The first 2 months of my daughter’s life I used a zipperless tote from the hospital as a diaper bag. Needless to say that wasn’t really working and I was done with being a billboard for my L&D hospital. I refused to buy a diaper bag, most of them are ugly and if not, then they are way too expensive.

With travel plans ahead of us, I decided I needed to make the biggest possible carry-on/diaper bag for on the plane. I chose the Cargo Duffle bag by Noodlehead (free pattern) and finished it early December.

This worked well both on the plane and afterwards as a carry-everything bag. Great for all things baby, but pretty big (more on that bag in another blog). So I knew that at some point I would want to make ‘another’ diaper bag. The Super Tote pattern by Noodlehead became the one. My second and only other make for the SHB sew-along! I almost finished it on April 30th, but needed a seam roll to be able to press the exterior well before sewing the lining in).

(I must admit I recently saw the Aragon diaper bag pattern by Sew Sweetness and may have to try that one too. Bag making is addictive. Bags never were addictive to me, I’m a one bag kind of person, so the 3 bags I’ve made are basically the only bags I’ve got).

Materials I’ve used: Kaufman Essex Linen and Koi, Pennants Waving quilting cotton for the exterior, various fabrics for the lining (all fabric was stash fabric, hurray!). Various thicknesses of interfacing (SF101 and Pellon Craft Fuse 808), elastic and a key swivel.

So bright and cheerful and unlike the diaper bags in the stores.

I wasn’t sure how often I was gonna need this large front pocket, but today on the first day of using the bag, I already put something in it!

I added an extra pocket for a bottle or sippy cup. Why oh why is the front sagging on top (between the handles)? Is it, because I didn’t reinforce the lining? Or does the 2 layers of interfacing not do the job?

I only realized while editing these pictures that I made a mistake with the gusset pleat, because it looks funny. Oh well….I’m letting go of my sewing perfection. Perfection takes away all pleasure for me, so I’d rather finish and be happy with something imperfect, than spend hours being frustrated. Perfection is an impossible goal anyways.

Soon after finishing I discovered this ‘dead pixel’. Ugh. It wasn’t there while sewing…

I love recessed zippers. I got this mint green heart fabric from my grandma’s stash. I didn’t think I would ever use it, but it’s the perfect match! The pictures don’t really show it very well, but some of the waving pennants are mint green.

This bag seems huge next to me, but we’ll have to see how it works out in person. I only want to carry one bag, so it will have to fit a few of my personal items too. So far so good!

When I read about the Small Human Being (SHB) sew-along on Polkadotoverload, a blog I’ve been somewhat silently reading the past few years, I immediately knew I wanted to take part in this sew-along in the month of April. The sew-along is also organized by Cation Designs and Clio & Phineas. Sewing together and having a deadline makes it easier for me to finish things.

Or that’s what I thought…because in reality April went by so quickly, in my head I’m still making more plans for the sew-along :). Teething and an arthritis flare-up were what April was about…together with lots of fun: jumping in the exersaucer, reading at home, singing in the library, making all sort of baby food and in all honesty, also enough challenges.

April wasn’t so much about sewing. After cooking meals, laundry and dishes, there isn’t enough energy in the day to make me sew. Somehow it was easier for me to sew when my daughter was 2 months old (still have to blog quite a couple of projects), than now that she’s 7 months old…. I also haven’t read that many blogs lately, I mostly just look at the pictures. I’m really trying to sew a little every day, even if it’s just 15 min. Something I read about on VintageModernQuilts and I quit like that idea!

Back to the SHB sew-along: I got really excited about this sew-along when I saw the prizes. A subscription to Ottobre magazine (a Finnish children’s pattern magazine) is just such a cool price! The Scandinavian style and versatile patterns are a welcome change from the other US children’s patterns that seem to be the standard for handmade and I see all around the web and in little boutiques. I just can’t bring myself to dress my daughter in ruffle pants and these kind of outfits: see here, here and here.

Alright here’s my first make for the SHB! At the top of the baby sewing list were bibs. We were in dire need of them for a couple of weeks, when I finally sat down on a Friday evening 3 weeks ago to make a few.

I think I could still use a few more. The pattern is copied from a bib I got from a friend and my baby well. I’ve sewn a lot of baprons in the past and have several cut, ready to be sewn, but my dislike for bias tape is growing every single sewing project….

5 bib fronts

and 5 bib backs (so reversible if I like)

Here are the bibs in action, we tried many new foods this month, including:

avocado: deemed OK, right between carrots (like) and peas (dislike)

and pear: though she seemed very offended by the taste & texture, she really enjoys eating it now, as do mommy&daddy :), taste just like Festini pear ice, but better.

Gotta wear the right bib with the matching food :).