It's Tutorial Tuesday! t shirt boxer briefs or wool soaker boxers

Today's tutorial is originally for making boxer briefs for boys out of t-shirts, but you can also use the pattern to make boxer-style wool soakers! Today's tutorial comes to us from Nancy's Couture blog (thanks, Nancy!), an awesome blog for anyone that sews! For the tutorial & pattern for the t-shirt boxer briefs, head on over here. Thanks, Nancy!!

Now if you are using this pattern to make wool soakers, I recommend going a size up from what they would wear in the underwear in all the measurements except the leg width. I also made the waistbands from sweater ribbing, instead of elastic. What's nice about these is you can make 2 of crotch & rear end pieces to make a doubled up soaker area. I did 2 layers, and after I sewed each crotch seam, I faced them in, so there was no uncomfortable crotch seam on the inside of the soaker (did that make sense?). I did make a mistake though, and forgot to use the hem of the sweater for the bottoms of the legs on the first pair, but since it is felted, it doesn't look bad. I think they came out really cute, and look a lot less "diaper cover" than regular soakers for your bigger kiddos that just need a night time solution.

A couple of my latest soakers (diaper covers)

I really like the way the blue/red goes together on the lightning bolt one.

I've been feeling sheepish...

Sometimes I feel a bit piggish too, and sometimes like a real monster!

Feature Friday - Little Leaf Boutique

I got an email from a customer yesterday, saying that I introduced her to recycled wool and now she has a shop of her own! I love getting emails like that :) ! Jo Kay's Etsy shop, Little Leaf Boutique, carries recycled wool diaper covers with ADORABLE appliques and outfits. Jo Kay, how did you get your appliques so perfect looking? If your baby wears cloth diapers (heck, even if they don't) go check out her shop! My son would LOVE those shark board shorts!

New diaper covers

I know, I know... I said I wasn't going to be posting on Wednesdays and you're tired of seeing my diaper covers, but i'm especially happy with how this batch turned out, especially the monster faces. The colors really "pop" in real life, though they look a little faded in the pic. I had a soft fuzzy purple 75% wool/25% mohair that was perfect for them, and lined them with super soft merino, so they are bulletproof (no leaks in cloth diapering lingo) and super soft n' cozy!

My diaper covers in action!

Looking at my diaper covers laying flat doesn't do them justice, so a friend of mine let me use her baby as a model! Since he was on the go, we were only able to try on a couple of pair. Many blurry deleted pictures later, we have pictures!



Even though this this one was too big for him, it still looks much more adorable on a bottom than just laying there!



I will have a wide variety of soakers and shorties like these at the fiber shows this summer, so if you're in the area when the shows are on, stop on by!

recycled wool longies & soakers (diaper covers)

Since I plan to sell at some local shows this summer, I figured it would be a good idea to have a variety of finished products to sell, so i've been making some diaper covers the last few days. They are especially fun to make in the smaller sizes! I experimented with a few different styles and variations, but I keep coming back to Katrina's free soaker pattern (thanks Katrina! You rock!). I am really happy with how a lot of these came out! Many of them are made from merino, which is super soft, but also thin, so I made them 2 merino layers thick, or a layer of merino & a layer of lambswool.

I tried my hand at some appliques (I swear I made the star for these shorties before I saw Banbutsu's shop!)... front & back...


some basic soakers (the little tan one is double layer cashmere)...


some little longies with hearts appliqued on, and some yoga pant style ones...


... and some more longies. These I really love because they are SO soft (I can't even describe how soft they are) and stretchy, and I love the way the cuffs came out. The cuffs are made out of a v-neck from another sweater (I love it when piecing things together works!).


If you cloth diaper & use wool covers, can I ask you some questions? I'm trying to get a handle on what I should be focusing on more, and would really appreciate the feedback. If you were in the market for some recycled wool diaper covers and came across my booth at a fair, would you be more likely to...

.... buy longies or a soaker (keeping in mind that all of the fairs will be held in mid to late summer)?
.... buy soaker style longies, like the soakers in this post, but with legs, or longies like the ones I made in this post?
.... buy soakers/longies with a single layer for trimness, or double layer for extra protection & night use (keeping in mind that the double layer will cost slightly more... probably $2 more for extra material & time)?
.... buy soakers/longies with cute appliques and fun colors, or plainer, but less expensive ones?
.... buy soakers/longies with a double layer short waistband, or a single layer fold over long waistband?

I really appreciate any & all feedback on this!

ETA: I made a few more! All of these are double layer cashmere, except the black/gray striped one.

Longies good karma giveaway!

I know I should be posting a tutorial, because it's Tutorial Tuesday, but it's been a busy few days. How about a giveaway instead? I made these longies (wool diaper cover pants) for my son, but they ended up being too small for him, especially in the legs (will not fit chunky legs!), so he never wore them. PLEASE don't enter this giveaway unless your child can wear these (or grandchild, or cloth diapering friend in need). I just don't want these sold. I may never know, but karma will. The measurements are 18" waist, 19-23" rise (ribbing can be folded down), 10 1/2" hips, 12" thigh. The inseam is 15", but they can always be rolled at the bottom. These are made from blue & maroon sweaters, and are 100% lambswool. There is a thick lambswool wet zone (positioned in the boy wet zone). These are bulletproof, and perfect for even heavy night wetters. They are clean, lanolized, and ready to wear! I will be using random.org to determine the winner, so again, please measure your child to make sure these will fit before entering the giveaway! By the way... the legs are the exact same length, even though the picture makes one leg look longer.


Mandatory Entry:
* Go to my shop and let me know which sweater is your favorite.

Want an extra entry?
* Follow my blog, and if you already do just say that.
* Do something kind... Slip a sweet note in your husband's lunchbox, play that game you've played a hundred times with your kid that you hate, but your kid loves, a random act of kindness to a stranger, bring some baked goods to a neighbor (that's what got someone the winning entry in one of my past good karma giveaways!) , and let us know what you did! It will make you feel good about yourself, make the recipient of the good fortune happy, and it will get you another entry! No fair posting something you already did, or were planning to do!... it's makes it more fun this way!
* Blog about this giveaway & link to it.
* Blog about encouraging kindness, and giving. (you can blog in the same post about this giveaway & encouraging kindness, and still get 2 entries).
* Have a giveaway of your own!

Make sure to leave a separate comment for the entries you complete!

Deadline: Saturday, February 20th at midnight, Central time zone. I will use random.org to pick the winners the following morning (February 21st). **please leave an email if your blogger profile does not include it or you don't have a blog. I need a way to contact you.** Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner.

Hyena Cart recycled wool shops - Fluffy Fanny

If you just need a basic stash of recycled wool diaper covers at a great price, Hyena Cart shop Fluffy Fanny is the place to go! I should know... I bought a great soaker from her a year ago, and we're still using it!

Hyena Cart recycled wool shops - Batik Bum

In Batik Bum's Hyena Cart shop you will find all sorts of stunning recycled wool children's clothes, and diaper covers. I LOVE the merino wool romper, and would buy it myself if I had a baby right now. The sleep cocoon is ingenious... diaper cover, pajamas, & sleep sack in one! And those outfits are so dang cute! Who knew cloth diapering could be so fun?

Hyena Cart recycled wool shops - Sweetie Bird Fashions

At Hyena Cart Sweetie Bird Fashions you will find recycled wool & recycled cashmere diaper covers that you will never want to cover! Whether you like the skirties, pedal pushers, or chinos, any kid will be dressed to the nines in them! You really can't lose with these... you get eco friendly (recycled wool, natural fibers... no icky plastic pants here!), function, fashionable, one-of-a-kind wearable art, while supporting a small business. How cool is that? :)