Make Room for Baby

TESTING . . . one, two, three

 

Like so many grandparents today, they are separated by several states from their soon to be 'grand baby' and the new parents.  Sally came up with some very clever ways to get around working without a crib. She found her stair case to be a great substitute for testing the 'bow ties'. 

We both suggest cutting the angle on the ends of the ribbon last, after the bumper is finished and tied onto the crib. You can then seal the Grosgrain ribbon with fabric glue. Satin Ribbon can be sealed with the heat of a burning match . . . do not let the flame actually touch the ribbon.  

 

 

Sally matched the pink ribbon with a ready made piping in the same pink. Placing the ribbons next to each other rather than on top of each other as a pair, they didn't lose any length before tying into bows. If your slats are wide, you can adjust the placement and spacing of the ribbons accordingly.  

TIP:  When sewing on piping/welt, use a wider stitch and do not sew close to the cord. This stitch is only to  secure it in place and will be stitched over one more time when the right sides of the bumper cover fabric are sewn together.

The ties are sewn on the outside facing fabric before (under) the piping (also known as welt).  (If you sew close the first time, you have to sew even closer the second time to cover the first line of stitches. Do the closest stitching on the final stitching.)

 

 

I couldn't wait to see it in the crib 

 

                                            Pink grosgrain ribbon accents the crib skirt

I was as excited as Sally to see it finished and kept me posted with photos, step by step. Expressing the growing love and anticipation for the miracle of a baby certainly shows in Grandmother's patience to make it perfect.  

The time involved from the planning to the sewing is well worth it. The fulfillment in providing your precious baby a crib set made with love is priceless.

 

The Greatest Show on Earth!

 

 

 

Ladies and gentlemen . . .and big brother, meet Baby Cade! 

 

 

I had so much fun planning this cradle for my friend June.  The creative wheels were spinning.  

My favorite place to check out the latest trends is Macy's Bedding Department.  This is where I found the small print for the main fabric. Sheet fabric has a high thread count and a king or queen set can give you plenty of fabric for a crib bumper, crib skirt, 2 fitted sheets and a baby quilt and pillow.

 

 

To add some whimsy I made small triangles for the 'flags', holding them in place with masking tape. 

I had been saving the large circus theme print for that special project which turned out to be Cade's cradle.  I decided use the print as an applique, using iron-on fusible web. Cutting out each print with a quarter of an inch edge for a small zig zag stitch to secure the iron-on applique. 

 

 

Masking tape also makes a perfect guide line when using trim or topstitching.  I then secured the 'flags' with a straight stitch, using a wide zig zag stitch to secure the chenille cord. It is best if you don't iron over the tape.  I finished the top edge with a bright orange ric rac.

 

Yes, Punky . . .Cades' a keeper!

 
 

 

 

Sock it to me!

  

Can I say . . . I went bananas when I received Gina's e-mail!  Leave it to 'big brother' to come up with a cool theme like Sock Monkey.  

Gina writes:  

"My six year old son helped me pick out the theme since they will be sharing a room & he didn’t want it to be too “babyish”. I checked out buying a crib set & found one that sold for over $500. Yikes! Since that wasn’t in my budget, this worked out perfectly. I am not a seamstress and have only sewed a few things in my life. I was blown away by how easy it was and how beautiful it turned out. So, you certainly made my dream come true!"   

She got her selection of sock monkey fabric pre-picked from the fatquartershop. What a darling crib set.  How sweet is it that the brother picked out the theme and watched mom make it up. Priceless memories and a very special room that all can be proud of. 

 

Gina's sister was kind enough to share the quilt instructions which are extremely easy and can be done in an afternoon.

Instructions for the 'don't leave home without it' quilt!

Cut 11” squares of fabric and place them back to back with thicker cotton fill in between. Sew an “x” across each square and then stitch the squares together in the pattern you want, leaving a 1” hem where the squares are attached. Gina's blanket is 5 squares by 5 squares, but typically her sister sews 6 sq. (W) by 7sq (L) and uses flannel in order to skip using quilt filler. After sewing all the squares together, she fringed all of the hem that was around the squares and the outside border. She then tossed it in the wash and ran it through the dryer until it the edges were nicely frayed. 

I would love to hear your ideas for a baby room theme and definitely send some photographs to info@makeroomforbabykit.com

 

 

MAKE ROOM FOR BABY 'COLETTE'

 

 

Another pretty baby's room, designed with love and sewn with hugs and kisses.

Mommy Devin sent this photo of her baby 'Colette's' new room.  Choosing soft blues and greens from Amy Butler's Midwest Modern collection. , it stands out beautifully against the linen colored walls with the white furniture and trim.  

Devin preferred the skirt touching the floor, which designer's call  'kissing the floor'. I love that word picture.   It sounds so much better than dragging, or explaining a little less than a quarter of an inch on the floor. 

Just softly touching like a kiss. 

When it comes time to lower the mattress, the skirt will now  be 'puddling' on the floor, oh, sorry, not a good word picture for a baby's room!  A good way to avoid this is using 'tucks' .

  

 LITTLE GIRLS' DRESSES WITH 'TUCKS' 

The best example would be in a little girl's dress, (mom's, don't be afraid to use tucks on a boy's cribskirt, sooner than you think they will be in a tuxedo shirt with 'tucks'!  It's a nice touch in so many ways.

   

To help you get a better picture of tucks, I am using the drawing from the dress pattern.  

For the crib skirt, it will be faster and serve the purpose to do a one inch tuck, which will take up the fabric two inches.  Lower the mattress with the skirt to check out how much shorter the skirt needs to be. This will be the number that needs to be in the tuck, or several smaller tucks. Placing the fold of the tuck just over the stitch line of the original hem works well and you can use that as a guide line.

To mark a sewing line, try using  1" masking tape for making the straight line and sew along the edge.  I use this method when I need to attach a trim, ribbon or ric rac in a straight line or perfect square on the front of a quilt or the length of a bumper. Finish the stitching and pull off the tape.

If you have any questions on construction, feel free to e-mail me at: info@makeroomforbabykit.com

 

Leftovers, usually not my cup of tea!

I'm not much for doing anything new and improved with kitchen leftovers, but get me a stack of scraps and trim and I'll be busy while someone else is fixing dinner.  The above photo is an expensive designer fabric, but what a great inspiration to use up the bits and pieces you've saved (more likely your mother). It would be a great one of a kind bumper slip-cover.  

If you are not a quilter it may be to your advantage. Patchworking the pieces 'free-style' is easier than you think.  We are not attempting to win a Blue Ribbon, so no rules apply. We want to have fun, make it unique and be just as clever as the designers at Anthropology or J.Crew with their embellishments.

I love finding ideas while cruising the stores and looking over the details of how they achieved the look.

You can see on this quilt, which was a cut and sew and cut again process.  I used the same process that would work for the bumper cover.  For the quilt I sewed the aqua strip in to connect each section.

The Make Room for Baby Kit bumper is 11" finished height.  So, I am going to start sewing pieces together working in a line that will be 13" wide, leaving enough to cut down to 12".  If I want to add ric rac and ribbon it needs to be stitched on before the patches are sewn together.  With a rotary cutter, mat and clear plastic ruler it goes pretty fast.  I usually cut and sew, trim off for a straight edge and sew again, creating strips, adding strips and turning them round and round until I get the 'twist' and 'feel' I am looking for. 

Practice with a 13" X 30" piece.  When you get your color scheme working, you can visit the fabric store if you don't have enough fabric for the fitted sheet or the ties, etc.  But don't forget, vintage clothes can be cut up even dish towels. I love the ones with the embroidery already done.  If you are ever at an antique show and find the ones with stains, even better for negotiating, since you are going to cut it up anyway.  Straight and perfect is not necessary for the patchwork.  

We call it 'charming' and lovingly handmade.

Surf's UP in "March of the Tools"

 

My earliest venture in Arts and Crafts shows were baskets lined with gathered floral chintz. This meant the pressing of miles of ruffles & long ties for the bows. Feeling constrained with more fabric on the floor than the ironing board, I moved to my work table with a beach towel. Worried about warping my rotary cutting mat, I soon gave this idea up. 

I remembered seeing the padded tables at the drapery workrooms. A narrow version of that would do the trick. I could have made it myself, but I knew Lou who made cornices in Miami. He was the Wild West dude with one fast staple gun! 

I now had one mighty long ironing board....9" X 72", with 3/4" plywood.

Driving home with "my board", I was as happy as a surfer ready to ride the waves, singing California Dreamin!  (Not to be confused with ironing clothes! Totally different song). Years later, and miles of pressing, I simply add another layer of batting and fabric and "my board" is new. If you are making your own bias, or have ribbons to press, this is great.

I have since added a 25" square board for the designer pillows, and patchwork. I can tape work down or pin on it. Iron on fusible web presses much better on the board than the softer top of the ironing board. It's also great to move a work in progress, and stores easily leaned up against a wall.

An inexpensive way to speed the work up and get a more professional finish. I now consider it a staple in my workroom. What an honor to be invited to contribute to Heather Bailey's "March of the Tools!" Thank you Heather!

Pretty In Pink

The most beautiful setting for a Baby Shower.  Check out the Parasols in the trees!  Only Christine would think of that!

Jerry and Christine the Host and Hostess, who give THE BEST PARTIES, and her best friend Karen, the Pretty Mama to be.

A very special Sign In Book of Memories, hand made by a friend.....

Prizes for the baby shower games.

This is a REAL cake from We Take the Cake in Ft. Lauderdale, and it was delicious!

I don't cook or bake, ask my son!  But he will tell you he had the best Halloween costumes and party decorations in town. He is so thoughtful too, he let me know I can visit The Pioneer Woman anytime I want a step by step, photo by photo, cooking lesson, down to the licked spoon! I checked her out, and look out Martha, this one is one fine lady with a cowboy husband! Her photography is spectacular, almost makes me want to cook, but I think I'll sign up for photography instead.

She can be flattered that a 27-year-old kid passed her site on to his mother! My grandma always said "the way to a man's heart was through his stomach."

Nobody ever asks me for a recipe or to bring something to eat, but I do get asked for decorating, so I can help you out here. The topiaries were a huge success and so easy.
YOU'll NEED:

6" FLORAL FOAM BALL

You can purchase these at a floral supplier in different sizes, or trim a block of floral foam into a ball, it cuts like butter. The size will increase by at least 2-3 inches with the flowers.

1" PVC PIPE 

You will get the length by figuring out how tall you want the topiary. Add the height of the container plus about 2" which is inserted into the floral foam ball, and the "trunk" of the topiary.

CONTAINER

Vase, clay flower pot, or plastic pot will work. You need to be sure you can put enough weight in the base. The top floral ball is very top heavy when saturated with water.      

FLOWERS/LEAVES

Daisy's work really well, since they are flat and fill up alot of space. I needed PINK, so that left me with carnations. I didn't count, but at least a couple of dozen, filling in with baby's breath and leaves.

ASSEMBLY

While the floral foam ball is soaking, you can begin getting the container ready. I used a straight sided glass vase, and filled it with the left over floral foam, jamming it in and lining the inside of the glass with leaves I snagged in the garden. I filled the base with water for added weight.  

Push the PVC into the floral foam ball about an inch or two, carefully push it in the container all the way to the bottom and wedged in tightly. You don't want it tilting during the party!

Now is a good time to wrap the PVC with ribbon or add twigs around it for a more natural look.

To start the flowers, place one right in the center at the top, working your way down each side in quarters, filling in between after. The baby's breath and leaves also help fill in the gaps.

Top off the base with leaves or whatever your heart desires. I can barely name the flowers and have never had a "lesson" in arrangements , so anyone can do this if I can. Thank goodness I didn't call them "corsage flowers".

Add a couple of bows under the finished ball of flowers and you are all set.

Have a Business Card ready, they will want to know the flower shop that did this!

Pretty Mommy-to-Be

 

I told you it got even better......mmmmmm Strawberry!

 

Shall we tell her that her life is about to change?

No one actually licked the frosting, but I thought about it!