Baby MiH Reviews {The Hooded Towel}

As I was SO overdue in the end, I made a few more things than anticipated. Are they all used? Was it worth it? Baby MiH is now reviewing his Made in Home world - starting with the baby hooded towel and wash cloth (following the PurlBee pattern). Of course, we had to wait for the first bath time - which we dreaded but in fact he loved. 

I was slightly worried that the terry cloth would not be absorbent enough, I am not sure why, maybe because the cloth is lighter than my usual towel. I was wrong, it works wonders and in fact the owl fabric does not get soaked at all.

The wash cloth is the perfect size for him and is proving very soft - he really likes bath time as you can see, he even found his thumb in the process (managed to lose it since). 

The hooded towel is also the right size for him - not sure for how long, as he likes to be swaddled in it after the bath. The hood does not stay on but is the right size as well - I mentioned when I first made the towel that I may change the size, I would not in the end. 

All in all, thumbs up for both projects and some than would recommend - for your baby or as presents. Baby MiH approves! 

All Sets {Sewing}

Baby Report (D-Date + 9, French D-Date + 1): nothing, but apparently we are in the right direction. So still time to finish off some of the nagging little tasks I had on my list, and use up some leftovers of the terry cloth I used for the hooded towel.

We decided not to buy a baby changing table. It is more a question of place than money, and also height. It is not easy to find one for a 6'2 man that will also be good for a 5'2 woman. Sounds silly but you have to think of those things now and not in the middle of the night. We bought a cheap, plastic-y and gross good value changing mat that fitted perfectly on top of the chest of drawers we have in Baby MiH's room - a good height for the both of us (as in a wee bit too high for me and a wee bit too low for Mr MiH). The chest of drawers needs to be updated but this is a totally different project for another day. As mentioned said changing mat needed to be covered, and with a sort of towel - vintage style. 

70s mirror from Mr MiH parents' attic and we need a picture of Baby MiH in one of the frames

I go through phases when it comes to buying lines of fabrics. And I went through a vintage phase. I needed some 70s vintage fabric in my stash. I found a shop on Etsy and bought some - very excited indeed. However when it came to doing something with it, I was not sure anymore. I have quite a modern approach and I could not deal with the pattern.. Except if the pattern was not the focus...  and was to become a large binding? 

It was indeed perfect for the changing mat towel. I was ready. I made a one-inch binding so you can see the dogs and some of the character, and a couple of wash cloths. There is no stopping me!

The mat

I doubled the thickness of the terry cloth so that Baby MiH could not feel the plastic underneath his little bottom. 

With some of the owl fabric I had left, I managed to make a couple of wash cloths to match the hooded towel and a very French wash cloth as well - we are all set for bath time now! 

The wash cloths are so easy to make, they are the perfect last minute gifts - of course you need some terry cloth though and that might take a wee while longer. 

If you have not done so, there is still half an hour left until the GIVEAWAY ends. Good luck to everyone who participated! I am so happy you liked the knitted baubles! Cannot wait to see them decorating one of my followers living room!

Hooded Baby Towel {Sewing}

Baby report (D-date +5): nothing. What's the spiciest curry I can get tonight? On the bright side, I have managed to finish Baby MiH hooded towel following the PurlBee tutorial. I kept putting it off because of the way the Terry Cloth behaved when I first cut it. It generated so many bits and even seemed to unravel. I was slightly concerned that I would be disappointed in the result.

However with some 'high-tech' machinery (a sticky roller, a handheld hoover, and a lot of ironing) It was nearly painless - and a beautiful hooded towel we have now.

                **Don't forget to enter my giveaway - open until Tuesday night** 

I did not change a thing to the tutorial as I wanted to see how it turned out in the end - and also using a new fabric texture got some used to. I mentioned a few appliances that were life saving in the end.

Cutting Terry Cloth is a nightmare, well personally I find it a nightmare. There are bits everywhere it is messy and you are worried it will unravel. I had my sticky roller handy all the time, and actually it did not unravel once you are rolled out all the bits. It was really useful to see the sides of the fabric again. I was worried the bits would also go into my sewing machine, but as I removed them that did not happen. 

Also Terry Cloth has a tendency to stretch and therefore it is hard to keep it flush with the cotton fabric. I ironed it a lot to make sure the two layers stayed together during the sewing process. So every time I was sewing a side, I ironed the towel again. Worked wonders. 

I personally feel that the hood is actually quite small in comparison to the body of the towel, and I think I will change that next time. Also it does eat a lot of fabric in one go - so I may go for cheaper fabric or make the main part with different bits of fabric. 

To buy the organic Terry Cloth.. Well that was a bit of a chore here in the UK. I bought it from EcoEarth fabrics, and I believe you can buy it on Etsy at Werkundstoff as well. The cotton fabric is from Robert Kaufman Urban Zoologie Owls. 

And apart from that, it is finished Friday, and this little cross-stitch (definitely not little by the way) is finished. More tomorrow, I am hoping to have a chance to frame it to show you!

Happy Friday everyone!

The Pressure {Sewing}

You know that it is going to be your turn soon when two of your antenatal class friends have given birth and you are supposed to be the fourth one... A bit more than a week to go... although we think the little one is just chilling and will be late. Anyway we are nearly there, but not yet. A couple of WIPs on the go - and we are nearly there as well. 

The Moses basket roundabout/bumper binding needs to be finished. I hand quilted it as I wanted a vintage feel.  I may add a blue hand stitch as well - but binding first! 

And I could not resist the little bunny - so cute!

And I making a hooded towel following the  Purlbee's tutorial. I love the Night Owl Carnival fabric from Robert Kaufman. It is the first time I have been working with terry cloth, and I personally found it quite tricky to cut.  Hopefully it will be better to sew together!

I am quite excited to see the finish towel though, will look great on the vintage concertina hanger!