The Fabric Store

Swoon.... I love a trip to the fabric store.  I love it EVEN more than I love a trip to Gap or Gymboree.  Does that mean I am cured?  Or does that merely mean I have transferred my addiction from one outlet to another?

Anyways, Adam is still pretty helpless right now, but I needed to go to the fabric store to buy materials for the tutus I am making for a ballet class, so my in-laws kindly agreed to come over and babysit all of my babies (husband included) while I went to the store.  While I was there, I picked up a gorgeous book, I can't wait to dive into it!  Check it out, right up my alley, don't you think? Beside the book are some fabrics I picked up today also.

The book comes with 4 patterns that can make 23 different projects by altering pieces. Here is a link to the book on Amazon.

And now for some random pictures...

This is Badger wearing a neck pillow that the girls placed on her. She doesn't look impressed does she?

And here is Laina reading to Evelyn this morning in their matching footie jammies and matching messy hair.

Hello, my name is Julie, and I have an addiction....

.... to buying kids clothing.  There.  I stated the obvious. 

Now, what am I going to do about it?  I have tried all kinds of different ways to get myself to STOP buying more kids clothes.  Some have worked for awhile but then my self control explodes into a big buying binge.  Others don't work at all.  So far, the thing that has worked the best for me is this blogging thing!  So that means you all will probably have to read a lot more out of me in the coming months.  Also, sewing is helping me.  I always knew I needed to get a hobby, but nothing held my attention enough to divert me from my shopping.  Sewing is the best of both worlds.... I can make some cute kids clothes (usually) at a fraction of the cost, plus I get the satisfaction that I made it myself AND with the added bonus of keeping me busy enough to steer me away from online shopping!

Sooooo.... with that in mind, I have decided to go on a self-imposed buying ban.  I am going to aim to not buy any more (new or used) kids clothes from now until March 1.  The only exception being that I can purchase patterns and fabrics with which to make kids clothes.  Sound fair enough?  I hope I can do it! I will check in daily here with my progress.  And I promise to be 100% honest.

I have blathered on long enough for one day, so tomorrow I think I will post some projects that I am thinking about embarking on in the new year!

And to wrap it up, here are my photos for the day.  It was a cold and dreary day which we spent mostly inside and the lighting was terrible today.

Here is my little Evie trying soooo hard to be a good girl and not jump and run all over the table.  She is drawing a picture:

Then I noticed that she was getting a bit of a devillish look on her face, thinking "hmmmmm":

"Oops, I accidentally got on the table.  But look, I have beautiful blue eyes...."

"I just couldn't resist the mischief.  I am just going to full-out sit up on the table and be naughty"

And this is Mylie with her new doll, "Jenny".  She got her from Aunty Lisa for a birthday gift and she hasn't put her down all day.



A Little How-to! (Make Baby Leg Warmers that is!)

This one is for you Amy!  I couldn't find a tutorial online on how to make these so I decided to post one here, as my first blog entry.

Baby leg warmers are super easy and quick to make; and the end result is adorable!  The "real" versions of these sell for up to $16 a pair, so this is a cheap alternative.  They are one-size fits most and the list of benefits of dressing your baby in them include: easier diaper changes (compared to wearing tights), extra knee protection for little crawlers, an added layer of warmth for cold days, or simply a cute accessory!  They look great on bigger kids too.

So here you go....

Step 1: Assemble what you need.
*a pair of women's knee high socks (I bought my Christmas-y little numbers at Target for $5, but $2-$5 is common for a cute pair).  If you are making leg warmers for a very young baby, you may want to use big girls knee socks as a smaller alternative.
*sewing machine or serger with thread to match the socks
*scissors
*pins

Step 2: Cut the feet off of the socks just above the heel.

Step 3: Cut the heel and the toe off of the foot leaving a tube in the middle.

Step 4: Cut a thin strip off of the top of the tube.
*it should now be open on 3 sides and still closed on 1 side.

Step 5: Open up what is left and lay it down, right side of the material facing down on the table.
*make sure the pattern goes the same way as on the sock as this will form your cuff.

Step 6: Fold the top down to meet the bottom edge.
*right side of material should touch the table as well as face upwards.

Step 7: Fold the edge from left to right edge.

Step 8: Sew or serge along the cut edge.
*you will be incorporating 4 cut edges.

Step 9: Fit the cuff over the outside of the remaining leg making the cut edges even.
*3 cut edges will be lining up, 2 from the cuff and 1 from the leg.

Step 10: Pin the cuff to the leg.
*you will need to pin two opposite sides first, then stretch the middles until they meet up, as the cuff will be tighter than the leg opening.  Pin in place.

Step 11: Sew or serge around the edge in a circle.
*if you sewed the edge, zig zag stitch around the rough edges to finish off.  Turn the cuff right side out and you are done!

The finished product:

Hope you enjoyed my little tutorial, I will find a little model for mine and post pictures tomorrow!