As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been a bit obsessed with making crafts for my baby. My latest craft adventure has been making cloth diapers. Cloth diapers are so much cheaper than disposables, as well as healthier for the baby (and just plain cuter!).

Though I’m no expert at it yet, I’m having a great time figuring out the best patterns, the right fabrics, and all the details. I haven’t really done any sewing before, so I’m learning everything from scratch! If you’re interested, here are some of the best free patterns I’ve found so far:

Darling Diapers Newborn

Shar’s Newborn Fitted Diaper

Rita’s Rump Pocket

Those are the best free patterns I’ve found so far, but I’m still exploring. What has been fun for me is cutting up old T-shirts to make into diapers. That way, the diaper is essentially made for free, plus the shirt diapers end up so cute. I don’t have any pictures right now, but here is an example of the kind of cute diapers you can make these days:

Pretty adorable, huh? With diapers this cute, why would anyone want to use disposables?

It’s time to clean out your closets for Swap-O-Rama-Rama in Los Angeles this Saturday, June 28, at the Venice Center for Peace with Justice and the Arts. SORR is a giant clothing swap which, along with DIY workshops, encourages creative reuse and recycling. Rummage through the giant piles of clothing to find new-to-you garments and enlist the help of designers and seamstresses at sewing stations to help you alter, embellish and reimagine your picks into fabulous new creations. Silkscreening and embroidery will be available as well as help with specific projects such as plushies and shopping bags from t-shirts. (I’ll be helping out at the silkscreening station so please be sure to say hi!) It’s a really fun event and you’re helping the planet at the same time. What could be better than that? It runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and it’s $5 if you bring a bag of clothes and $10 without clothes. Email me if you have any questions!

Cheers!
Donna

I’m guessing you already know Sister Diane of CraftyPod, right? But maybe you haven’t yet seen this great tutorial she has up for CraftStylish showing how to make a tote bag with a reverse applique. She has great photos and nicely detailed instructions that make it all seem relatively easy. I’ll admit I was worried when I first heard about it, not knowing anything about reverse applique, but after reading her tutorial I’m going to give it a try. I think the key will be to keep the design basic and plan the colors and layers carefully.

While you’re out surfing around you should also take a look at Diane’s tutorials for adorable little notebooks made from playing cards.

Photo by Diane Gilleland