Getting ready for baby!

Well, it's been almost an entire year since I've posted anything! And a busy year it's been - new job, new house, and first time pregnancy! Needless to say the blog hasn't been at the forefront of my mind.

The baby is due in three weeks and I've been crafting like crazy. I'm also off work now so I thought it a good chance to post about some of the things I've made.

First up is a Shibui Baby Pullover (ravelry link), a pattern from the booklet Shibui Baby.


I really like how this turned out. I used Lanett which is nice and soft and found 4 different coloured buttons from my stash. I can't wait to put it on the baby!


Next I made a bib with my favourite bib pattern from Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol (I've made these for quite a few babies now!), and a pair of newborn pants from the Made by Rae Basic Newborn Pant pattern.


I used 'Crumbs' Forest Friends Flannel by Cloud 9 in the Earth colourway.

I also made a quilt for the little one and am pleased with the way it turned out. I based it on the Cloud 9 pattern here, but used the instructions from the Spumoni Stripe Quilt in Sew Darn Cute to bind it with the backing fabric, a technique I really like. The fabric is My Happy Nursery, organic cotton from Cloud 9.

As you can see, the quilt has not been ironed since being washed. This is partly because I don't mind the look of it all crinkly, but also because my iron is driving me crazy leaving stains on my fabric. I didn't dare pass the iron over this and risk iron/hard water stains on it. I even ran white vinegar through the iron and used the steam setting on a piece of scrap cloth to try to clean the scale out but it wasn't 100% effective. I'm dreaming of getting a Rowenta with an Anti-scale Valve not to mention 463 microholes to evenly distribute the steam! I'm such a nerd - I never thought I'd covet an iron of all things but my current model doesn't get creases out nor hold folds very well and a Rowenta would make sewing so much more enjoyable! Oh well, a new iron hardly seems like a priority right now!