Baby Proofing a Book Shelf Tutorial

With my first baby, we didn't have any book shelves where she played, but we protected one of our shelves with our DVD player on it using velcro and a piece of sheer fabric.  Then with my son, we just dealt with the book destruction that comes with kids and books.  You know all those people who say baby proofing is just for lazy parents who can't teach their kids no?  Well whatever.  I tried that.  We lost some books with my son.  No matter how many times you say no, they still want to try to rip paper because it's just so much fun, apparently.  Eventually he grew out of it.  Even today every once in a while I'll look and see my husband, standing in front of the book shelves, frowning and sighing about all the ripped covers.  Sad.

With baby number three, we have two bookshelves in our main living space, and I was considering moving them into my craft room just to keep them out of her reach, but there's really not a great space in there for them.  As she's crawling and on the verge of walking, the shelves seem to be a favorite area, and I can see that she's starting to notice the joys of paper-ripping.  The other day I found my youngest baby with a choking-sized piece of Robert Jordan's Crown of Swords cover in her mouth, so something had to be done.

There probably isn't such a thing as a baby proof bookshelf, but this is what I did to make my bookshelves baby-resistant.


What you need:
-Enough fabric to cover your shelves.  You should probably measure before going to the store, if you're a planner like that. I picked up 3 1/4 yards of chevron printed burlap at Walmart (didn't measure first, so I hoped it was enough and it is more than enough).  I guess burlap in the fall is a trendy thing, or something? I would not use any stretchy fabric.
-Coordinating thread.  I used tan.
-Grommets (buy the pack of whichever size you like that has the grommet installing kit if you don't already have one)
-Hammer
-7/8 inch cup or mug hooks (4 or more for each shelf) these are the ones I used, but in silver color.
-Felt scraps

 First, measure the open area of your book shelf that you want to cover.  Then cut your fabric with 1 1/2 inches extra on each side.  If you are not using something that unravels like burlap, you may want to make a smaller seam allowance.

When you are cutting burlap, I would not use your nicest scissors as I've heard it can dull them quickly.  My really old dull scissors still cut it just fine.

Using a very hot iron (cotton setting), press the seams in twice on two opposite sides (turn under 3/4 of an inch each time), then sew them with a top stitch.  I had my machine set with a sturdy needle to stitch length 2 and a narrow zig zag.  Then press the other two sides in twice and sew them.

Next, set the grommets in each corner, following the directions on your packaging.  I stitched on a small piece of felt in each corner to give the material more strength before setting the grommets.  Make sure they are close enough to the edge that your cup hooks will fit over your seam edge and into the hole.  Hold a cup hook up to the edge to make sure before you put the grommet in.  I avoided putting it right on the seam as much as I could since it would be uneven.

Here's a good video for setting grommets that you can refer to.

Then hold your panel up to the shelf and hold up a hook and figure out where you'd like to screw the hook in.  Mine look like this:

You should probably pre-drill your holes, but I got lazy and didn't so I kinda split one a tiny bit.  Oops!  The others went in with no problems.

Place all four hooks and put up your panel.  If you want a book, just slide the grommet out of the hook and then replace it.  If you don't want hooks, consider sticky velcro, or even tension rods as an alternative.

No more book eating in my house.

Credit goes to my friend Abby for the idea.  I think she has something similar at her house!

Airplane Pillowcase

I saw this airplane design on Pinterest and right away I knew it would be perfect for my son's room.  I've been slowly adding airplanes to his room to transition it from baby to little boy.  (See this post for an airplane on canvas, as an example).  I was really hoping she'd have a tutorial on her blog for her adorable plush airplanes and blanket, but I was left to try to make them on my own.  I decided to try it out first on a pillowcase.  

I used Steam a Seam 2 to fuse the fabric pieces on, and then I zig zag stitched all the way around each piece.  After the airplane was attached, I zig zag stitched a trail behind it.  Techinically I think I was supposed to use some kind of stabilizer on the inside, but it worked fine without and it has even washed up well.

For the propeller I just fused two pieces of tan cotton fabric to each other and stitched around the edge.  I sewed it to the airplane with a green button.  The button doesn't seem to bother my son when he sleeps on it.

I'm considering making several airplanes like this on large quilt squares and then piecing them together for a twin quilt, but that seems like a lot of work.

I drew the airplane parts by hand, and I traced them onto a page for you to use if you'd like.  I didn't trace the propeller, the seat (just make an oval), or the stars on the wings, so you'll just have to wing it.  Get it?  Wing... haha....um... yeah.

Click on the picture to download pdf template:

Chenille Baby Blanket

I've been wanting to make a chenille baby blanket ever since I saw this tutorial, but

1) I don't have a little baby anymore, and
2) Sewing all those straight lines looks about as fun as playing leapfrog with a unicorn.

But I know someone that's having a baby girl soon and this will be a nice gift.  It turned out really cute.

I used basting spray to hold the fabric layers together while sewing.  It held the fabric beautifully, but the downside was that it really gummed up my new chenille cutting tool.  I love this tool, LOVE IT.  Cutting was so much easier with it, but I'll have to skip the basting spray next time.

Stuffed Owl

I saw this pattern online on the juicy bits blog back at Christmas time when I was looking for ornaments.  There's a printable pattern at the link.  I thought it would make a perfect tiny owl for a friend of mine's newborn.  It's the right size for tiny hands to hold.  It's only about 4 inches tall. 

I didn't have any ric rac in the right color, so I did a few decorative stitches instead.  I also embroidered the eyes on instead of using beads to make it safer for baby.  Very cute.  I just love owls.

Baby Boy Outfit with Tie Applique

I love little tie appliques and I've seen a few online, but I couldn't find the exact shape I wanted.  I drew up this one, and you can use it too.  Here's the word file that includes a free tie applique pattern.  I attached it to the fabric with Steam A Seam II, and I zig zag stitched around the edge. 

The shoes are from a tutorial on michaelmillerfabrics.  When I sewed the elastic casing, instead of sewing it with the elastic already inside I threaded it through with a safety pin after sewing.  That's the only thing I changed.

The pants are from Made By Rae's free online pattern.

 I really love how the shoes turned out, but they were really a pain to sew.  There are some areas that are thick and hard to sew with interfacing and several layers of fabric.

Chenille Burp Cloth

My first child spit up like none other.  We had to carry around a hand towel at all times just to clean her up.  Most of the burp cloths that you buy at stores were not absorbent enough for her, so here's a tutorial you can make for that baby that spits up everywhere.  It's very absorbent, and the chenille side is very soft for their new baby skin.

You will need:

• 1 fat quarter of 100% cotton woven material. I used homespun.
• 1 fat quarter of complimentary fabric or pre-made 1/2 inch bias tape
• An old towel.  You could also use a cloth diaper or cut terry cloth material.
• Starch spray if you're making bias tape.
• Coordinating thread

Prewash your towel and fabrics.  Then, fold one of your fat quarters in thirds to make a rectangle that's about 18 inches by 7 inches.

 Cut out your towel to the same size and pin the homespun fabric on one side like this.

Then, on the towel side, draw a diagonal line like this with a fabric marker or pencil.  This is the first line you will sew on.

With the homespun fabric down (you don't want the terry cloth catching in the feed dogs at all), sew diagonal lines about 1/4 of an inch apart across the entire burp cloth. (In this picture they're 1/2 an inch apart.)  How far apart you sew depends how many layers you have an what type of fabric you use.  If you have a looser weave like homespun, you either need to make the lines close together (about 1/4 inch) or you need to add more than three layers.  If you use flannel, for example, which is woven more tightly, you can do three layers sewn 1/2 an inch apart.

I turned around at the end of each line and made the next one without cutting the thread so it would go quickly.

Then with your very sharp scissors, carefully cut between your sewn lines.  Cut only the homespun fabric and be careful to not cut the terry cloth.

Trim up the edges.  Sometimes all of the diagonal sewing will skew the fabrics a bit, so I like to trim it to keep it all straight before adding the bias tape.

Next make the bias tape out of your other fat quarter.  Skip this step if you're using pre-made bias tape.  Cut strips 2 inches wide on the bias (diagonally).

Then sew these strips together until you have enough length to go around the whole burp cloth.  I needed 3 strips.  To sew them together, place them perpendicular and sew diagonally like this.

Press the seams open.  This is the starch I use.  Fold the whole length of fabric in half longwise and press it.  Then open it up.

Press each side to the center line.

 Then fold it in half and press again.  Voila.  Homemade 1/2 inch bias tape.

Now sew that bias tape all the way around your burp cloth.  If you need a tutorial to show you how, here's a good one on the Smashed Peas and Carrots blog.

Before you wash it, it looks like this:

Throw your cloth into the washer and dryer to fluff and fray the chenille side.   It should get all soft and fluffy and nice for baby.

The Chenille Side

 The Towel Side

And an action shot...