No Sewing Required

I think this is the first Christmas Eve in a long time that I have not needed to still be working on a Christmas gift :)
I finished this Swaddled Baby Love on Wednesday. It's from Colin to his little cousin Brooke, he got her in the name draw. Another pattern from Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings book.

My doll doesn't look to bad here but in person it is a bit deformed and wonky looking. I hate am seriously disappointed in all/every doll/ softie I have ever made. I expect it to look like something I would buy in a store and when it turns out different then I had envisioned I am just not happy with it, sigh.  Both Brooke and Colin like the doll a lot so I don't know why it bothers me so much that I could not just give it to her. Maybe if I wasn't so worried about the opinions of the in-laws??
I was hoping that my doll would be so wonderful I could make one for Colin too. He has been really curious about taking care of baby brother and I thought this little gift was perfect for that.
I love, love the diapers. Super easy and fun to make. I got 8 or 9 from my 1/4 yard cut of fleece (enough for Colin and Brooke). Needless to say I bought a doll. I am not sure if I can explain in words what it felt like to be searching for a doll that's 1. fabric/ cloth 2. clothes came off or at least up to expose the diaper area 3. could wear the  diaper size I already made 4. could zoom or have different angels in the pictures online to see if it was possible for meeting the 3 requirements. I felt the need to tell each and every store clerk that was looking at me why I was looking under the doll clothing and had to show them my diaper :)

The doll quilt is a bit different in size then the pattern. The pattern is for a 24" x24" string quilt. I decided to do paper pieced hexagons. Why I decided to start this a few days before Christmas I do not know. A charm pack and a few scraps later and I was done. I had to go to Joann's for the binding and I was blown away by all the cute fabrics they have in the store right now. I also was shocked that this pocket looked exactly like the other polka dot print fabrics from the MoMo Wonderland fabrics.
Have I ever mentioned I love polka dot binding? Hmmm... well I do :)
The back of the quilt has a big pocket for the diapers to go in or for putting the doll in for easy swaddling.

   Just for a reminder for myself I have a picture of the pieced hexagons before cutting it down to a squareish shape of around 21". I have plans of making one for Colin with some primary solid fabrics and Japanese robot fabric I have.      
Sorry for such a long post.
Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays,
E & the non stop kicking baby in my belly :) 

Patchwork Sleeping Sack

I bought this book last Thursday.
 
There are a lot of projects in it that I would like to make for myself and the baby. I started with the Patchwork Sleeping Sack. I am so glad Anna Maria included illustrations with her instructions, my pregnancy brain could not visualize what I was supposed to do in some steps just by reading the instructions :) The project didn't take very long considering my brain was not working as it normally does.

It took to much thinking on my part to make the patchwork front; had to add a couple squares at the end :). The instructions just give the dimensions for how big to make your patchwork fabric piece for the front. I cut my squares 3 1/4" that way I could get as much of the hedgehog print as possible. The below picture is my fabric piece before cutting out the pattern. I plan on using this as a reference for myself if I decide to make a second one..lol

I used various prints, linen, and woven cotton (my fav!) for the patchwork. Linen for the side and backing and a Oliver + S knit/jersey fabric for the inside. The pattern calls for flannel, I am not a flannel person. Call me weird or crazy :) It's a texture thing for me, I do not like that mated balled up texture thing that happens to it ( I know it doesn't happen to all but I don't have the time to search out some that would be suitable for me).  So linen it was. My only concern is that it wont be as warm as the flannel. I debated on using some batting but decided against it in the end since the baby is due at the end of March; the weather should start to warm up then. The jersey/knit (i don't know what they call it) fabric is super soft and reminds me of some of our favorite Gymboree blankets Colin has.

Overall I am very happy with this sleep sack and I can't wait to see our little guy sleeping in it. Only 20 more weeks :)