Still waiting......

Well, it appears that this baby is taking its sweet time in arriving. The due date has come and gone and I'm still sitting here wondering when it's going to happen. Hopefully soon!

I've made all sorts of things while waiting, including a few more things for the baby. This pillow will sit on a chair in the baby's room.




I made a basic envelope back pillow following instructions in The Sewing Bible (which is an indispensable reference). I had previously embroidered the two birdy images on linen not knowing what to do with them but this seems a good fit.




Both are Sublime Stitching patterns. I took the completed embroidery, cut out squares around them, ironed on some interfacing, turned the edges under 1/4" all around and pressed, then pinned in place and blanket stitched around the edges. Easy peasy.



The nursery is ready, all we need now is a baby!

Playing the waiting game

I've been off work for two weeks now. While it's given me time to prepare for the baby and to relax, I must admit to being a little bored. I'm always surprised when people say that if they didn't work they don't know what they'd do with themselves. I'm sure I could always find something to fill the time. But being this pregnant really limits the possibilities. Some of my favourite activities are pretty much out of the question. I can't go for long walks or hikes because I tire very easily. I can't garden because I can't really lift anything and bending over is a pain. I can't go on any trips, even day trips, because I want to stay close to home (I don't imagine driving while in labour would be much fun!). Thankfully I can still knit and sew!!!

I recently made this nursing cover:



Both my sisters have one and I've seen them in the shops. I happened on a pattern for one here and had enough of this lovely Amy Butler fabric to make it. It was so easy to make and only took a little over two hours total.



The addition of a length of boning along the top edge means that the U-shape that you can see in the photos is maintained when you wear this around your neck so you can keep an eye on your baby while you nurse, while still being covered up (if that's your preference - it is mine).



There is even a little bit of terry cloth on one corner in case the baby needs a quick clean up from dribbles.


On the knitting front, I've completed this baby blanket from The Little Sublime Hand Knit Book:



I didn't want to go with traditional baby colours, so picked this combination from Sublime's Baby Cashmere Merino Silk dk. It's incredibly soft - I think the baby will like it!



It's quite a small blanket but I think it will be good for a little extra warmth for the baby when in the car seat or stroller. There isn't much of it for actually wrapping around the baby or laying out on the floor.



I'm just going to keep sewing and knitting until the baby arrives. Word has it there won't be much time for either once it does. We'll see how much more I can make...only 8 days until the due date now!

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!

Linen Needle Pouch

I recently borrowed Sew Darn Cute by Jenny Ryan from the library. I chose two projects from the book to make, the needle pouch below, and another currently *top secret* project.



In the book, the needle pouch is called a crochet hook cozy but since I don't crochet I'm using it to store and tote around my double-pointed needles.



The project in the book is made using denim, but I've been so inspired lately by the Japanese craft aesthetic and the use of linen in one of my favourite new books I Love Patchwork by, not surprisingly, I heart linen.

I absolutely love the way my linen needle pouch turned out!



I used a cute little blue button and brown gingham ribbon for the closure.



My dpns fit perfectly and there is also a larger section, which is a great size for a folded up pattern page.



Speaking of Japanese aesthetic, I recently came across this wonderful blog - Mairuru. She makes so many cute projects and has some great tutorials too.

Wow, it's been a month since I've had something to blog about. I did finish a small sewing project recently, I just have to get around to photographing it. Mostly I've been busy knitting two warm weather sweaters for myself, which I'll hopefully finish before it's too hot to wear them! One is done and now I just have to find the right buttons to go with it; the other is in the works.

I just had to write a little post to share the most awesome Easter craft I've ever seen, over at Not Martha, Chocolate Easter Surprise Eggs! I wish I had time to make these!

With the beautiful, warm, sunny weather we've been experiencing lately, spring doesn't feel far off at all. I can't wait for spring ephemerals to carpet the forest floors and spring bulbs to break through the ground in gardens.

In the meantime, I'll have to make do with my new bright and cheery pincushion.



It's the Wildflower Pincushion by Anna Maria Horner and it's a biggie (for some reason the photo on the website makes it look deceptively small). The pattern is free at the Better Homes and Gardens website but you do have to register to be able to download it. If you register, you'll get e-mails from BHG once in a while. There are quite a few useful patterns and tutorials on the website though, so might be worth it.



I used some scraps of an Anna Maria Horner Good Folks bundle that I ordered a while back. I love the colours and prints of the fabric, and I've made quite a few things out of the 6 fat quarters that came in the bundle.

I stuffed the pincushion with wool batting because that's what I had on hand, and because I love to make things using all natural fibres.



If you're interested, the buttons in the photos are a lovely little assortment I purchased from BigFish.

Ruby's bibs

I whipped up a couple of bibs for my new niece Ruby.



Managed to centre a whole ducky on the front of this one which turned out nicely.


I used Amy Karol's pattern from Bend the Rules Sewing, and Hushabye fabric in the Sky colourway by Tula Pink. The backing on the bibs is a lovely, soft flannelette which I much prefer to using terry cloth.



Now I just need to send them off to England. I have to wait another month and a half before I meet the little dear.

I'll be making more bibs and baby things soon as I have another niece due in June :)