Flannel Burp Cloths

Our good friends Mike and Krista are having a baby! I like to make gifts for baby showers – they’re more personal. I have a lot of practice making baby shower gifts – the past few years have been peppered with new little ones and I know this is only the beginning. For Mike and Krista I made some burp cloths, bibs, and a door jammer.

My fabric stash is getting a little out of control, I’ll admit. I buy a lot of fabric in hopes of being inspired later with it… I think a lot of us do this, right? Maybe it’s just me. Regardless, I have loads of fabric just waiting for projects. One in particular I have been sitting on for ages is this super cute flannel that I grabbed out of the remnant bin. I can finally use it! Perfect amount of fabric for a couple burp cloths. Also, try to pick a busy pattern – they hide stains better!

What you will need:
- Flannel fabric  approximately 1 yard (I used 3/4 yards)
- The Usual Suspects: thread, scissors, sewing machine, iron

1. Cut your fabric into 4 rectangles (or two double long rectangle strips, folded in half). Mine came out to 4 rectangles 21” x 14”.

2. With two rectangles together, right side in, sew a 1/4” seam around all edges, leaving 4-6” open at the end.

Tip: Snip your corners so when you turn your burp cloth right side out, your corners will be sharp!

3. Turn burp cloth right side out. Sew opening closed.

4. Topstitch a 1/2” seam around the edge of the burp cloth. Press to finish.

How easy was that? Took me 15 minutes for both of them. Great project for beginners and moms will love them!

Burp cloths, Sweet Baby Bibs, and Door Jammers 
What do you guys like to include in your baby shower gifts? Or better yet, Moms, what did you like to receive when you had your baby shower? I love to hear what you guys have to say!

Congratulations to Mike and Krista! I can’t wait to meet your little one in February!

Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers,
Bridget XOXO

Felt Throw Pillows

My future sister-in-law Julia has a new apartment and I had her for our family secret Santa this year. She had been telling me about her decorating theme at Thanksgiving and I knew exactly what I wanted to make for her; throw pillows! Throw pillows are not cheap to buy – even at Homegoods or Marshalls they will run $20 – $40 for one. Making them only cost me about $5 per pillow, if that. After making these pillows for Julia, I’m a little jealous… I need to make some for my couch!

What you need: (for 4 throw pillows)
2.5 yards of felt – look for a stiff but soft one, you don’t want it to be scratchy
2 yards of muslin
1 bag of polyfill
4 zippers 12”
The Usual Suspects: sewing machine, thread, scissors

1. Start by making your filler pillows – you can skip this step if you just want to make the felt pillow covers.

Using the muslin, cut 16x16” squares and sew all four sides together, leaving a small opening (6 inches is good). Turn pillow right side out. Stuff with polyfill until desired firmness is reached. Topstitch opening closed.

 

2. Pillow cover time! Start by cutting 8 18x18” squares for 4 pillows.

3. Add a zipper. Take one of your 2 felt squares and cut 4 inches off the top.

Top stitch zipper onto the big half of your cut square, using a zipper foot.

  

Take your 4” strip and overlap the zipper by 1”. Flip the square over, pin your zipper into place and stitch

 

4. Top stitch your 2 squares together, leaving a 2 inch seam from the edge (for frills!). If your 2 squares are not the same size (because you added a zipper to one), you can trim them to match. I just left them as is and you can hardly tell once they are done.

 

5. Stuff your filler pillow into your felt pillow cover.

 

These pillow covers look so cute and they’re so easy to make. Let me know how yours turn out!

Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers,
Bridget XOXO

Happy New Year!

What an amazing year 2013 was… my first year of blogging, I got engaged to the man of my dreams, I started a new job, I went on a cruise, I started the hunt for my first house… the list goes on and on. Reflecting on the year passed, I feel truly blessed for the amazing life I am able to live. My New Year’s resolution this year is to not forget this; I find that it is so easy to lose sight of the forest when I’m focusing on the trees.
So everyday this year I am going to write down something that I am thankful for; something that makes me happy or makes me feel blessed.
It is so easy to think of negatives and things that bother us, annoy us, or drive us crazy. Hopefully by the end of this year I’ll be able to think of positive things just as easily.
I am so blessed to have a creative outlet – this blog has added a wonderful aspect to my life; I feel whole being able to express my creative side and this blog pushes me to carve out time in my week for me and something I love. Thank you all for encouraging, inspiring, and supporting me!!

As always, Thank you for stopping by. May you have a blessed and healthy New Year! Cheers!

Love, Bridget
XOXO