Natural Violet

New sewing books!

2012-01-08T15:02:00.003-05:00

I just saw a post for a new sewing book called Sew What You Love: The Easiest, Prettiest Projects Ever on Grand Revival Designs. The book is sold here on Amazon. It is really cute and will need to be added to my sewing library. The author is very kindly giving away free bag patterns if you share the link to her book so I think I will start with the super cute market tote. Very fun. I also received two new sewing books for Christmas including Amy Butler's Style Stitches and Elizabeth Hartman's The Practical Guide to Patchwork. Both books are great and I can't wait to start a few of the projects.

Hemp milk is yummy

2012-01-08T14:40:00.004-05:00

For my new years resolution I decided to make more of our food from scratch. I really enjoy home cooked food and in most cases I like the version we make way better than anything we buy already prepared. It is also cheaper to make everything so definitely worth the extra effort. J loves to help out in the kitchen too. It usually involves a bigger mess and more time but it is fun to show him my love for cooking and baking. One thing I have wanted to try is making my own nut or seed milks. In particular I have wanted to try making hemp milk with the blender. I bought organic shelled hemp seeds at Whole Foods and found the hemp milk recipe online. It is really easy to do and tastes better to me than the store bought versions. I haven't figured out the costs yet but I think if I buy the seeds in bulk on Amazon then it will be quite a bit cheaper than buying it in the carton. It also is better trash wise since I don't have to throw away the aseptic cartons. I made a smoothie with the milk by adding a banana, frozen strawberries and mangoes, and a little maple syrup. Very yummy.

Preschool monkey pants

2011-12-14T14:05:00.008-05:00

The little guy had pajama day at preschool today and since he has been sick the past week I decided to surprise him with new jammies. I went back to the baby pattern for the monkey pants and used it to make a new preschool size pattern for him. I added to length of the pattern and straightened out the legs. I also rounded the back gusset and increased the front leg inseam. I made one pair with the new pattern and decided it was way too bulky on top by waist. I tapered the top and waist so it fits better. I made another pair and cut on piece out on the wrong side of the fabric. I sewed it together anyway and he can use them for around the house. I made another pair and they turned out just right. I am actually rather proud of myself with this one and will definitely make him a few more pairs. They fit really well and work great as lounge pants or as pajama bottoms. I used two thrift store cotton lycra skirts to make the pants shown. I have plenty of the gray left to make more pants. I also bought a black sweatshirt the last time I was at the thrift store and I am going to make a version with bottom cuffs. I finished the set by making him a matching t-rex applique top. He was really happy with the new jammies and had a lot of fun at pajama day.

It's Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Time!! Winners picked!

2011-12-12T18:01:00.015-05:00

Thank you everyone for all your wonderful comments. I love hearing about all the great crafts you are all making for the holidays. I also love the book selections so thank you again for visiting my blog. Without further ado.

The winners were selected using random.org. Congratulations to everyone! Please check your email and send me your address. Happy Holidays!

Wrist bag winner: MsThorsen

Flower pin winner: thehappycrochetchic

Bib set winner: ylrbmk

It is giveaway day for the Sew Mama Sew blog. Actually the giveaway goes all week long. I am giving away three items made by me. I will pick three random winners on December 16 at 5 p.m. PST. All you have to do is leave a comment to this post only and let me know what handmade items you are making or would like to make this year for the holidays. If you draw a blank then just let me know your favorite book. One of my favorites is "A Room with a View by E. M. Forster. The movie based on the book is great also. Make sure to let me know which item you would like to win and your email if it is not in your profile. Head on over to the Sew Mama Sew blog and check out all the other giveaways. Happy Holidays!

Giveaway is only open to US only so very sorry international.

Item number 1: Recycled wrist Bag from pants

Item number 2: Recycled flower Pin from t-shirts

Item number three: Set of 3 bibs lined with hemp/organic cotton

Bags on etsy

2011-12-11T08:06:00.006-05:00

The recycled and hemp wrist bags are on my Etsy site. I am looking forward to selling in the warm indoors instead of the frigid outdoors for the remainder of the holiday season. I tried the local city holiday market for three weeks in a row but had to finally admit that it isn't worth selling only a few items in the cold. It is a great little market but the location has been moved and though it is full of vendors it is unfortunately not full of shoppers. Oh well, I gave it a good try and onward to selling online. I am really impressed with how easy it is to list items on Etsy and all the fun extras to promote your site. I added a nifty mini etsy to the blog and I am slowly discovering all the wonderful tools available.

Cowl neck warmer from a sweater and t-shirt

2011-12-10T17:57:00.004-05:00

I am really excited that cowl necks are back in style. I loved my pink fluffy cowl neck sweater that I got for Christmas when I was a preteen. I am selling on Saturdays at a local outdoor city holiday market and it is really cold so I figure cowl neck warmers are good addition. I made this one out of a cotton sweater and t-shirt that I got at the local thrift store. I marked off the section I wanted to cut with a pen and then sewed along the line prior to cutting to make sure the edges do not unravel. I added a t-shirt circle and quilted a spiral through all the layers. Pretty cute and fun to make. By the way I have finally uploaded all my items to my etsy shop so please head over a check out all the fun items.

Carrot veggie burgers

2011-12-06T08:36:00.020-05:00

I found a great recipe for Carrot Rice Nut Burgers on allrecipes.com. It is a super simple nut burger recipe and makes plenty to freeze. I can usually get a dozen burgers out of the recipe and it easily works for two meals. In version one I changed the ingredient amounts a bit and added wheat gluten to make the patties a bit firmer. You could also add whole wheat flour instead. In version two I added ground homemade seitan and oats instead of the brown rice so feel free to experiment. I would keep the ground carrots and onion. They add a wonderful taste and texture to the burgers. I actually made them one time without the nuts by accident. They turned out fine but not what I was expecting. I kept thinking the burgers were missing something and then I realized I made nut burgers without the nuts. Well, I am sure it won't be the last time I do something similar. Here are my recipe amounts. Enjoy!

Carrot Veggie Burgers

version one
1 cup raw or toasted cashews
1.5 cups raw or toasted sunflower seeds
1 medium size onion
3 large carrots
1 tablespoon olive oil (optional)
3 cups cooked brown rice
0.5 cup vital wheat gluten or whole wheat flour
0.5 tsp salt

version two
1.5 cup of rolled oats
1 cup raw or toasted walnuts
1.5 cups raw or toasted sunflower seeds
1 medium size onion
3 large carrots
1 tablespoon olive oil (optional)
1 cup of homemade seitan
0.5 cup whole wheat flour
0.5 tsp salt

In a food processor add the nuts, seeds and oats (version two). Pulse to a fine grind. Remove and place in a bowl. Add the carrots and onion and also pulse to a fine grind. Remove and place in the bowl with the nuts. Add the seitan and oil if using. I have done it with and without oil. Pulse again to a sticky consistency and place in the bowl with the other ingredients. Add the wheat gluten or flour to the same bowl. Add salt to taste. Now the fun part. Mix everything together. Feel free to use your hands. They work great. Form the mixture into four inch size patties and fry. Freeze the leftovers and you have dinner or lunch for another day. Goes great with sweet potato fries.

Esty shop is finally up and running

2011-12-05T11:06:00.002-05:00

I finally have the Natural Violet Etsy shop up and running. I have flower pins made from recycled t-shirts. I also have fun hemp/organic cotton bibs and burp cloth sets along with a few baby teeny pants. I am working on the recycled wrist bags and should have listing for those in a few days. I am also knitting neck warmers/cowls from recycled yarn and plan to sew a few neck warmers from recycled sweaters. I should have the store fully stocked by the end of week so please take a peek. Please also excuse my lack luster photos. I need to work on my photo taking skills. I figured if I wait until I have good photo skills then I will likely never list anything. Hopefully the photos are descriptive enough and please feel free to contact me with any questions. Happy holiday shopping!

Getting ready for the Mistletoe Market

2011-11-10T10:07:00.009-05:00

The Mistletoe Market is on November 13, 2011 and here is a sneak peak of some of the items I will be selling. The market is at the Omni Hotel from 10am to 6pm and is $5 for entry. I sold last year and it was a lot of fun. This year I am making cute flower pins from recycled t-shirts. I make the rosettes from strips of t-shirt fabric and anchor it on scraps of dyed hemp fleece. I am also making wristlets from recycled pants and dyed hemp fabric. The pattern is from Ali Foster Sewing Patterns and she is really wonderful to offer the pattern for others to sell. I changed the closure a bit a used a tab instead from the keykalou pattern. I am also going to sell quilts along with bib/burp cloth sets and a few pairs of teeny pants. Looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend!

Homemade playdough. Violet too!

2011-10-17T15:41:00.005-04:00

The little guy and I made playdough today. It was really easy to make and a lot of fun. I found the recipe online at playdoughrecipe.com. I asked him which color dye he would like to use for the dough and he wanted purple. I used regular food coloring and added 10 drops of neon blue and 20 drops of neon purple to the water. It turned out a really nice violet color. Little pumpkin decided to add a face to the dough. Very fun!

Fold over clutches from recycled pants

2011-08-29T20:54:00.006-04:00

I just made a few of the fold over clutch purses using a really cute pattern from keykalou. The pattern is easy to follow and comes in three sizes. The bags are made from recycled pants and cotton prints. I made the medium and small size. I added a d ring to the medium size and plan to add a strap to turn it into a wristlet. The pattern is available for use by home crafters which is really sweet. Fun to be back to sewing again. Speaking of sewing, I finally caved and bought a new sewing machine. I bought a Juki 98qe quilting machine. I am so excited. I will post a review as soon as it gets here. I can't wait to start quilting again. Fun!

Make your own undies

2011-07-07T09:59:00.005-04:00

I finally made underwear for myself. I am a bit picky when it comes to underwear and decided to make some for myself since I can't seem to find comfortable ones in the stores. Plus it is really inexpensive to make your own undies and you can make them in fun colors. I got the idea from amy a la mode. She has a copy your own undies tutorial on her blog. I used recycled t-shirts and a pair of comfy undies for my pattern. The edging is fold over elastic though I would really like to try using stretch lace for future pairs. I made the yellow undies first and didn't pull the top foe very tight so it is a bit loose. I adjusted the foe on the second purple pair and they fit great. I love the photo of Jonas and Ginger on the yellow undies. The photo quality is poor, however, it really is a wonder that I get any photos taken since I typically have someone stepping on my crafty stuff right about the time I am ready to take the photo. I do miss our old hardwood floors. They provided such a nice back drop to all the photos. Actually what I really need is a photography class.

Freezer paper stencils

2011-07-06T19:18:00.007-04:00

I am playing catch up on blog posting. I have a few fun projects and never got around to posting. I have been busy with house stuff over the past six months. Chris and I painted and fixed just about everything in our little house to put it on the market. We decided it was time to get a bigger place. We want more storage and another bedroom. I would like more room for crafting of course. After we painted and fixed up the whole house, we packed up everything that wasn't essential and staged the house. It was really nice to live in a clutter free house for a while, but a big challenge to keep it that way with a two year old and three cats running around. We sold the house in about two months and are now living in a rental townhouse. We are still looking for a new house, but hope to find something in the next few months or so. Now that all the house stuff has settled a bit, I hope to do more crafting. First I need to catch up on posting.

I have wanted to try freezer paper stencils for a while. There are so many cute examples online from all the crafty folks. I bought a few packs of cotton t-shirts for Jonas and dyed a couple with aqua Procion dyes. I found free stencils online at www.spraypaintstencils.com. I used freezer paper and regular fabric paint to put a dolphin on a t-shirt. It turned out really cute and I have made a few more t-shirts since then that I will add as soon as I take photos. Jonas calls it a narwhal which is really funny. He has the Eric Carle alphabet flash cards and has learned the names of all sorts of interesting animals. I like the way the dolphin looks like it has a eye. Not sure how that happened with the paint, but it is a fun addition.

New training pants pattern

2011-05-26T20:56:00.004-04:00

I purchased the Baby Steps EC Pants pattern from Little Comet Tails and made a few pairs for the little guy to use as waterproof trainers. The trainer pattern fits really well and is very trim under the little guys clothing. I made the training pants in the picture out of the pul fabric available at JoAnn Fabrics. I got the fabric on sale which was really nice. The colors are vibrant and the fabric feels like a good weight. However, it has not held up so well to repeated washing and drying. In particular the lime green fabric is now starting to pucker and the lamination is coming off the fabric. The fabric still works well even with the separation, but aesthetically it is not so pleasing. I think I will stick with buying the pul online at diaper fabric shops. I lined the diaper with a polka dot flannel fabric. The liner is made with six layers of bamboo and hemp jersey that is topped with a layer of flannel.

Overnight mama pads

2011-04-16T10:51:00.006-04:00

I recently purchased the Kiki Pads mama pad pattern and made a few of the overnight pads. The pattern is great and I love that it includes three sizes. I haven't tried the smaller sizes yet, but that will be on of my next projects. I downloaded the pattern from Kids in the Garden which is one of my favorite places to buy diapers making supplies. I love that the pattern is available in pdf format. It is really awesome to be able to download the pattern and start sewing. The black pad is made with black cotton velour on the inside and pul on the outside. I used three layers of hemp fleece for the inside pad. The polka dot pad is made with cotton flannel on the inside and pul on the outside. The inside pad is also made with hemp fleece. The overnight pad is very comfortable and has great coverage.

Pumpkin sugar scrub

2011-02-21T08:37:00.003-05:00

I just started using powdered fruit extracts in the my body care products and I am really excited. I bought a variety from DIY Cosmetics and I really love the results. I bought pumpkin, mango, pineapple, custard apple and papaya. I became interested in the fruit extracts because I wanted an easy way to make facials and also get the fruit enzyme benefits. I did originally try fresh papaya and pineapple as a facial, but I found I didn't do it very often just because it is a bit labor intensive and I don't usually have fresh papaya on hand. I figured there is an easier way and some place must have dried papaya for body care products. I was very happy to find them online. Yesterday I tried the pumpkin sugar scrub recipe on DIY Cosmetics website and it is a real treat for the skin. Very fun and it gives me a lot of ideas for future concoctions.

Pocket fitted t-shirt diaper

2011-02-11T12:07:00.007-05:00

Pretty sad I know, but I haven't posted anything new since the holidays. I do have a pretty good excuse. We are trying to sell our 860 square foot house and it needs some tlc. Mainly cosmetic including a lot of painting which in general I really like to do. However at this point I am really glad it is almost done. I still need to paint the laundry room and touch up a few spots. After that is my least favorite task which is cleaning. The house is a big old mess and needs some serious cleaning. In between all the house fixing up I have managed to sew a few fun items including trying out a few new diaper patterns. Jonas wears training pants for the most part but still wears diapers at night time so I still have an excuse to make more fun diapers.

This diaper was made with a t-shirt of course and lined with two layers of hemp jersey dyed with Procion dyes in avocado. I really like pocket diapers since they dry so quickly. However, I make so many different types of diapers that it gets a bit confusing for Chris as to what insert goes with what diaper. So I am experimenting with making pocket diapers that have an attached insert that can be stuffed in a pocket. The pattern I used for this diaper is the free BaaBaaBaby diaper cover pattern. I made the large size. I did tinker with the pattern a tiny bit and added to the front wings to make it a bit larger in the waist. It fits really awesome and since I put elastic throughout the entire top he can actually pull this diaper off like training pants. It does not come with an insert pattern since it is a cover, so I borrowed the insert from the Trimsies diaper pattern which is another really great side snapping pattern. I made a cute pocket Trimsie with a lay in soaker that I will have to write about soon. I plan to wash the diaper with the next load and see how quickly it dries. I am not sure if you can see it, but there is a tiny little hole in the front of the diaper. I didn't notice the hole on the shirt when I cut it out and of course it is right up front. I will have to think of way to cover it up. I might try an applique or more than likely I will forget about it which is the likely scenario these days.

So I did fix the tiny hole with a heart applique. It turned out pretty cute.

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-23T20:27:00.001-05:00

T-shirt training pants

2010-12-13T19:48:00.005-05:00

We have had a major break through with potty training over the past week. The little guy now tells me when he needs to go pee while he is wearing his training pants. Yay! He has been going to the potty really well when he runs around the house bare bottom but not so much when I put training pants on him. I decided to try the non-waterproof training pants exclusively for a few days and see how it goes. The first day the training pants were wet pretty much every time, but by the second day we had a few dry ones in between. Now his training pants are staying pretty dry. He is also telling me when we are out and he needs to go potty though I still have him in a diaper.

To celebrate how well he is doing, I am making more pull on training pants in a variety of fun colors. I make the trainers out of recycled t-shirts with a bit a lycra stretch. I line them with hemp and organic cotton fleece. The insert is sewn in and made of three or four layers of hemp fleece. The pattern I am using is sort of a cross between boxers and briefs. It is cut longer in the legs and has a snugger fit than some of the other patterns. I really like the fit since he can bend down and there are no gaps in in the legs. The pattern is the Alva Training pants from Fitzpatterns and it is only $2 for the pdf file so a great deal. I added the contour insert and liner to my pants to make them absorbent. I know I write this all the time, but I hope to post a tutorial on how I make the pants. They are really super cute and fun to sew.

Toddler jammies from t-shirts

2010-12-03T14:02:00.002-05:00

I made a pair of pajamas for the little guy out of two turtleneck shirts I found at the thrift store. The fabric is cotton with a little lycra for stretch. I used the sleeves to make the pants and then cut out the shirt from the main body. I used extra large shirts, but found I couldn't quite get the entire long sleeve shirt and pants cut from one. I like the color contrast though and I have enough material left over to make more training pants. I actually made this set a few months ago and it is already getting small. I am glad I sew clothes for him since he grows out of everything so fast.

Free form flower hair clips

2010-11-21T18:08:00.004-05:00

I decided to make something fun with all the circular scraps of fabric I have left over from making baby bibs. I have stacks of both cotton prints and dyed hemp/organic cotton fleece scraps from cutting out the inside portion of the bibs. The scrap shape is perfect for making free form flowers. I originally thought to make pins, but decided hair clips would be more fun. Here are pictures of all the fun flowers I made to sell at a recent holiday show. I sewed the flowers together using the free motion quilting attachment. I covered pin curl clips with grosgrain ribbon using glue gun and then attached the fabric flowers to the clips also using a glue gun. I plan to post a tutorial on how to make the hair clips soon. As you know I am not so good on posting on a regular basis, but I really would like to get back to posting actual tutorials. I love sharing fun projects.

Training pants from a recycled diaper cover

2010-11-21T17:47:00.003-05:00

I have a diaper cover that is falling apart a bit and probably not worth salvaging. I replaced the hook and loop once already, but the lining is pulling away from the outer fabric. The pul fabric is still nice in the main area so I hated to toss it. I went through my patterns until I found one that would fit in nicely in main area of the cover. I wound up using the Tinkle Time Trainers pattern to make the little guy a pair of semi waterproof trainers. I am sure you will recognize the pul fabric. I thought it was too cute to waste. I made a snap in liner out of four layers of hemp and organic cotton fleece. I used recycled cotton lycra t-shirt fabric for the sides, waistband and leg bands. The little guy calls them the "ribbit" trainers.

More recycled black training pants

2010-11-06T17:12:00.005-04:00

I made another pair of black recycled velour training pants for the little guy. This time I used the waterproof training pants pattern from Do-it-yourself EC. I really love this pattern. It is free and comes in a variety of sizes. I made the large size and it fits with plenty of room to grow, but is also very secure around the legs. My version is not waterproof, but I can use any of the regular covers over it when we are out and about. I sewed the training pants together a bit different than shown on the blog. The outside fabric is recycled black velour from a pair of pants from a thrift store. The inside layer is recycled power stretch fleece on the bottom and hemp/organic cotton fleece on the top. I put in a front pocket for the insert which is made from four layers of hemp/organic cotton fleece. I also additional rows of snaps on the back so it will fit for a while. I really like the bikini style training pants and find I can add plenty of absorbency even with the trim fit.

Happy Halloween

2010-11-01T14:20:00.010-04:00

We had a really fun Halloween. Jonas got a little candy and was introduced to trick or treat. He definitely liked the treats. I made new costumes for Chris and me. I have always wanted to be Princess Leia. I found a pattern for a knitted hat from Bleu Arts with the classic cinnamon buns that Leia had in her hair for Star Wars. I actually found the pattern last year and decided to try it out this year. I only made the hair buns and attached them with pins. I used black acrylic yarn and stuffed it with bamboo fiber. The dress pattern is from Simplicity 4443 and the fabric is from an old recycled duvet cover. Chris' costume is a wizard and the pattern is Simplicity 9887. I used a set of old sheets for fabric. The sheet set was originally teal and I used New Black Procion dye to make it a wonderful blue gray. Jonas was dragon to complete the family Halloween costumes. We had a dragon, wizard and a princess. Lots of fun!

Recycled black velour training pants

2010-10-27T20:43:00.003-04:00

Just in time for Halloween I made the little guy black training pants. I like the style quite a bit and it is easy for him to pull on and off. The trainer is made from a pair of recycled black cotton velour pants I found a thrift store. I used black velour for the outside and lined the trainer with recycled power stretch fleece. I used scraps of green knit fabric for the waist band. I made a scoop pocket in the front and used fold over elastic to bind the edge. The insert is made with four layers of hemp fleece. I have enough fabric to make a few more trainers and try out a few more patterns.

Tangerine hemp fleece diaper

2010-10-06T14:42:00.004-04:00

I dyed a few yards of the hemp fleece in a beautiful tangerine orange. I used the fabric to make a side snapping pocket diaper. I used the free Tighty Whitey Hipster pattern from Little Comet Tails. It is a really nice pattern and comes in a variety of sizes. I find it fits my little guy really well around the legs and it is easy to put on since it is side snapping. I extended the leg elastic a few inches to make a more secure fit. I also added a pocket to the front for adding the insert. I used hemp fleece on the outside and power stretch micro fleece on the inside of the diaper. I changed the size of the insert a bit and made it hour glass shape. It is made from four layers of hemp fleece. It works great and dries pretty quickly.

T-shirt diaper or training pant

2010-10-02T15:59:00.005-04:00

The little guy is doing well with potty training. When we are home he usually runs around the house with no diaper and does very well with making it to the potty. I put him in a regular diaper when we are out and about and he is starting to go to the bathroom more often. I find the training pants style diapers work great when we are out and are pretty easy to put on him when he is standing as compared to his regular diapers so definitely a bonus. He very rarely lays down these days for a change so having diapers that I can pull on and off easily is very nice. I used recycled t-shirts and hemp fleece to make the diaper. I lined the lower half of the diaper with recycled power stretch microfleece and left the upper portion in hemp fleece. I added a pocket to the diaper so I can customize the absorbency. I made an insert out of four layers of hemp fleece. It snaps on the side and can also be pulled up and down.

Swim diaper

2010-09-21T15:49:00.003-04:00

Yes, summer is pretty much over and I made the swim diapers for the little guy many months ago, but I thought it would be fun to post about them anyway. He is actually taking swim lessons through the city and the spray grounds are still open here so he is still putting them to good use. I decided to make new swim diapers for him because I was using the pocket diapers with no liner and they are just too big. I wanted to make something for him that was closer fitting and wasn't too bulky under his swim trunks. I might have made them a bit too small since it is unlikely he will be able to use them next year, but since he is growing so fast it was probably unlikely anyway. I made the swim diaper using the free cover pattern from Chloe Toes. I used a size small since the pattern runs a bit large. I used aqua pul for the outside and recycled microfleece for the inside. I used fold over elastic for the edges and plastic snaps for the closure.

Lazy Daze is coming up soon.

2010-08-11T15:24:00.004-04:00

At the end of this month I am doing my first craft show since the little guy was born. I am selling at Lazy Daze in Cary, N.C. and the show is on August 28th from 9am-5pm. It is a fairly large craft show and I have gone in years past. I have been putting most of my effort into sewing stuff for the show and have been woefully lazy with posting on the blog. My apologies and I hope to post more fun stuff soon. For now, here are some pictures of my latest creations for the show. I am really excited about the wristlets made from recycled pants. I came up with two easy patterns and I hope to post about it soon.

Lavender laundry detergent

2010-07-28T14:16:00.005-04:00

I have seen a few posts on how to make your own laundry detergent. Since I love a good home chemistry experiment, I decided to make a batch. I should clarify and say that I am really mixing my own laundry detergent since I am not making the soap. Either way, it is pretty fun to do and very cost effective. I made a concentrated laundry powder using liquid lavender castile soap, vinegar, borax, washing soda and baking soda. I based my mix on the powdered laundry detergent recipe I found at The Diaper Jungle. The only difference with my mix is I add an extra cup of borax. The mixture initially was a thick paste and after about an hour or so it turned into a nice powder. It takes quite a bit of stirring to remove all the clumps and the mixture does heat up from the combination of the vinegar and baking soda so be a little careful. I do love the way the detergent smells and that is based on the type of soap you use so pick something you really like. I love lavender and the lavender castile soap is really fragrant and nice.

I am currently using the homemade detergent to wash the diapers and it is working well so far. I only use a third of cup per full load and not a half as shown in the recipe. I have seen notes about the homemade detergents causing build up, but that hasn't been a problem so far. It should be noted that most of my diapers are made of hemp and other natural materials. I have a few bumgenius aio's, but I don't use them all time so only time will tell if the detergent is a problem with the all synthetic diapers.

Versatile blogger

2010-07-23T14:59:00.003-04:00

A big THANK YOU to Amy Walker at The Cheap and Choosy for naming me as a versatile blogger. I love her blog so please check it out.

The Rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.

2. Share seven things about yourself.

I met my husband during graduate school in one of my classes. I was a bit of cycling fanatic and loved watching the tour de france even before I met him. I noticed he had shaved legs like all the great cyclists and that was it.

I have been eating vegan for about 11-12 years. It really was an easy decision to make for me and one of the best ones I have ever made.

I started knitting and sewing for my dolls before I started school. I still have a few dolls with homemade clothes.

Before I had my son, I knew I wanted to use cloth diapers. I made his newborn and small diapers before he was born. I honestly love using cloth diapers and will be a bit sad when the little guy is fully potty trained.

I really love being home with my little guy. It is a tough job that has taught me flexibility and patience. It is still teaching me those things and I am sure I will never get it all right, but I wouldn't trade this time with him for anything.

I signed up for the local women's four miler race again this year. I am actually doing the training during the week this year which has helped a lot to keep up with the mileage. I actually dream a lot of running, but of course I am running a lot faster and lighter in my dreams.

One last note about myself. I used to write scary stories as a kid and I still love a good ghost story.

3. Pass this award along to fifteen bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason!

My 15 Fab New Finds are as follows…

List to follow soon!!

4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.

Aqua hemp fleece diapers

2010-07-14T18:28:00.006-04:00

A good friend of mine had a beautiful little boy a little while ago. I made two diapers for her out of the aqua dyed hemp fleece. I lined the diapers with recycled Polartec stretch microfleece. I made the soaker out of three layers of hemp fleece and sewed it to the liner so no stuffing required. I did keep a pocket on the top so she can add more absorbency. I also made a burp cloth and matching bib set. I really love the aqua color and the fabric is so soft. I used my snap pliers and again and have to say I really love the snap diapers. I am in the process of making a few new ones for Jonas also. I love new diapers and can't help but make a few more for my little guy.

Hemp fleece sleep sac

2010-07-14T18:16:00.005-04:00

I made a summer sleep sac for the little guy out the hemp and organic cotton fleece. I used his winter sleep sac as a pattern and added a few inches to the bottom. I made this one sleeveless of course since it is for summer time. I got a chance to use my lovely snap pliers again and put a row of snaps on the front. It is super soft and comfy for sleeping.

Japanese sewing book

2010-06-28T14:31:00.002-04:00

The Japanese sewing book I ordered last week came in the mail today and I am super excited. I ordered the pattern book through Pomadour's Craft Cafe on etsy. Great place to buy the sewing books. I received the pattern book from Japan in a little over a week so great customer service. I am so excited to get sewing. The pattern book I bought is One Day Sewing Summer Clothes. I ordered a fairly simple pattern book to start out since it is all in Japanese. The diagrams are very detailed though so I don't think I will have any problems. I am off to cut out my first pattern while the little guy naps. Exciting!

More mama pads

2010-06-17T15:02:00.005-04:00

I made a few more mama pads using Kayla's mama pad pattern. I made the all in one version. I used cotton flannel from a pair of pajama bottoms for the top and bottom. I added a layer of hemp organic cotton fleece and used three layers of the same for the insert. I used a three stitch zig zag around the outside and quilted the layers together using my free motion quilting attachment. I had fun with the designs including quilting happy into one of the pads.

Hemp linen dress

2010-06-07T21:52:00.003-04:00

I recently dyed hemp linen fabric in a light Jade Green using the fiber reactive dyes from Dharma Trading Company. I love hemp linen in the summer time. It is so comfortable to wear when it is hot. It drapes really nicely and creates wonderful flowing skirts and dresses. It is a real treat to wear and makes me feel a little less sticky in the humid summertime. I used two patterns to make this dress including Style 2914 and New Look 6953. I started out making a long skirt and made it too tight in the hips so I decided to add a bodice and turn it into a dress. I made it knee length originally and then added the bottom ruffle since I had a bit of fabric left over. It is perfect to wear to the park with my little guy.

Pretty pads for mama

2010-06-05T15:10:00.009-04:00

My first introduction to mama pads was many years ago in a Wellspring Grocery. I wasn't sure about using cloth pads at first since I have pretty heavy cycles. I also had many anxiety inducing incidents when I was teenager and became pretty attached to the super duper disposable pads. However, I tried out the cloth pads many years ago and they worked really well. Not only are they really absorbent; they are also super comfortable. Over the years I have used them along with disposables. I am in the process of making more and switching to cloth only. I have been planning to do this for a while, but I need to make enough to cover my entire cycle.

I recently purchased a pair of snap pliers from KAM Snaps and the plastic snaps work wonderfully on the pads. One of the problems I had with making the pads previously was finding a secure closure. I made a few pads using metal snaps which didn't turn out so well. I wound up smashing the prongs and wasting tons of snaps. I am pretty happy I found the pliers and now I want to attach snaps to everything. They also work really great for making diapers and covers which was the reason why I bought the pliers. It is a bonus that I can now treat myself and make nice pads.

The pattern was drafted from an old mama pad that I have had many years. I had to tweak the pattern quite a bit since the original pad is not close to symmetrical. It is pretty far off actually and this may be due to repeated washings, but I am guessing it was probably not symmetrical in the first place.

Pretty Mama Pads

Materials: Flannel and hemp organic cotton fleece. Plastic snaps including a male and female socket with caps. Snap pliers for attaching snaps. Mama pad pattern.

1. Print and cut out the pattern. Cut out the pattern pieces using absorbent fabric. I used recycled flannel from a pair of pajama pants and hemp fleece. I cut out one main body of flannel and hemp fleece. I then cut out two backs each out of flannel. For the inserts I cut out two pieces of flannel and one piece of hemp fleece.

2. Layer the main body flannel and hemp fleece together with the hemp fleece facing up. Layer the flannel and hemp fleece backs together. Sew and zig zag the pieces together along the straight edge. Overlap the backs over the main body and pin the layers together.

3. Sew and zig zag around the entire edge. The main part of the pad is done minus the snaps.

4. Sandwich the insert layers together with flannel on the outside and the hemp fleece inside. Sew and zig zag the the inserts together. The inserts fit in the back opening of the main body.

5. Mark the placement and add the female snap socket using the pliers.

6. Add the male snap socket using the pliers making sure you put the closure the right way to attach the pad. All done.

Happy Mothers Day!!

2010-05-09T08:48:00.003-04:00

Have a wonderful Mothers Day everyone! I hope you all having a very special day and enjoying some wonderful time with your little love ones.

Happy 2nd Birthday!

2010-05-06T14:26:00.001-04:00

My little guy turned 2 years old! I have so many wonderful memories of him over the past two years. The time has gone by quickly , but I also feel like we have packed in so much wonderful time together over these past two years. I wanted his birthday to be really special this year. Last year we all had stomach flu so I definitely wanted to celebrate big this year since we are all healthy. We had a wonderful birthday party for Jonas last Saturday at a local park. I found clip art images online at Scrapping Doodles and let Jonas pick the theme. He really liked the robots so we had an outer space party with martian headbands, t-shirts and cupcakes. I made everything myself and it was pretty easy to get it all together once I found all the images. For the table, I enlarged some of the images, cut them out and put them on top of white paper. For the favors I made crayon rolls filled with soy crayons from Stubby Pencils Studio. Everyone had a fun time coloring on the table. I made the maple cupcakes from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World and they were super yummy. I have the say the party was pretty perfect and my little guy had a wonderful time.

Printing on fabric

2010-04-21T14:32:00.009-04:00

Jonas loves the Tractor Mac series books. He received signed copies of the books from his great Aunt and Uncle in NY city. My aunt works for American Airlines and she knows the pilot Billy Steers who writes the book so very cool. I found a great image of Tractor Mac on the book website and decided to applique it on a t-shirt for my little guy. I used print on fabric sheets from Dharma Trading Company. I printed the design on the fabric sheet and then used heat and bond to iron it on the t-shirt. I top stitched around the design and all done. It was a very quick and easy project. My little guy is very happy with his Tractor Mac t-shirt.

I used the print on fabric sheets a few years ago to make a special quilt for my sweet little Violet. I wanted something special in the house that would remind me of her. The quilt is hanging up in our bedroom and I love that Jonas looks at the quilt now and says her name. He loves all the colors and I love that her playful spirit lives on in our house.

New clothesline

2010-04-21T14:24:00.002-04:00

Chris put up a clothesline off the back deck a few weeks back. It is a huge improvement from the previous setup I had going that I dubbed the underwear tree. I am really excited to be able to spread out the diapers a bit and have lots of room for a big load of laundry. Funny how exciting a new clothesline can be. It is the little things in the life of a domestic goddess that make all the difference.

Teeny shirts and shorts

2010-04-13T14:04:00.006-04:00

I am working on summer clothes for Jonas. We had a few hot days a while ago and I realized I don't have any comfortable shorts or t-shirts that still fit him. I received two large bags of t-shirts from friends and started to put them to good use. I dyed a few of the t-shirts using jade green fiber reactive dye. They turned out a beautiful light shade of aqua. I made a few lap shoulder t-shirts using a pattern I came up with from another t-shirt. I also made a pair of Teeny shorts using the same pattern except I omitted the cuffs and made the pants shorter. I am really happy with the result and plan to make a few more pairs of shorts for him for the summer.

Teeny recycled t-shirt diaper

2010-03-30T14:28:00.007-04:00

I mentioned previously that I like to tinker with patterns. Here is another versions of the diaper pattern. This time I decided to add a gusset similar to the Teeny pants to the back of the diaper. The gusset actually serves two purposes in that it gives extra room to the rise in the back and also breaks up the pattern so it fits easier on a t-shirt. With the previous diaper patterns I cut off the wings to economize on fabric and also to fit the pattern on a wider variety of t-shirts. This works well in general, but does slightly restrict the wing stretch. I don't think it makes a big difference, but it is an added bonus to have the full stretch in the new pattern. The last and most important benefit for the new pattern is that it looks really great with the two colors. It is so fun to have a two tone diaper with a fancy curved gusset in the back. I suppose I should have mentioned that first since it the real reason why I came up with yet another diaper pattern. I also changed the inside lining of the diaper. I use the recycled power stretch micro fleece on the lower portion only and line the top part at the waist band with hemp fleece. It is not a huge difference, but I like that he has a little natural and organic fabric around his waist along with the stay dry lining. I also added a layer of hemp fleece to the entire diaper and it is still trim.

Sweatshirt teeny pants

2010-03-29T15:08:00.005-04:00

I made Jonas another pair of Teeny pants. This time I used an extra large sweatshirt I found at the thrift store. The fabric is a combination of cotton and polyester fleece and is really soft. I incorporated the bottom cuff of the sweatshirt into the cuff of the pants. Pretty cute overall and he has some great gym pants.

Orchid hemp fleece diaper

2010-03-28T14:32:00.006-04:00

I made a sample diaper for Jonas out of the Orchid dyed hemp fleece. I lined the diaper with recycled Polartec Power Stretch. The post consumer content is 65%. It stretches in both directions and is really soft. One side is fleece and the other side is lycra knit. The diaper is made with the same pattern as the recycled t-shirt diaper but is turned and top stitched. The diaper has one layer of hemp fleece, hemp jersey and micro fleece. The insert is made from four layers of hemp fleece. I am still trying out new insert patterns. I have a hard time narrowing down what I think works best since there are so many ways to make an insert and they all have their merits. For this diaper, I tried out a new front pocket system that includes an internal overlapping flap. It works really well and is definitely a keeper.

I also tried out my new diaper labels. I created the labels in Microsoft Word and printed them on fabric using Dharma Trading Company Inkjet Roll Cotton. It is really easy to use and an inexpensive way to make your own custom labels. I need to fine tune the labels a bit since they turned out lighter than expected.

Orchid hemp fleece

2010-03-26T15:01:00.005-04:00

I dyed a few yards of hemp fleece fabric using Dharma Trading Company fiber reactive dye in Orchid. The color is purple with pink undertones. I also made a few sample diapers from the fabric. Very nice color. Orchid is actually the first color I used to dye hemp fabric many years ago when I first started Natural Violet. One of the reasons why I started dyeing my own hemp fabric was because I wasn't very happy with the color selection available. I remember being really excited when I dyed my first batch and got this wonderful warm purple. I have to say it is still very exciting to see the final results of my dyeing projects.

Pocket recycled t-shirt diaper

2010-03-20T15:16:00.009-04:00

Hemp fabric is still my favorite choice for making diapers, but I also love using thrift store t-shirts for making diapers. I posted a tutorial about a year ago on how to make t-shirt diapers and it gets the most visits on the blog so decided it was time to update. The following diaper was made entirely out of a t-shirt with the exception that I added a layer of synthetic micro fleece to line inside of the diaper. This is entirely optional and the whole diaper can be made from the t-shirt. The diaper style is a front opening pocket with a separate insert and the pattern is below. I love to work with patterns so with lots of revisions I came up this one. You can use any pattern though and there are lots of free ones available online. I started making pocket diapers a while back since I found like many others that they dry quickly and are very practical since you can add extra layers if needed. So on to the new tutorial.

Instructions for t-shirt diaper

Diaper pattern can be downloaded in three pdf files.
nvpockdiap1
nvpockdiap2
nvpockdiap3
The diaper can be made using a regular machine or serger. I used a regular machine and did a zig zag on the edges. It can also be turned and top stitched. The size of the diaper is medium to large and is a bit larger if you use a zig zag edge.

Materials: XL 100% cotton t-shirt and optional small piece of micro fleece for the liner. I also use hook and loop for the fasteners. You can opt to us no fasteners also and close it with a diaper pin the front. Elastic for the legs and back.

1. With the pattern cut out the diaper back and front along with the insert using the t-shirt. Cut off the neckline and cut two pieces eight inch long for the front pocket opening. Cut a front insert using the sleeves and half of the insert pattern (four layers). Optional only, but you can add an applique to the back using scrap t-shirt fabric. Cut out the micro fleece liner using the front and back pattern without the wings. This again is optional. You will also need elastic and hook and loop tape. I use 1.5 inch wide hook and loop and 3/8 inch elastic. The long loop piece is 8 inches and the smaller loop pieces are 1 inch. The hook pieces are 2 inches.

2. Sew the wings to the diaper outside. Sew the neckline facing to the front edge of the diaper. I use a three stitch zig zag. Sew the eight inch loop tape one inch down from the front edge.

3. Sew the wings to the diaper inside. Layer the diaper inside with the micro fleece fabric on top. If you decide not to use micro fleece then sew the wings to the diaper inside only. Sew the two inch hook tabs on on the wings. Sew the one inch laundry loop tabs near the hook tabs. Sew the other eight inch neckline facing to the front of the diaper inside.

4. Sew the elastic to the wrong side of the inside diaper piece at the leg openings and the back of the diaper. Use the guide on the pattern for placement of the elastic. I use a three stitch zig zag, but a regular zig zag will work also. Just make sure to pull the elastic very tightly as you sew.

5. Pin and Sew the inside and outside diaper fabric together with the rights sides facing outward. Zig zag around the entire diaper leaving the front pocket open for the insert. I use a three stitch zig zag, but regular is fine also. Sew the inside and outside diaper together along the elastic lines using a three stitch or regular zig zag. This creates a nice ruffle along the elastic on the outside of the diaper. You can also add a optional two inch piece of loop to the right front wing so the diaper wings can cross and give you wider size range.

6. Sew the four pieces of the long and short insert together and zig zag the edge. Place the short insert on top of the long insert in the desired location. I put it towards the front for my little guy. The insert will have four layers in the back and eight layers in the front. You can also add a layer or two of hemp fleece to increase the absorbency, but the cotton knit works pretty well also since you have ten layers total in the front wet zone. Stuff the insert in the diaper, add a cover and ready for use.

A few changes in the diaper cleaning routine

2010-03-17T20:21:00.011-04:00

I wrote about how I cloth diaper on a day to day basis a while back. It was around the time when Jonas turned one and I felt I had enough experience to write down my routine. My diapering routine is about the same now with a few recent changes. I finally purchased a diaper sprayer. Woohoo! I am not sure why I waited so long. I guess I felt like it was a luxury and I didn't really need one. However now that I have one, I don't think I would give it up too easily. It is really nice and helps a lot with diaper cleaning. I won't elaborate too much, but the diapers have been a bit more messy lately. Especially since Jonas loves edamame. Enough said on that point. I have found also that I don't need to use the BioKleen Bac-Out too much anymore since I rinse the diapers pretty well before putting them in the pail. The only drawback though is that I do use a bit more water, so we will see how much once we get our next bill.

I bought a BumGenius diaper sprayer at Kelly's Closet and received free shipping so that was really great. I was going to make one from a kitchen sprayer. I have seen diy info for making your own diaper sprayer or bidet online, but when I priced it all out it was only about $10 cheaper and the one I bought is a lot nicer than anything I could have put together. It has a variable flow including an off position. The tubing is standard size also and can be easily replaced. It also works great for cleaning the toilet. It is sort of funny now, but both Chris and I are excited about using it if that is the correct description. Who would have thought that something that attaches to your toilet could be so exciting? Jonas finds it a bit exciting also so I am glad I can turn it off easily. I am sure my little squirrel is going to figure it out soon, but for now he hasn't made the connection with the handle.

Another recent change in the diaper routine is the detergent. I am now using Charlies Soap. It is a bit more economical than the BioKleen. Also since I make most of the little guys hemp diapers with a sewn in microfleece liner, I find the Charlies Soap works better since it has no additives. I have changed all of our laundry now and wash everything with Charlies Soap. That goes also for anything I sell through the business. It will all be washed using Charlies Soap. It is a really great product and makes all of our laundry really soft.

So that is it for changes so far. I still love my cloth diapers!

Recycled long sleeve toddler tee and jeans

2010-03-12T14:48:00.016-05:00

I finally purchased an issue of Ottobre Design. I bought the Winter 2009 issue and I love the patterns. They are fun, cute and have a good selection for boys. I actually grew up with Burda patterns, so I am familiar with tracing patterns from a magazine. I haven't done it in a while so it is fun to start again and in particular to make clothes for my little guy. When I found out I was having a boy I really liked the idea that I didn't have to worry about fashion so much. From a female perspective, I have to say it is a very freeing experience to clothe a boy. I don't feel like I am constrained by the huge multitude of clothing available. I can also pick some nontraditional colors for him and he looks really cool. I rarely have a lack of inspiration from all the ideas online. In particular, I love all the applique and stenciled t-shirts I have seen lately. How fun to take a basic t-shirt and put something really quirky on the front. All you have to do is add a pair of jeans or even better some funky knit pants and your little guy is all set. Overall I have to say that making clothes for Jonas has been really fun. My only constraint has been having time to make everything.

So what I have I made for Jonas lately? I made the long sleeve t-shirt from the Ottobre magazine. I used a pieces from two recycled t-shirts from the thrift store. I made a few bloopers, but it still turned out pretty good. I forgot to add seam allowance to the cuffs so they are a bit shorter than in the magazine pictures. I also decided to add buttons on the top instead of snaps. I completely botched the buttonholes on the first try. I haven't made buttonholes with my machine in a long time and they turned out really horrible. I wound up putting a patch of fabric over the top and reversing the placket. I then tried the buttonholes again and they turned fine. The shirt actually came together really quickly with the exception of the buttonholes. I also tried out the Teeny Pants pattern with woven fabric. I found a pair of dark jeans at the thrift store and used those to make the pants. The only differences I made in the pattern is that I added a half an inch seam allowance to allow more movement and I didn't cut separate cuffs. I wasn't sure if the gusset would work since it is sized larger to accommodate the diapers. However since the fabric is cut on the bias it gives a little bit of stretch and the gusset fit fine. So it good to know that I can use either stretch or woven fabric for making pants for the business. The outfit turned out pretty cute overall.

Fancy diaper cover

2010-03-05T18:52:00.004-05:00

I took a break from diaper making and made a diaper cover. It is made with a layer of pul fabric and a layer of cotton print. I made it with the same diaper pattern except I added an extra half an inch seam allowance. I got a bit fancy and covered the leg seams with the pul fabric to help with moisture control. It is fun to have print diaper cover since all the other ones I have are solid. It works pretty well overall, but not quite as well the double layer of pul. I did have some problems with moisture wicking even though I covered the legs. Jonas likes it a lot though and doesn't like to wear pants whenever he has on his snazzy cover.

Dyed hemp fleece diapers

2010-03-04T15:40:00.004-05:00

I dyed some of the hemp jersey fabric with low impact fiber reactive dyes and made a few more diaper samples. The hemp jersey dyes beautifully. I purchased the dyes from Dharma Trading Company. The fiber reactive dyes are low impact because they bind really well to the fabric and therefore less dye to go down the drain. The dye is set with soda ash which is basically a ph adjuster. I have used the fiber reactive dyes on hemp fabric for many years and I love all the wonderful colors available in the Dharma line. The diapers were made with one layer of dyed hemp jersey on the outside and one layer of hemp fleece on the inside. I lined the larger avocado diaper with microfleece for Jonas. The smaller one I left with the hemp fleece liner. It is going to a friend of ours who just had a baby boy. I also knitted a pair of white longies for the little guy to make a nice set. We are going over to visit tonight and bring lentil soup and corn muffins so will be a fun evening.

Fitted hemp fleece diaper

2010-02-26T14:11:00.009-05:00

I recently bought a lot of hemp fleece from my favorite hemp fabric place, Pickering. I love the fabric. It is super soft and fluffy. I can see why everyone loves diapers out of this fabric. I am trying out a few new diaper patterns to see what works best. I love to tinker with patterns. I always make one diaper and then think of ways I could make it work better. So the process goes on for a while. I have been using a modified version of the RRP diaper pattern and it is really great. I even bought a few metal diaper pins from a great online store called the Diaper Junction. They are located in Virgina so pretty close by and they also ship small items by first class mail which is really nice. I have to say I love the convenience of hook and loop tape especially for standing diaper changes. However, there is something really nice about using an old fashioned diaper pin. It adds to the ahh factor too for the diaper since it looks really cute. So for the business I plan to make both types since I like to use both also. I think it adds some versatility to the diaper stash.

So on to the diaper. I made a fitted hemp diaper with an outside layer of hemp fleece and an inside layer of hemp jersey. I also added a recycled microfleece liner. I decided to use the hemp jersery for the inside layer so the diaper is not too bulky. It still has great absorbancy, but is a bit more trim than two layers of hemp fleece. It also helps on bulk with the additional microfleece layer. I am going to make the diapers for selling with the option of either a microfleece layer and a regular hemp fleece layer. I am still working on the velcro closure. I haven't decided if I am going to keep it as tabs or make an overlapping flap. Either way it will accomodate a wide range of waist sizes. I made the insert out of one layer of hemp fleece and one layer of hemp jersey so six layer total when folded in thirds. I still need to make a few more diapers for my little guy also. He just loves the soft fabric and goes Ohhhh everytime I put one on him. I taught him that of course, but I think he really appreciates a soft and comfy diaper.

Natural Violet is up and running

2010-02-25T15:47:00.003-05:00

I am finally starting Natural Violet again after about a two year break. I think the last time I sold through Natural Violet was at a Holiday Market when I was about 4 months pregnant with the little guy. It has definitely been a long time. I started this blog originally to get myself going again with crafting and hoping that would lead to starting up the business again. It has definitely helped to blog about my crafting adventures and I think it was the boost I needed to get everything going again. I really love crafting and have enjoyed selling through my home business. It is so great to be able to make thing for others and help out my family as well.

The direction of the new Natural Violet is towards baby crafting. I am going to make organic cotton and hemp cloth diapers with inserts and other fun diapering accessories. I am also going to make baby clothing from organic cotton and hemp fabric as well as recycled fabric. I am going continue with the quilt making. I hope to incorporate as much green fabric into my products as possible.

The new website is up for viewing at Natural Violet. It is really basic but covers all the bases. I am going to sell through Etsy for now and hopefully at local craft shows. I am still fine tuning a few patterns and hope to have some items in the Etsy shop soon. For now, I will keep the blog updated with my product making adventures. Lots of diapers and Teeny Pants on the way.

Another cottage loaf

2010-02-21T09:18:00.005-05:00

I made a cottage loaf this weekend. I used a third whole wheat and the rest white flour. I recently bought fresh yeast which is a really good deal cost wise if you bake a lot. I found the fresh cake yeast at the Whole Foods bakery. I used 0.75 ounces of fresh yeast instead of the freeze dried package. I mixed it with the liquids and let it sit a bit before I mixed everything else together. The bread turned out great. The only problem with the cake yeast is it is very perishable and needs to be used within a few weeks or less. I have seen a few estimates for shelf life online. It can also be frozen, but I haven't had good results so far. It is probably because I forget about the yeast and it stays in the freezer way too long. Anyway, it produced a really nice bread with and great texture.

Teeny pants - more recycled t-shirt pants

2010-02-15T11:38:00.012-05:00

I have gone through a few iterations of the "Teeny pants". That is my new name for the recycled t-shirt pants. I am sure it is not extremely original, but it is cute and fits the pants. So I have made the Teeny pants with both an upward and a downward curving gusset or a smiley and frowny face. Sorry, more cute terms. I have also worked on giving room in the seat portion for movement and diapers. I originally tried making the waistband curved to allow more room, but found it difficult to sew in the the elastic casing with a curved seam. I switched to allowing more curve in the gusset and it works great. The only difficulty is I am not sure if the pattern will work for non-stretch fabric since the gusset portion is a little larger than the bottom back. Well, only one way to find out, so that might be my next project. I also worked on the cuffs and they fold great in the final pattern. I like having cuffs of course since he is growing out of his pants so fast in length it is amazing. So here is my latest and I think final version of the Teeny pants. I have also included pictures of the other pattern styles I have tried during the process. I had to laugh when Chris told me the latest pair looks like Miami Dolphin pants. I guess that will happen fairly often with recycling t-shirts and using two bright contrasting colors. Chris was a big Miami Dolphin fan when he was a wee tike since he grew up in Southern Florida, so a fitting color for Jonas also.

Red velvet recycled diaper

2010-02-12T21:21:00.013-05:00

I have been sewing lots of stuff for the little guy during the many snow days we have had over the past week or so. I found a pair of bright red cotton stretch velvet pants at the local thrift store and I decided to use the fabric to try making a one size diaper. I really like the idea of the one size diaper though the little guy is not so little anymore so sort of a moot point. I just think it is great that I can make a diaper that can be used for various size babies. I also would like to pass on his diapers to other babies like I did with his newborn and small diapers so making a few one size now will be helpful to whoever inherits the latest diaper lot. I started out with the Rita's Rump one size pocket diaper pattern to get an idea of size. The pattern is free and available for download at her website. It is also free to use for making and selling diapers which is super cool. I love to tinker with patterns so I made alterations for knit fabrics, separate wider wing tabs and a wider insert. I also made a back pocket with elastic and reshaped the diaper front.

The diaper is really plush and fits Jonas great. I use Snappis to close it, but it also works without closures if I use a close fitting cover. I used the red cotton velour on the outside and a layer of hemp knit and recycled fleece on the inside. I have to say the cotton stretch velvet makes a really fabulous diaper. It is soft, cushy and stretchy. It reminds me of the episode of Sinfeld where George is ensconced in velvet. Very nice! I also made a new insert using organic cotton and hemp jersey. The insert is 15" x 13" and is three layers of fabric. I rounded the edges and used a fancy stretch stitch to sew it together. I also sewed down the middle to secure the layers. I fold it in thirds and it fits perfectly in the pocket.

Snow coconut cream

2010-02-07T13:56:00.008-05:00

We got a lot more snow this weekend and I love it. I do have to qualify that though and say that I belong to the group of people who did not lose power, have lots of food at home and basically don't need to be anywhere except out playing in the snow with my little guy. So for me it has been a lot of fun and reminds me of being a kid up in snowy western NY. We are supposed to get a few more inches tomorrow which is very exciting. Jonas has really taken to the snow and is having as much fun as his mom in the winter wonderland. Chris and I spent a lot of time shoveling yesterday to get the car out and also to build a sledding run in the back. It turned out great and the little guy made his mother proud when he went down it by himself. He laughed the whole way and at the bottom all he said was, "More, more". Chris had a snow day on Friday so I took advantage of the time and did a lot more sewing. I will post about what I made soon, but I wanted to post first about making snow ice cream. A friend of mine posted about how she was going to make snow ice cream. I looked up a few recipes on the web and decided to try it out myself. It is basically milk, sugar and lots of snow. I made a vegan version using coconut milk, sugar and vanilla. It turned out really good and tastes like a coconut slushy. Here is the recipe. It is definitely worth making the next time you get a good snow storm.

Coconut snow cream

Place a large bowl out in the yard when it starts snowing to collect fresh snow.

1 can of whole coconut milk
1 cup of sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
A lot of fresh snow

Blend the coconut milk, sugar and vanilla together in a food processor or blender to dissolve the sugar. Add snow until you get to the desired thickness. Whatever is left over can be placed in the freezer.

Reusable baby wipes

2010-02-01T13:08:00.008-05:00

Cloth baby wipes are very easy to make. They can be made from any absorbent fabric scraps you have in your stash. They are also really cost effective and simple to clean if you are already using cloth diapers. I throw the baby wipes in pail with the cloth diapers and wash them at the same time. I made a few more recently to add to the pile. These are made from a flannel receiving blanket and a baby hooded towel. I used the flannel on one side and the terry cloth on the other. I cut the wipes about the same size as the ones you buy. They measure about 7 x 8.5 inches. I put the two layers together and finished the edges with a closed zig zag stitch. I fold the wipes in half and stach them in a regular wipe container. I add a simple herbal wipe solution and presto I have my own reusable baby wipes.

Herbal baby wipe solution

2 cups distilled H20
1 teaspoon baby body wash ( I like California Baby or Baby Oh Baby)
1 teaspoon oil (I use almond, apricot kernel or sunflower oil)

Snow and lots of sewing

2010-01-31T13:21:00.014-05:00

We just got close to another foot of snow in central Virginia. It has been really amazing around here with respect to snow. I think that puts our total up to about 3 feet of snow that we have gotten this year. I love snow and should probably live in Vermont instead of Virginia. Chris on the hand comes from Florida and while he loves snow too, he is not inclined to live in a snowy climate. At least not yet. The snow this time is totally amazing though. It is perfect powder or at least as perfect as I have ever seen. It is super fluffy and beautiful in the sunlight. So I went out early this morning and took a few photos of natures glory.

Chris has been a sweetie this weekend and has been playing with the little guy while I have been sewing up my own storm. I made another pair of the recycled t-shirt pants. I am getting really close to finishing the pattern so very excited. I also made pumpkin mini muffins for my little guy. I finally bought a mini muffin pan for him. He can of course eat the big muffins, but I think it is fun for him to have muffins that are his size. I am off to bake a bit more before he rises from his slumber and then we are out in the snow for this afternoon since it is warming up a bit.

Toddler longies

2010-01-28T14:13:00.008-05:00

So it has been really cold here this winter. I am sure I am not telling you anything new since it has been really cold in a lot of places. I finally made Jonas a pair of longies out of some left over synthetic yarn that I had in my stash. I have been intrigued by all the diaper covers that I have seen online and I saw that some people make them out of synthetic yarn also. They work pretty good if you use a tight knitting gauge. The result is similar to using polartec fleece covers. So I decided to make a pair for Jonas to use as a diaper cover and also to keep his little legs warm. The pattern is very similar to the boy bloomers execept it has a lot more shaping and an extra leg gusset. In other words it is a lot more complicated. The longies fit him great with all the extra shaping so it is definitely worth the extra steps. I also really like the gusset since it gives him a lot of freedom of movement. Here are photos of the pants and the little guy in action. He really looks adorable in his knitted pants.

Toddler recycled t-shirt pants

2010-01-23T10:47:00.016-05:00

I am working on a new pants pattern for Jonas. It is modeled after a variety of yoga pants that I have seen online. It has taken me a lot longer to come up with a pattern than I thought it would since the pants are pretty simple. The first couple of tries were too big in the hip and then too big in the waist. I am also working on the pants rise to accommodate the cloth diapers. Anyway, it is taking a while to come up with a good pattern. It is interesting that before he was born I definitely spent a lot of time thinking about a pattern and making samples. I find that these days I try to be more efficient with my time since I usually don't get large blocks of time for crafting. I do have his afternoon nap time to mull over different ideas. He typically takes a good afternoon nap. I rock him in the rocking chair and either tell him a story or sing him a song (very badly, but he doesn't seem to mind) and he off to sleepy time. I am getting close with the pants pattern and here is my result so far. I am going to change the waistband a bit and also work on the cuffs. I would like for the pants to grow with him, but the cuffs are bit too floppy. I think a few more alterations and then it will be good. This pair was made from recycled thrift store t-shirts.

Spinach quinoa waffles

2010-01-22T07:39:00.014-05:00

Jonas loves waffles. He generally is not too picky about food. I have noticed that since he turned 18 months that he goes in spurts with eating. It is not that he has any particular thing that he dislikes. It is more that at times he is too busy playing and exploring to want to sit and eat. He then makes it up at the next meal and eats everything in sight. I am glad that he still loves to eat a lot of veggies including his favorite which is any type of greens. I decided to make him waffles with two things that I know he really likes including spinach and quinoa. I have some cubes available in the freezer so it made it really simple to add them to the waffle mix. I had to adjust the liquid level a bit, but they turned out great. He ate them readily with the Creamy Cashew Dip from Eat, Drink & Be Vegan by Dreena Burton. I actually made the dip with almond butter instead of cashew butter. He now asks for "Almo" with his waffles so he likes it a lot.

By the way, I love all of Dreena Burtons cookbooks. She has a lot of kid friendly recipes. She also has a great section on food introduction for infants in her book Vive Le Vegan. I used the introduction schedule and Jonas did great with everything. It has been a lot of fun to cross every stage and add different food items. The book is full of lots of great ideas for feeding a vegan baby and toddler and it has been a great resource. I also like the book from Cathe Olson called Simply Natural Baby Food. I have made a lot of recipes from the book and I love that a lot are low salt and sugar. The book is not vegan, but it easy to adjust most of the recipes. One of his favorites of course is the whole grain waffles with lots of molasses.

Here is the recipe for the Spinach quinoa waffles. Chris and I ate them also and I have to say they make a really yummy savory waffle.

Spinach quinoa waffles

1.5 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cup rice or soy milk
1/2 cup pureed cooked quinoa
1 cup pureed cooked spinach
1/3 cup oil
1 tablespoon ground flax
1/2 cup soy yogurt

Mix all the dry ingredients together in one bowl. Add all the liquid ingredients together in another bowl. The ground flax can be added to the liquid ingredients. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry and mix until combined. The batter should be fairly thick, but still be able to pour. If it is too thick then add more rice or soy milk. If it is too thin then add more flour. Heat up your waffle iron and start cooking.

Diaper cover from pul fabric

2010-01-12T14:08:00.007-05:00

I have some extra pul fabric from making the super diapers so I thought I would make a few quick diaper covers. I used my medium size diaper pattern (download at nvdiaper1 and nvdiaper2). I cut out two pieces of pul and sandwiched them together with the non-shiny side facing out. I made an elastic casing for the back and the legs. I then did a zig zag stitch around the entire cover. Added hook and loop tabs and also used loop on the front. The double layer works great and he stays dry for a few hours.

Recycled t-shirt diaper with side tabs

2010-01-10T14:23:00.024-05:00

I came up with a diaper pattern that closes on the side with hook and loop tabs. I do most of my diaper changes for Jonas while he is standing so for me it is a lot easier to secure the diaper with the tabs on the side. I also like that he has more freedom of movement in the front with the new diapers style since there is no longer a big strip of loop tape. I recycled a t-shirt from Chris for the main body and I was able to cut two diapers from one large shirt. I added a layer of hemp jersey and lined the diaper with recycled microfleece. I kept the top open to make a pocket diaper. I made a quick dry insert out of the hemp jersey for the diaper stuffer. Here is the diaper pattern in nvdiaper1 and nvdiaper2. The pattern size is medium and trim fit, so make sure you wash and dry any fabric you plan to use prior to cutting.

Toddler boots

2009-12-14T14:07:00.017-05:00

I am making more shoes for the little guy. This time I made a pair of boots that he can wear when we go to indoor play areas or for just hanging out at home. He can also use them outdoors as long as the ground in relatively dry. I made the pair for the tutorial below out of a faux suede that I bought at the local fabric store and leftover recycled fleece scraps. The black pair above is made with black vinyl and red recycled fleece scraps. Chris has dubbed the black pair as the "Elvis boots" so pretty funny. The pattern is fairly simple and based on the toddler shoes . It is also patterned after a McCalls pattern for baby booties. I enlarged the pattern and also changed the back flap and sole. I tried the original pattern, but was unhappy with the results so since I love to change patterns, I decided I could come up with something that worked better. I am pretty happy with the results and plan to make a few more pairs for the little guy.

Here is the boot pattern in tboot1 and tboot2 . Below are the sewing instructions. The shoe size is approximately a toddler size 6.

Note: A quarter inch seam allowance has been added to the pattern. You can use more if you want the shoes to be a bit smaller.

1. Cut out the pattern pieces. You will need two of each for the inside and outside fabric.

2. Zig-zag all the pieces if you are using material that frays.

3. Sew the front inside and outside fabric pieces together on the narrow curved side. Turn and top stitch.

4. Sew the back inside and outside fabric pieces together along the top and side edge. Turn and top stitch. Sew the casing for the back elastic as marked on the pattern.

5. Cut a 3 inch piece of elastic and thread it through the back casing. Sew both edges to form a gather for the back heel.

6. Grab the shoe bottom and pin on the front and back of the shoe. Sew together and turn right side out. Sew on hook and loop tape or any other fastener that works for you. I used the hook and loop so the little guy can have fun taking his boots on and off by himself.

Giveaway day... and the winner is?

2009-12-02T08:01:00.005-05:00

Hello everyone! Thanks so much for all of your wonderful comments. I can definitely see why people participate in the giveaways. It was so exciting and made me really happy to see all the wonderful things that everyone wrote. It has definitely been a treat for me, so many thanks!! I am sorry I can only pick one winner.

So without further delay the winner of the quilt is...

Stephanie S who wrote... My favorite fabrics are old kitchen prints. They are so much fun. Thank you for the chance to win that great quilt. It is the perfect colors for my son!

I love the kitchen prints also and I hope your son loves the quilt. Congratulations!! I have sent you an email and all I need is your mailing address. Thanks again everyone and hope I see all of you again soon in blogland!

Yippee! I am finally participating in the Sew Mama Sew blog Giveaway Day. Up for grabs is a cotton baby/child quilt made by me using the Yellow Brick Road pattern. I machine quilted it using a free motion attachment and a large stipple pattern. It has cotton batting and a natural muslin backing. It measures about 52" x 44". It has been washed and dried once on the gentle cycle so ready for use. All you have to do is leave a comment and say hello. Feel free to also tell me your favorite quilt patterns or fabrics. Pretty simple. I am going to pick a winner randomly. Make sure you include your email so I can contact you if you win. I am only shipping to the US this time around so very sorry to those outside the US. This giveaway will be open until midnight on December 6, 2009. Make sure you check out all the other fabulous giveaways on all the other blogs. Happy sewing!!

Giveaway Day ~ Handcrafted Item(s) + Supplies/Materials
Giveaway Day ~ Handcrafted Item(s)
Giveaway Day ~ Knitting Supplies/Materials

Lots of pies

2009-11-24T14:06:00.010-05:00

Apple Pie

The new kitchen is awesome and I am spending lots of time making all sorts of goodies. I love the dishwasher of course and the fact that I can clean up my mess is record time. I am pretty amazed that we lasted so long actually without a dishwasher. Chris and I really do cook a lot so it is definitely worth it for us and totally fine that we had to give up cabinet space. It is funny though because I think it is all about perspective since our new kitchen is pretty simple and still small. I guess I have been cooking in an old small kitchen for so long that pretty much anything is a huge improvement. Add on top of that a dishwasher and I am happy happy. Here are a few fruits of my labor in our new kitchen. I have been into pie mode lately and made a few yummy ones.

Apple pie - my own creation.

Turnip and carrot pot pie - my recipe again.

Broccoli quiche - from Vegan Brunch

Pumpkin pie - recipe from Vegetarian Times

Monkey pants tutorial

2009-11-18T11:31:00.009-05:00

I have made a lot of the monkey pants from the pattern I purchased from danslalune on etsy. I received an email from someone asking if I could do a tutorial on how I make the pants. The pattern is super cute, but putting it all together is a bit challenging at first. The main challenge is the gusset portion. I did change the pattern around a bit to accomodate non-stretch woven fabric and also sized it up to fit my 18 month old. However, the orginal pattern will work fine as long as you use stretch knits. Here is how I make the pants.

1. Cut out the pattern pieces. I am using recycled microfleece for these pants.

2. Open the pants back and lay flat. Line up the gusset piece with the larger curved portion facing upward as shown.

3. Pin the gusset into the back of the pants. I like to start at the ends and center. I then work my way around to fit in the gusset.

4. Sew in the back gusset. Pin the front and back together and sew.

5. Now you can sew the top casing and hem the pants as you would any other pants. Hope this helps!

Carob graham crackers

2009-11-05T13:08:00.006-05:00

We finally remodeled the kitchen and now have a dishwasher. Yahooo!! I love the dishwasher. I also love that I can now open the drawers and not worry about all the saw dust going on the pots and pans below. Let's say our funky 1958 kitchen seriously needed some improving. You can judge yourself by the before and after pictures. I have been cooking and baking lots and lots of fun stuff in the new kitchen. A fun baked goodie that I made recently was carbo graham crackers. I got the recipe from Jennifer McCann and the Vegan Lunch Box. Great recipe and really easy to make. The crackers can be made with chocolate also, but I went with the carob. Jonas really likes them a lot. Yummy!

Toddler and baby shoes

2009-10-25T14:18:00.030-04:00

I am still making shoes for the little guy. He started walking about a month ago and I find the soft sole shoes are great for toddling around. I use them outside also and though they don't last as long as hard soled shoes, they are pretty durable. I made two sizes for the pattern including 6-12 months and 12-18 months. The shoes are pretty forgiving with respect to size and allow for lots of wiggle room. The pattern is pretty simple and based on the slipper style shoes you see in the stores. I also made the sole so there is no left or right shoe. I find it a lot easier to put on a wiggly toddler. I made the following shoes out of denim material I had left over from his recycled jeans. I used scraps of black vinyl to line the bottoms so his feet stay dry. The pattern is in three pdf files that you can download below.

Toddler and baby shoes

Here is the shoe pattern in page1, page2 and page3. Below are the sewing instructions.

Note: A quarter inch seam allowance has been added to the pattern. You can use more if you want the shoes to be a bit smaller.

1. Cut out the pattern pieces. You will need two of each for the inside and outside fabric.

2. Zig-zag all the pieces if you are using material that frays.

3. Sew the front inside and outside fabric pieces together on the shorter curved side. Turn and top stitch.

4. Sew the back inside and outside fabric pieces together along the top edge. Turn and top stitch along the top and about a half an inch down from the top to form a casing.

5. Grab the shoe bottom and pin on the front and back of the shoe. Sew together and turn right side out. You are almost done.

6. Cut a piece of quarter inch elastic and thread it through the casing. Stitch the elastic together and tack it to the shoe front. All done!

Not so lardy cake

2009-10-15T13:34:00.007-04:00

I made this sweet bread a few years ago and decided to make it again. It is similar to a raisin bread. It was really easy to make vegan by replacing the "lard" with Earth Balance shortening. I think last time I made it I used Earth Balance margarine and dubbed it the "Margy Cake" so now it is the "Shorty Cake". The recipe is from Bread - the breads of the world and how to bake them at home by Christine Ingram and Jennie Shapter. The description in the book says it is a special rich fruit bread that was made in England for celebrating the harvest. Happy harvest!

Fleece vest to sleep sac

2009-10-07T14:02:00.006-04:00

I am definitely getting into recycling mode. I have to say it is really satisfying to find something at a thrift store and give it a new twist. I found a medium size fleece vest with a full zipper and thought it would perfect for a sleep sac. I used the same pattern as the hemp sleep sac. I removed the pockets and cut through the zipper to make room for the neckline. I cut one inch binding strips and finished the neck and arm holes. I have to say the best part was not having to sew in the zipper. Though it is not difficult to do, I find it a bit cumbersome and having it already done was great. I think the whole project only took about a half an hour and cost about $4, so very nice.

Fruity baby sweater

2009-10-06T21:02:00.008-04:00

My adorable little niece is turning one this weekend. Very exciting! We are planning a road trip to see her this weekend and celebrate. Jonas is going to love hanging out with his cousin. I made a sweater for her birthday. The pattern is from Natural Knits for Babies and Moms by Louisa Harding. I made the Kai sweater. The yarn is recycled from a white sweater I found at the local thrift store. I took apart the sweater and dyed the yarn in tangerine, cherry and lemon. I am really getting into the recycled yarn and fabric. I found a cool website called Wardrobe Refashion where everything is made from recycled fabric or yarn. I hope to make the pledge soon myself and commit to using only recycled goods. Check out the blog if you haven't seen it before. There are some really great projects posted.

Toddler cheezy crackers

2009-09-30T13:34:00.008-04:00

I made these crackers a while back and loved them. I am now making them for Jonas and he loves them also. The only change I made was to cut back on the salt. I am trying to keep Jonas from turning into a salt lover like his mama. I used 1/2 teaspoon of salt instead of 1 teaspoon. Jonas loves the soft texture of the crackers and they are the perfect size for his little hands. I was surprised how easy it is to make your own crackers so if you haven't tried it then definitely give it a go. Though be warned that you may only want to eat homemade crackers. My next batch is going to be homemade graham crackers. Here is the cracker recipe at Have cake, will travel.

Calzones with sunflower seed pesto

2009-09-22T13:13:00.006-04:00

I am a bit behind with posting. We spent a glorious end of summer week at the beach and I was without internet access so that is one of my excuses. It was nice to unplug for a while and feel a bit refreshed on coming back. I also ran my first four miler a few weeks ago though I am also a bit behind now with my running. I need to remind myself how hard it was to get going in the first place and not let my time off period extend too long. The good news is I have lots to post.

I used the sunflower seed pesto from the last post to make calzones. I brought them with me to eat after the four miler and they were quite yummy. Jonas also really liked them a lot. I used a basic pizza dough recipe and also marinara that I made a while back and froze. Here is the recipe.

Sunflower seed pesto calzones

1 cup sunflower seed pesto
1 cup marinara
1/2 cup chopped kalamata olives
2 tablespoons capers
pizza dough

Mix together the filling. Roll out the dough, fill and bake for 25 minutes at 375 F. Brush the tops with olive oil after they come out of the oven. Enjoy.

Sunflower seed pesto

2009-09-02T14:46:00.006-04:00

Here is my version of a toddler friendly pesto that is made with sunflower seeds instead of pine nuts. I am waiting until Jonas is around 18 months to introduce tree nuts so decided to try a variation that he can also enjoy on his pasta. He seems to really like basil. I made a summer tomato salad with a thai basil dressing that he liked also. I was surprised since the thai basil has a strong flavor. Maybe he will take after his mama and love basil. I am a big basil fan and cannot get enough of it in the summer time. Here is the recipe.

Sunflower seed pesto

3 cups of basil leaves (I used a mix of thai, globe and purple)
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 cup of olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Add all of the ingredients except the olive olive oil to a food processor and chop well. Add enough olive oil to form a paste. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy.

Recycled fleece pocket diaper

2009-08-21T13:43:00.006-04:00

I started making the recycled fleece pocket diapers. I make them out of recycled soda pop bottle fleece that I purchased online at Malden Mills. I use lady bug red microfleece for the diaper lining and black heather 200 weight fleece for the outer fabric. I changed the diaper pattern a bit and added external velcro tabs to allow for growth. They should fit Jonas for a while and fit very securely with the external tabs. The all fleece diapers are super soft and work great. I use them mainly for sleep time now, but plan on using them more during the day as the weather gets cooler. I use the same quick dry soaker pad made of hemp jersey as for the other pocket diapers and no leaks or accidents. The new diapers are very easy to wash and dry quickly so another bonus. Jonas is also very comfy in the stay dry lining so they are working out well.

Hemp pocket diaper with microfleece liner

2009-08-20T19:44:00.009-04:00

Here is a quick dry version of my hemp fitted diaper. I really like the hemp material, but it does take a while to dry. I used my own diaper pattern (download at nvdiaper01 and nvdiaper02) and made it same way as in the diaper tutorial except I omitted the soaker pad and left the top open to form a pocket diaper. I made a quick dry hemp insert for the soaker pad. I also left off the fleece liner and made a separate stay dry liner in an hour glass shape. I am going to make a few more to add to the diaper pile. They dry really quick and are super absorbant. I also like the separate fleece liner. It is a snap to take out when things get a little messy. The only trade off is that it tends to shift a bit after he wears the diaper for a while, so there is potential for the rest of the diaper to get a bit messy also. Great diaper though and definitely quick drying.

Green shorties

2009-08-18T13:07:00.010-04:00

I made another pair of the baby shorties for Jonas using two skeins of Lily Sugar & Creme Stripes cotton yarn. I decided to switch things up a bit and did the three needle bind off to the outside of the back of the shorts to form a ridge. I have been getting lots of nice comments about the shorties and boy bloomers so if I can get things going I may try to make them to sell. I can order natural organic cotton and bamboo yarn at Dharma Trading to dye in all sorts of fun colors. Well, something to think about for next summer. I just realized it is August already and Jonas really needs clothes for the Fall. I am still getting used to the idea that if I make something for him that he an only wear it for a limited time. Sort of funny actually. Well, time to get busy on the Fall wardrobe.

Ruffled hemp skirt

2009-08-13T13:24:00.010-04:00

I finally made a skirt this summer. I love wearing skirts. They are so comfortable when it gets hot outside. I made this one out of hemp material that I dyed with a Procion dye in wedgewood blue. I didn't use a pattern. I used my own formula to come up with the pattern pieces. I basically wanted an a-line skirt with a ruffle so pretty simple to construct. I actually made the skirt first and then dyed it after. I also threw in a few of Jonas' white t-shirts along with a few old towels that I used to make the reusable facial puffs in the previous post. I forgot how fun it is to dye and a great way to spruce up old towels. I am already planning my next dye adventure.

Ruffle skirt formula

Round measurements to the nearest half inch.

Hip measurement at the widest point + 2 inches divided by 2 = A
Length of skirt desired minus ruffle + 2 inches = B
Length of ruffle + 1 inch = C

Cut two trapezoids that measure A on the top, (A*1/3 + A) on the bottom and B height.
Cut two rectangles that are C height and 2*(A*1/3 + A) length.

Zig zag the edges of all of the pieces. Sew the sides of the skirt together. Make a casing on the top that is 1.5 inches and add elastic for your waist. Sew the sides of the ruffle together and gather to fit the bottom of the skirt. Attach the ruffle to the skirt. Sew the hem.

Reusable facial puffs

2009-08-10T12:35:00.002-04:00

I typically use a wash cloth for cleaning my face, but thought it would be very nice to have something smaller that was also washable. When I was a graduate student I made my own facial puffs out of old towels and scraps of polar fleece. I was making recycled fleece hats at the time and had a lot of fleece scraps. I was also in the mode of being frugal and reusing as much as possible so from that came the idea for making reusuable cotton balls. I currently have a lot of little scraps of micro fleece left over from making the diapers so perfect for making the puffs. I like using the polar fleece for the inside of the puffs since it doesn't absorb the water and stays fluffy when wet. I dyed an old bath towel using a Procion dye in wedgewood blue. I also dyed a few shirts for Jonas a and a cute little hemp skirt that I will post about soon. I didn't need to dye the towel, but I was doing a dye batch anyway and thought it would be fun to have nicely colored puffs. I use the puffs the same way as I would cotton balls. After I use one, I put it in a bag and then throw them all in the regular laundry load.

Reusable facial puffs

Materials: Scraps of polar fleece and cotton terry cloth. The puffs can be any size or shape. I make mine circular with a 3 inch diameter.

1. Cut two circular pieces of terry cloth. Cut two pieces of micro fleece or one piece of 200 or higher weight polar fleece.

2. Sandwich the layers together with the terry cloth on the outside and the micro fleece on the inside. Sew the layers together using a zig zag or decorative stitch.

Blissful blogging

2009-08-05T21:01:00.004-04:00

Alas, I am a day late with this post. I signed up for the Blogging for Bliss Release Party and intended to post about blissful blogging on Tuesday. Well, the good news is that you can hop over to Artsy Mama and read all the fabulous posts from everyone who participated. As for my blissful blogging, I am a newbie. I have only been writing a few months. I started my blog to share my love of crafting and to connect with others who also love to create. I also wanted to start up my business again and felt blogging would get me back in the swing of things. My first post is about Natural Violet and how it all started. Well, my little guy is off to slumber land and I am on my way also. So this post is going to be short and hopefully sweet. Happy blogging everyone!

Baby knickers a.k.a. boy bloomers

2009-07-29T12:51:00.019-04:00

Jonas just took his first few independent steps a week ago. It is really amazing to see him stand up and move around. He is still a ways from walking though and spends most of his time crawling. He has perfected a crawl run which is really cute to watch. However, it is very hard on his little knees. I like to keep his knees protected, but also want him to be comfortable since it is summer. The perfect solution is knickers. I have already made a few pairs of the boy bloomers for Jonas. The pair in the picture was made with two skeins of Lily Sugar & Creme Stripes cotton yarn. The baby knicker pattern is the same as the baby shorties, but easier since you don't have to shape the legs or pick up stitches.

Baby Shorties

Size: small (medium, large). Hip size: 17 in. (20 in., 23 in.)

Materials: 175 (200, 225) yards of cotton worsted weight yarn. I used 2 skeins of Love it
by Berroco. Elastic to use for the waistband.

Gauge: 4 sts = 1 in. stockinet stitch for main body.

Needles: US size 6 - 16 in circular needle, US size 8 - 16 in. circular needle or sizes need to get gauge.

Notes: w&t - Slip the next stitch purl-wise with the yarn in front. Turn work and wrap
yarn around to the back of the stitch. Slip the stitch purl-wise with the yarn in front.

Main Body
Cast on 68 (80, 92) sts using US size 6 circular needle and join in the round being careful
not to twist stitches. Place a marker for the beginning of the round.
Knit 6 rounds.
Purl 1 round.
Knit 6 rounds in knit two, purl two ribbing. Change to US size 8 circular needle.

Begin Short Rows

Size small only:
Knit 23 sts, w&t.
Purl 12 sts, w&t.
Knit 15 sts, w&t.
Purl 18 sts, w&t.
Knit 21 sts, w&t.
Purl 24 sts, w&t.
Knit to the end of the round.

Size medium only:
Knit 26 sts, w&t.
Purl 12 sts, w&t.
Knit 15 sts, w&t.
Purl 18 sts, w&t.
Knit 21 sts, w&t.
Purl 24 sts, w&t.
Knit 27 sts, w&t.
Purl 30 sts, w&t.
Knit to the end of the round.

Size large only:
Knit 29 sts, w&t.
Purl 12 sts, w&t.
Knit 15 sts, w&t.
Purl 18 sts, w&t.
Knit 21 sts, w&t.
Purl 24 sts, w&t.
Knit 27 sts, w&t.
Purl 30 sts, w&t.
Knit 33 sts, w&t.
Purl 36 sts, w&t.
Knit 39 sts, w&t.
Purl 42 sts, w&t.
Knit to the end of the round.

For all sizes:
Knit in rounds until piece measures 6 in. (7 in., 8 in) from the purl ridge.

Split for legs
Knit 17 sts (20 sts, 23 sts). Place these stitches on a holder and knit 34 sts (40 sts, 46 sts).
Place the remaining stitches on a holder and turn work. Purl one row.
Knit in stockinette stitch until leg measures 1.5 in. (2.0 in., 2.5 in.).
Change back to US size 6 circular needle and knit rows in knit two, purl two ribbing for 1 in. (1.5 in., 2.0 in.). Bind off stitches loosely.

Attach yarn to the remaining 34 sts (40 sts, 46 sts) and knit in stockinette stitch until leg measures 1.5 in. (2.0 in., 2.5 in.).
Change back to US size 6 circular needle and knit rows in knit two, purl two ribbing for 1 in. (1.5 in., 2.0 in.). Bind off stitches loosely.

Finishing
Sew the leg seam. Sew in all the loose strings. Fold over the waistband at the purl ridge and stitch in place leaving space open to put in the elastic. Cut half inch elastic to 15 in. (18 in., 21 in) or to size needed for the waistband. Insert the elastic in the casing. Stitch the rest of the casing
closed.

Chamomile hair rinse

2009-07-24T13:51:00.008-04:00

Jonas and I are spending quite a bit of time outside this summer. We go out most mornings to the park or to the new Meade Park Pool that opened this summer. It is more a mini water park than a pool with plenty of excitement and lots of water splashing everywhere. Since Jonas took the swimming lessons he is really great in the water and has a great time at the new pool. We both got totally splashed with water this morning when we were in range of the big bucket. He definitely is a little water baby.

On to the post. I have revived a method from my teenage days for highlighting my hair. I found the herbal recipe for the hair rinse in a Redbook magazine a long time ago. I put the rinse in a spray bottle and used it to lighten my hair in the sun. Thinking back that was the time when Sun In was all the rage. How funny that it is still around today. Well, I went the thrifty route and made my own herbal blend. I started using it again and it works pretty good. My hair is a lot darker now of course, but it is nice to have a few highlights. Here is the recipe:

Chamomile hair rinse

1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup distilled water
2 tablespoons dried chamomile

Heat the distilled water to boiling and add the dried chamomile. Let it steep for about a half an hour. Strain the liquid and add the lemon juice. Put it in a spray bottle. Enjoy!

Baby shorties

2009-07-18T21:43:00.026-04:00

Jonas like many toddles his age is really adept at taking off his diaper. He is a master of Velcro so it helps to have a cover over his diaper. I found really cute examples of knitted diaper covers on the web and decided to make a pair for him out of cotton yarn to be worn over his diapers. I came up with my own version since I didn't find any simple patterns that used worsted weight or thicker yarn. I really like using worsted weight or thicker yarn these days since my knitting time is a bit less since the little guy was born. I also like simple patterns since I tend to knit in small spurts now. I can put down my knitting and pick it up later without being totally lost in the pattern. Here is my version. Enjoy!

Baby Shorties

Size: small (medium, large). Hip size: 17 in. (20 in., 23 in.)

Materials: 175 (200, 225) yards of cotton worsted weight yarn. I used 2 skeins of Love it
by Berroco. Elastic to use for the waistband.

Gauge: 4 sts = 1 in. stockinet stitch for main body.

Needles: US size 6 - 16 in circular needle, US size 8 - 16 in. circular needle, 4 US size 6
double point needles or sizes need to get gauge.

Notes: w&t - Slip the next stitch purl-wise with the yarn in front. Turn work and wrap
yarn around to the back of the stitch. Slip the stitch purl-wise with the yarn in front.

Main Body
Cast on 68 (80, 92) sts using US size 6 circular needle and join in the round being careful
not to twist stitches. Place a marker for the beginning of the round.
Knit 6 rounds.
Purl 1 round.
Knit 6 rounds in knit two, purl two ribbing. Change to US size 8 circular needle.

Begin Short Rows

Size small only:
Knit 23 sts, w&t.
Purl 12 sts, w&t.
Knit 15 sts, w&t.
Purl 18 sts, w&t.
Knit 21 sts, w&t.
Purl 24 sts, w&t.
Knit to the end of the round.

Size medium only:
Knit 26 sts, w&t.
Purl 12 sts, w&t.
Knit 15 sts, w&t.
Purl 18 sts, w&t.
Knit 21 sts, w&t.
Purl 24 sts, w&t.
Knit 27 sts, w&t.
Purl 30 sts, w&t.
Knit to the end of the round.

Size large only:
Knit 29 sts, w&t.
Purl 12 sts, w&t.
Knit 15 sts, w&t.
Purl 18 sts, w&t.
Knit 21 sts, w&t.
Purl 24 sts, w&t.
Knit 27 sts, w&t.
Purl 30 sts, w&t.
Knit 33 sts, w&t.
Purl 36 sts, w&t.
Knit 39 sts, w&t.
Purl 42 sts, w&t.
Knit to the end of the round.

For all sizes:
Knit in rounds until piece measures 3.5 in. (4.5 in., 5.5 in) from the purl ridge.

Shaping for leg openings
Knit 34 sts (40 sts, 46 sts). Place these stitches on a holder and work only on the remaining stitches.
Bind off 3sts (4 sts, 4 sts). Knit to the end of the row.
Bind off 3sts (4 sts, 4 sts). Purl to the end of the row.
Knit 2 sts, k2tog. Knit to 4 sts before the next maker, k2tog, knit 2 sts.
Turn and purl one row.
Continue to decrease 2 sts every right side row and purl every wrong side row until 16 sts
(18 sts, 20 sts) remain.
Knit in stockinet stitch for 1 inch.
Knit 2 sts, inc 1 st. Knit to 2 sts before the next maker, inc 1 st, knit 2 sts.
Turn and purl one row.
Continue to increase 2 sts every right side row and purl every wrong side row until 34 sts
(40 sts, 46 sts).

Join the back and front leg openings by doing a three needle bind off or by grafting the
stitches together. You can also bind off the stitches and sew the seam together. I use a
three need bind off and have a seam in the back of the pants.

Ribbing for the legs
Change to US size 6 double point needles.
Pick up and knit 40 sts (44 sts, 48 sts) around one of the leg openings.
Knit rounds in knit two, purl two ribbing until leg measures 2 in. (2.5 in., 3 in.).
Bind off all stitches loosely.
Repeat for the other leg.

Finishing
Sew in all the loose strings. Fold over the waistband at the purl ridge and stitch in place
leaving space open to put in the elastic. Cut half inch elastic to 15 in. (18 in., 21 in) or to
size needed for waistband. Insert the elastic in the casing. Stitch the rest of the casing
closed.

Heavy duty hemp fitted cloth diaper

2009-07-11T13:34:00.015-04:00

I have a lot of hemp jersey fabric so I thought I would experiment a bit and make a hemp fitted diaper that is twice as thick as the original ones. I also wanted a pattern that had a lot more coverage around the front and the wings so I came up with my own. The diaper pattern is in two files located at meddiaper1 and meddiaper2. I used same method as shown in the diaper tutorial except I cut out twice as much fabric. I cut four of the main diaper body using the hemp jersey and four of the liner using the organic cotton fleece. I also made the liner using the quick dry insert method. I attached the insert by sewing down the center. I also sewed the insert at the four corners. I used two inch wide Velcro and the rest is the same. It turned out pretty heavy duty, but it works great. I am going to make a few more to add to the diaper pile. I think it is more economical to make the larger diapers using the hemp fleece as compared to the hemp jersey, but it worked for me since I have a lot of the fabric on hand.

Quick dry hemp diaper insert

2009-07-11T13:03:00.013-04:00

I have been a little lax lately with posting. The weather has been really nice so Jonas and I have been spending a lot of time hanging out at the city parks. We are very fortunate to have a really nice park right the down the street which has a spray ground. Jonas is quite the water baby so he loves our little outings.

Now on to the post. I am still working on the new diapers. I recently made a quick dry hemp jersey diaper insert like the one shown in the diaper making video at Kids in the Garden. Great idea from them and it really dries quickly. It takes a little more time to make the insert as compared to the hemp prefold so still deciding if it is worth the extra effort. I need to put it in use for a while and report back. Here is how I made the diaper insert.

Quick dry hemp jersey insert

Materials: Half a yard of Hemp/organic cotton jersey fabric. I don't prewash the fabric. I cut it larger for shrinkage.

1. Measure and cut an 18 inch piece of hemp jersey fabric. The insert will shrink to about 15 inches in length once washed and dried.

2. Cut nine 6 x 18 inch rectangles from the fabric. Round the edges. You will have one extra rectangle that can be used for another insert.

3. Stack two rectangles together and zig zag the edges. Continue until you have four double sided rectangles.

4. Lay the four rectangles on top of each other and pin the center. Sew the center of the insert through all of the layers.

5. Sew the four corners and you are done. The insert will need to be washed and dried a few times before it reaches maximum performance level.

Lemon coconut cleanser

2009-06-28T21:05:00.005-04:00

Here is another version of the lemon cleanser. This one has coconut oil along with rose hip seed oil. It is wonderfully fragrant and a real treat for your skin.

Lemon coconut cleanser
This is a creme cleanser that does not need water. I massage it on my face and remove it with a washcloth and toner.

2 tablespoons almond oil
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon rose hip oil
2 tablespoon emulsifying wax
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon borax
20 drops of lemon essential oil

In a double boiler, melt the wax and oils together. Warm the lemon juice and borax in another pan. Remove both from the heat and add together in a bowl using a whisk to blend. Add the lemon essential oil once the mixture cools a bit. Transfer to a container. I store the cleanser at room temperature, but I use it within a few weeks. If you are keeping it longer then it may need to be refrigerated.

Microfleece swim shorts

2009-06-23T14:21:00.012-04:00

Jonas and I are taking swimming lessons at the local pool. We have one more week to go and then he will have completed Starfish level 1, so very exciting. The water temperature in the indoor pool is very chilly and he shivered through a few of classes until I decided to make him a pair of warmer swim trunks. I made the shorts with the same monkey pants pattern and cut them a bit shorter. I used microfleece from Mill Direct which is the same fabric that I use to line his new diapers. The shorts turned out very nice and comfy. I also put him in a long sleeve microfleece onesie that I made for him last winter. He was very toasty at the last swim class. The shorts do absorb more water than the nylon version, but they dry pretty quickly once you wring out the water.

Easy hemp jersey diaper insert or prefold

2009-06-15T12:43:00.013-04:00

I am busy working on the new diapers. The hemp/organic cotton jersey material came in the mail last week so time make the diaper inserts. I ordered the fabric from the usual place at Pick Hemp. They have the best prices and a large selection of hemp fabrics blended with organic cotton. For the inserts I am making my own version of open end prefolds. The prefolds wind up being 2-5-2 as far as layers go so nine layers total once it is folded in thirds. They are super easy to make, dry quickly and work great so very happy with the end result.

Hemp jersey prefold

Materials: Half a yard of Hemp/organic cotton jersey fabric. I don't prewash the fabric. I cut it larger to accomodate shrinkage.

1. Measure and cut an 18 inch piece of hemp jersey fabric. The insert will shrink to about 15 inches in length once washed and dried.

2. Cut off the selvage and zig zag around the entire piece of fabric.

3. Fold in the ends of the fabric 6 inches on both sides and sew.

4. Bring the ends of the fabric piece to the center and overlap. Pin and sew through all of the layers on both sides. All done

A wonderful treat!!

2009-06-14T14:12:00.007-04:00

Yesterday, I received a wonderful treat in the mail from Dolores at Achtung Kinder. During the month of May Sewmamasew hosted a giveaway and I was one of the lucky winners. It was a treat to open the box and see the sweet wrapped package. I opened the package and found a beautiful handmade bib and rattle. Jonas loves the rattle. He likes to shake it around our kitten Ginger who loves it too. I also received baby lotion and chocolate spice tea. Both are such a treat to the senses. Thank you so much Delores for sending the wonderful gifts our way. We love everything!!

Super diaper

2009-06-06T10:38:00.008-04:00

I made a pocket diaper from the recycled fleece and pul fabric. It turned out really nice and was fairly easy to sew. I realized once I got the fabric that I didn't think too much about how the two fabrics would match. I really wanted to get the pul fabric in aqua and I didn't have a lot of color choices for the recycled microfleece so I just went with the brightest option which was the lady bug red. I am happy with the combo though since Chris told me they look like super hero diapers. In particular I think they look like superman diapers. So when Jonas was modeling his new diaper I had Chris fly him around the room while I snapped a few photos. My little super baby seems to really like his super diaper.

Before I started sewing the new diaper I watched an all in one diaper tutorial at Kids in the Garden. It has lots of tips including cutting the tabs separately to use the fabric more efficiently. I tried this with the celtic cloth pattern and was able to get four pul backs out of one fabric width as compared to only three with the full pattern. Very slick and a great way to economize on fabric. I also used the elastic method they suggested and it worked great. The best part though is the music so definitely worth watching if you are sewing diapers. The only problem I ran into with making the diapers was sewing the pul fabric. I used a regular sewing stitch and the seams bunched. I looked for tips online and switched to the stretch stitch. It worked fine after that so problem solved.

I really like the functionality of the new diaper. I have used it a lot this past week and it works great. It has survived the poop test so very good. It also keeps him dry and comfy for a few hours so I am happy I am making the switch. I was a little reluctant at first because I wanted to stay with natural fabrics as much as possible. But on the other hand the microfleece liner does work great and is a breeze a clean the messy stuff. I can also dry the diaper a lot quicker with the separate hemp inserts so great energy wise. So sort of mixed bag environmentally for me, but I think it is going work great for us both. One thing I have learned after being a mom for a year is that being flexible is a good thing.

More diapers please

2009-05-31T12:18:00.033-04:00

More diapers please! This is what I imagine Jonas is saying to me these days. I added the please because of course I am sure he thinks politely. My lovely hemp fitted diapers have worked great since he was a newborn, however, I am once again in need of more diapers. I looked around on the web a bit and decided I wanted to try something different for the new diapers. My dream diaper of course is really absorbent and easy to use and wash. I really like the all in one diapers, however, they can take forever to dry. I have an all in one diaper that I got at my baby shower and I love using it, but it takes forever to line dry. So with a little more research I found the perfect solution which is a pocket diaper. I can make the all in one cover and stuff it with as much as I need.

I found a pattern for an all in one pocket diaper at Celtic Cloths. They suggest using pul or polar fleece on the outside and microfleece on the inside. I really like high tech fabrics like polar fleece and pul. I read pul fabric was developed for laboratories and medical use. You can autoclave the fabric so because I am a geek, I think that is pretty cool. It would be even more cool if I had an autoclave at home. I could autoclave his diapers, but I digress. The not so great thing about high tech fabrics is they are synthetic and not very natural. So using them is sort of a guilty pleasure for me. I am excited though because I found recycled soda pop bottle fleece on the Malden Mills website. Jonas is going to have recycled fleece diapers. How cool is that? I bought the lady bug red microfleece for the diaper lining and black heather 200 weight polar fleece for the outer fabric. I also bought aqua pul fabric from Kids in the Garden. I am going to use the red microfleece again as the lining and the aqua pul as the outer fabric. Last and definitely not least I ordered a lot of hemp knit fabric from Pickering and I am going to make the diaper inserts out of my lovely and soft environmentally friendly fabric.

So I have lots and lots of sewing to do over the next few weeks. I tried out the diaper pattern using scraps of fleece I had leftover from making his winter bunting and it worked great. I am going to extend the wings a bit though to make sure it fits him for a while. He is going to look very snazzy in his new diapers.

Cotton yarn dyeing

2009-05-30T20:02:00.012-04:00

I dyed a two skeins of organic cotton yarn using Dharma Trading Company Procion dyes in ultraviolet and wedgewood blue using the yarn dyeing instructions I found on the website. I also threw in a cotton baby shirt from Jonas. I put the shirt at the bottom and poured the dye into the pot. The baby shirt turned out really cute and true to color. However, the yarn color turned out different than expected. The base color of the yarn is a dark beige so that is why it has a green tone. Interesting color combination though and I think it will make cute shorties for Jonas.

B-day gifts

2009-05-26T20:42:00.008-04:00

J's sweet little friend had her first birthday also. They are actually five days apart which is very nice. I made a few little items for her birthday including a pair of purple hemp shoes and orange cotton knitted bell bottoms. It was really fun to make a few girly items. I hope to post the pants pattern soon.

Sleep sac

2009-05-24T19:23:00.006-04:00

I made a spring/summer sleep sac for Jonas with hemp/organic cotton knit fabric that I dyed in aqua using the Procion Dyes from Dharma Trading Company. I used McCall's 4236 for fleece and since I used a much thinner fabric I went with the size small. It fits him great and he still has a little bit of room to grow which has been doing very rapidly lately. Well, time to get the little guy to beddie and see if he likes his new sleep sac.

Cloth diapering day to day

2009-05-22T13:20:00.030-04:00

What is my day to day routine with cloth diapering? When I decided to go the cloth diaper route I spent a lot of time online looking for advice. It is exciting that after a year of using cloth diapers that I actually have my own tips to share. There are many ways to take care of cloth diapers, but the basic principles are the same. Your baby wears the diaper, gets it dirty, you store it for a bit, wash it and then the cycle repeats many many times. Coming from a research background I look for the most efficient method that will produce the best results. I also like to simplify things so I don't take any special precautions when storing or washing the diapers. I guess I should note that I am not really squeamish about waste products. My Ph.D. dissertation was on landfill leachate, so I have spent a lot of time in and around waste water. When I say "in" I literally mean wading in the water. With this caveat, here is my method for cloth diapering.

Diaper supply
You will need about 24-36 cloth diapers, 4-6 diaper covers. I make hemp diapers and use pul diaper covers. I go through go through anywhere from 6-10 diapers per day. My little guy is a heavy wetter so he goes through a bit more than most babies do each day. I use the diaper covers more than once and hang them up to dry in between changing. I wash all the covers each time I do a load of diapers which is every 2-3 days.

Diaper changing and storage
I store the soiled diapers in a dry diaper pail. I don't add water or pre-soak the diapers. I use a 5 gallon plastic bucket with a pul liner. I made two bucket liners so when I have one in the wash I have another one ready for use. If the diaper is pee only then I take it off and throw it in the bucket. If it is poop then I shake off the solids in the toilet and it usually comes off fairly easy. If not I turn the diaper inside out swish a bit in the water. I then squirt the inside with Bac-Out Stain and Odor Eliminator from BioKleen which is enzyme based and helps break down the waste. I then toss the diaper in the bucket. The Bac-Out does a great job with controlling any odors in the bucket. I also use citrus circles deoderizers that I tape to the bucket lid.

Diaper washing
Once the pail is full I pull out the pail liner with the soiled diapers and bring it over to the washing machine. I dump the diapers and the pail liner into the washing machine. I use warm water and a scoop of BioKleen Premium Plus Laundry Detergent on the longest high agitation setting. Once the diapers are clean I hang them outside on a clothes line or dry them in the dryer. If I hang the diapers then I put them in the dryer for about ten minutes to soften them a bit.

How do you know if your diapers are clean?
The best way to tell if your diapers are clean is to smell them after they are washed. If you don't smell anything then they are ready for use. Over a course of a year I personally have not had any problems with the diapers smelling funky after they have been washed. I also haven't had any problems with diaper rash or any other sanitary issues. I do love the BioKleen products though and feel like they do a great job with cleaning and controlling any odors. If I have any stains on the diapers then I use Imse Vimse Wash Away Stain Soap. It works great and I use it on our clothes also.

That's about it for my diaper cleaning routine. Pretty simple and has worked great over the past year.

Recycled baby jeans

2009-05-17T21:09:00.006-04:00

I made another pair of recycled baby pants for Jonas. This time I used an old pair of my jeans. I used the monkey pants pattern again, but with additional modifications for non-stretch woven fabric. I got the pattern right this time and it worked out great. All the pieces went together very nicely and the pants turned out super cute. I am really excited to use the pattern again. I think I am going to try to make shorts next. Very cute and I love recycling fabric!

Fun summer top

2009-05-17T20:50:00.006-04:00

I finished the Spring ruffle top that I made using the pattern and tutorial from Made by Rae. It turned out really cute and it fits great thanks to the custom tutorial. I started the top during spring top week and of course planned to get it done that week, but obviously that did not happen. I seem to be a bit behind on my sewing projects. However, I was very productive this weekend and with help from my super hubby I was able to make a dent in my sewing pile. Very nice and I have a sweet new top for summer. Thanks so much Rae for posting the pattern and tutorial!

Wheat bread

2009-05-17T12:46:00.012-04:00

I made a vegan version of the split pan from Bread - the breads of the world and how to bake them at home by Christine Ingram and Jennie Shapter. The split pan is a basic white loaf recipe. I added whole wheat flour, ground flax and wheat gluten. I also used soy milk and dry yeast. Here is my version of the recipe.

3 cups unbleached white flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon wheat gluten
3 tablespoons ground flax
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 ounce envelope dried yeast
1 3/4 cups warm water
4 tablespoons warm soy milk

Add the yeast to the warm water. Add the salt, ground flax, flour and wheat gluten to a bowl. Make a well in the center and add in the water and yeast along soy milk. Cover the liquid with the flour mixture and let it sit for twenty minutes until bubbles appear. Mix to form a dough. Knead the dough for ten to fifteen minutes until smooth and elastic.

Let the dough rise in a warm place for an hour or two until it doubles in size. Spread a little olive oil on the top of the dough and cover it with a cotton cloth. After the first rise, knead the dough for a few minutes and then shape it into a round loaf. Place the loaf on bakers peel with a bit of cornmeal on the bottom. Cover with a cotton cloth and let the loaf rise for about a half an hour. Make four slashes on the top of the loaf, dust with a little flour and let it rise for an additional fifteen minutes.

Turn the oven to 450 F and put the loaf on a baking stone in the oven. Bake for fifteen minutes. Turn the oven down to 400 F and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes or until the loaf is done.