Sleep sack

As an old school mother, I didn't get the whole sleep sack thing. It wasn't until I became a grandmother for the third and fourth times (twins) that I found out what I didn't know. Cribs are no longer supposed to have bumper pads. Little ones are no longer supposed to have stuffed toys or blankets in their cribs when they sleep. How does one keep a little one warm when they are sleeping? Well, of course, it's the sleep sack. The ones you can purchase and even the ones that you can buy patterns for and make yourself are great but only for a certain time frame. Little ones grow - and grow quickly. The twins needed new, longer sleep sacks and I made them each one after altering the pattern and making it a bit longer (about 7 inches.)

In order to fit the lengthened pattern onto the fabric that I wanted to use, one side of the cat fabric sleep sack had to be cut upside down.

 It took some thought but I finally figured out that if it's on the wearer and she looks down at what she's wearing, the cats will be the right way for her.

When I made Teemu's sleep sack I had to use the fabric crosswise. I am trying to use up fabric from my stash and I did manage to find enough flannel for the lining. 

Hooded

For years I wanted to make a hooded towel. My eldest grandson, Luc, had one that was made by one of his mother's friends. It was a great size with one side being towelling fabric and the other side was flannel. I took measurements but never ended up making it. I wanted to make one for each of the three little people. I purchased actual towels because they were cheaper than buying towelling fabric. I have loads of flannel to use up. Well, last weekend our family held our 'second Christmas' again when our youngest daughter, Ayla, came home. I wanted to make something quick and new for little Teemu so I thought about the hooded towel. I even had a pattern this time. It was one of the older patterns in my stash (yes, I have a stash of patterns, not just fabric.)

This is it. Fun flannel purchased on sale a while ago.

The towelling fabric is soft and much better than those stretchy hooded baby towels.

 I really like the size and hope that Teemu can use it for years to come.

There wasn't enough of the white to cut the hood part too so I used another towel I purchased that was a tad too small (not wide enough for this pattern.)

Teemu's daddy trying it on.

I will be making a couple more. 

Knitting update

Way back when (sometime in December), I showed this group of knitting projects.

I don't often work on this many knitting projects at once but Christmas was coming. Two of these projects are now complete and delivered to the recipient. This photo is fairly close to the true colour of the yarns.

These legwarmers (same as the ones on the left in the previous photo), made with Shetland chunky yarn, are now keeping my eldest daughter Laila's legs warm. She was wearing them just a couple of days ago when I was talking to her on the phone and she mentioned how warm they were. The yarn came from my stash. I have lots more chunky yarn to use up.

Variegated yarn, Patons Decor, was the beginning of another pair of legwarmers.

The finished pair. Completed just in time for our 'second Christmas' this past weekend when our youngest daughter, Ayla, came over from England.

I asked her to model them for me before she left to go back home.

I'm still knitting when the mood hits me. I have that one sweater to sew up still. I will finish it this week - I hope. Sewing for little people will be keeping me busy for a while.

The final step

In February we will be given instructions on how to put all the blocks together. This is the mystery quilt that I've been working on called Meadow Mystery.

I completed eight of these block #5.

All sewn up and ironed.

Earlier this month I finished four of these #2 blocks.

Between now and February I shouldn't lose any of the parts since they are all in this bin safe and sound.

Brown and orange

Marg and I started our second lap quilt last week.

This is how far we got.

A few more blocks got added. I brought a couple fabrics from home that I thought would blend well. Those are Marg's feet. As I sewed, Marg ironed and then laid out the blocks. After cutting, sewing, ironing and trimming, we needed five more blocks.

Then we needed just two more. More shifting of the blocks.

It's a never ending process. Moving blocks so that the overall quilt top is pleasing to the eye.

I think we're done and this is the end result. It will be sewn together the next time we get together.