

 

I have a party to go to on Saturday next week so want to make a new dress. I think I've decided on Simplicity K2369 wrap dress.

 

I'll just add a couple inches extra at the front and back (hopefully meaning the side seams will still be on my sides!) using a 'slash and spread' method seen here: http://sewfearless.com/2010/06/29/project-12-june-comfy-tee/ - I THINK!!

 

I imagine it will all go horribly wrong! Gonna need to check my jersey fabric stash as I don't think there's much of it there but hopefully going to get started tomorrow!

 

Wish me luck!

Saddest thing I've ever made

So today I made a burial gown for little Isla. I'd always planned on making her clothes when she was born, but never thought it'd be something so tiny, poignant and sad like this.


The gown is from here - such a beautiful and simple pattern, thank you! 


The bonnet was quick and easy. Printed from here. 


Heartbreaking to make but I couldn't not make her something. She will also be buried with her teddy, which has been with us since we found out she had died, and with her since she was born sleeping. 

Front:

Back: 

Isla and teddy: 

Isla McKillop, our beautiful angel

"An Angel in the book of life wrote down my baby's birth. 

And whispered as she closed the book "too beautiful for earth."

So our baby girl was born forever sleeping on Friday 13th July at 23.52, weighing 2lb 1oz. She was so beautiful and we named her Isla, as we always were going to. 

She touched our lives so deeply and both myself and my husband realised the true extent of parental love. We found peace in Isla and felt unbounded pride and love when we looked at her and held her close. 

We are burying her in a woodland ground on Monday 30th July. We have chosen a crab apple tree to mark her grave and will plant wild flowers throughout the year. As Isla didn't get to grow up herself, we are placing her somewhere she can be part of life, growth and beauty. 

They say there is a reason,

They say that time will heal,

But neither time nor reason,

Will change the way I feel,

For no-one knows the heartache,

That lies behind our smiles,

No-one knows how many times,

We have broken down and cried,

We want to tell you something,

So there won't be any doubt,

You're so wonderful to think of,

But so hard to be without.

2 little hands – that will never grip
 2 little legs that no longer kick
A delicate face that will never cry
And tiny hands that can’t wave goodbye
2 precious feet that will never walk
Soft, blue lips that will never talk
But a beautiful soul that has gone up above
And left me with feelings and memories of love

An Angel Never Dies

Don’t let them say I wasn’t born,

That something stopped my heart

I felt each tender squeeze you gave,

I’ve loved you from the start.

Although my body you can’t hold

It doesn't mean I’m gone

This world was worthy, not of me

God chose that I move on.

I know the pain that drowns your soul,

What you are forced to face

You have my word, I’ll fill your arms,

Someday we will embrace.

You’ll hear that it was meant to be,

God doesn’t make mistakes

But that won't soften your worst blow,

Or make your heart not ache.

I’m watching over all you do,

Another child you’ll bear

Believe me when I say to you,

That I am always there.

There will come a time, I promise you,

When you will hold my hand,

Stroke my face and kiss my lips

And then you’ll understand.

Although I’ve never breathed your air,

Or gazed into your eyes

That doesn’t mean I never was,

An Angel never dies.

Just a wee extra....

Wasn't going to post this as I wanted it to be a surprise for my friend when she opened the bag, but hey ho!

Thought of the idea when I looked on Etsy and lots of changing bags come with a changing mat and because I had about 1/3m left of the oilcloth, which was the more expensive of the fabrics, thought I'd just whip one up! Searched online and found this great tutorial from Prudent Baby - here!

I used towelling on the reverse and quilted this before construction to make it padded...

Then I attached to the PVC cotton, stitched together, overstitched and divided into thirds for folding...

Then I added some bias binding for the ribbon and here it is all tied up like a beautiful present...

Hmmm, maybe she needs some bibs?!!

Final day of changing bag project.....

Well, it's been a project full of blood, sweat and tears, literally!

Blood: Pricked my fingers, arms and even my face on the multitude of pins sticking out from the edge of the bag! Ouch!

Sweat: It's hot sitting at that table, working hard, especially when the heating comes on! And the straighteners only added to the heat!

Tears: I have never had the thread break so many times in one project - ever! It was ridiculous! By the 'finishing touches', I was ready to give up and resign this to an incomplete pile - but it would be alone on that pile, as I've never not finished anything, no matter how frustrating! And I think I shed a tear of joy when I signed the label!

So, we got there in the end and it is indeed finished! Here are some finished shots

~The inside...

~ The top!

~ Was trying to pose with it but didn't work out so well!

I do love this bag and may have to make more in the future!

Total hours: About 8, I think
Cost: £58 plus labour (of love!)

Day 2 of the changing bag project...

Well it was all such fun and going swimmingly! Finished the second outside part and got to the stage where I needed to join the 2 sides to make the whole of the outside. Looking good!

Then I had to make the inside pockets with the elastic bits.

Another top tip here - instead of constantly jumping up to iron seams, use your Hair Straighteners! Work a treat and are totally portable to the sewing table! Was very excited to get the insides done and sew together, including T-junction seams at the bottom to make the box shape, by the time I went out for lunch!

So I returned from lunch thinking I'd nearly get it done.... but I realised I didn't like the pointy bottom corners on the outside bag part, which you can see in the picture below, so I decided to 'quickly' change them to T-junctions too. Easier said than done, because that meant sewing through a squillion layers of fabric and oilcloth, which my machine was incredibly reluctant to do, so kept breaking the thread and the needle once too! Think I must have re-threaded that needle about 100 times this afternoon!

Got there in the end but alas, it was now the ZIP stage! The problem with me, when I sew, is that I need to get my head around the practicalities of the process first, so I completely understand what I'm about to do and why! This was not the case with the zip part, so I just went with the flow and hey, it worked!

So I put all the pieces together, used a million pins and it's ready to be sewn together and finished completely tomorrow! It's looking great though and I'm really pleased with how well it's going, despite hours of frustration today! (Total time so far about 5 hours.)

Finally! Feeling inspired for a new project...

So I bumped into a friend in town today and she wants to 'commision' a bag from me, more specifically a changing bag for her 9 week old little girl, Eleanor.

This is very exciting (a) because I haven't done a bag in ages and really enjoy them and (b) doing something for someone else is always exciting!

So, in my usual fashion, I have spent the last hour or so scouring the web for free patterns and designs, as well as fabric designs. Then it's up to said friend to decide on design, fabric (whether all cotton or some waterproof stuff in there) and what pockets she wants! Am quite excited but I know it's going to be a big project - would love to get started in half term in 2 weeks time!

Anyway, here are some designs..... Click on the bags for more info!

This one below is really clever - it's called an On Bag. There are instructions on the website as it can be tied and used a number of ways - plus she's provided a free pattern! Click on the bag!

 Instructions here - click!

From Etsy, I think

Changing mat and bag too by Amy Butler

Etsy, again. You buy the pattern

Then there's the fabrics. Here are some waterproof ones which may possibly work on the inside, including some I have at home already...

Beige!

Lime green!

All of these are on ebay!

These are some actual fabrics, cotton-like ones, I have already. Dunhelm Mill and Ikea are good for fabrics for the outer. These would also work as the lining if you didn't want a waterproof lining.

So that's the choices! What do I do? How do I start? What does my friend desire?!!