Knitty Gritty Thoughts:

January 28, 2011

Sewing your own diapers

It's funny - cloth diapering has become more and more mainstream so people don't look at me as crazy as they used to when I mentioned that I cloth diaper. Sewing my own diapers is a whole nother story - people still always ask me why in the world would you do that? And I just point to cute little diapers like this -->

Seriously - isn't that the cutest!? I sew diapers because they are cute, fun and functional. I get to make any size I want with any materials. I can adjust layers for absorbency needs. I can make the sides thinner if I need or the wings longer so they fit longer. I can make fitted's, pockets, prefolds, all-in one's, one sizes and more. Plus, they are quite a bit cheaper to sew than to purchase!

My daughter is 8 months old and already almost 25 lbs. She is on the largest size of diapers but they are too big - so sewing my own allows me to adjust them for fit. I can make the wings longer and add more absorbency to a size medium to get the right fit.

You can even sew covers too!

Since I've had a few people ask me about sewing resources that I use after I mentioned my favorite wipes - so here we go --

Sew it Seams Yahoo Group - This is one of my favorite resources. You can get PUL, Cotton Velour, CDMF, Knits and more. They even do sling rings, needles, thread, rotary cutter blades, etc. This is currently closed - you have to know someone to get in. If you'd like to get in, email me and I'll give you my yahoo info so you can use me as a recommendation to be let in.

Buy the yard n' more - This one is a runner up as a favorite resource. This is where I get all of my bamboo velour, bamboo hemp, double loop terry, bamboo fleece and more. I also get sherpa from there and all my knits. They even do natural products like shea butter, jojoba oil, essential oils and more.

Notion supply yahoo group - This is a great group for snaps/accessories. This is the best resource for ordering my snap press or snap pliers and new snaps. You can also get microfiber diaper inserts and nursing clips. The group owner just opened a store where you can order directly without joining the group too. Read her manifesto to learn more about her inspiring work with orphans.

Wholesale cloth diaper supplies - This is a great resource for larger quantities of fabric (10 yards plus) plus snaps, snap presses and more. She even sells button presses which I really want to try!

Very Baby - This is where I purchased my patterns I started with and you can purchase small amounts of fabric from them. I think their fabric is a lot more expensive than the co-ops but if you really need something, this is the place to get it.

Other pattern resource - the Choe Toes pattern is highly rated. Her website is down right now to link to but I just ordered it and I'll let you know what I think. This download also looks promising but I haven't used it.

Elastic - I like to buy my Lastin from this etsy store - some lastin is made cheaply and breaks but I love, love, love hers. She will do custom listings too for yardage amounts. And if you don't want to sew your own covers I like the ones from here.

And if you like the amber baby necklaces for teething I buy mine from here.

Phew! That was a lot! Hope that helps!

PS - This diaper is one of my own patterns that I drafted. It's a one-size. This diaper is a woven outside (aka quilting cotton) with a BV inside. There is 1 layer of Bamboo/Hemp in the middle of the diaper.
There are 2 layers of snap in soakers with 3 layers each - 1 BV and 2 Bamboo Hemp - This makes it a super absorbable and super trim diaper. :)

Jan 28, 2011 1:42:55 PM | Sewing

January 25, 2011

The Grand Canyon

In the spirit of keeping up with my goals and making a point to travel- we made a mini trip to the Grand Canyon, Sedona and Montezuma Castle this past weekend.

The grand canyon is breathtaking - every time I see it I am completely in awe and amazed at nature. Now I can tell Abby when she gets older, "see you were there!"

Jan 25, 2011 4:15:34 PM | Family, General, Travels

January 19, 2011

2011 Goals

Well it's that time again, goal setting time. I was thinking about letting the list pass this year since I was out of town but I didn't want to let this year start without a list, a roadmap of sorts of what I want to focus on. The list is my plan, it helps me get organized and focus on what's important to me, so here we go -

Invest in Me

I have a hard time spending money on myself for classes, books, videos, etc. This year I want to invest in me both professionally (for my career as a project manager) but also with my hobbies. I'd like to invest in becoming a better spinner, photographer, sewer, etc)

Minimize the extra

I've become a bit of a minimalist the last few moves - dragging your stuff up and down stairs, moving it across country yourself, moving into large homes and then tiny apartments, it's enough to make anyone a minimalist. You know how they say you only use 20% of your stuff, 80% of the time? I'm trying to get to that 20% and love and use everything I own.

Make my space cozy

I'd like to focus on learning how to decorate and how to make my space cozy and welcoming. I have difficulty spending $$ in this area but my house sometimes feels more like a college dorm than a actual home with all the moving. I need to learn how to make these temporary places home.

Save money on the things that aren't important so I can spend it on the things that are

I want to continue minimizing my expenses in the disposable goods categories of items and redirect those funds to fun experience-based things. I want to focus on taking trips, long and short. Hikes, camping, etc so that Abby can have those experiences too.

Feel comfortable in my own skin

I want to make a point of getting fit this year. I'm about 2 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight but things have shifted and my old clothes don't fit. I want to feel comfortable in shorts again and feel confident walking around.

And what would be a list without crafting goals? I want to -

Spin for a sweater

Knit a sweater (not necessarily with handspun)

Learn how to process a fleece

Get better at spinning on a drop spindle

Learn how to make yogurt

Learn how to make soap

What are your goals this year???

Jan 19, 2011 11:21:38 AM | Being Mindful, General

January 18, 2011

Favorite Wipes

Ahh, a long weekend. It was nice to have some extra free time to myself to close myself up in the sewing room and have some time to create.

One of the things I finally knocked out on my todo list for all my expecting friends was one of my favorite baby gifts, handmade cloth wipes. Whether you choose to cloth diaper or not, wipes are handy - the perfect ones are nice and big to protect your hands from the inevitable mess that comes...blowouts, spitting up, food messes, etc. After some trial and error (hello too small!) I finally came up with my favorite wipe. It's large and soft and Abby-baby approved.

I wanted to share them with you - you can make favorite wipes too - they're so easy and a perfect beginning sewing project.

Grab some liquid energy (aka coffee!) - Cut squares 9 inches x 9 inches. You'll need one soft wiping side and one decorative side. I love organic bamboo velour for the wiping side and a soft and stretchy knit or interlock for the other side. Some other alternatives I've used that work well are a cotton velour and CDMF fabric. Or, cotton sherpa with cotton velour for an extra thick and absorbent version. FYI - No matter how tempting, don't try to use bamboo fleece for the soft side of the wipe - yes it's ultra soft however after a few washings it gets very pilly looking and it absorbs a ton of water and gets heavy and thick. It shrinks a ton too. It's wonderful for the insides of the diapers but not for anything that will be seen all the time. BTDT bought the T-shirt. :)

You'll need a serger or a sewing machine. I prefer to serge mine because it's faster - you place the fabric wrong sides together and pin. Put the interlock side face down. Serge all the way around rounding the corners. You'll end up with a wipe about 8.75 inches square.

If you don't have a serger you can still make them, place right sides together and pin. Sew all the way around leaving a 2 inch space open on one side for turning. Trim the corners and turn right side out. Fold the opened end in and pin. Sew all the way around the edge to topstitch. All set!

Perfect for folding - I have mentioned before that we cloth diaper. My favorite cloth wiping solution has been making a stack of these and getting them damp but not soaking wet with just water. (Yes, just water - easy and cheap and very easy on sensitive skin.) Fold them in half and stack them in your wipes warmer. (This is the one we have). You'll have perfect warm wipes for every diaper change for 24-48 hours or so and then you'll refill - easy and peasy. Check!

Jan 18, 2011 5:42:42 PM | Sewing

January 11, 2011

Catching up

Just getting back online and into the swing of things trying to catchup after our mini roadtrip to CA. What a lovely trip! This was our first long car ride with Abby and she did great - total trouper!

I love CA - I grew up in Southern California, Hubby grew up in Northern and we met at College somewhere in the middle in the Central Coast. CA is in our blood and we hope to get back to it sooner than later in some form or fashion.

So - a mini roundup of the going's-on since then -

I finished the bender!