Modern Diaper Bag as Beach Tote

So I made this diaper bag that I love. It's the Modern Diaper Bag pattern from Amy Butler's "Little Stitches" book. The shape is so unique and it is what drew me to the pattern in the first place. Another bonus? Nothing ever gets lost at the bottom since the sides angle outwards. It's roomy and big enough to carry everything I need. As big as it is though, I actually scaled the pattern down 25% to make it. The original is even bigger.

But for a beach trip? I feel like we have to haul half our house when we go. I need a BIG bag. So I decided to make the full size Modern Diaper Bag. I skipped all the pockets and just added a single simple pocket. Really all I need is a pocket for a phone and keys so that they don't get lost in the bottom.



The result? BIG!! In the picture above it makes my original diaper bag look tiny and it is anything but. Below I have the "Little Stitches" book inside for size reference. Tons of room of towels, sunscreen and toys I think!



When I made my diaper bag I tried to line up the pattern on the closure flap but messed it up in the end. I put the magnetic snap in the wrong side of the flap! This time I was more careful and I think I did a darn good job!

Skirts Skirts Skirts!

My fabric co-op was running a skirt contest back in March. Perfect I thought, I love skirts for the summer! I decided to enter the contest and I planned out a whole bunch of them and actually cut out the fabrics and linings for 5 of them. Five. Back in March. None got completed by the end of March but one by one they all did eventually make it out of the "in progress" pile and I've just about finished all of them. The "just about" part is needed for one which needs a bit of ripping and resewing.
Three of them are the Amy Butler Barcelona Skirt pattern. One is Simplicity 2655 and one is a weird combination (this is the one that still needs work!)

I was really pleasantly surprised by the Simplicity pattern. I will definitely use it again - I love the flounce at the bottom particularly. It's hard to tell with the busy pattern (Amy Butler Daisy Chain in Dandelion Fields Forest) but it's 6 panels, a yoke on top and the flounce on the bottom.




And now the three Barcelona Skirts. I've made this pattern three times before, it's just a perfect a-line and the layered version is really fun too.







So that fifth skirt is the black/red/white/multi one peaking out in the picture above. I started with the Barcelona shape on top, added a strip of the red full moon dots and a flounce in the Mirabelle fabric for the bottom. Unfortunately I think it looked better on my head and is quite wild in person! It also currently has some shape issues so I'm planning on fixing it and giving it another look.

Hats - for me and my big boy

It's really starting to warm up here in Philadelphia so that must mean it's time for sun hats!

I kept seeing cute children's bucket hats with a really fun patchwork design. After I saw a Disney Cars version I knew I'd just have to make one for own car-obsessed boy. I already had more than enough Cars fabric and scraps for sure.

The pattern is from YouCanMakeThis.com here. One side is patchwork and it reverses to a solid lining. It's a very simple pattern really and it just works well. What more can you ask for?

My semi-willing model:



So next I wanted to make myself a hat too. Since I'm an Amy Butler junkie I went with her Blue Sky Hats pattern. This baby is big and heavy and substantial! Wowza. And a bit tricky to sew. I used the recommend 3 layers of canvas/duck for the brim and it was hard to sew those seams, even with a jeans needle and walking foot. My topstitching around the brim was not quite where I intended it to be, as the fabric has ideas of it's own.
The fabric is also from Amy Butler, the Daisy Chain line. I'd love to make a black/white version too, but I need just the right print for it...



Now I just have to decide if I'm a big hat girl! It feels a bit southern and I'm a northern gal. ;)

Finally finished my Brick Path Quilt!

So remember this? My first quilt is finally done! My mother most graciously did a lot of the hand sewing of the binding when she visited and I finally stitched up the last little 12" last night. I started this back in February but the binding was holding me up. I have too little patience for hand sewing! It's the Amy Butler Brick Path pattern and backed in a furry "cuddle-up" fabric - so snuggly!

I'm Back and Ben is Here!

Born 3 weeks early, Benjamin Matthew joined our little family! He's a tiny sleepy guy so I've actually gotten a few moments to sit down at the sewing machine too.

The To Do list got thrown away and I had to make the little guy some things. :)

Here are a few projects from the Amy Butler "Little Stitches" book - booties and a military-style hat! Actually it's more of a little dictator hat I think! The booties are impossibly cute, I'd make more if they weren't so labor intensive. Both are a size too big for Ben right now, so no modeling pics just yet.






And I finally fixed my Boppy covers again - a simple project that took me way too long!