Sewing

Some people get the urge to clean or nest during pregnancy. I got the urge to sew, sew and sew some more. Here’s what I’ve made for our baby’s arrival (and a few projects I hope to get to later).

Baby Quilt (+ Matching Pillow)

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I would describe myself as an enthusiastic (but far from experienced) quilter. I got into the hobby a few years ago with small projects, like table runners and coasters, and picked up steam by making baby quilts for friends and a memory quilt for a dear family friend.

When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to make a quilt just as special as those projects for my own child. Right away, I knew the theme would be woodsy and earthy. After a few browsing sessions at Patched Works not far from home, I settled on a combination of deer, mushroom, feather, star and plant-printed fabrics.

And because all the patterns were just so perfect, I didn’t want to over-complicate the design. I opted for this simple checkered quilt pattern from Cotton Studio on Etsy. It was easy to modify the size and a relief to just cut the same shape for the whole project. I even had enough leftover for a small pillow.

Burp Cloths

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My mom was a prolific burp cloth maker. She loved buying cute flannel fabrics and turning them into this nursery essential. My mom’s burp cloths have been used by her friends’ children, her friends’ grandchildren and even my friends’ kids. She just really enjoyed making a cute, functional and easy project.

That’s why she had a small stash of burp cloths and bibs hanging out in her sewing room. You never know when you might need a shower gift! Well, I took all those extras, and then went on to make about a dozen of my own (plus some for two friends who recently had babies).

I also want to shout out my friend Irina who returned a batch of my mom’s burp cloths to me at my baby shower. It’s really touching to have a project my mom made and one that was so loved by a good friend.

Flannel Blanket

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I found this super cute animal flannel at Joann, so like any sewist with poor impulse control, I bought the rest of the bolt. Some of that fabric became burp cloths, but the bulk became a simple whole-cloth quilt.

I made this by just sewing two pieces of flannel together and binding them. It’s thicker than a basic swaddle or receiving blanket but not as heavy as the quilt I made. This one is going to the hospital with us.

What I might have enjoyed most about this blanket and the quilt was getting to sew in these “Made by Mom” labels from Sarah Hearts on Etsy.

Maybe More Projects!

I had hoped to tackle a few more projects before the baby’s arrival, but, as you can imagine, I’ve run out of steam in these final weeks. Here are a few things I have planned for the future:

• Mobile: I cut out the shapes and began to hand stitch some figures for a baby mobile, but it’s a lot of work at 37 weeks pregnant. I know the baby won’t sleep in his room for a few months, so maybe I can tackle this by the time he’s ready for the crib.
• St. Nick stockings: My goal was to make new stockings for the whole family (including the cat). I love holiday fabrics, and I have a good amount at home to pull from, but some things just take time (after all, it took me three years to make a very simple set of Bob’s Burgers ornaments for our tree!). This will be a 2025 project.

Let’s be real: The world is a mess. Between the pandemic, the election and addressing all the racial iniquities in this country, it’s easy to feel awful.

But the best way to combat all these terrible things is to try and make a positive change—even in a small way—in a way that speaks to you.

For many of my amazing friends, that’s been by protesting and attending demonstrations (safely, of course). I support these friends and these Black Lives Matter protests in a big way. I’m so glad that so many people are holding local orgnizations and police departments accountable. It’s time!

However, this method of turning up isn’t for me given the health of some of my family (I’m taking a lot of precautions to keep vulnerable loved ones safe). But I still want to show up for the movement and to show my support.

That’s why when a friend approached me asking if I’d be willing to sew a fabric protest sign, I jumped at the chance. And then I spent time creating this giant (about 6×3.5″) banner for Black Lives Are Sacred MKE.

Making this sign was a small way that I could help provide visibility to this group’s message. It was a reminder of my Catholic upbringing and how I was taught to use my talents for good—perfect for a faith-based organization like Black Lives Are Sacred MKE.

Even though the temperatures are dropping, I hope that important protests and action continues. And if you need help getting your message across (with needle and thread), don’t hesitate to reach out. This is one small way I can help and I’m ready to do it.

Back in March, Gretchen “Gertie” Hirsch tossed out the hashtag #stayhomeandsew to inspire people to stay in during the pandemic and make the most of the time indoors.

I’ve definitely been taking that challenge to heart. To date, I’ve made 157 masks and now two dresses (I made a kaftan too, but it’s not ready to wear yet). You can see my first dress here in all its zebra print glory.

This time I made the Popover Dress from Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses in some adorable ice cream fabric that I picked up in the spring (thanks to Z Fabrics in Maine for always coming through with the best cotton prints).

Making this dress was one of my goals for July. I came a little late. I finished it the first weekend of August. Better late than never!

Making the Popover Dress

Right now, I’m all about comfort. Physical comfort, yes, but also making projects that are comfortable and not overly challenging. The Popover Dress fits the bill in both regards.

In terms of construction, the dress is one pattern piece. That’s it! (OK, plus another for the facing, but more on that later). It truly doesn’t get much better than that.

Sewing this dress is, as promised, jiffy. I made the dress in an evening and hemmed it the following morning.

A few words on the sizing here: SIZE DOWN! This dress is essentially a tent (in a good way). Go by your bust measurement and adjust the armhole openings as needed (I find Gertie’s armholes are often a bit tight).

Changes I Made to the Dress

I am turning into one of those people who cannot leave a perfectly good pattern or recipe alone—I always tweak it.

For the Popover, I omitted cutting out the armhole facings. Instead, I used single-fold bias tape as a facing. I like this method so much more. Plus, I like how you can add a little contrast with the color you choose.

I also ditched the patch pockets that are included with the pattern and added pockets along the side seam. This is a pretty easy addition. I just used a pocket pattern piece from another dress and added them in. Easy!

And while I really like the shoulder bows, I decided to keep this dress really simple. It’s already covered in ice cream cones—no need to gild the lily.

So How Does It Fit?

I love this dress and how it fits—especially for something so simple.

Essentially, this dress is a tent. Worn as-is, it’s the most comfortable housedress you’ve ever had.

Add a belt and it’s suddenly fit for everything from brunch with the gals to date night to a summer party (haha—those things don’t exist right now).

But really, this dress is perfect for quarantine times. It’s a great project to get your mind off the world, it’s super comfortable and cute enough to wear for your next Zoom meeting.

And if I’m on a Zoom call with you, yes, my cat wants to see your cat.