DIY Simple Changing Mat Tutorial

Hey There!

I needed to make myself a changing mat for my coming baby. I just wanted to get things done, or get the stuff that I need before the baby arrives, which is pretty soon! Yikes!!

So this is how the end product looks like. You can fold it up nicely and hold it together with Velcro... That's what I use anyways. You can always close it up with ribbon loops and buttons etc.

And here's a step by step pictorial way to make one! I use whatever I can find in the house. Totally recycling everything I have :)

Materials:-
Printed Cotton Fabric of your choice 15 inches x 30 inches
Padding, Can be any type of padding that you prefer. I happen to have poly fill ones
Bias Tape... I used a 1 inch ribbon to cover the sides instead of bias tapes.
Velcro / hooks and loops 13 inches long
Coordinating Coloured Threads

Step 1:

Cut the printed fabric of your choice and the padding type of your choice according to the measurements given above.

Step 2:

Pin the two long ends together and begin sewing a straight line 1 cm from the end.

Step 3:

This is optional... and only if YOU want to. Sew the printed fabric and the padding together like so...

Crossing them Like so....

To get this.

Step 4:

Get your waterproof material out :) I used a never-been-used golf bag rain cover that my dad doesn't seem to know if it goes missing or not (but yes, I did ask him) and cut it up to the size of the fabric and padding.

Step 5:

Sew the waterproof material to the long ends of the padded side.

Optional: You can sew another printed material to this padded side and then sew the waterproof material onto it to funk it up. I just wanted to keep it simple so I didn't add another printed or coloured material to this side.

Step 6:

Get your bias tape or ribbon out to cover the long ends of the mat. Start by sewing 1cm from the edges... I zig zag this part. Do this for the other long end of the mat before starting on the front because you might need to change the colour of your thread to coordinate with what you're sewing. You don't want a different colour thread showing on the other side as you sew.

 Step 7:

Sew to cover the printed side of the mat. I used a straight sew on this side to not mess up the other side :)

Step 8:

Starting from one end of the mat that has not been sewed yet, measure 4.8 inches and sew a straight line from one end to another like in the picture. The second line is 5.2 inches from the first line, The 3rd is 5.5 inches from the second, the 4th is 5.7 inches and the 5th is 5.8 inches from the 4th line.... leaving a small 3 inches. This would be where you attach the Velcro but we will get to that later...

Step 9:

Again, work with your bias tape / ribbon. I made a 1 inch fold at the end of the mat to cover the rough edges of the ribbon.

And did exactly like what I did for the long ends of the mat... when I reached the other end of the mat, I left 1 inch of ribbon to cover that end when I start sewing the other side. Do the same for the other end before going over to the printed side.

Step 10:

Flip the mat to the printed side. Trim the top edges so you can cover up nicely when sewing the other half of the bias tape / ribbon. 

See Miguel there in the mirror :)) He's helping me with some sewing while I sew this. Isn't he the best :)))

Step 11:

Now, see this part? Remember I said I left 1 inch when I finished the back side of the mat, well, this is where you would fold it in like so...

and sew...

....like so to hold that part down before you start folding down the ribbon / bias tape...

...Like so to continue the cover up.

This is how it would look like after you have sewn all the edges of the mat with the bias tap / ribbon.

Step 12:

Fold your mat on the lines that you have sewn to get this. Pin on where you would like your hooks and loops / Velcro to go. I had mine go all the way from one end to the other. You can choose to either only sew the sides of the center. It's entirely up to you. you can also use loops and buttons or snaps instead of velcro. I would prefer snaps, But I haven't got myself the snap pliers to do so!

After sewing the Velcro in place... you'll get

The Finish product of your changing mat!! Tadaaaa!!! it really wasn't that hard! very simple to make all by yourself! I hope my instructions have been clear enough. Fooh!

This would be a great baby shower gift to make etc. You can even use old t-shirts as your designs. Whatever you can think of!

And it fits perfectly well in my tote bag too! To be honest, I didn't exactly measure to know that it will fit. in fact, I didn't measure at all while I was sewing. I only gave sewing measurements here as I am jolting this down here, taking measurements as I type! I'm so Random!

Anyways, I hope this helps... 

Till I sew Next :)

Lil' Zanaeya on the Run!

Got these pictures from Amy Nash of Singapore the other day sent via her Iphone. Too sweet and too cute!

The lady Bug Booties were tight around the ankles. I should have loosened it a little. She's 6 months now, I think going on 7 months and these were meant for nb to 6 months. I still wished I had made them a little bigger :s

These are a little too big for her haha, but she'll grow into them soon enough. They grow so fast! These are meant for 6 months to 1 year and made out of felt. Too cute on her. I'm happy it turned out great on her. Amy I hope you both loved it too :)

Looking at Lil' Z playing with her booties makes me wanna have my mini me now! I'm 35 weeks and getting really bored of pregnancy by now... I am moving slower and definitely complaining more than ever :s Baby's about 2.3kgs now, heartbeat strong and kicking like no one's business :))

I'm finishing off a Hansel and Gretel playmatt now. Once I finish that, I'd be taking a break from all the orders. I'll still be doing the Bamboolite Cloth Diaper orders tho, that's not hard to do, but other than that will have to wait till I move to Chile I guess.


Till I Sew Next :)

You'll never know some things actually exist until you are on that journey to being a Parent!

Hey everyone,

I think I have mentioned before about me getting into this cloth diapering thing and now ended up as being a retailer myself :)

Anyways, I have comes up with a new pricing list and on top of that discounted price, there's a special price for the packages. So any of you out there who has friends who are expecting, or who are now nursing and caring for their little ones from ages 1 month to 3 years old or who are sisters or brothers or friends or anyone who want to buy baby shower gifts or full month gifts etc etc, share this blog here

The Bamboo Bums that's my blog shop for the cloth diapers :)

Learn how to save money with these cloth diapers
Why Cloth Diapers?
Learn to Save our Planet for a Greener Environment
And a whole lot of stuff.

Sharing is Caring :)

And if you are bored and want to learn something that you don't already know, have a read!

Like I've said... You'll never know some things actually exist until you are on that journey to being a Parent!
The things that you'll learn... What wonders!

Till I sew Next :)

Froggy Burp Cloth Tutorial

I have been wanting to make some burp cloths for some time. I saw a few tutorials on how to make real simple ones and was determined to make them. But one night, not being able to sleep, I kept thinking about the new unused towels that my dad gets from the company he works for... And then this froggy burp cloth idea came along! My hubby thinks I am mad for not sleeping because I got excited about this haha. 

So this is just a pictorial tutorial... I don't really have measurements for it, and it's so super easy to make.

 Step 1: I used a Face towel... I took 1/4 of the towel for the cloth.

Step 2: Measure the length and width of the towel.. and cut out the same for a green fabric.

Like so....

Step 3: Pin them together and sew the sides...

Don't forget to leave a few inches to turn it inside out.

Step 4: I free hand this pattern... This is for the froggy's face and mouth. Cut it on a fold.

Step 5: Do the same for a red fabric for the inside of the mouth

Step 5: I added a pink felt that somewhat is supposed to be the tongue of the frog (Optional). Do this before Sewing the two pieces together. I used some extra balance of the towel to give it more padding on the inside otherwise it would look and feel too flat.

Step 6: Cut out the eyes and nose of the frog however where you want. I made mine with black and white in the back to look something like this:-

Step 7: Pin the eyes and the nose and sew them in place.

Step 8: Sew all around the sides of the body tucking in the small gap that was left open for turning inside out.

Step 9: Open up and pin the middle of the froggy head to one middle end of the froggy body

And there you'll have the froggy burp cloth!

Hmm... It looked a little to boring so...

So I added some spots to it... This is also good so that when you launder it... it wouldn't shift around too much around the middle.

And there you have it. A very simple yet fun and funky burp cloth.

Till I sew Next :)

Diaper Tote Bag

Yay! My first attempt at making a diaper tote bag... I might have another go at it with different colours and maybe a zip or a button to keep it close. My hubby thinks it's great anyways! I made this from this great tutorial Here... Now, Here's a how I did it... 

Making the handles.... I made TWO 38" long handles. You can use cotton webbing if you want.

The Pocket outside...

Here are the side, front and back exterior pieces... I pinned some interfacing to them to give them more body... You can sew them together later or now... I did them at this point because I go crazy with the pins!

Then, I pinned together the black pieces together...

Because the bag was so plain white, I added some  black ribbons to it...

Pin the handles to the body...

Attach the Sides...

Pin the sides to the larger pieces...

And that's my exterior side of the bag...

Here's for the base....

To cover up the rough edges on the top, I used a black ribbon as a bias tape.

For the inside of the bag, I used a black fabric an sewed the sides of it and placed it in... I finished by just sewing in the ribbon to cover the ugly edges

And Tada!!!! yea yea I know, I really suck at explaining how it's done but if you really want to try this simple project out, find the tutorial Here!!

It's Big enough for a baby blanket, some baby shirts and trousers, booties, rattle, cloth nappies, baby towels etc etc... I made it without any interior pockets.

I want to make another one... this was just me trying it out :)) The lines on the tote makes it look so 90's! Haha, I'm impressed with myself anyhow :)

Till I sew Next : )

Cloth Diapers and More!

I know I have been neglecting the blog for awhile. The truth is I have been traveling as we had some relatives down and when we got back from the Mountains etc etc... I was sooooo pooped! And to make things worst, I developed a fever and was down with the flu...

But ever since I got back, I started on some Play Mat making, Booties making, Sandwich making and Rattle making! Also... Made some orders for the Bamboolite Cloth Diaper that I have been promoting! Check it out on my blogshop HERE!

Anyways, I made an extra special play mat for a friend who had wanted the same one I had for her lovely daughter Tiara. I made it a little bigger too :)) I really do hope she likes it!

She also wanted a ham sandwich and beef patty set as well as a Rattling Mr. Sunshine! I'm quite please with myself actually... Because I have managed to make them more or less almost the same!

And not forgetting them booties too! They are quite a hit!

And Amy Nash of Singapore, the coolest hot mama around ordered some Bamboolite cloth diapers from me for her baby girl. She too wanted a set of the Sandwich and beef patty felt set, she says it's educational in a way that she can train her girl to eat healthy and make a sandwich :)) She also wanted the Lady Bug booties, and I wasn't sure if it will fit fine so I threw in another booty for her which I'm sure she'll fit :))

My cousin wanted to try some Bamboolite cloth diaper too, so he had ordered 3 for the time being. I had ordered 5 for myself! I wished I had ordered more, and I probably will soon!

So, Till I sew Next :))