Old School Acres

It's baby season

Have you noticed this where you live?  Here in SE Iowa there are babies everywhere!  I decorated these little hats for 2 babies born in the last few weeks. 

When at 8-year-old gets ahold of the camera...

she takes many, many, many photos of the same thing.  These things include baby dolls, Daddy, herself, and dog butts.  Who knew?

 

   

  

Tips for making felt baby shoes

My friend, Elaine, asked for some pointers for machine sewing felt baby shoes.  Here is how I do it.

I only use wool-blend felt.  My favorite is the 35% wool blend here:  http://www.nationalnonwovens.com/Applications/craft/woolfelt.htm#TOY002%20-%2035%  If you need a supplier, check the list to the left.

My pattern is made of cardstock.  It's sturdier than paper and holds up better to repeated pinnings.  It also helps the felt keep it's shape when cutting.  I start off cutting the back and toe of the shoe.  Two of each.  Then I cut 2 pieces of sole for each shoe.  I pin the pattern to 2 layers of felt and cut.

After cutting the outside pieces, I pin them to a piece of felt in the color I want for the lining of the shoe.  I always use three pins for the back and three pins for the toe.  Here I used some scraps of purple.  I usually pin all the pieces to one large piece of felt.  Don't cut yet!

After pinning all the outside pieces to the lining, it's time to sew.  I set my machine to 3.0 straight stitch. 

I sew with about an 1/8-inch allowance.  For me that's just to the inside edge of my presser foot.  I sew around 3 "sides" of the back pieces.  Don't sew the straight bottom edge.

This is a toe piece.  Can you see the stitching?  It's along the top edge of the toe.  Don't sew the bottom curved edge.

Leave the pins in (I always poke myself, ugh) and cut out using the top piece as your pattern.  Cut along all edges.

Done.

Now it's time to start sewing the toe to the sole.  I first added a tag to what will be the inside layer of the sole.

Then pin 2 sole pieces together at the heel. Line up the pieces the best you can.

Here I'm ready to pin the toe to the sole.  I center the toe on the sole and line up the top edge the best I can. 

 
Then here is where I pin.

Ok, start on what is the ride side of the shoe when  you are looking at it from the front.  Ease the toe around the curve of the toe, lining up the toe and the sole as you go. Now  you're read to sew.  I use the same seam allowance as I did to sew the toe pieces and heel pieces.  Love my packing tape rulers.  We're classy over here ;)

Sew until you reach the 2nd pin and stop, needle down.  Take out the 2nd pin.  Sew slowly as you ease the felt where you want it.  It helps to kind of pull on the top piece to get it to line up with the sole.  Keep sewing as you go around the curve and to the end of the top piece.  If you have to stop to realign your layers, make sure the needle is down.

 

 

Now it's time for the heel/back piece. Fold down the "flaps" of the toe piece and center the heel/back piece on the shoe.

I use 1 pin.  If you want to use more than 1, start with 1 pin in the middle and go out from there. 

Now I start with the toe facing away and the heel facing me.  I ease the heel piece around the curve, lining up the layers.

And sew again using the same allowance.  Sew to the pin and stop, needle down.  Take out the pin.

Continue to ease the top layers around the curve to align with the bottom sole layers.

Sew to the end of the heel piece.

Guess what!  You just sewed a baby shoe on your sewing machine!

The last step here for me is to clean up the edges.  Any place the top and bottom layers aren't quite lined up, I trim.

Here are 2 shoes using the same method.  Not exactly perfectly matched, but pretty darn close. 

I'm working on getting my baby shoe pattern ready to sell, so check back in the next few days.

Let me know if something doesn't seem clear and I will try to explain better.  Thanks!

When pigs fly

Ah, pigs.  I have a love relationship with the porcine ungulates. At least the wool version of them. Remember Pigs Across America, Pig Pile, and Sweater Pig?  I'm back on the pig bandwagon with a When Pigs Fly baby mobile.  It's Ellie approved!

 

 

My goodies are in Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine

Pregnancy & Newborn magazine has been very good to me.  Today, Candace Winkles did a feature on my items.  Thanks, Candace!

Old School Acres at the Baby Gardner - Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine.

Lolo

Wool boucle makes the best owlsl.  I've been buying up sweaters and jackets from ebay.  Love the stuff.  This is Lolo.  She's made from a Talbot's sweater.  It suits her.

Bubba

Remember Chubby?

This is his brother, Bubba.

My computer buddy

Really, anyone's computer buddy.  If you are sitting at the computer, your lap is fair game. The only thing that gets her up is the sound of the printer starting.  She's obsessed with the printer.  Silly Sammi.

Blueberries weren't on the list

You know the hazards of going to the store without a list.  But, I sent him with a list.  My husband and 7-year-old had approximately 10 items to buy.  Blueberries weren't on the list.  "But the girls like blueberries."  Anyone know anything about growing blueberries?

Hey, quilters!

I'm on the search for a 100% cotton red gingham fabric.  Honestly, who would have thought it would be so difficult to find.  None of the fabric or quilting shops in my area carry 100% cotton gingham.  I tracked down some online, but it's quilting weight cotton.  Is that too heavy for baby bloomers?