accidental felting

So in a previous post I talk about how you don't need to felt wool, and I don't.

Sometimes it happens by accident when dad (let's blame him lol) throws your favorite night time wool in the wash.  Leya face it, he isn't going to do it to the pair you don't care about cuz they are in the back of baby's dresser.  There isn't much you can do.  If they are too small you can save them for the next baby or pass them on.

Now say you don't let dad do the laundry for this reason and you carefully hand wash and lano your wool.  You may find the crotch felts over time, or the knees (for older babies), or the thighs (for chunky babies).  Don't panic.  It is going to happen.  It won't be supper felted and (in the instance of the crotch) the felting will make it work a little better.

I consider this type if felting the natural wear and tare and breaking in process.  Let it be.  You might want a wool shaver if it gets fuzzy.  That's up to you and all about looks.

Enjoy and relax mama's! Relax.

Monster Bunz VS Katrina's (for woolies)

When I started with wool wraps, soakers, longies and shorties I went with Katrina's.  It was free and everybody raved about it and wool works so wonderfully and it was easy to use when up cycling.  Then my friend bought me the monster bunz pattern to make some non wool pants for Monkey.  I loved it.  Then  I made a pair of longies with the pattern and was blown away.  Next I made rompers, shorties and just got carried away modifying the pattern to my every whim.  Yes you have to pay for it and yes it is worth it and you will get your money back for all the woolies and clothes you will make with it for years to come. 

First we will look at 2 pics then a point form list (but the pics show my preference best).  

 This above pic is a pair of yellow shorties made with Monster Bunz (MB).  They fit great in the bum but notice they fit great in the front also, and the waist and well, just all over.

This is a pair of red shorties using Katrina's.  Notice the crotch droop?  Yes they cover his fluff bum but this pattern fits front and back the same and even a cloth diapered bum isn't as fluffy up front, even with the diapers soaker folded to catch boy pee.
*took both these pics this morning in the same diaper for best illustrations.

•MB is cut like pants but with a butt circle to accommodate a fluffy CD bum. The circle comes into the crotch to also accommodate fluff crotch (without droop).
Katrina's accommodates fluff bum by width.  

•MB is more narrow where you add the waist band this makes the waist band fit the waist better, especially if at the age where baby transitions to toddler and slims down in the tummy with all that running around.
Katrina's does not narrow at the waist and I always needed to re-size it. 

•MB grows with the child for a longer fitting time
Katrina's sizes are less accommodating

•Katrina's have an optional second layer in the wet zone
MB does not but I have added one.  It wasn't easy but it is doable for a more experienced seamstress or someone with a lot of patience.  Alternatively you could felt the wool (which will mean the item won't fit as long) or use a thicker sweater or interlock.  I have a pair if interlock shorties that didn't need the extra layer. 

back snapping wool romper with butt circle (tutorial)

This is a tuturial on how to sew this romper (which I just love).  To make the pattern click here.

On to sewing.  I made this in wool interlock so it also doubles as a diaper cover.  But this pattern will work in any knit.

If you followed the other tutorial you now have all your pieces cut.  Next clean your bobbin run and needle plate.  Change your needle and thread your machine.

I like to get the little things taken care of first.  So fold your sleeve cuff over lengthwise and place on right side of sleeve.  Sew.  Open seam up and top stitch.  Repeat on other sleeve.

Take leg cuff, right sides together sew down length.  Trim seam allowance.  Fold over so seams are in inside.

Next we will add the yokes to the necklines.  This is how you get a proper neckline.  Put right aides together.  Line up and pin neckline of front piece to front yoke.  Sew neckline.  Trim seam allowence.  Flip yoke over and pin.  Top stitch.  Repeat with back shirt piece and back yoke.

Hem bottom of back shirt piece and back pant piece.  I used a double line of stitching.  If making out if non-wool knit use a straight stitch and a zig zag or diamond stitch at raw edge.

Now we will place back pant piece right sides together over front leg area.  Pin the inside seams of the legs.  Sew each inside leg seam.

Open pants up. Top. Stitch inside leg seam.

Open pant section (wrong side up).  You will have a circular hole.  Place butt circle (wrong side up) in hole.  Because this one is wool, I am using two circle pieces for added wet zone protection.  Pin the center of the circle at top and bottom, then at leg seams. My pins are on the green side.

Now add the rest of your pins working from current pins inwards.  This helps to fit in even without stretching any area to make it fit.  Next sew your circle and trim seam allowance.

Now lay your back top piece (right sides together) over top of your front piece and pin and sew shoulders.

Lay outfit flat open with shoulder seams facing you wrong side up.  Lay sleeve into arm hole also wrong side up.  Pin sleeve to arm hole.  Pin edges, then center then fill pins in like we did with the butt circle.  Sew and trim seam allowance.  Repeat with second sleeve.

Lay outfit altogether right sides in.  Pin outside edges from sleeve cuff down.  Then bottom of leg up.  When you get to where the bottom of back shirt meets bottom of back pant pin the pant hem over the shirt hem.  Repeat on other side.  Your out fit is all one piece now except for leg cuffs.

With outfit still inside out place leg cuff inside of leg, matching up all the raw edges.  Line up seams.  Pin seam, then across from seam.  Add more pins if needed.  I used 4.  Sew cuff to pants and trim seam allowance.  

Turn outfit out and you are almost done.  Just add two snaps or buttons to the opening at the back.  

Now first time I put an outfit like this on my oldest I was lost.  Sit baby in your lap.  Put head through neck.  Put arms in.  Pull down and put legs in, pull over bum.  Do up snaps or buttons.  When baby can crawl or walk away this is a fast outfit to get on them.  It is also quick for diaper changes.