Ready to go

Both of these just need to be quilted and bound.  I am slowly chipping away at the baby-to-do list.  I am trying to do things concurrently so stuff for a boy or girl will be ready. 

Rouenneries Progress

I bought the fabric for this quilt last spring when the Deseret Book at University Mall cleared out their fabric section and had an amazing sale.  The solid is the turkey red from the Rouenneries line by French General. The light is a print from the same line. Usually when I quilt, I am very uniform, I cut out everything, including binding at the beginning, then piece, then put it all together.  This time I didn't do that so much. I cut out the blocks, then pieced them together.  Then it was time to work on the border and I quickly realized I was going to be short on fabric!  Yikes, this is an older line and I bought it on sale as it was.  First I did an internet search and found it, but it was a bit spendy.  So I decided to check a few local stores.  The first one I stopped at had it!  And they had just the amount I needed, on a bolt, less than a yard.  I got it at Quilting Cottage in American Fork.  I guess I hadn't been there in a long time, because they have moved into the house next door to where they were.  They are older houses with narrow stairs and all sorts of little rooms.  At first I thought they just remodeled and wandered around a bit confused, but no, they moved.

Anyway, I have all the borders pieced, just working on ironing them and then I will get around to attaching them.  This project is just not on the top of my list, even though I really want to get it finished.  I have two baby quilts ready to piece, a few dresses to make, and some other odds and ends I would like to do before this baby arrives.  And this quilt is going to be pretty big, so I am honestly thinking of sending it out to be quilted.  We shall see, I really hate to leave it in an unfinished state for too long. 

Apron and Hot Pads

I got to go to a bridal shower last week and decided to make an apron with some matching hot pads for the bride-to be.  I love this pink polka dot, my girls call it Minnie Mouse fabric.  It's from Jo-Ann's, and the ruffle and backside of the hot pads are an Alexander Henry fabric that I have had for quite a long time.  I think I bought on clearance years ago because of the amount I seem to have!  Anyway, this was a quick project to whip up and I really liked the result.  The bride-to-be seemed to also, which is always great!

Hannah Bella Dresses

I have had this fabric for years, so it's about time I started using some of it.  I think Bella was a baby when I bought most of it.  And I still have quite a lot left.

The pattern is McCalls 6202.  The blue dress is an eight and the pink/purple is a four.  I would do a few things differently if I made them again.  Each skirt has an under slip with the ruffle on the bottom.  For destashing purposes I used coordinating prints.  I would use the lightest muslin or voile for this in the future.  The dresses are pretty heavy.  Also, the ties that go around the waist are short, so the bows in the back are a bit forced.  I would have added at least six inches to each. 

Sophie is a bit obsessed with wearing dresses lately, so I am sure she will get a lot of use out of it.  And Bella has reached a size that makes finding dresses extremely difficult.  I really need to make a her a bunch of skirts and easy dresses for the summer.  I am glad she doesn't really like the current styles in her size too much either.  But it does make for a bit of work.

Maternity Skirts

I always get to the point where I am tired of wearing the same clothes all the time.  Maternity clothes are so short lived and so I never really want a huge variety.  I decided to make a few skirts with the intention of changing the waistband to be non-maternity whenever that applies. 

The one on the left is a knit Marimekko fabric I found at a local store a few years ago.  I bought it without a purpose in mind, so it's good to finally de-stash.  The fabric on the right is a Kaffe Fassett that my mom sent a while ago.  I still have a lot left over, so it could become dresses for the girls or a quilt back, who know.  Nate thought it looked nice and springy.  I just guessed on the panel sizes.  I used some white lycra two way stretch fabric.  They both should last the remainder of this pregnancy, then I can take off the maternity waistbands and add a regular one.  However, not being too naive about these things, I know it could be months before I do that and months before they would fit.  Both skirts are mid-calf in length, so I have a lot to play with there if I need it.  And they went together so fast, I love my serger for clothes, so fast and easy.

Penny Lane Quilt

This quilt was made for a sweet baby boy. I totally didn't take a picture of it finished?  Pregnancy brain I suppose.

Anyway, I quilted around the squares and pinwheels overall, then it is backed by this cute letters, numbers, and symbols fabric from Riley Blake's Penny Lane line. 

The solid is Kona khaki, then there is some more Riley Blake and some Kaufman fabrics.  I bound it the in the green stripe, I do love stripes for binding.  Hopefully baby and momma are enjoying!

Bibs

I finally put together a bunch of new bibs.  The church I belong to really does a good job of taking care of one another.  And as part of my calling in the Relief Society, I get to visit brand new babies and their moms and give them a small gift.  This gift is up to my discretion, so far as I can tell, and I have chosen bibs. 

 

 This isn't my entire stock, just the latest I have made.  There are many many babies due to be born in my neck of the woods in the next couple of months, and I have an outside hope that what I currently have made will last through this year, that could be sketchy though.  I basically cut the bottom off a bibster and used that as a pattern template.  Then I picked from my large stash of scraps some cute prints.  They are backed with terrycloth for absorbency and have velcro closures