I've been busy sewing again! I've been knitting a bit too, but I've been sewing more, since I know that I can knit more easily once the baby arrives.
One of the things that I finished recently was this diaper bag. I like it because it has 6 pockets on the inside, two on the outside, and a matching changing pad. It is also messenger-style, which is easy to carry, and it doesn't look like a diaper bag! The inner is quilter's cotton, and the outer is printed suedecloth. 
I started sewing for the baby yesterday too. Here is a kimono top made from some penguin flannel. I made the smallest size, knowing that the pattern runs large, but this is even bigger than I thought! What 7lb baby has a 20" chest?!? But I'm sure it will fit at some point! 
This is one of my favorites so far. The green top is So Soft, which is like minkee, and the footie pants are chocolate brown velour. I made up the pants pattern myself when I couldn't find one that I liked locally. The top has a bear applique on it as well. 
Here is B in her new nightgown. We both loved the turtle flannel! 
And A in his car jammies. 
I made both of them coats as well. I found a great deal on double-sided fabric, and as you can see, they both liked their coats. A's is a Kwik Sew pattern (KS 2545). 
B picked out her fabric. Her coat is from a Butterick pattern (4648). I had enough fabric left over from both jackets to make one each for the baby, this way we're set either way! 
B needed some more clothes, so I made this outfit too (another Butterick pattern 3316). I made a red sparkle velour dress from this pattern as well. Like all the Big 3 patterns, these have run large, but I've learned to compensate. 
B loves Thomas the Train, so when she asked for something with Thomas on it, I came up with this dress. It was one of my first projects on my new serger. I love the rolled hem and lettuce edging! The top was one of my husband's old polo shirts that had a stain on it, but it was perfect for the dress. It will be one of her Christmas gifts. 
I found the reindeer fleece in the remnant bin at Joann's and there was enough for two raglan pullovers, once for A and B. the red is leftover from a pullover I made for myself. 
Here are more fleece raglans. They are great because they fit well, are warm, easy care, and all came from leftover fleece from making pullovers for my in-laws two years ago. Although it helps that I made 9 pullovers that year! 
Lastly, my husband needs a new pair of flannel pants, and this was super thick and cozy flannel. I had some waffle knit to make him a shirt to go with it. And there was plenty of fabric left (have you noticed a trend here?), so much that I made matching outfits for both B and A. B's has the scottie, and A's has the whale. They should keep them all warm during our Christmas travels! 
Off to feed my munchkins, cut more fabric, and back to the sewing machine!
I finished Miss B's dress last week, but only sewed on the buttons today. I used the pattern for the dress found here. Every summer I feel the need to knit cute things for the warm weather, but I don't care too much for knitting with pure cotton yarns. The dress called for Kraemer Yarns Little Leigh, which has 2 plies of acrylic, and 3 of cotton (55% acrylic/45% cotton) and there was enough give in the yarn to make the knitting go smoothly. I did make the pattern a bit bigger, but didn't make any other changes.
I didn't like the hat in the pattern, and who needs a hat like that in the summer anyway? So since my little B is a girly girl (much to my chagrin) I made her a matching purse. It is just big enough to fit her pocket-sized New Testament (her Bible in which she "reads" about Daniel and the lion's den :) to the amusement of many at church) and her sunglasses. The purse is about 5" in diameter, but can be made larger by using a worsted yarn. I'll also give you some rough decrease calculations on making it bigger too.
Semi-Circle Purse Pattern
Yarn: DK weight cotton blend in MC and CC, about 50 yds each. I used leftovers, so I don't have exact yardage.
Needles: US 4 (or one size smaller than used to achieve ball-band gauge)
Gauge: 6.5 sts per inch, but not really important
Notions: 1 button (opt.), scraps of black yarn for embroidery (opt.)darning needle, 3 dpns in one size smaller than used for the body to knit the I-cord
Using the provisional cast on and MC, cast on 8 sts. Work in garter stitch for 12" or 68 ridges.
Shaping for handles:
Row 1: K1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: k1, ssk, k2tog, k1
Using these 4 sts and smaller dpns, work I-cord for 16" or until desired length.
Undo the provisional cast on, and work the 3 handle shaping rows, making sure that the right side is facing. Graft the end of the I-cord to the 4 live sts remaining after the shaping rows.
Body
First Side:
With MC pick up 68 sts along one edge of garter stitch strip.
Row 2: inc. 1 sts in each of the first and last sts and purl the remaining sts.
Row 3: decrease 5 sts evenly spaced while at the same time working the first and last 3 sts in I-cord as follows: slip the first 3 sts to the right hand needle purlwise, working the rest of the row as written. Maintain I-cord edging for rest of body.
Change to CC.
Rows 4-8: work as established.Row 9: 3 sts in I-cord, (k1, k2tog) to last 5 sts, knit.
Rows 10-14: work as established.
Row 15: 3 sts in I-cord, k2tog to last 3 sts, knit.
Rows 16-18: work as established.
Row 19: 3 sts in I-cord, k2tog to last 3 sts, knit.
Row 20: 3 sts in I-cord, p2tog to last 3 sts, purl.
Row 21: 3 sts in I cord, ssk, k1, k2tog, k3.
Transfer first 6 sts to dpn and place remaining 3 sts on aonther dpn. Using third dpn, work applied I-cord on remaining 3 body sts, grafting the I-cord together after eliminating the 3 body sts.
Second Side: Repeat as for first side through row 21. Finish as for first side if an open bag is wanted. If a button closure is desired work as follows:
Row 22: 3 sts I-cord, p2tog, p4.
Transfer first 4 sts to one dpn and the last 4 to a second dpn. Using a third dpn, work in I-cord, knitting the last 2 sts together. Work I-cord until about 2" long, or long enough to fit around chosen button. Graft I-cord to 4 sts on first dpn, decreasing one st while grafting.
Embroider seeds using lazy daisy stitch and sew on button.
If you want a larger bag, knit the garter stitch strip until there are a multiple of 20 ridges. Pick up one stitch for every ridge. Omit the decreases on row 3, and decrease 20 sts every 6th row until 60 sts remain, then work rows 9-21/22 above.
Copyright Carissa @ Chrysalis Knits. For personal use only. Please do not sell or otherwise distribute this pattern without written consent.
We are headed to Nashville for a few days tonight, and I wanted to sew a few things for the trip. So I got out the sewing machine yesterday and churned out a skirt and two dresses. This skirt is Simplicity 5956, and is cut on the bias. I have made a skirt or two from this pattern before, and I like the way if fits. The fabric is some that I found at Joann's on sale last year. 
This is some more Joann fabric. The flowers are actually more green than blue. The dresses were hard to photograph well. The pattern is Simplicity 5049, and it is an empire waisted, short-sleeved dress. I meant to make the V-neck higher, but it was late when I was cutting the pieces out, and I just forgot. 
I have realized that I really like Kwik Sew patterns. They almost never go on sale, but they fit better (on me) than many of the other brands. This is another short-sleeved, empire waisted, v-neck dress (do you see a theme here?), Kwik Sew 3253. They are all knee length, and very comfortable. I don't like to wear shorts much during the summer, I'd much rather wear skirts and dresses since I think that they are more comfortable. 
These are a few blossoms from the flowering almond tree in our front yard. This is one of my favorite ornamental trees, so imagine my delight when it started blooming in the middle of April. Our yard is now covered with pink petals, but the tree was gorgeous in full bloom!
Here's another one that I like (Simplicity 5695). It was not quite as easy as the first one, but it went together quickly. The most difficult parts were the gathers. I like this style because B can dress herself since there are no zippers. I also think that most zippers are too stiff for kidswear. 
Here is B modeling my favorite (Simplicity 5118). I used my serger to make a rolled hem, and then I used the scallop stitch feature on my sewing machine to make cute scallops on the edges. I like how it dresses up a fairly plain dress. 
I have some patterns for the boys too, but I haven't cut them out yet. I hope to make most of the kids clothes for the spring/summer.
