Cloth Diapering 101

Ok you guys. I’ve been cloth diapering children since… 2004? 2005? Long enough to know a thing or two, and I’m here to share the knowledge. The thing about cloth diapering is that there’s an upswing in parents doing it now, but when I started I didn’t know anyone else that did it. I had to Google and search and research and try this out on my kids and learn the hard way. It wasn’t always fun, and sometimes it was really damn expensive.

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Flashback Skinny Tee

When I saw the Flashback Skinny Tee on Pinterest I pinned it, waited about 5 minutes, and then bought it. I almost didn’t because it only goes up to 5T, so it’s too small for the middles, and Thea has more clothes than she knows what to do with, but I couldn’t stop myself. It’s so damn cute. I love my T4T pattern, but I wanted something with non-raglan sleeves. That Rae is a genius, I tell you.

After I got all the sewing done for Lincoln I took a quick break to make up a tee for Thea. It was kind of a test, because I wasn’t sure what the fit would be like on her Buddha belly. I used a sort of teal-green knit and hot pink ribbing. Oh yes, it’s fabulous.

I thought it was a little plain, so I free-handed some stars on freezer paper, and then painted them on with screen printing paint. After it dried I heat-set it with an iron, but I’m worried how it will hold up in the wash. Totally cute regardless.

I love this pattern, it sewed up so quickly, and she has some helpful tips in there for sewing with knits, like taking the walking foot off when you sew on the collar. Smart.

There are two things that I recommend you do if you want to sew with knits but are scared:
1. Buy some spray starch and starch your pieces before you sew. It will make them sturdier (and easier to feed through your machine) and less scary.
2. Buy a walking foot. Just do it. My machine will mangle knits unless I use my walking foot. It saved my sanity and made me much more confident with knit fabric.

I stocked up on ribbing (so easy on the cuffs and neckband!) and have a few more shirts already planned. Yay!

Sewing for a boy!

One thing I haven’t done is sewn for a boy, and while it’s not really any different than sewing for girls, I had absolutely nothing in my fabric stash that would work. If it was gender neutral or solid then it was a flannel or broadcloth, and solids are boring as hell. So, I found a Joann Fabrics coupon in my inbox and a-shopping we went.

Of course, I had to pick up a few things for myself, because I’m greedy like that.

I loved the fabrics we chose, and I bought a yard of each because I didn’t want to be short to make a pair of pants and diaper cover out of each. I shouldn’t have worried — I think I could’ve gotten away with 3/4 of a yard of each and still had leftovers.

The biggest thing was that we gave Lincoln all our diapers, but he didn’t really have cloth diaper clothes. All you CD parents out there well know: CD bums are huge, and onesies and footie jammies don’t really work. I pulled out the Big Butt Baby Pants pattern, and got to work on 6 pair. Of course, I made a matching diaper cover to coordinate.

We picked out such cute prints, and honestly there are a few I want to go back and get for me. It’s funny that I wouldn’t have looked at the robot fabric before now — when I brought it in the door Thea went wild. I will totally have to make her a dress out of it, and learn that robots aren’t just for boys. :)

So, 6 pair of pants, and 6 of the quick snap diaper covers from New Conceptions. You guys, that cover pattern is the best ever. I use 3 snaps on each side of the waist and legs (instead of 2) and these last and last. Plus, they are very easy to make, otherwise I couldn’t have finished 6 in a day.

I had enough of the robots leftover to make a large wet bag for Lincoln’s dirty dipes when he’s at daycare. I added handles and it has a zipper top, of course. I had enough yellow PUL so that it just fit the robot scrap I had. It was fate, I tell you.

I’m glad I took time off work not just to hang out with them, but to give me time to shop for fabric and sew up some things for my godson. I can’t wait until he gets a little bit bigger so I can make him some kick-ass tee shirts too. You’d think that I have enough people to sew for already, but he’s my godson, so I clearly have a duty to make him the cutest gear in the world. Right?

A visit from The Godmother

The godmother has had time off from work since she had baby Lincoln three months ago, and I insisted that she come out here with my godson (*squee!*) and whadayaknow? She did.

She was able to stay for a week, which sounds like a long time but really isn’t. We were so lucky that she could bring Lincoln with her, and I made the boy one or nine things for their troubles, which I’ll share shortly.

I have to say, it was strange having a baby boy in the house. Belle had a moment of panic when changing his diaper for the first time (a penis!) and I accidentally called him “little mama.” Oops.

He’s the happiest smilingiest baby I’ve ever seen. So sweet. I took a few days off of work which coincided with President’s Day, so the whole family was able to hang out and soak in the magic baby smell.

I miss them already.

Happy V-day!

I originally pinned this ring a few months ago, and even though I’m not a big jewelry person the gem and size of the ring really appealed to me. Plus I liked the price.  To be honest, most of the jewelry I like is usually reallllly expensive.

The husband, being the darling that he is, bought it for me for Valentine’s day. It’s funny, we’ve been together For. Ev. Er. and I think this is only the second piece of jewelry that he’s ever bought me.

He wins.