Longies Links

I don't really use a pattern for making Munchkin's pants, but if you'd like to make your own, here are the best, free tutorials I've found online to pass along to you.  Let me know if you make a pair -- I'd love to see pics!

Sleeve Longies: using the sleeve you kip 2 steps.  Sewing the outside seams, and adding a cuff to the ankle.)

Sleeve Longies  Photo Tutorial, using a simple elastic waistband

GreenKitchen's Phtoto Tutorial (in detail), using an elastic waistband

MakeBabyStuff's Photo Tutorial, using the sweater's own ribbing to create waistband (this is basically the method I used for Munchkin's longies HERE and the blue pair HERE)
Sewing Dork's Photo Tutorial, shows how to also work with a sweater that has sleeves that are too short.

Wool Applique: 

HappyCrazyLife's: Photo Tuturial on cotton, but can be used for appliquéing onto wool  (this is basically the method I used on the lollipop longies HERE)

FabricObsession's: Photo Tutorial on cotton.  Similar to first tutorial, but when you machine appliqué onto WOOL however, or any stretchy material, you want to use a stabilizer/interfacing underneath the wool so that it doesn't shift.

Waistband: 

Meg's Easy Waistband: Awesome Tutorial of the simplest waistband ever!  It cuts out 2 steps: having to sew a casing first, and threading the elastic (annoying).  Plus, it prevents the elastic band (if you use a wider width elastic) from rolling/twisting over time!!  

Quick Longies!

 I made these 100% Cashmere longies for a friend's daughter who turned one year old. They're made from thrifted sweaters, of course, and are SOOO soft.  They fit her perfectly, which was a near miracle considering I totally guessed how big they'd need to be!  I used the same design of the striped longies blogged about HERE.  My favorite thing about them is the lollipop appliqué!  I thought it would be more difficult with wool, but it went well.  I'll have to post a tutorial sometime. 

They were SO soft, in fact, that I felt guilty not making a pair for my son as well (pictured below).  Since Munchkin is cloth diapered I put a "butt-panel" (as I call it) into his pair.  It's basically a V-shaped panel in back that gives more room for his well-padded bum! And I did the same fold-over waistband and cuff for his pair as well, so they'd last him longer in both height and width.   

What do ya think!?

Family Christmas Fun

Well I hope you ALL had a wonderful holiday with family and friends!  We sure did!  

We travelled a lot to visit as much family as we could this year, 

knowing we might not be able to travel as much with a new baby!  

For Christmas we travelled to PA to visit the family farm!

Then, for New Years weekend we travelled to WV to celebrate with dad's family as well!  

2008 was FULL of many blessings for hubby and I and I'm sure 2009 will as well! 

Happy New Year to you all and we wish you unspeakable joy in the year to come!!

Mom had NEVER seen National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation...

She laughed soooo hard the whole way through!!

Here's our daughter with her reindeer ears!!  How cute!

Here's the stockings I made for Bon's kids, since I think she's done at 4  :)

I didn't take a close up of the applique since it was my first attempt ever!

The fabric was a green corduroy on red velvet, adhered with a white satin stitch!

 You can't see it very well but I also hand embroidered little holiday symbols in the 

upper left corner of each that I was proud of as they were my first attempts at 

hand embroidery ever, as well:  a snowflake, holly berries/leaves, candycane, and a star!