Homemade Nursing Pads

A while ago I posted a list of sewing projects that I wanted to get done for our new baby girl and for some things I will need postpartum. I probably won't get to all of them, but I would like to try! I am so excited because I finally got to cross one of those things off my list today!



These nursing pads were VERY simple to make and I had everything I needed on hand...for free :D I ended up with 10 pair of washable , cloth nursing pads. I have easily spent around $7.00 a box for disposable ones per WEEK for a few months after first having my babies. I tend to produce way too much milk and go through them faster than I can buy them. These cloth ones are made with 3 layers of flannel and one layer of fleece for its waterproof barrier. I also made up 3 pair (the green ones) that have an extra layer right in the middle made from a cloth diaper for night time use. I have a feeling I am going to love these! No plasticy feeling against my skin, just soft flannel :) The best part is that this is another thing I am saving quite a bit of money and time on...who wants to run to Walmart with a newborn because you ran out? Ha! Not me anymore! LOL The best part is that I am such an amateur at sewing, so ANYONE can do these!

These are my over-nighters or milk first coming in ones:



And here's just to show you the different flannel I had..nothing fancy but soft :)


The purple material is just one fleece receiving blanket that I have had for a while. Its on the back of all the nursing pads :) I still have some of it left to use for something else also.

I can't wait to get started on my next project.........haven't figured out which one yet :)

Somethings I would like to start working on...

This weekend I spent some time looking at some baby necessities that I would really like to sew (or attempt, since you know I am NO professional). I am hoping to get most of these things done by the end of Sept but I am not gonna push it ;p Most of these I want to make are going to be fairly inexpensive using soft flannel and whatever I can find in our drawers like old t-shirts etc...but some I may end up purchasing depending on how well I remember how to use my machine and if I can figure out some of the patterns and tutorials before impatiently giving up :D
Here are some links and tutorials I came across that I thought I would share.


This site has NUMEROUS links that I am going to be reading through soon:
http://simplyserina.wordpress.com/links/#diaper%20patterns%20free

Hooter Hider (NURSING COVER):

** http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-to-make-nursing-cover.html

**http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/free-pattern-to-sew-your-own-nursing-cover/

**http://secretstitchclub.blogspot.com/2008/08/saavy-moms-breastfeeding-coverup-free.html

**http://madebythemamamonster.blogspot.com/2008/04/nursing-cover-tutorial.html


Cloth Nursing pads:
**http://frugal.families.com/blog/make-your-own-nursing-pads

**http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/04/homemade-nursing-pads.html

**http://www.pamperedcheeks.com/nursing_pads_pattern.htm



Cloth diapers and cloth wipes: (I'll use these AFTER the first month or so..):

**http://www.thediaperhyena.com/reap.htm#FREE

**http://www.diaperjungle.com/sewing-cloth-diapers.html

**http://www.diapersewing.com/

I am also wanting to start potty training Little A soon and cloth trainers would be a MUCH better thing than pull-ups, but that will wait, I think, until I see that he is really ready. There are also many other things I will be trying to sew, but most of those are for Christmas this year and I'll share those later..AFTER I finish ONE project at a TIME!

If you have any different but awesome links to the items above (or any other links to do-it-yourself baby/mama items) please share!

Sewing a Rag Doll.

This project is my first sewing project ever! I have learned ALOT in the process. For those of you who don't know, I have been teaching myself to sew and even though I have run into quite a few stumbling blocks this has been soooo rewarding! I feel very accomplished and can't wait until I am sewing dresses and things for my daughter.

This is the pattern I used, but I ended up making bigger arms and legs. I also don't know how to hand sew, so adding the hair (and closing up the head) has been challenging. I finished it and for what its worth its a true "rag doll". LOL

Here are some pics of some of the steps I took to make it. I was hoping to do a beginners tutorial but just had too many problems and too much time in between to really focus on capturing the steps...but here's what took and maybe you can glean some info from these anyways.

Here is the pattern for the arms and legs I made. They are easily double the size of the original pattern and ended up ok and fit the body size fine (It makes it easier when you are turning them right side out after you sew them to have them bigger..ask me how I know ;) )



Here are the pieces all ready to sew. After you sew the arm and leg pieces together you stuff them with whatever you have. I used some inexpensive poly-fill.
I don't have any pics of the actual process because as I was trying to get these sewn I had major issues with my machine err with my skills but after all that was taken care of I got to getting this thing done!



Here you will have to pin the legs and arms up and out of the way to sew the body together. This was very difficult for me to figure out and I ended up messing up more than once. I finally just cut the arms off (because I am impatient like that sometimes) and sew them back on afterwards. LOL. TRY and do what they pattern says and you may do better than me. I hope you do!





And once I got her all sewn and her hair on..lol! My dd seen her as I was stuffing it and said is that me?? So its no longer a surprise ;)



I gave it to her at bedtime and she said she "Wuvs it!!"



So cute. sigh. Little girls and their dolls :) (and she doesn't even notice the imperfections)



I think I'll keep at it and eventually make her one as beautiful as she is. Thank you Lord for the daughter I thought I'd never have :)