Serger: August 2012 Archives
I run a mobile library out of the back of my car.
The book list is ever revolving and there always seems to be at least 10 books
back there at a given time. My little one loves books and if I need to run
errands, I need to have a constant supply. I designed this Back Seat Car
Organizer to fit her mobile library but it can easily be used for art supplies,
toys, diapering needs (for the babies) or whatever your child needs to get
through a trip out and about. My organizer slips onto the back of a car seat
and features 3 pockets, 2 big and 1 small. While looking for a great place to
take pictures I discovered that this organizer is perfect for other locations
in the house that need a space to store kid supplies. You can hang it on your stairs
for the "you need to take this stuff upstairs" stuff, hang it from a coat hook
for school supplies in the mud room or mount it by bunk beds for books or in a
closet for hair and toiletries. The ideas are endless as long as you have a
need. The finished Back Seat Car Organizer is 21'' h by 13.5'' w.
To make your own you will need:
1 yd of heavy canvas
fabric for lining
1 yd of quilting cotton
if making all pockets the same or
¼
yd for small pocket
¼
yd for medium pocket
½
yd for large pocket
Plus approx. 2 yd of 2.5'' bias trim for edging and
strap
2 snaps
Instructions (all seams are ½'' unless stated otherwise):
From canvas cut:
Two
21''x13.5'' pieces for body
One
17''x13.5'' for large pocket
One
12''x13.5'' for medium pocket
One
6''x'13.5'' for small pocket
From Quilting Cotton cut (sub in various prints if
you want a different print for each pocket)
One 17''x13.5'' for large pocket
One
12''x13.5'' for medium pocket
One
6''x'13.5'' for small pocket
With RS together, pin all pocket pieces together and
stitch across the top (one of the 13.5'' sides). Press seam open then press WS
together and pin 3 open sides together for all pockets. Topstitch across the top, finished edge.
Baste 2 body canvas pieces together. Pin Large
Pocket in place, lining up bottom and side raw edges. On each side, mark 10''
down from top. Starting at top finished edge,
stitch down one side, pivoting at the 10'' mark, stitching across to 2nd
10'' mark and back up to the top, back stitch at both ends. This shortens the pocket so it isn't a deep cavern that will eat your books.
Pin medium and small pockets in place, matching
bottom and sides and baste in place. Square up everything with a ruler and a
rotary cutter now if you want.
Apply bias trim, starting at the center bottom and
working your way around the entire edge of the organizer.
To make your snap straps, you can either serge your
straps like me or stitch up 15'' of your remaining double folded bias trim. Cut
your strap into 2 pieces, one 7'' and one 8''. Double fold ½'' at one end of the 8'' strap and
apply the female snap according to your package instructions (check out my post
on snaps here for extra help). The snap will hold the double fold in place so
you don't need to sew it first. Repeat for second strap with male snap and
place a second male snap 1'' down from the first. Pin your snap straps 2.5'' in
from each side on top of the organizer and stitch in place twice for extra
durability.
Enjoy your new Back Seat Car Organizer. I have
another on my cutting table already for baby #2. It will initially be used for
wipes, pacifiers, bibs, diapers and burp cloths and hopefully evolve to books as
well from there!
When I first found out I was pregnant back in January, one of my first objectives was maternity/baby items search on Etsy and wouldn't you know what the top maternity item was at the time: Hospital Gowns. Apparently moms are tired of looking washed out and plain in these first pictures with baby. New moms want to look as fabulous and glamorous as they do every other day, despite the fact that they are in a hospital. So the market for designer hospital gowns took off. I put a designer hospital gown at the top of my "To Make" list, found this pattern by Lazy Girl Designs and quickly decided on my fabric. I choose Spot On Mini Dots Navy Quilting Cotton for several reasons:
1) I love polka dot right now and it works well with everything. I certainly don't want to clash with hospital issue receiving blankets should I forget to swaddle my little one in my own first.
2) Navy is a good color for me; It won't wash me out.
3) Navy should be easy to wash because, let's face it, this gown is going to get dirty. I don't want to ruin 3 yds of Amy Butler fabric and I don't want to spend my first few days at home trying to rescue my hospital gown with delicate washings to remove stains
Now you may think why would you spend all this time on a gown you will wear once? Well, just like your wedding gown it is mostly about the pictures that you will cherish for a lifetime and you want to look good! But also after careful thought I figure that I can wear this gown many times the first few weeks or even months. It will make a great nightgown until baby gets a night time schedule. It will make night feedings that much easier and comfy. I can certainly wear it at home the first few days until I am feeling better. And afterwards I can use the fabric to make a memory quilt or some other small project. This pattern only required 3 yds of Designer Quilting Cotton so making your own is cost effective and fun!
Even more appealing for all you non-pregnant folks out there is that this free pattern is not a maternity hospital gown but just a regular hospital gown pattern that can be adapted for maternity use. I cut mine out with two left sides for the back and it fits me perfectly being 8 mos pregnant. You can make this gown for any loved one with an upcoming hospital stay. It is a great way to brighten up what is sure to be an anxiety-ridden adventure. My only changes would be to recommend lowering or widening the neckline. It is a lot too modest for me. Not that I want to look like a vixen in the hospital but I don't like my neckline crowding me. I like to have plenty of room around the neck in case I sit on my gown funny or it gets pulls accidently. I am going to lower mine at least 3'' and make it into more of a scoop neck just for the extra room for movement in the hospital bed. I do love how this pattern does away with all the gathers and frills of most maternity gowns. I enjoyed only spending a few hours on this pattern instead of several days. As stated earlier, yes I want to look good but this is not a wardrobe staple so I want to invest just enough time to look good with it being a time suck. The Velcro at the shoulders was a blessing over the snap tape I see in most hospital gown patterns. I want the quickness of Velcro over the precision of a snap. I also used self fabric to interface at the shoulder seams for looks and added double folded trim at the shoulder edge and neckline. I cut six 1 yd 2'' strips from the scraps cutting out the gown and pressed 4 of them into double folded trim. The two strips I didn't press I pinned RS together on my shoulder edges and stitched on. Then I pressed the seam towards the gown and folded the trim towards the gown and topstitched in place (see picture above). Then I added the Velcro. I omitted the button because I am not really sure of its purpose but I can always add it later. I also serged the sleeves, back edges and bottom hem to save time and because I just received my new serger and I am LOVING it! I was also able to use the remaining strips as back ties. I will add one more to just above the rump so I don't have my bottom poking out when I walk around.
Overall, I really enjoyed this pattern. It was quicker than I anticipated, looks more fabulous than I expected and it comfy, comfy comfy. I recommend it for any expecting mom or hospital go-er!
Thank you Lazy Girl Designs for your wonderful pattern!
