Made By A Fabricista: Stitching la vie en rose
We are slowly preparing our home for our baby girl! So, every project and stitch from now to October (at least) will probably be for her. To get full advantage of my Fabricista budget, I selected four beautiful fabrics, some elastic and zippers, to make a few items. I am showing some here, and the remnants will turn into accessories and tiny clothes in the upcoming weeks. Two little disclaimers: I know I went a little overboard with these girly fabric choices, #sorrynotsorry! Also, I would have loved to get better pictures, but the nursery is not ready yet. Check out my Instagram for better pics in the future!
My first project is a snuggly and reversible lounger. I made two different covers for a waterproof mattress, so we always have a clean spare. They are machine washable and easy to change, thanks to the discreet zipper. The base of the lounger is reversible, with a hot pink patterned quilt cotton on one side and a baby pink flowery cotton on the other. The yellow bias tape that conceals the cord gives some contrast to this combination. And I used a third floral fabric for the mattress covers, which are also reversible (flowers and hot pink on one, and flowers and baby pink on the other). This trio of fabrics gives me plenty of options to change this lounger’s look since I intend for this to last a few months. My niece is still using hers at one and a half years old, so I hope this one also has a long life too!
A word about mixing patterns: combining ornate fabrics is always a gamble, especially if you want to mix and match three different designs! But I browsed the Fabric Mart website for a while and filled out the cart several times, trying out different combinations, until I got this one. I know it’s not for everyone, but it is a winner for me!
The second set or project is simple: two covers for the changing pad. We got a waterproof changing pad, but I wanted to add a covers I can throw in the washing machine. I chose two French terry knits for this. They are so buttery, soft, and stretchy that I almost regretted using them for such a simple project! But I know we will use this changing pad multiple times daily, so why not “dress it up” a bit? Doing these covers is quick once you get some practice with sewing elastic. You need to cut a rectangle (size of the mattress + 6 inches on each side), sew the corners (about 3 inches deep, but it depends on the changing pad) and sew the elastic on the back. Of course, these covers can be done with non-elastic fabric too!
Let me make an observation here. An essential factor to consider when making baby items is the materials’ quality and intended use. Usually, the recommendation is to avoid synthetic materials and always favor cotton or organic cotton. Lately, bamboo is also gaining traction for its softness and absorption qualities. I found mixed opinions about other plant-based fabrics, such as modal and rayon. In my case, since the two French terry knits were modal and rayon blends, I chose to sew these changing pad covers rather than fitted sheets for the bassinet (you want to be extra careful with sleepwear material). I can use the remnants to make accessories such as little hats, headbands, baby slippers, or accent pieces!
I also got some excess material from the lounger project. Since these are 100% cotton, I feel more comfortable using them to make clothes such as rompers and dresses. I didn’t have time to do more yet, but I couldn’t resist the urge to make a simple romper. It looks so tiny but is supposed to be size 6-9 and will be great for the summer heat in Miami. The light voile fabric is perfect for soft, airy pieces like this!
In case you are interested, all the patterns and tutorials for these projects are available on www.luluferris.com. Next time I post on this blog, I may have my little one already. Wish us luck! I’m so excited for what’s coming ahead…Je vois la vie en rose!
INES | @bynunis
Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: VOILE, QUILT WEIGHT WOVENS, & TERRY KNITS.
You can also shop our collection of notions HERE.
Congratulations on the addition to your family. So glad you have been able to make some things for her while you are getting ready. These items will be very helpful for you and your husband.
You've made some beautiful projects, but you should consider one other element when making bedding — cotton is very flammable. Commercially made nursery bedding is normally made to be flame resistant.
Thanks for the tip! Yes, there are so many things to consider!
Thank you!
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