Amanda Brooke

Upcycled Pillow slip | Prefold Nappy tutorial

This is a thrifty, simple prefold nappy to make your baby! The design can be adapted to meet the needs of your baby and doesn't involve any fiddly sewing. I made three of these today in a very short period of time. I have to admit that I rushed through it a little as I was so excited about the concept and couldn't wait to try one on Ben! I have made this prefold nappy using an entire pillow slip and the nappy has a separate absorbent insert to assist drying times.

The nappy measurements given in this tutorial fit my son at 9 months of age and his modern cloth nappies are all set at their largest settings. If your baby is smaller you may need to trim the inserts and the length of the nappy to fit.

As a rough guide Small would be:12in long, Medium: 14in long, Large: 15 to 16in long. This measurement runs from the nappy front to back.

What you will need:

Flannelette Pillow slips: approx 18in wide x 26in long (I used one smaller than this and it was fine)

Sewing machine (You can use an overlocker/serger if you have one and aren't afraid to use it!)

Pins, Scissors or rotary cutter and mat

Ruler and pencil (or tailors chalk)

TO MAKE:

Firstly cut a 5in (approx) wide strip from the opening end off the pillow slip. Cut another strip 4 1/2in wide. These will become your absorbent insert. Place the remainder of the pillow slip aside.

Trim away all pre-existing sewn edge seams from the insert strips.

Stack the strips on top of each other. Pin the layers together around the outer edges. Don't worry too much if your edges aren't even, as we will trim this away after sewing or your overlocker will neaten.

Sew around all edges of the shape using a zig zag stitch, back stitching at the start and end of your sewing.

Trim the away the excess fabric, close to the sewn edges. Place insert aside.

Next turn under a small hem around the opening of the cut pillow slip and sew around the hem.

Lay the insert on top of the pillow slip so that it runs from the pillow slip opening to the opposite end. Using the width of the insert as a guide, draw a line using pencil or tailors chalk, either side of the insert onto the pillow slip, 1cm from each long edge of the insert.

 

Pin the pillow slip along the drawn lines (to hold the front and back in place) and machine sew a straight stitch along one drawn line, from the closed bottom to the opening. Repeat for the remaining line, creating a pocket in the middle of the pillow slip.

Insert the absorbent insert inside the pocket of the pillow slip.

You've just made a nappy! Fold one side of the nappy over towards the middle so that the fold is along one sewn pocket edge. Fold the remaining edge into the middle. This is called a tri-fold and the insert will run down the centre of the nappy. Position the folded nappy inside a PUL nappy cover and you are ready to use!

Another option for your nappy is to sew the pillow opening closed (after trimming away insert pieces) and then attach the absorbent strip by securing to the top and bottom of the pillow slip outer. This can assist in drying times, as it won't be completely attached to the entire nappy. It also suits those that don't like stuffing inserts into pockets.

I still stitched two rows from the top to the bottom (as in last step of pocket nappy style above) so that the back and front don't shift and twist after washing.

You could also use bamboo or hemp for your insert to make a super absorbent prefold nappy or simply upcycle some bath towels. You may need to experiment with absorbency to suit your baby.

These nappies cost 75 cents to make, plus machine sewing cotton, as I bought the pillow slips from a local op shop. Thrifty and simple...I LOVE them! To wash just dry pail them for up to two days and wash with your other nappies. You will need to remove the inserts if making the pocket style. Line dry or dry over a clothes horse in wet weather. You could tumble dry (at the end of drying times) for a few minutes to soften them, if they become stiff after washing.

The PUL cover pictured is a Sweet Pea one size fits all cover that I sell in Little Eco. You can re-use these a few times if they haven't been soiled, airing them between uses. This makes them very economical and practical.

I have been meaning to do a post on my personal experiences with modern cloth nappies and I do promise to do so soon.

Have you upcycled a pillowslip into something new? My next project is bags (as already done by many) using vintage pillowslips, but I need to source a few more first.

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda x

 

 

 

Boy Shrug

One of my favourite and most practical knits I have for Ben is an old fashioned style "Hug-me-tight' that I bought from an op shop. I have been meaning to make some more, so when I discovered a more modern version on Ravelry, I just had to get the needles out!

This is the simplest knit I have ever made! I worked on this over a couple of days (see previous post) and slipped it over Ben's shoulders this morning with a smile on my face! Then we made our way outdoors for a little 'shrug' photo shoot...

The pattern 'Vinni' was a free download. I changed the needle sizes using a size 4mm for the arm bands and then changed to a size 8mm for the body of the garment. I was going to add a few increases into the body, but found that the needle size change worked well enough. I used 8ply wool/alpaca yarn and didn't make it as long as the recommended length for his age.

I think I these would be lovely made in cotton or bamboo for the cooler nights of Spring and Summer. I can imagine a sweet little girls version, with crocheted flower embellishments! The pattern whips up quick enough to make an easy and unique gift and the instructions are simple enough for the novice knitter to follow. It doesn't matter if you are a fast or slow knitter, this project is very achievable and perfect if you are looking for something a little different to create.

Your comments on my last post were very much appreciated. It was lovely to read how you manage your time, as each of us lead such different lifestyles. It makes my day to read that I have inspired my readers and isn't it wonderful to have fellow friends and blogs that support and remind us to slow down and make time for creativity. Kate also touched on something that is very close to my heart too, and that is crafting alongside your children and involving them in your projects...but this is a whole new post to write about!

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda x

 

Making time to create | 'Something'

Our home is dusty, in need of de-cluttering...again..., the gardens are full of weeds, the laundry hampers are full of clothes that need washing, showers need scrubbing, floors need washing, the verandah's are covered in spider webs and dust, the pantry is messy again and the list goes on!

The only way to manage all this, my family and my sanity is to take 'baby steps' as a homemaker. To accept that I will never be on top of it all frustrates me, but it is the truth. 

The photo above is a garden bed that hasn't been tidied or weeded since Summer. Today whilst Ben slept I weeded a small portion and then mulched. Tomorrow I will weed another section and mulch it until hopefully, by the end of the week, the entire bed will be completely weed free and ready for the warmer months ahead. If Ben is awake I will take him out with me into the garden and I may only get a small patch done, but it is something.

When I stop and have a cup of tea in the morning and afternoons, I try to do a little bit of crochet or knitting. I may only get a row or a round complete but it is something. When Ben is happy playing I might pick up my work alongside him and do a row or two, again that is something.

When the evening arrives and the children are in bed I will pick up my craft and sew, knit or crochet with the last cup of tea for the day alongside me. I will work until I am too tired to continue.

I won't finish making the jumper, the scarf, the beanie or the shrug (above) I am making in a day, but it will get done, eventually. Rising before the family (not something I do everyday) is also time I allocate for some creating. If I only allowed myself this time after all the housework were complete, I would NEVER have time to create. The key for me is to create whenever I can, in-between the work that the day brings. I don't feel the guilt I once used to when creating, as most of my time doing so, is spent making things for our home, a gift or something for Little Eco. As time passes and Ben grows up, the time I have will shift and change, but I will adapt to these rhythms and I may get more...or maybe even less done each day.

If you want to squeeze more creative time into your day I find it does help to keep your creative work organised in a dedicated space, whether that be a basket beside a chair, a drawer, shelf or entire room. To have your project ready to go saves time and energy if you don't have to look for scissors, misplaced crochet hooks or template plastic. Because I am mainly working on yarn projects at the moment I have them sitting on a butlers trolley in our living room. I can just pick them up and take them with me, whether that be outside like today, to another room in the house or even in the car (if I am a passenger).

I am not someone that starts and finishes a project before commencing a new one. I like to have lots of projects 'on the go'. This method of creativity is also how I approach my homemaking too. This week I am working on the front garden, the back garden, the kids play spaces and the inside of our home. I am a mum and I won't always be in one space or one room, so I flow with my family. My creativity fits into our family life and it balances in and around the 'have to do's' and the 'need to do's'. Just like the simple life I am trying to create and being mindful of our impact on the environment, everything I did today was something.

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda x

 

'Weekending'

Sheets 'dancing' in the wind.

'Falling' in love with the tiniest little lamb.

'Crocheting' and 'Giving,' a birthday hat in favourite football team colours.

'Visiting' Oscar at his new home.

Our beautiful dog Oscar has been given a new home on a huge farm. He has been on trial and we visited him today, as his new owners have decided to keep him. It was great to see how settled he was, but still hard to finally say goodbye. We did the right thing.

ADDED 25th September: The little lamb passed away during the week and her name was Judith. She belonged to friends. 

Thanks for visiting and hoping your weekend was lovely too,

Amanda x

Thrifty and Thoughtful gifts

Some time ago I discovered a tutorial for a simple, no-sew pencil roll, by Carla of Small Friendly. The tutorial was bookmarked immediately, as I thought these would make practical and appreciated Christmas gifts.Today I made the time to 'test run' a roll, for a young boys birthday on the weekend.

I made the roll a little different and smaller for 10 pencils. I didn't have enough felt to create a flap to cover the pencils around the outside...but I like the colour peeking around the outer of the roll!

I created a simple knot closure.

I then cut up C5 size sheets of craft card, lined paper and scrapbook paper, stacked them up and took them to our local printing shop to be bound into a sketch/journaling book. This cost $3.00.

I wanted to choose lovely pencils, as this boy loves to draw and I believe kids deserve good quality art supplies. So I was thrilled to find single Derwent pencils on clearance for 50 cents each at our local office supply store! I included a 2B pencil and I think this has made a thrifty and thoughtful gift. Carla's pencil roll tutorial was really easy to follow and these whip up in no time. After the enjoyment experienced making this, I will be definitely making more for Christmas.

Are you making gifts for Christmas?

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda x