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An Announcement!

 

The boys are reading up because our little family is going to get bigger! That's right, I'm pregnant with baby number three!

Free Knitting Pattern: Bear Beanie

Want to make an adorable hat in less than two hours? I've got the perfect super simple pattern for you! With the help of super bulky yarn this hat comes together lickety-split! If you are new to knitting I've included links to helpful YouTube videos, if you can knit and purl, you can make this hat!  And if you are an experienced knitter you can cast on and bind off in the time it takes to watch a couple episodes of your favorite show, might I recommend Stranger Things or Call the Midwife?

If the little bear ears aren't your thing you can simply opt for a single pom pom or leave them off all together. In the interest of simplicity this beanie has a very basic decrease and can be made smaller or larger with very little fuss.  The pattern is written for a toddler/little kid but at the end of this post you will find tips for making baby or big kid sizes.

Also, if you love hat patterns I've got two more free ones: Basic Knit Hat and Simple Ribbed Hat!

I hope you like this little hat pattern as much as I do!

Quick and Easy Bear Beanie

Materials:

Super Bulky Yarn (I used about yards of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick)

Size 13 (9mm) circular needles (16" or 36" if you prefer magic loop)

Directions:

Using a long tail cast on, cast on 40 stitches and join in the round (join in magic loop)

Knit 1, Purl 1 to create a simple rib until your work measures 8 inches

Knit 2 together (K2tog) for two rows until ten stitches remain (if not using magic loop you will need to pull your cable out at intervals and muscle it a bit, but I promise it will look good when you're done)

Cut the working yarn, leaving a long tail

Weave that tail through the remaining stitches as you remove them from the needle, pull tight and secure with one knot.

Make two pom poms by wrapping yarn around three fingers, tying it at the center with a piece of yarn, cutting the loops, and trimming.

Attach your pom poms to either side of the hat (about 3" measured from the center down along the curve of the hat with a flexible measuring tape). 

Weave in all your ends and try not to be blinded by the cuteness!

For a baby sized hat try casting on less stitches in multiples of 2, I would go with 34 and start your decreases at 6 inches.

For a larger hat cast on more stitches in multiples of 2, 48 should do it, and don't decrease until 9-10 inches.

Again, if you love hat patterns I've got two more free ones: Basic Knit Hat and Simple Ribbed Hat!

Happy Knitting!

How To Add A Waistband To Leggings

Finally!  The post many have been waiting for!  I'm here to teach you how to add not one, but two, different types of waistbands to my free sewing baby legging sewing pattern!  And don't forget that pattern also comes with a shorts option so it's perfect for summer!  I will show you how to add a simple waist band with elastic and, my personal favorite, an elastic-free fold over option.  Plus, I've got a few tips for upsizing the pattern!  

 

Simple Busy Box For Toddlers

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, Rubbermaid® fasten + go, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #FastenNGo http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

As I've mentioned before, I bring Ronan to work with me.  I feel very fortunate to work for the family business, which makes bringing my little one to work possible.  However, it is an office setting and I must actually get work done, including making phone calls.  It wasn't too hard to manage this when Ronan was a baby, but now that he is a very busy toddler, I've had to get creative.  

I put together is simple, open-ended busy box and it has been a big hit.  Although in all honesty I'm pretty sure half the fun lies in the nifty NEW Rubbermaid® fasten + go Sandwich Kit I packaged it in.  This sleek kit snaps together in a perfectly organized bundle and even has a removable carrying strap.  Ronan loves snapping the smaller containers together like a little puzzle. I love that it is BPA free and nests together for compact storage.        

This fun busy box is a great toddler activity.  It keeps them occupied and learning without a huge mess.  Plus, you can put it together quickly with just a few simple supplies.  This kit has everything you toddler needs to create bracelets made by stringing straw beads onto pipe cleaners, an excellent fine motor activity.  As well as a color matching game, where pom poms can be matched up with felt shapes; a wonderful lesson in colors and pre-math skills.  Finally, all of the supplies lend themselves to imaginative exploration.  Perhaps your toddler will enjoy pouring the straw beads from one container to another or trying to find other matching shapes and colors from around the room.    

To Create A Toddler Busy Box You'll Need:

• Rubbermaid® fasten + go Sandwich Kit
• Felt in several colors
• Pom Poms in colors to match the felt
• Pipe cleaners
• Plastic straws (preferably large ones)

How To Assemble a Toddler Activity Kit:

1.  Cut felt into shapes and place them in the sandwich container.
2. Top those with pipe cleaners.
3. Cut straws into 1" pieces and fill the two smallest containers.
4. Fill the last container with pom poms.
5. Wrap it all up and prepare for fun on the run. 

I hope this fun kit helps you keep your little one busy!  Starting on 12/27/15 head to your local Target store to purchase the NEW Rubbermaid® fasten + go kits! Available in Entree, Sandwich, and Soup Kits!  If you're looking for more simple toddler ideas, check out this DIY Travel Felt Board and ever popular Homemade Playdough!

 

DIY Keepsake Charm

Like most moms I am super sentimental, especially when it comes to little baby things.  I want to keep every tiny outfit and adorable shoe, but I don't want these things to be packed away taking up valuable storage space and never really being enjoyed.  

I've been pretty good about only saving the most special items, because let's be honest, some things are just too special to part with.  The little leather shoes I made for Ronan are one such thing.  I worked hard to create them with my own hands and he took his very first steps with his feet inside them.  So when I got the chance to work with Sprout again on their 3D scanner, I knew just what I wanted to scan first.  I love the idea of making sentimental items extra special and the Sprout makes it easy.  

With the Sprout by HP I was able to get a full 3D scan of the shoe.  I used the 3D Capture platform to get a digital version of that special little shoe, it's so cool to watch it materialize on screen.  From there you can manipulate your scan and turn it back into something physical.  

This all in one desktop was designed with the maker in mind.  There are design capabilities within the Sprout workspace and you can also use 3D Builder and Autodesk Meshmixer to further edit your scan.  I even could have turned the 3D capture into a 2D image and exported it to Adobe Illustrator or Autodesk Sketchbook.  I can't tell you how exciting it is to have my beloved Illustrator on the Sprout, but for this project I couldn't resist the magic of 3D printing.  

So after a little clean up and resizing, it was off to the 3D printer.  I worked with a local printer to create a tiny version of the little leather shoe.  (Side note: Andy is awesome! He is super nice, affordable, and extremely knowledgable.  If you are local I highly recommend having him print your 3D items.)   

With my tiny shoe in hand I got back to what I do best, making.  A little copper paint and jump ring later, I had my self a very special charm, a wearable piece of nostalgia.

I love how I was able to take an old-fashioned idea, the bronzed baby shoe, and create something throughly modern.  

A big thank you to Sprout for sponsoring this post.  It is posts like these that make this blog possible.  As always all words and images are my own.  

DIY Mini Dutch Door! A Handmade Activity Toy

Ronan is obsessed with doors and latches.  At the pool we joined this summer there is a kid sized door that separates the baby pool from the rest of the grounds.  He loves to open and close that door even more than he likes to swim.  Watching him play gave me the idea to create a super fun mini dutch door complete with latches, locks, and a mailbox.  And since I made the strong choice of marrying an very handy guy, my wacky idea became a real life toy.  

The door itself is made of plywood and it is hung on a simple two-by-four frame.  To make it extra sturdy the frame is attached to a small plywood base.  It is light enough for an adult to move around but strong enough to take some serious toddler (and kindergartener) abuse.  Most of the latches and locks are just for fun, but this is a fully functioning dutch door that can be latched and swung together or opened separately.  

Jason was able to salvage all of the wood from construction scrap, hooray for free and green! The latches, hinges, and knobs came from Home Depot and I found the mailbox on Amazon (affiliate link).  I painted the finished door with leftover paint, the gray is our exterior house color and the aqua is from the boys room.  All told this was a very affordable little project.    

Of course this would be an adorable playhouse entry, but for now I love using it as a free standing door.  Placed in front of the entry to the hall or kitchen, this little door provides so much fun and keeps him playing right where I can keep a watchful eye.  Speaking of watchful eye, I should note, if you make a door of your own, it is quite safe but you will still need to keep an eye out for pinched fingers and slammed doors.  Larger kids might be able to topple it if they are really determined.  As with most things, do not allow children to play with a toy like this unattended.        

I have lots of plans for more little details: curtains, flower pots, welcome mat!  And I will be sure to share those here, but first I'd love to know, would you like a full tutorial?  If you'd like to make your own door, but feel like you need detailed instructions I'm pretty sure I could twist Jason's arm if we get enough interest.  Please leave a comment if you'd like all the DIY details.   

Colorblock Bias Baby Blanket

I finally made Ronan his baby blanket.  I was going to make him one like his brother's but I was struggling to find the perfect fabric.  In the time I spent searching, Ronan made it clear that he didn't want a satin edged baby blanket, he wanted a knit one.  He fell in love with the chevron throw that was in the living room and has been sleeping with it for months.  But now I get to put that back on the couch and he gets to snuggle up with his very own special mama knit blanket.  I used the free Colorblock Bias Blanket pattern from Purl Bee and I couldn't be happier with the results.  This was a super quick and easy knit and it would be an awesome way to use up leftover bits of yarn, in fact I might need to cast on another soon!  

Ronan's middle name is Sky so the colors I chose were inspired by the heavens: the deep navy of the sky at twlight, the blue that appears just as the fog burns off, a golden streak of pure sunshine, inky black speckled with the silver of stars, and a comforting storm-cloud gray.     

Here are the knitty gritty details:

Pattern: Colorblock Bias Blanket

Yarn: Red Heart Soft in Navy, Mid Blue, and Light Heather Gray. Lion Brand Heartland in Black Canyon. Vanna's Choice in Mustard.

Needles: US Size 10 (36" circular)

Finished Dimensions: 42" x 42"  

Modifications: I skipped the tassels because, it's for a baby.  I went with washable yarn because, it's for a baby.  I used slightly larger needles for a squisher finish.  And my color pattern was as follows: cast on with navy, knit until almost out of yarn, knit 10 rows of gold, knit blue until almost out of yarn, start decrease with black, knit until almost out of yarn, finish with gray.  

I love the idea that the intention behind handmade items is big part of what makes them so special.  I knit love into every stitch of this blanket and I think Ronan can feel it.  It sure does make him happy, which in turn fills me right up to the brim with joy.  

Here's to happy handmades!

New Mom Survival Kit

My old friends have started having babies!  It's so fun and exciting to welcome them to motherhood.  As someone whose been there twice over, I love being able to help.  Whether it's giving words of encouragement, gear recommendations, or popping by with a home cooked meal; there are so many ways to support a new mom.  And let's face it, tackling parenthood for the first time is hard work, new moms deserve all the support they can get.  With that in mind, I partnered with Munchkin to create this new mom survival kit complete with cute free printables!   

Assembling a new mom survival kit is simple!  First, decorate a medium sized tote bag with a fun iron-on.  Download this Mothers are Miracles design in two colors:  orange or hot pink.  Simply print the image onto iron-on transfer paper, cut around the outside, and using a hot dry iron, adhere it to the tote.  

Next up, fill it with goodies.  Here is a free printable list, again in  orange or hot pink.  You can of course use your own been-there-done-that expertise to fill the kit, but here are my suggestions.

What to Pack In A New Mom Survival Kit:

For Baby:

• Burp cloths, my favorite are simple prefold diapers, they are large and absorbent.
• Plain onesies, you really can't have too many of these. I can't tell you how many times I've been thrilled to find one in the bottom of my diaper bag.
• Munchkin LATCH pacifiers, your body is not a binkie.  If you can get your little one to use a pacifier you will be oh so happy.
• Munchkin LATCH bottles, whether you are feeding breastmilk or formula, a great bottle makes life so much easier.

For Mom:

• Water bottle, an easy open reusable water bottle is key.  I've never been so thirsty as in those early days of motherhood.
• Coffee shop gift card, preferably one with a drive thru.
• Lactation cookies, these taste great and boost energy, mood, and supply! Here's the recipe!
• Mother's milk tea, I worried a lot about making enough milk, drinking this tea helped put my mind at ease.
• Nail polish, you might no have time to shower but you can still have cute toes!  A little gentle reminder to practice self care.
• Your number, just knowing you have a friend to call can make such a big difference.

New LATCH Products by Munchkin

I so wish they had these when my babies were born!  The pacifiers are all one piece, not too bulky, and come in cute colors!  LATCH pacifiers are super lightweight and come in several shapes that grow with baby.  And the LATCH bottles not only help by mimicking the breast, they also help reduce colic.  I had such a hard time getting Ronan to take a pacifier or a bottle, but I bet these would have done the trick.  Every baby is different and what works for one, doesn't always work for another, but these products are so well designed I think they are a great place to start.  You can find the LATCH products online or at your next trip to Target!        

I hope this kit helps you support and welcome a friend to motherhood.  What do you think, did I forget something major? What would you add to the kit?

This post was sponsored by Munchkin.  As always, all words and opinions are my own.  Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.