Sew Crafty | KID independent – handmade for kids

Crafty Sunday... Spool Dolls + Fabric Tapes!

Good morning! I’m feeling a bit guilty this morning as I sit on the deck sipping my tea… you see, whilst I enjoy a leisurely breakfast with a puppy at my feet and a crumpet on my plate, my poor husband is running the Gold Coast marathon! It’s several hours and 40-odd kms of agony! I made him a 4 hour mixtape {well, iPod playlist} to keep him company for the trek!

Handmade Spool Dolls

Today’s batch of handmade arty goodness is especially for the crafters, sewers and scrappers among us. I quite adore fabric tapes and printed ribbons, even though they usually just sit on my desk or end up on my inspiration board. It helps of course, when you can wrap them around one of these glorious spool dolls. LOVE the winter spool doll from Wunderland {left}, and how can you not love the mauve hairstyle on Reidun by mq2?

Fabric Tape - Sewing - Zakka

Once you’ve found the perfect spool doll, you might like to expand your collection of handmade fabric tapes and ribbons. Here are a few from my ‘Etsy-stores-of-the-moment’. The blue whale cotton tape above is from RetroNaNa, a cute store based in Shanghai with hundreds of different tapes, stamps, stickers and supplies to satisfy your crafty needs. The tape is divine, but I also got a giggle out of the anatomically correct little boy kewpie doll.

Fabric Cotton Tape - Printed Zakka, Shinzi Katoh

Tapes, tapes and more tapes… above we have {top row} a couple of cotton fabric tapes from lilla lotta, handmade by artist Anna Barrow in the South of France. I adore Anna’s exquisite collection, it’s very hard to choose a favourite! Last up {bottom row} are two cute tapes that I’m currently admiring from The Paper Bar. They feature designs by legendary Japanese artist Shinzi Katoh and are printed on linen sewing tape.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Let's Get Stitchy!

The one thing that I regret from my youth was never learning how to knit {okay, truth is there are lot of other things from my youth that I regret way more , but let’s not go into those right now… I’m trying to set a good example…} I mean, who knew that the knit-one-purl-one crowd would end up being so cool?

Handmade knitting needles and sewing accessories

Despite my lack of knitting ability, I do like to spend the odd afternoon perched by the sewing machine. I’ve never really learned how to do it the “right way” so it’s a bit of a haphazard approach, but its fun none-the-less and I’ve managed to make a variety of cushion covers, curtains, costumes and the odd item of clothing over the years.

This post is dedicated to finding some sewing candy for my stitchy sisters, and encouraging the “maybe-one-day” crowd to get in on the fun.

1. Pink Bear Knitting Needles by Cate Anevski … 2. Make Do and Mend Print by Farouche … 3. Bunny Rabbit Tape Measure Pattern by Kookla Creations … 4. Art Viva Knitting Needles from The Haby Goddess … 5. Wooden Needle Case by The Small Object … 6. The Good Scissors Earrings by Victoria Mason … 7. I Sew Love You Print by Jennifer Dennis Potter … 8. Vintage Buttons from All The Precious Things … 9. Owl Softie Kit by Wink Designs … 10. Sewing Machine Needlecase by Sweet Treats

Crafty Challenge... MYO Modern Cloth Nappies

If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at making your own Modern Cloth Nappies {but thought it was too tricky to attempt} then this post is for you! According to our friend Jodie at Nappies Covered, making a nappy is super easy. If you can sew a relatively straight line {even with the wobbles} you can sew a nappy.

Modern Cloth Nappies

The first place to start is with a MCN pattern {you can get these free from Nappies Covered}. If you opt for a nappy sewing kit, rather than purchasing all your materials separately, you will be sent a printed copy of a nappy pattern ready to use. For those wanting a professional tried and tested pattern you can also purchase patterns by Chloe Toes.

The second step is knowing which fabrics to choose. This can be a touch daunting when you’re first starting out, so here is a guide to point you in the right direction. If you’d like to read more about Modern Cloth Nappies {including the who, what, where and why} along with a glossary of common terms, please click here.

Modern Cloth Nappies - Fabrics and Accessories

Up next, choosing your materials…

Absorbent Fabric / Absorbent Layer
Bamboo Fabric {made from 15% organic cotton and 85% bamboo} is a beautiful, naturally soft fabric which is highly absorbent, antibacterial and antifungal. Bamboo is used to make the absorbent part of your nappy which is generally called the ‘booster’, ‘soaker’ or ‘pad’.

Waterproof Fabric / Nappy Outer
PUL fabric is used as the outer part of the nappy. The term PUL refers to the waterproof laminate that is applied to the fabric {however, in general, people refer to the whole piece of fabric PUL}. As the outside of the nappy is the part that you see the most, there are a huge range of prints and plains available so that you can make your nappies look stylish and fun.

Inner Nappy Fabric
Microfleece, minky and suedecloth are polyester fabrics that are human-made. These fabrics are made from recycled PET (Polyethylene terephthanlate). These fabrics are known as ‘wicking’ fabrics, as they will not absorb moisture, but will wick the liquid through to the absorbent layer below.

Modern Cloth Nappies PUL Fabric

Notions
Notions are the wonderful bits that allow you to fasten your nappies. Hook and Loop Fasteners (Velcro™) are a sew on method, whereas Snap Pliers allow you to professionally apply Kam Snaps.

….and that’s it! Now all you need is a sewing machine and a positive attitude! Creating a designer wardrobe of nappies is easy, enjoyable and not to mention addictive! The best part is choosing the outer fabrics. There are so many combinations possible; pastels, brights, retro, funky, playful and more! Why not give it a try?

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Crafty Sunday... Spool Dolls + Fabric Tapes!

Let's Get Stitchy!

Crafty Challenge... MYO Modern Cloth Nappies