So since I am "expecting" with our adoption anytime from tomorrow to a year from Tuesday, I figured there were some things I needed to have together in case I had to run out the door and pick up a baby STAT (which has happened to several people working with our agency, so don't think I'm just dreaming dreams here). And what do you carry baby things in? A diaper bag, even though the more I think of it the more I realize that diapers are just the tip of the iceberg that needs to fit in that bag.
Okay - so anyway, I wanted a pretty diaper bag. Not a plastic Winnie-the-Pooh diaper bag (no offense to anyone who wants that) but a real, I-don't-mind-carrying-this-even-after-a-baby kind of bag. And I saw plenty of pretty ones, but they all seemed pretty pricey. Then I saw a really BEAUTIFUL one at the craft version of our Farmer's Market in town, but sadly it cost $160. However, it gave me the idea that since this wonderful woman had whipped up her own, likely out of supplies in my own Missoula area, maybe I could, too! So I looked for a good pattern, and found a
Butterick pattern I liked.
Steve helped me pick out the outside heavy cotton fabric, and then I went back to the store later and got the gold brocade for the inside and all of the many notions that were needed for the bag (the excitement of fusible fleece and a sewing in a swivel key clamp were mine!) and set myself up on Fourth of July for some sewing fun. A few calls to mom later, I had finally gotten my tension right for using the extra-heavy-duty thread I decided the job required, and I sewed the day away. It took about eight hours, all told, but here is what I ended up with:
The inside has two elastic-topped pockets, one big back pocket, and two medium-sized front pockets. That is also where the key ring comes into play!
Originally, I was going to cut the pockets on the outside out of the pattern, but Melissa convinced me I would want outside pockets, so I just made them less bulky and put them in. Thanks for the good advice - I actually LOVE the pocket that pouches out with a velcro top, because it fits my wallet and cell phone perfectly. The other side one holds a bottle snugly in place.
So, that's that. The diaper bag is packed with diapers, onesies, a swaddling blanket, formula, and bottles, and it sits in the closet waiting for its day. Any advice on what else I need in there for a rush trip to the hospital?
In other crafting news, I finally finished the kimono-tie sweater I was working on, and here it is - it's made out of a soft red cotton, and at this point I forget which book the pattern came from. My goal is eventually to have a hat to match it, but I've been wooed by a pattern for a cherry-hat that is pulling me away from it at the moment.
