Sew Cool!

I took the plunge this weekend and bought one of those sewing books I've been lusting over. Specifically, Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings -- for her super-cute "quick-change" pants.

My mom has volunteered to teach me how to sew, which I so much appreciate, and is responsible for finishing at least 50% of this project. No, I can't take full-credit yet. But what an adventure we had figuring out the pattern!

Really, it's not that hard. The pants are reversible, though, which requires some tricky thinking about halfway through the instructions. The frustration (and seam-ripping!) is well worth it, though. Little baby boy or girl now has his/her first pair of pants.

Or should I say two pairs?


We decided to make them in the 0-3 month size, though I don't imagine I'll toil over tons of clothes this tiny. I'd say between my slow sewing and figuring out the pattern, it took us about 3 hours to stitch them together. Subsequent pairs will probably take only half the time. And there WILL be more!

Here's some reversible action . . .


I'm not totally in love with sewing yet. It's something about the preciseness of it all that's so difficult for me to embrace. What I will tell you is this -- I adore these little pants. Much more than most of the clothes I've seen in stores. Aaaaand, they definitely have to be sewn.

If that means adding patience, even at 17 weeks pregnant, to my set of virtues, so be it!


I can't wait to make my way through the rest of Anna's book. Some other projects that particularly caught my eye include the nesting blocks, nursing shirt, hooded jacket, diaper bag, and even -- GASP -- a quilt.

How did you add a special homemade touch to welcome your baby(ies) into your world? Any project suggestions for us? Or places where we can find really cute, affordable fabric? Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

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