My First Diaper Bag

I've been wanting a new diaper bag for a long time now, but I didn't want to splurge on an expensive bag as well as couldn't find any cute prints at the baby stores. So I decided that I would make my own bag instead! Which to be honest, I had no clue on what to do before this project. I've sewn many things before, such as the nursing curtain, but they were always hand sewn or an easy straight sew with the sewing machine. Thank goodness for my friend, Becky, who's a sewing queen and taught me how to do it! We decided to make a craft day--or 4 days, should I say--since we have little ones who love to distract us from our project.

I've been wanting a messenger-style diaper bag, and I found a pattern at A Mingled Yarn--I'm pretty sure I fell in love with the damask print. Once we got to the fabric store, though, I found this really cute print that I decided to make my bag with. After hours of figuring out the layout and sewing the bag together (seriously, I'm not sure why I always have to choose the most complicated items and hope that I have enough of it), I finally have my finished product!

We made a few changes with the pattern, though. We used velcro instead of metallic snaps, opted not to topstitch at all (well, at least I did), used cotton instead of vinyl lining for the interior, sewed the strap inside the bag; and after using my bag for two weeks, I decided to remove the velcro from the front exterior pockets. It's just not needed since the flap is over them.

I wish I took pictures of Becky's bag--hers turned out really cute, too. It's a burgundy and ivory flowery patterned bag. I can't wait 'til our next sewing project--I want to make a diaper clutch :)

Here are photos of my bag!

Close up of the front of the bag

Back of the bag

Left side (It's actually a wonderful coincidence that the sides of the bag ended up matching my strap!)

Right side

Front exterior with pockets

Interior of the bag--it's actually more orange than the picture shows--it matches the orange on the strap

It feels really good to be sporting around a bag I've made! :) Thanks, Becky, for all the help! And A Mingled Yarn for sharing your pattern!

Nursing Curtain at Work

With all of the benefits of breastfeeding, I, naturally, want to give my son the best nutrition. Luckily, I have a supportive boss (it always helps when she just recently had a baby as well) and my own office where I can conveniently and privately pump.

Of course, things aren't always that simple; all of our office doors are classroom style, so I have a long vertical window. I didn't want to stick papers or a piece of fabric to cover the window because, in my own opinion, that just looks plain tacky.

Stores around the area didn't have any curtains that would fit my window, so I decided to research online. After numerous researches trying to find a company that already sells curtains for classroom doors, I found none. Zip, nada. Should I just resort to covering it up with papers? Of course not!

I decided that I was going to make my own fashionable and functional curtain. Granted, I should have decided to do this earlier--like in my third trimester--when I didn't have a 7-week baby needing me every second while still exhausted from a long day of work.

With my window measurements in hand, I went to Hobby Lobby and picked out my fabric. There were a few pieces of cute fabric to choose from, and I decided to purchase two different pattern prints and make a reversible curtain.

It took a few evenings for me to complete my project--squeezing a few minutes of hand sewing in between taking care of Tristan, cleaning, making dinner, and sleeping--but I finally finished it!

I must say that it was well worth the time and effort! I was thinking today that maybe I could make a business out of this project. I wonder how many other breastfeeding moms found themselves in the same predicament. What do you think?