I have been trying my hand at creating patterns, and have kept it simple for the most part. I needed a toddler size bag, big enough for a day out but smaller than the massive baby ones. I came up with this, it's a mash up of a lot of design elements I like.



this was the first version, with the larger band.



I am trying it today, so far so good. The side pockets fit my iphone in one and his sippy in the other. Which one do you prefer?


When I am finished with the total design, I will post the pattern as a free tutorial on the blog!

I just started to learn how to smock. Love it, but very time consuming. Plus the patterns are really expensive. This smocking piece was my learning piece, so when it was finished I had to figure out what to do with it. I kind of made up the pattern to this little dress with a sun bonnet and diaper cover!





I hope to start another smocking project, this one a choo choo train for my little boy!

I found a lady here through the fabric store that has done smocking for 40 years! She taught me. I also like Martha Pullen's book. Easy to follow!

You smock then assemble, I just finished a little girls dress!

In franklin, just south of nashville, there are 2 amazing quilt shops. Stitchers garden has a ton of fabric, and the quilting squares which has amazing people and sales and a great selection! They do a lot of moda and michael miller. Sg has free spirit lines though.

Since so many men are now sharing in child care duties, I made these 2 diaper bags for dad to be's!






I had made a steelers one a few years ago and it was a huge hit with the dad.


I posted a tutorial here

http://giggleysneedlesandpins.blogspot.com/2012/02/daddy-diaper-bag-tutorial.html

I just bought the book and want to try this pattern. Was it really difficult? Do you have any tips or tricks?

I love that bag! I made it a while ago in muted tones, but yours is AMAZING and happy! I might have to raid my stash and make another...

yeah, but now that the eyes look so much better I have to redo the ones I made for my girls! They want me to make them 1 of each friendship is magic pony.... so next is applebloom, after I redo twilight and pinkie pie.

This is the base pattern http://www.simplicity.com/p-6628-misses-childs-hats.aspx

I chose it because it seamed in the back and top, so I could insert ears and the mane. The ears are the cat ears, the mane 2 strips of 6 inch wide fleece, and the eyes I drew out from pictures of MLP's.

Aries32 - they would make awesome Xmas gifts for Nieces!!!

My last version the eye appliques were aweful. I used wonder under on 1 layer and it was all wonky. Here I cut 3 pieces and stitched together so they weren't too bulky, using wonder under with each piece. I also used 3 pieces of stablizer underneath.



This one is Starshine, a Pegasus Pony



So much happier with this one, might have to redo the first too!

I am going to try this again with a stronger stablizer, and wonder under on the pieces. Hopefully that will help. Another friend suggested I just use a zig zag stitch instead.