Wet Dreams

While Layla is quite competent with using the potty during the day, night time training has been an issue.  Most parents will tell you that potty training is one of the worst things about parenting a toddler, and the fact that we have been continuing to struggle with this for over 2 years (more than half of her short life) Mike and I (and our washing machine) will attest to that statement.  When we began daytime toilet training, I experimented with washable pull-up trainers, which were fine for small accidents, but not sufficient for night time.  So we have been stuck with disposable pull-ups...but no more.  I have been re-inspired to get her into night time cloth for big girls, but this has resulted in a big hurdle to overcome: no free pattern (that I liked).  I am also looking into big girl diapers for an old friends daughter with special needs, so I'm trying to make a pattern that will accommodate some growth and be able to handle a good soaking and an easy change if necessary.  This is what I have come up with for Layla...not sure if it will work for Trin yet...the research and experiment continues....

Cut one pattern out of PUL material and one out of a cotton print.  Cut 4 side pannels out of a jersey stretch cotton for easy on/off.

Pin and sew side pannels.  One set pin and sew to PUL, second set pin and sew to cotton print (right sides together).

Outside with side pannels attached.

Inside with front pannels attached.

Line up with wring sides together, pin and sew as close as possible to edge all the way around to prepare for fold over elastic (FOE).

Add FOE all the way around.

Add 2 snaps on each wing and 3 snaps down the center to hold a soaker in place.

Soaker is now snapped in place

Finished trainer (front) (please ignore the grease stain on the jersey).

Finished trainer (back)

 Now it's ready to wear - I hope it works as good as it looks!

Pattern: These fit a child size 4/5 with 20" waist, 16" rise, and 14" leg hole.  Print on letter sized paper and assemble the front and back sections at the fold.  The pattern was folded in half and scanned, so cut out accordingly.  The side panels should be kept separate to be cut out on jersey. Sorry the colour is all funky - this is the best I could do :)

Dreaming of a Pantiliner Empire

A little background information:  I am what people call crafty.  They've called me that as far back as I can remember.  If it's a craft, I've probably tried it and made other people look bad because I could do it better.  Now, this has resulted in me getting a bit sloppy when it comes to crafting.  I have an "I can do anything attitude" matched poorly with a "git er done" motto.  My mom once tried to tell me that I was a perfectionist.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Being a perfectionist is b-o-r-i-n-g.  I want to finish up this thing and start on the next thing right now!  Also, I will need to go shopping and buy lots of supplies (more than for this one project, obviously) because this is so much fun I'm going to want to make a million of them!  After a few completed projects, I tend to get inspired to start something new and put the current work away to get back to it later....as in a few years later.  This has resulted in a pretty decent stock-pile of material and equipment with which to create or re-create.

Today was a Friday.  I should have been working, but I've been very sick all week and it just seems silly to start work on a Friday, right?  So...still feeling inspired by Project Runway All-Stars, Earth Day this weekend and a little by Alicia Silverstone baby bird feeding her little one....I'm thinking of sitting at the sewing machine getting creative instead of sitting at the computer editing documentation (a very essential task which I am leaving less and less time for).  So...I browse around on facebook and I see that LunaPads has popped up several times on my news page with stories of...shall we say lady-blood art?  It's gross.   I'm fascinated.  Like a beautiful train wreck that people are passionate about.  Is that even possible?   Well, I close up my computer and I know what my new priority is for the day.  I'm going to green-up my life a little bit more and sew some cloth lady pads for the postpartum horror that will accompany my darling new baby in about 6 weeks time.

This will be my third (and final) baby.  Ok, I get a little sad thinking that, but realistically, I am done with baby-making.  It's a lot of work and the joy is totally worth it, but you've got to draw the line somewhere, right?  So, are postpartum pads a good thing to invest in?  Really?  Ok, no, they probably aren't, so I think I've got to make something that is a basic liner with different soaker layers that can be snapped in and easily replaced with fresh ones throughout the day.  That should make these cheaper to make and own than a traditional all-in-one pad.  I can make a pattern using an existing unused pad I have and tack on a couple inches for 'good measure' (yes, that's a pun, you're welcome).  Since I'm working with my existing stash of fabric, including fabric I bought when I made a ton of baby diapers for my first born (that never did work as well as the store bought ones so I ended up replacing all my hand-made diapers with their brand-name versions), I've got a variety of cotton prints, white PUL, bamboo fleece, white cotton diaper flannel and this crazy synthetic felt called Zorb.  I lament the fact that I have not until recently discovered the eco-goodness and absorptive qualities of Hemp, but alas, I am forced make due with these fine options.  I console myself with the fact that when I start producing these amazing products for retail, I will experiment with more organic and hemp options.

Water-proof pad with snap in soakers - bamboo fleece on left and cotton flannel on right (shrinks more)

Pad with liner snapped in

 After making my planned extra-long pads I make a few regular all-in-one regular pads with some funky purple flower flannel I found.  So cute.  Here are the pics of my products after they have been washed to see how they would turn out.  I'm pretty pleased with the results.  First stop: my undies, next stop: the world!  Moo-hahahahha!! 

More pads!  Love them!!