The Giving Flower

No, I didn’t have a baby. I adopted one. Her name is Baby Born and she was delivered on Alida’s birthday. Actually she really is Alida’s but I get to play with her, too. Sometimes. When Alida’s asleep and I put her back where she was when I’m done.
Last night I whipped up this suit for Baby Born because it can get quite cold in the bike seat when we bring Alexander to kindergarten in the morning.
Here’s the suit.If you feel the need, click to make it bigger.
I couldn’t find a zipper small enough so I just used bias tape to make a tie in the front. It is so much fun making clothes for this doll; soon she’s going to have a better wardrobe than me, although that’s not too hard to do. Don’t ask me why but I’ve always loved sewing doll clothes. Maybe because I’m a big doll lover, and when I was little my friend’s mother used to make the coolest things for her doll and I was determined to do the same. Maybe because they don’t grow out of the things I sew. I just love it. I have a magazine with Baby Born patterns but I don’t have any patterns for dresses. You see, my goal is to make a bunch of outfits for Alida for Christmas. Does anyone know where I can find Baby Born patterns for free on the net?

By the way, no one in our family rides a bike without a helmet! No one.

Guess what I did today.
I went to my sewing machine store. Sound boring? Wait, it gets better. Last year I bought a new Pfaff queen-of-all-queens Quilt Expressions sewing machine (yes, I sold my left arm for this baby), and because I’ve had a few problems with him during the year the repair man felt sorry for me and fixed my serger for free. He just had to tighten a screw or two and my baby was off and sewing!!! I could have hugged him right there. Had to control myself. Oh, by the way, those were two pictures of my serger in the last post if you hadn’t figured that one out by now. Of course you know what I did next, don’t you? Of course you do, I went home and finished my first toile bag. I had started him yesterday, so today I just had to put in the zipper gusset using my serger for clean edges. Oh how I love this machine. I’m very easy to please, you see. I made this little bag almost the same size as my hipster except he has a long I-can-wear-it-around-my-body strap. I copied the zipper gusset from my L.L.Bean boat bag which I use as my knitting bag. Too cool.
Here is the bag before the serger and…
after, not that you can tell I used it. Hey, I know I used it!

How about some more corset details?

As you can see I’m sewing the ribbing together for the good of mankind otherwise there would be no coverage in the front, the gapping would expose too much for anyone to handle.

I’ve finally figured out how to put my pattern in pdf. format and how to upload it so you can download it. Is that all correct? Anyhow, just click on the picture under My free patterns on the sidebar, if you’re interested in the directions. If you do use it, let me know what you think.

It’s hard to knit and sew without a left arm!!!

Look what I took out of hiding.

This baby has been hiding under my computer desk for the last 8 years. My parents gave him to me as a college graduation present and I can’t believe I’ve been neglecting him for so long!! Alexander and I took him out this morning, oiled him up and got him running again. The only problem, and probably the reason he was in hiding in the first place, is that he sometimes misses a stitch and needs to see a doctor. I can’t afford any medical bills right now but soon, I promise, he’ll be properly taken care of.

Here is the first pic of my almost-finished corset. Thanks to anmiryam from Gromit Knits (who needs to pick up hers again because it’s quite fun to knit) I’m posting this picture, but you’re going to have to wait for all-done pictures and more details because I’ve just finished the crocheted edge and need to do a bit more of finishing up. I also need to buy buttons which may have to wait until Sunday. I’ve been asking everywhere and driving everyone nuts on how to crochet and I think I’ve now gotten it down. Look at that edge, aren’t you proud??!! I’m very pleased with my attempt. Hey, playing with yarn stays playing with yarn, no matter what kind of needle you use! Crocheting could become addictive. Oh no!! Stay tuned for more pictures.