How I made my "Boppy Pillow"!

Boppy Pillows are expensive and aren't very sturdy in my opinion. I don't see the point in spending $30 on just a pillow. Then another $12 on the cover. (Might be less or more depending on where you live) So that's just crazy for a family just starting out. For my fabric I used a flat sheet because we don't use it and it cut the cost even more. I used a coupon on my stuffing so that was only $4 for all the stuffing I needed. And my zipper was on sale so it was $1. So all together I spent about $6 with the tax. For the cover I bought some pretty fabric got a yard (maybe a yard and a half. I cant remember) for $3 a yard and a zipper (not on sale sad) for $2. SO all together on the cover I spent about $6 also. So all together on my whole nursing pillow I spent about $12. That's a savings of $30.

ACTUAL PILLOW!

I downloaded the poppy pillow pattern. Taped it all together and added a little more to it.

here is the link to the pattern. http://www.madebymarzipan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Poppy-Pillow-Form.pdf

What you need:

• Poppy Pillow pattern
• 2/3 yd cotton for front
• 2/3 yd cotton for back
• Straight pins & Iron
• Sewing machine & thread
• Scissors
• Zipper (optional)
• Zipper foot
• Polyfill stuffing until the desired firmness

Get your pattern all together and your fabric. Fold your fabric so that it will fit the pattern. Pin the pattern in place and cut around it. Repeat for the back of the fabric.

I cant hand sew to save my life so I added a zipper to my pillow. That way I can add or remove stuffing. Put right sides together and pin. Leave an opening for the zipper. You can sew the zipper on before you sew around the pillow but I went around the pillow first because I'm not that great with zippers. Sew around the pillow leaving a 1/2 inch allowance. Notch and clip the curves, being careful not to snip your stitches. Turn right side out and press. Now stuff and zip.

COVER!!!

They also had a cover pattern.

here is the link to the pattern. http://www.madebymarzipan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/poppy-slipcover1.pdf

What you need:

• Poppy Pillow Slip Cover
• Scissors & tape
• 2/3 yard fabric for front (at least 44 in. wide on bolt)
• 2/3 yard fabric for back (44 in. wide on bolt)
• 18 inch zipper
• Straight pins & iron
• Sewing machine & thread
• Zipper foot

Get your pattern all together and your fabric. Fold your fabric so that it will fit the pattern. Pin the pattern in place and cut around it. Repeat for the back of the fabric.

Put right sides together and pin. Leave an opening for the zipper. You can sew the zipper on before you sew around the pillow but I went around the pillow first because I'm not that great with zippers. Sew around the pillow leaving a 1/4 inch allowance. Notch and clip the curves, being careful not to snip your stitches. Turn right side out and press. Now shove your pillow into it.

 

 

Thank you for reading. If you have an questions please fell free to ask. I will attempt to help in anyway that I can.

 

 

Mikaela

 



Homemade Breast Pads!

Breast pads can get expensive. Not to mention that some get stuck to your boobs making it uncomfortable to pull off. So I decided that I was going to make some that can be washed and reused. They are better for the environment and for the wallet.

I'm going to show you how I made my breast pads. They are nice and soft plus I only paid .50 for the receiving blanket and already had the thread. Yay! One tiny blanket made me 5 pairs of 3 layered pads. What you need:

• Receiving blanket (if you want cute ones use flannel from the store I didn't have any so I used my yard sale receiving blanket.)

• Thread (I started with purple but ran out then went to pink. Its 100% polyester)

• Non-toxic marker (I used mark be gone)

• Scissors

• Old CD or DVD

• Sewing machine (I'm sure you could hand stitch this but I hate doing it by hand. Takes way too long)

I washed it first with no fabric softener. I used the detergent that I'm going to use for my cloth diapers, its homemade and doesn't suds up. Then I air dried it. After it was dry I tested it to make sure that it would absorb and it did! Yay.

I used an old DVD to get the size. My areolas aren't that big so I don't need them too large. You can make them bigger or smaller depending on how big yours are.

Then you trace it with your non-toxic pen.

It will leave your circle then you just cut out the circle. You repeat this until you get your desired amount or you run out of blanket/fabric.

 Then you just stack them. I used three. You could use more or less just depends on your needs.

I used a zig zag stitch and sewed around the circle letting it kinda go off so it closes the cloth. I went around it twice so that it was sturdy. Then I sewed an X in the middle.

 

 I cut all the strings off and it was done.

Doesn't take too long. I don't think it has to look PERFECT considering the fact that it will be hidden. I will probably make a few more but I'm not sure yet.

Washing:
Try not to use too much soap because soap build up can cause it to not absorb your milk. And don't use liquid softener.
If you are going to dry them in a dryer don't use fabric softener. Air drying is what I like to do.

I hope this helped. If you have any questions please ask. I'd love to help.

Mikaela

 

 

 





A Little Bit About Me!

Hey there!

First off let me thank you for spending time out of your day to read me blabbering. :)

Now let me tell you about myself. I'm married to a wonderful man. We got married November 30th 2012. Then three weeks later we found out that we were expecting a little one. We were living in an apartment but when we found out that we were expecting our little one we really wanted to get out of our small one bedroom apartment. Well one of our family members said there was a trailer that was about to come up  for rent. So we called the owner two or three times and left a note on their door. We knew about the trailer before anyone else, including them. lol. Due to that fact they gave us first pick. We came to look at it and loved it right away. It has land and two bed rooms and two bathrooms along with a place for a washer and dryer and here is the thing we love the most an icemaker! You never know what you miss until you no longer have it and an icemaker is on that list! Yay! So we took it. It is so much better than our old apartment. There is so much more room and it has made us feel happier as a family. We both know that it will take a while to get where we want to be but we are inching closer everyday!

Right after we moved in we had the BIG ultrasound where we find out if its a boy or a girl. Drum roll!!!!! ITS A GIRL!!!!!! Now at the beginning of my pregnancy we were stocking up on diapers (disposables) but one day I came across a study about the chemicals that were in disposables in order to keep the babies dry. It is linked to reproductive problems (not that I would mind that in her teen years lol but as she got older I would mind it) and it is linked to cancer. Neither of which I'd like near her little bum. My husband, luckily feels the same way. So we have decided to CLOTH DIAPER!!!!!!! We haven't actually had her yet she is due September 3rd 2013 but we plan to cloth diaper from the time we get home. It may not work for us but we are going to try our hardest to make it work. The benefits of cloth diapers are great! Save money, no chemicals, potty train faster and if we have anymore kids we can reuse them for the next baby. (or I can sell them) Since about 2 almost three months ago I taught myself to sew I'm going to make them. (I'm really excited to make them.)

Sewing!!!!! Being self taught is great. I love it. If I mess up I rip the seams out and I try a different way. I have made burp cloths. They are really cute. (I may put up a tutorial on how I made mine.)

 

And I have made my own nursing pillow. I can also put up how I did that. And my own nursing pillow cover. I have a lot more I would like to sew before our daughter gets here. Sleeping Sack so she is nice and warm at night. Curtains for her windows, closet (we took the door off) and a curtain for her shower. I'm going to make me some breast pads. Some cloth wipes. Sheets for her crib mattress. I was going to recover her car seat. A nursing cover and many more things that I cant remember at the point in time! (Prego brain)

 

We are very eager to meet our little girl. We have chosen the name Lorelai Kristine. I will continue to post on things I have made and things I want to make and how I am doing. Thank you for reading! Have a great day!

 

Mikaela