Baby Doll Basket

When I had a baby girl of my own, - nine years ago - I pictured myself sewing her lots and lots of baby doll acessories. I grew up surrounded by all sorts of dolls (although Barbies were my number one), and really thought it would be the same with her. Until she was about two, I didn't give up hoping she'd play with baby dolls, but turns out I got an intelectual and her favourite things were books, puzzles, drawing, painting... except for the time we had her baby brother, when she'd carry a baby doll all around, she really didn't pay much attention to those. I'm fine with that now. I got to sew her so many clothes, she has been my own baby girl doll... and I just get extra happy when I get the chance to sew these sort of items for my friends daughters. 

This baby doll bed was one of the things I once hoped to make my daughter, but never got the chance to. I made it for my friend's daughter a while ago though. I started by searching for a free pattern – I was using this only once – and I found this one, but I liked this other one much more. I knew I could easily draft this on my own and that's what I did, my own version, own measurements and all that. However, you can get the well written/tested pattern, from a proper designer, with three different sizes available HERE (this is not sponsored). 

For the bed's main fabric I used the one I bought to make some Christmas presents about two years ago (links below) and for the lining, I used some curtains cut offs. To make it stand on its own, I interfaced all pieces and used batting as well. It worked quite well, and at the same time, it was also pretty foldable, which is great – as I see it, because, kids toys easily pile up, don't they? 

This was made a while ago, and it's kinda funny, that a couple of days after I looked into these photos to edit, my friend sent me some pictures of her cat using the bed, I couldn't laugh any louder when I saw it. 

The Bella Bralette Hack and the Betty Panties

I made myself some new underwear. Yes! It has been on my to-do list for quite a while, but it's no news I don't sew as often as I did before, and when I do, it is often something for the kids, gifts or some pattern test I seemed to come across. Meaning, most of the times, I sew things that weren't actually on the list of things I'd really like to make – not meaning I don't love making them, just that they made their way to come out ealier, stealing sewing time from things that were thought and wished long before they were. Get ready, because I am feeling wordy today!

Anyway, I made myself some new underwear! Just because I have a very tiny memory, I can't tell which piece I sewed first, the bra or the panties. Since that isn't important either, I will start by telling you about the bra. I actually used a bralette pattern, the BellaBralette by Day Dream Patterns to be precise, which I tested and shared with you back HERE. This is a pattern meant for lace but I wasn't happy enough by hacking the bralette into a bra, I also had to make it with knit and lace. 

And... yes, there's more, that said knit, was actually re-used from a t-shirt. I used part of that t-shirt for my boy's shorts (here) and these were just scraps I had left. As you see, they were enough (though just quite) for the whole set. Because I have these huge boobs (NOT really), I also had to adjust the damn cup size, shortening a bit the smallest size. Never did that on a bra before, but it went just fine, and I never had a selfmade bra fitting so well – oh wait, this is my actual real bra ever. I had a little help from Susana's tutorial on how to turn a bralette pattern into a bra pattern.

 

And now that I've mentioned Susana, this might be the right time to mention that I recently got the Betty Panties pattern from Suco by Susana and I was eagerly wanting to try this one out, because again, making myself some new underwear was something I was planning to since a while ago. And what can I say? I was pretty much satisfied with it, so much so, I have at least three more planned on my list. 

There are a few views for this panties and I did view F to start, next on my plans is view D. I did make panties for myself before, you can see them HERE, and I am happy to say both patterns have the perfect fit for me. Ever since I made all of them, they became part of my fave and I wear them more often than I wear most of my ready to wear panties. They're all so comfortable. 

 

There are a few more undies patterns I'd like to try, and I can't wait to, but I won't tell you to come back soon for them, as I don't really know when that might happen. One thing I'd really like to try to make, is a lace body, oh I love them so, but never pondered making one as much as I have lately. Should I? Could I? What about you? Have you tried sewing underwear before? I promise is not as scrary as it might be in your head.