playing catch up :: Easton's nursery bedding

Did I say I was getting into a routine & would be blogging more soon….?  Ooops….

I took a hiatus from the blog because life got a little hectic.  Easton was born September 23^rd.  October & November were busy with finalizing things for the house & overseeing the final work.  We moved in on December 14^th. (More pictures to come in a future post.)  The unpacking & Christmas shopping & present wrapping kept me busy until Christmas (okay, the unpacking kept me busy until January).  January started with the 3 of us getting sick (me, Tensley, & Easton).  It took us nearly 2 weeks to completely recover.  Both kids were sick again in February and then both had ear infections in March / April.  During that time, I also had mastitis – twice.  Ugh.  So, needless to say, we are more than ready for Spring! 

Somehow during that time, I did manage to finish quite a few projects.  I’m hoping to be able to post about each one over the course of the month of May.  Also, as I was organizing my sewing room, I found a number of items that I think could go to a better home.  Stayed tuned for more about the items at the end of this post.  If you are interested in them, comment below & I will pick a winner at the end of May.

Easton’s crib bedding was on the top of my “to finish” list.  I decided to make a crib bumper for him because he moves a TON in his sleep.  From his back to his tummy and from one end of the crib to the other.  I have found him cross-ways in the crib many, many mornings.  I didn’t want him getting stuck in the crib rails and now that he is 7 months old, and “crawling” (okay, lunging forward repeatedly until he gets where he wants to go), I am not worried about him getting stuck up against the bumper. 

I had purchased a yard of this striped fabric about a year ago as the color inspiration for his quilt.  The fabric is Seaside by October Afternoon.  I decided to go ahead & purchase another 4 yards of fabric to use for the bumper & crib skirt.  To make the crib bumper, I essentially made a “duvet cover” for Tensley’s old bumper!  I lined the “duvet cover” since Tensley’s crib bumper was pink & yellow stripes that otherwise would show through the Seaside fabric.  I went back & forth on making the piping, but eventually decided it would look nicer to do the piping.  I used my zipper foot and followed this tutorial.  It actually was not difficult at all and I kind of enjoyed it!  I made the piping & ties out of fabric I had left over from backing Tensley’s quilt.  It matches the brown / grey color in the striped fabric perfectly!  

I also made the crib skirt, which was even easier.  Because I had purchased 4 yards of fabric & it was cut continuously, I used the length of the fabric to my advantage to wrap it around the bottom of the crib! Easy peasy!  I hemmed the top, bottom, & sides, but that was the only sewing required.  I didn’t even think to line the crib skirt, but I wonder if it would have given it more structure.  It is kind of “floppy”.  I could always go back and do that in the future (if / when I have time & decide it bothers me enough).  I also should have pressed the crib skirt before I put it on, but again, I could do that when / if I decide to line it or when I decide it needs washed.  

 Just in case I get questions about how I attached the crib skirt to the crib, I have a piece of plywood under the mattress (on top of the mattress spring).  I was originally going to staple the fabric to the plywood, but my dad suggested I try taping it to the plywood first to see if that would hold.  The benefit being, when I need to lower the crib mattress, I don’t have to pull out the staples to shorten the crib skirt.  So far the tape is holding great (I used masking tape).  Thanks Dad!

I ended up with the original yard of fabric left after I made the bumper & skirt, so I decided to make a blanket.  I used a blanket I already had for Easton, but one side was sports themed.  I sewed the right sides together (striped fabric & blue minky fabric facing each other), then pulled right side out through an opening, then topstitched the opening shut & topstitched around the blanket.  Quick & easy!

The best part is that I made a crib bumper, crib skirt, and blanket for Easton – all for about $50!

Now for the “giveaway”.  If you are interested in the items below, leave a comment, and I will pick a winner at the end of the month of May.  (US entries only please since I am shipping this myself.)  I’m going to leave the giveaway open for the entire month of May to give more people a chance to enter.  Some of these items are things that would be most beneficial for a beginning quilter, so even if you don’t have a use for them – perhaps you know someone who would like them...   Giveaway now closed.

 

"A Caboodle in a Box" - not sure exactly what this is... a pattern of some sort

"A Scrap Savers Solution Book", "Scrap Quilts" pamphlet, "Quilting the Quilt" pamphlet, "Bound and Determined to Finish that Quilt" booklet, "12 Quilting Guides" booklet, "The AQS Guide to Quilt Care" booklet, Sulky thread color card, & Bonnie Bonnet pattern

2 Quilt Journals (each with 15 entries for journaling about your quilts), Amy Butler Swing Bag pattern, Essential Quilting DVD

Miscellaneous floss, iron-on patches, bias tape, twill tape, seam binding

Triangle square ruler, 6" square ruler, & binding tool

10 HST on the left & 1 HST on the right (I forgot to measure these, but they are maybe 6" HSTs...)

2 Swoon practice blocks (I believe these finished at 24.5")

3 fat quarters & 2 Moda Turnovers of Fig Tree & Co Patisserie

If you are interested in the items above, comment below & I will pick a winner at the end of May.   Giveaway now closed.

Thanks for reading!

Valerie

Linking to:
NTT @ My Quilt Infatuation
Fresh Sewing Day @ Lily's Quilts 
TGIFF @ Quokka Quilts
Whoop Whoop @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Link a Finish Friday @ Richard & Tanya Quilts 
Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts