low-cost, easy curtains

I wanted to cover my windows with heavy curtains for the winter to help keep the cold out and save on my electric bill. The cheapest curtain I could find was just over $15 for one panel (half window) at Walmart. Instead, I purchased over-sized fleece blankets for just under $4. I folded down one short end at 3" and sewed across twice. I slipped them on the curtains rods leaving a ripple at the top. That's it! And the blankets came with a velcro ribbon so I have tie for each window. I covered 7 windows for under $35, and saved at least $190.

pillow case

Somehow time is slipping by so quickly. I found some pictures from some time ago that I never got around to posting. Today I will share my unknown sewing talent. I needed a pillow for my chair at work for back support so I mimicked an old pillow case of my mother-in-law's. I found some fabric that I had on hand so it didn't cost me a thing other than a couple of hours of my time. The pillow didn't work out for my chair, but I am using it on my couch at home.

BEFORE

...AND...

AFTER

knitted diaper soaker

I completed my first diaper soaker! I used a pattern from fernandfaerie.com. I followed the pattern for the "cover knitted flat" version (toddler size). I have to fold down the waist because it's too high. The pattern called for 3" ribbing, but I will stitch a 1 1/2" ribbing on my next soaker.

Wool yarn repells water so the wetness stays on the inside of the soaker. Before the soaker can be worn and during each wash, it needs to be *lanolized (water proofed). Wash your soaker when soiled or still smells bad when dry.


(*I used the tube of Lanolin that I got from the hospital to use for soreness when nursing.)


Next I am going to purchase some new prefold diapers and Snappi Fastners. Bye, bye old falling part altered diapers and vinyal covers!


Thanks to Elizabeth for giving me this idea from a post on her blog last spring.

beginner knitter

For some reason, I have been thinking a lot lately about learning to knit. Maybe I saw a knitting blog. I purchased a pair of needing kniddles...uh, I mean knitting needles (it's like a tongue twister), and practiced watching online tutorials. I gave up quickly. I turned my back on knitting, and purchased a crochet hook. I like the finished look of knitting better, but decided that crocheting must be easier. I practiced crocheting for a few days and planned to stick with it until...I received a knitting kit as a Christmas present from Lori, my sister-in-law. I didn't get it directly.

We played a gift exchange game while reading the Christmas story. Everyone brought an inexpensive or homemade gift for their gender and drew a word that was in the Christmas story. When a person's word was read they were able to open a gift from the pile or trade with some else. It was Angie's, my sister-in-law, great idea to play this game. My gift was a plastic storage tub. Tim thought it would be too practical, but it was a big hit. I just bought something I could use myself.

Back to knitting. The next day, I went to my sister's house for Christmas. After talking with my brother-in-law and watching him knit a little (he's making a beautiful queen size blanket for his bed), I was ready to get going on knitting again. Sometimes, I think it takes seeing someone do something a particular way and it clicks. He made it look easier than the tutorials. I then spent the next day and a half working on a pocket purse for Makayla.

I am now practicing on a sunglasses case from my kit. I have a request list growing. Maybe I will post pictures as I complete the projects. My goal to knit socks. Well, I will be off to the library to look for patterns.

oops...still practicing

This time I gave Makayla a new haircut style instead of just a trim. It looks nothing like I was going for, but it still looks nice. Makayla really likes it because her hair is off her neck. I think it is good because she is getting old enough to start learning how manage and take care of her own hair, and short is simple. Maybe by next Spring it will grow out enough for me to try the cut I actually wanted.

frugal birthday present

I think I have a new hobby...making bags, purses, etc. out of outgrown, damaged and unwanted clothing. The picture below is a hand bag made from Makayla's old shirt for Sophia. It's not pink and frilly, but I think she likes it.

This shirt tied around the neck. I turned the shirt inside out and sewed along the bottom to close it up. I tied knots in the strings because they were coming unraveled, and it actually gave it an extra design. I then sewed the straps along the top of the back of the shirt to create handles.

blue ribbon frame

Holli made this frame with Ruben's newborn picture as her 4-H project for the county fair.

She received a blue ribbon.

getting snippy

I cut even more off Makayla's hair. Now that school is out, I could try a drastic cut and not embarrass her if I messed up. Having long hair in the summer is a pain to wear and take care of so I went quite a bit shorter, but still long enough to pull up. I wanted to do a more difficult style, but I decided I better keep it simple until I get the hang of cutting hair.

Lori asked me to cut her hair also, but she wouldn't let me post her picture. I'll just say that it looks similar to Makayla's only thinner and straighter.

snip snip

I succeeded in trimming Makayla's hair last night! I checked a book out from the library titled Cutting Your Family's Hair. The steps are very basic and don't give much detail. I am going to purchase Haircutting for Dummies. It has so much information. Makayla has thick hair so I need to know the correct way to thin it with thinning scissors. I am going to wait until she is done with school in case I screw it up. I have trimmed Ruben's hair twice now since he was born...yes he has that much hair. I didn't think to take before pictures, but here are the afters.

prefold alterations

I had successfully sewn a diaper from Lori's pattern. They are great diapers, but it takes too long to make them. I need to start using cloth now so I can save $$$. I can't stand pinning cloth and I don't like the bulkiness so I decided to alter my prefolds. Today I completed my first dozen. Ruben has not had a big poop in them yet so they are still under testing stages.


I sewed on velcro and four layers of material (that I had on hand) in the middle to front for extra absorbency. I then folded in the the middle edges that fit around the inner leg and sewed them in place. This takes away the bulkiness and helps trap leaks.

diaper photos

My first sewn cloth diaper without help. Just a few alterations and it will fit perfectly. Hopefully each new one will start to look better in appearance.

Hiney sight of my first cloth diaper.

cloth diapering

I finally finished sewing my first cloth diaper! My sister-in-law, Lori, designed a daiper pattern and taught me how to make cloth diapers that fit like a disposible diaper. I never thought I would resort to this (and I am still leery about it), but it will save us tons of money. It doesn't look the greatest (my sewing), but it works great! One down and "only" 23 to go...