I have long list of sewing projects I want to get accomplished before Christmas. I finally got around to a few of them.
We found out about 2 weeks before Graham was to move to his new classroom that he would be sleeping on a cot and not a crib. I thought he wouldn't be moving to a cot until around Christmas. So, we had to hop on getting Graham a nap mat. I had already been looking at different style mats online. I of course like the more complicated one. I didn't think I would be able to do the quilting and it look nice, so I asked Graham's Gran if she could make it for him. At this point she was about to start back to school teaching, so she was VERY gracious to make this for him.
I sent all the supplies over, plus the pictures and dimensions of the cot tot nap mat. I actually couldn't find a tutorial or that anyone was actually making these on Etsy or Pinterest. I was very surprised. The only place I saw them was on Amazon. They were a good price and the fabric was ok, I like the fabric I chose MUCH better, but the quality of the ones on Amazon were not good according to the reviews.
Gran mailed the finished nap mat back.
Graham loved it! you can see the elastic on the corners that goes around the legs of the cot or the nap mat, the built in pillow case that hods a pillow you can take out when you wash the mat each week, a built in pocket under the cover to hold his stuffed animal, a cover, and when it is all rolled up and the elastic holds it closed, it has a handle to carry it. Great design!!!
Can you tell he is excited about his new nap mat?!! I guess he is reacting the way we all wish we could when we get excited about things every once in a while! haha!
Daddy took this picture of Graham holding his alligator nap mat. Such a big boy!
Thank you Gran!!!
Graham's Grilling Apron
Nana and Papaw are bringing my old wooden play kitchen down when they come to visit next weekend. So, I finally finished Graham's grilling apron for him to wear in his new play kitchen. It has caramel ties and charcoal stripped linen apron with a pocket. I might have his name added to the top in brown. I made the apron a little bigger so he can wear it for a long time. I will get a picture of him in it when the kitchen arrives. I didn't use a tutorial or a pattern to make this. I measured Graham and used one of his t-shirts as a guide, but made the apron longer. I saw an apron at the website below last year, I guess it is the one that is on the website now and it looked kind of masculine. When I saw this fabric and the trim at the fabric store last year, I just envisioned what I wanted it to look like. It kind of just looks like the type of product this website sells and I thought it was too cute in miniature! I cut this one out, pinned it together a few weeks ago, and sewed it together last weekend during Graham's Saturday nap.
Graham's Art Smock
I saw a few art smocks I liked on Pinterest. The ones I liked the most were sold on Etsy at the links below. Most of the tutorials on Pinterest used outdoor tablecloth material, oil cloth, didn't have good coverage, or were a more complicated pattern. I liked this simple pattern similar to the ones sold on Etsy, but i didn't really like the fabrics they were using that much. I found this wonderful dragon fabric on Etsy. I love it! I laminated the fabric with the iron on laminate that comes on a roll at the fabric store. Pretty neat stuff. I wish the roll was longer. I am going to have to see if I can find a longer roll for future projects. Again I didn't use a tutorial or a pattern. I studied a few of the other art smocks I mentioned above and came up with this design. Again I used one of Graham's t-shirsts as a guide, but made it a little bigger and longer. Again I want Graham to be able to wear it for a few years. I think the blue trim really adds to it. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to pull this off, but it was pretty easy. I laminated the fabric, cut it out, and pinned it together a few weeks ago. I just sewed the trim on four separate pieces first, then sewed the four pieces together. I sewed it together today during Graham's Saturday nap.
I still have to make Graham's tool belt like the one I made for Jack for his birthday. Poor Graham, I started working before his birthday and I didn't get it made. It is cut out. I just have to pin it together and get his name embroidered on it, before I sew it together.
It is hard to get these items made, since I would rather spend the time with Graham and since I have lots of house work to do. The house is messy, but I got it made! I have one more project that I hope to get completed in the next two weeks. So, more pics to come.
