They are size 18-24 months, but you could size them up by adding 1/4 inch to each side seam and the waist of the body front and back to make them 2T.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Teeny Tiny Trainers Pattern
They are size 18-24 months, but you could size them up by adding 1/4 inch to each side seam and the waist of the body front and back to make them 2T.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Nighttime Wool Diaper Cover
This pattern is approximately 6-12 months. You can add or remove stitches/rows to make it bigger or smaller. This is my first pattern, so if anything is confusing let me know so I can clarify.
Materials:
2 skeins fingering weight wool yarn (mine were 213 yards each and I had a bit leftover)
Abbreviations:
Ch –Chain
SC- single crochet
SL- Slip stitch
DC- double crochet
FPDC- front post double crochet
BPDC- back post double crochet
2 skeins fingering weight wool yarn (mine were 213 yards each and I had a bit leftover)
Abbreviations:
Ch –Chain
SC- single crochet
SL- Slip stitch
DC- double crochet
FPDC- front post double crochet
BPDC- back post double crochet
Back:
Step 1: F Hook Chain 30 (15 inches)
Step 2: E Hook Chain 1 turn, skip 1st chain, SC in each chain after
Step 3: Repeat Row 2 x 4 (for 5 total SC Rows and approximately 1 inch) ~skip~
Step 4: Chain 1 turn, 2 SC in first stitch after hook, SC once in each until last stitch SC in it twice
Step 5: Chain 1 turn, 2 SC in first stitch after hook, 1 SC in each stitch after
Step 6: Repeat Step 5 for total of 20x
Chin 1 turn, SC 1 in each stitch
Repeat for total of 26x
Front:
(Back to bottom)
SC 2 in first stitch of original chain, SC 1 in each following stitch until last one, SC twice
Chain 1 turn, 2 SC in first stitch after hook, 1 SC in each stitch after until last stitch SC 2
Chain 1 turn, 1 SC in each stitch, ch 1 turn sc in each stitch
Reapeat for total of 6x
Chain 7, turn, SC in first stitch from hook, SC rest of row stitches
Repeat 1x
Chain 1, turn, SC in each stitch
Repeat 25x (until matches back height)
Hip Seams:
Step 1: SL seams together
Step 1: F Hook Chain 30 (15 inches)
Step 2: E Hook Chain 1 turn, skip 1st chain, SC in each chain after
Step 3: Repeat Row 2 x 4 (for 5 total SC Rows and approximately 1 inch) ~skip~
Step 4: Chain 1 turn, 2 SC in first stitch after hook, SC once in each until last stitch SC in it twice
Step 5: Chain 1 turn, 2 SC in first stitch after hook, 1 SC in each stitch after
Step 6: Repeat Step 5 for total of 20x
Chin 1 turn, SC 1 in each stitch
Repeat for total of 26x
Front:
(Back to bottom)
SC 2 in first stitch of original chain, SC 1 in each following stitch until last one, SC twice
Chain 1 turn, 2 SC in first stitch after hook, 1 SC in each stitch after until last stitch SC 2
Chain 1 turn, 1 SC in each stitch, ch 1 turn sc in each stitch
Reapeat for total of 6x
Chain 7, turn, SC in first stitch from hook, SC rest of row stitches
Repeat 1x
Chain 1, turn, SC in each stitch
Repeat 25x (until matches back height)
Hip Seams:
Step 1: SL seams together
Leg Cuffs:
Step 1: SC all the way around, join with SL
Step 2: HDC all the way around, join with SL
Step 3: DC all the way around, join with SL
Step 4: SC in every other stitch, join with SL, tie off
Step 1: SC all the way around, join with SL
Step 2: HDC all the way around, join with SL
Step 3: DC all the way around, join with SL
Step 4: SC in every other stitch, join with SL, tie off
Waistband:
Step 1: Join yarn with slip stitch, chain 3
Step 2: round one- DC in each stitch, join with SL in 3rd chain of ch 3 (2x)
Step 3: DC back of portion of soaker, HDC front portion (repeat until desired waistband height has been reached)
Step 4: for drawstring chain 155, finish off, weave through round one of waistband
Step 1: Join yarn with slip stitch, chain 3
Step 2: round one- DC in each stitch, join with SL in 3rd chain of ch 3 (2x)
Step 3: DC back of portion of soaker, HDC front portion (repeat until desired waistband height has been reached)
Step 4: for drawstring chain 155, finish off, weave through round one of waistband
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Feeling It - Helping Your Children Express Themselves Appropriately
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Monday, September 16, 2013
Is Your Period Killing You?
For 13 years I suffered from intense cramps. I'm not talking Take Some Acetaminophen and Break Out the Heating Pad Cramps, these were debilitating cramps that landed me in the ER several times because they were so intense I thought I had a kidney stone (which I have frequently, but that's another post for another day). I saw several OBGYNs, but no one could pinpoint the cause of my menstrual pain. One doctor suggested I had a low threshold for pain, another said redheads experience pain more intensely (which is true, thanks MC1R and my mutated Chromosome 16), and the general consensus was that I would have the live with it until menopause.
Fast forward... After the birth of my daughter I got on a Go Green kick. Cloth diaper, natural cleaning supplies, the whole 9 yards. I even started using Mama Cloth (gasp!). And guess what? Nearly 2 years later and my cramps are pretty much obsolete. This got me thinking that maybe disposable feminine care products had been to blame the whole time. What I found was shocking and disturbing.
Dioxin is used in the bleaching process of commercial pads and tampons. It builds in the body over time and has been linked to cervical and breast cancers (it's also one of the main ingredients in Agent Orange!). They also contain BPA and BPS which linked to heart disease (the number one killer of women) and cancer. They contain crude oil pastics, phthalates (which are known endocrine disrupters), and DEHP which has been shown to cause multiple organ damage. The adhesives of pads and the odor neutralizers of both pads and tampons (polyethylene, polypopylene, and popylene glycol) are link to cancer, birth defects, and infertility. Yuck!
Not only are the chemicals and toxins a deterrent to using disposable pads and tampons, the financial and ecological repercussions are as well. Worldwide $15.2 BILLION are spent annually on feminine care products. A five year stash of disposable pads or tampons will cost approximately $330, while reusable mama cloth will only run about $48. That means that disposables are 6.875 times more expensive than reusable ones! Disposable pads and tampons take 25+ years to decompose and the average woman will create 300 lbs of waste from them in her lifetime.
If disposable feminine care products are so dangerous than why are they still legal? The FDA has found a way around the hazards of the toxic ingredients. They say that the chemicals are only dangerous through repeated exposure. I'm sorry, but I'm pretty sure 24 hours a day for about 60 days a year for an average of 37 menstruating years per woman's lifetime constitutes repeated exposure.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Showoff - What I Did Today
I picked fabric for the patchwork fabric covered notebooks I'm going to make to "pretty up" my school supplies. The teal will be the main notebook area and the flowers and mushrooms will make a square patchwork stripe along the right side.
I worked on some coordinating 3 tier ruffle skirts for the girls. I didn't want them to be too matchy-matchy, so I decided to do the tiers in the opposite fabrics. If these fabrics look familiar, it's because they come from the same fat quarter pack as the fabric for my notebooks. I loved the set so much I bought 2!
I worked on my Life Binder, which I'll be telling you all about soon. I finally have all the printables and am excited to start using it (I'll be sharing links to those too!). It is different than the typical Family or Home Binder and I'm going to use it to keep track of menus, my cleaning schedule, to do lists, workout logs, blog planning, craft project progress, and pre-school lesson plans. I had thought about including a section for my homework, but decided to keep that in a separate planner, so I can take it to class with the rest of my school stuff.
DIY Deodorant for Sensitive Skin
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Recipe Card Roundup
Friday, September 6, 2013
Phoenix Wings for My Art Journal
I just got finished doing this watercolor. I'm going to write this first bit of a piece by Hans Christian Anderson along the right margin.
The Phoenix Bird
In the Garden of Paradise
Beneath the Tree of Knowledge
Bloomed a rose bush.
Here, in the first rose, a bird was born.
His flight was like the flashing of light,
His plumage was beauteous,
And his song ravishing.
Eve picked the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
When she and Adam were driven from Paradise,
There fell from the flaming sword of the cherub
A spark into the nest of the bird,
Which blazed up forthwith.
The bird perished in the flames;
But from the red egg in the nest there fluttered aloft a new one,
The one solitary Phoenix Bird.
Little Girl's Pinafore Tutorial
I love, love, love pinafores on little girls. They are so versatile. You can put a long-sleeved shirt and leggings under it in cold weather and it grows with your little one, starting out as a dress and ending up as a shirt. Multifunctional and adorable, what more could you ask for?
This is the second reversible pinafore I have made for Monkey. I got the original 6-12 month pattern from Smashed Peas and Carrots, but have had to modify it a lot for my 22 month old petite little miss (the original pattern was way to wide for her and slipped right off her shoulders). This version is better, but there are a few more alterations I want to make. I will post the final pattern when I finally get it adjusted.
You will need 1/2 yard of each print (I used 4 fat quarters), coordinating thread, and 2 sets of snaps or 2 buttons.
Cut pattern from both prints of
pre-washed fabric. Don't forget to
flip the back panel pattern over
before cutting the second piece or
you will essentially end up with 2
left sides or 2 right sides.
Pin back panels to front piece,
right sides together, and sew.
Then press the seams (this is an
important step that really makes
homemade projects look more
professional, so don't skip it!).
Pin the 2 print to each other, right
sides together. I like to err on the side
of caution, and use a lot of pins.
Mark a 2-3 inch section across
the bottom, so you will remember
to leave and opening for turning.
Sew pieces together (I use a 1/8 inch
seam allowance, but you can use
what you are most comfortable with),
backstitching about an inch on either
side of the space you left open for
turning.
Before turning, clip little Vs on the
curves of the straps, neck, and arm
holes. This will help the fabric lay
flatter once it is turned right side out.
Turn right side out, press, pin
opening closed, and topstitch using
the smallest seam allowance you
are comfortable with (this helps
your finished product look more
clean and professional).
Add snaps or buttons, and put it on your cutie!
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Inspiration - Jewel Tones
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Recipe for Indian Butter Chicken (Murgh Mahkani)
For Marinade-
1/2 teas. salt
1/4 teas. black pepper
1 teas. cayenne pepper
1 teas. red curry powder
1 teas. hot madras curry powder
1 teas. cumin
1 teas. cardamom
1 teas. coriander
2 tbl. lemon or lime juice
5 garlic cloves - minced (or 1 heaped tbl. of pre-minced garlic)
For Sauce-
1 large onion - chopped
1/2 c. butter (1 stick)
1 can diced tomatoes (14 oz.)
1/2 can crushed tomaotes (you need 14 oz. but I've only found 28 oz. cans)
1 pint heavy cream
1. Cube chicken to 1/2 inch pieces (I find it helpful to put the chicken in the freezer for about 40 minutes before I cut it. It really helps you get more uniform cubes)
2. Add spices, garlic, and lemon/lime juice. Let chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (the longer the better!)
Saturday, August 31, 2013
DIY Lavender Mint Sugar Scrub Cubes Tutorial
1. Because I love the smell of lavender, and
2. Because I had a butt-ton of dried mint
For my version, you will need:
A silicone mold (or you could spread them in a jelly roll pan i.e. cookie sheet with sides)
4 oz. of soap, chopped or shredded (I used a melt and pour olive oil soap [aka castile soap] from Hobby Lobby)
1/2 c. of oil (I used 1/4 c. of coconut oil and a 1/4 c. of vitamin E oil because I tend to have dry skin, but there is a lot of free reign here)
1 c. white granulated sugar
20 drops of lavender essential oil (EO) (it does take a good bit to balance the mint)
2 tbl. crushed dried mint
Add the EO and mint and stir well. Then add the sugar and mix it really fast so you can start putting it in the mold (or jelly roll pan) because it will start setting up incredibly fast (which is why there is no photo of the mixing step). I used my fingers to press it into the mold. Honestly, I don't think you have time to spoon it out unless you have octo-arms or something.
Let the mold sit for 3-4 hours, pop the cubes out of the mold, and cut
them into fourths.
Then, put them in an air tight container (mine's an upcycled jelly jar!), and spend the next hour and half scouring the internet for just the right printable label and brainstorming other scent combos =)
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