Tutorial - Nap mat fitted sheet

I said I would work on getting this together, hopefully it makes sense!  The nap map ended up being too small and I'm just going to have to alter it to be closer to a crib sheet (lots of tutorials for that), but this would be helpful in trying to do calculations for smaller mats instead of a standard size mattress.

How to make your own Toddler Nap Mat fitted sheet

This will make a sheet to fit a nap mat with the dimensions: 24” x 48” x 2”, but you can adjust it to any size by adding 10.5" to the width and length, however, using the 10.5" addition will not allow you to adjust the depth.

Materials:

• Fabric from store – 1 to 1 and 3/4 yards depending on the width (If the fabric width is 60” or wider, you will only need 1 yard.  All others, you will need 1 ¾ yards.  Your workable piece must be 34.5” x 58.5”)

-OR-

• thrifted sheet, cut to a workable piece: 34.5” x 58.5”
• 1 package -  ¼ inch braided elastic
• thread to match/contrast the fabric
• cardboard to make pattern, about 8 inches square

Instructions:

• Cut out your workable piece from your fabric.  It should be 34.5” x 58.5”.
• Create a cardboard pattern to cut out.
• 1 - Square piece: 4.5” x 4.5”
• 2 – Right triangle: 1” x 2”
• See image below on how to arrange the 2 pieces to make the pattern.
• Use pattern to cut corners from your fabric.  Your sheet should look like the multi-colored cutout. (Hint: Fold and press your workable piece into quarters and you will only need to cut the pattern once.)

• Sew French Seams to create the corners of the sheet
• Start in one corner of your fabric and fold wrong sides together, along the diagonal, matching where the pattern was cut.
• Using a straight stitch, sew a ¼” seam.  Turn the corner inside out and press.
• Repeat on the remaining corners.
• Starting again, in one corner, this time, with right sides together, sew the same seam with a 3/8” seam.   You should now have a French seam, and no raw edges.  Repeat for the remaining corners.
• Finish the edges of your fitted sheet.
• Press a ¼” hem, fold over, press and sew.
• On the long sides, measure 11” from each corner and pin.  You should have 4 pins, two on each long side.
• Set your sewing machine to zig zag, widest and longest stitch length.  Anchor your elastic at one of the pins, with the tail toward the short sides.  With an even pull, zig zag the elastic along the hem from one pin, across one short side and anchor at the next pin.  Repeat on other side.

Here's the finished sheet. You're looking at the corners tucked into each other and the label I stuck on top.


So I've actually made 3 sheets in total, and I pulled the elastic by hand (like in my instructions) for two of them.  For this pink sheet, I borrowed my mother-in-law's Elastic Wizard.  This product is great!  (I'm obviously not getting paid to say this since it looks like you can now only get this off eBay.)  It comes with a foot that helps line up the elastic to the sewing needle, and little plastic attachments that feed and pull the elastic through depending on the width you're working with.  It definitely helped maintain an even tension for the elastic and it helped get a zigzag right down the middle of a piece of stretched 1/4" elastic (which seriously becomes like 1/16")!

Because I felt left out

Last week I posted about making a shirt to match daddy, as if I needed yet another way to match my daughter! 

You know when you have your first kid, and you make a huge checklist of all the things you'll need in the hospital during labor and after delivery?  You pack a huge duffel and tote around another bag of items you need to access quickly, yet you barely use any of it?  Well, these pants were one of those items.  I bought a pajama set for $5 on clearance at Walmart for the purpose of comfy, oversized clothes that I don't mind getting hospital goo on.  I did use it -- it didn't need to be as oversized (after the baby comes out you aren't that bloated and huge), and well, that's the only time I used it.  It sat in my box of maternity items for the next time I was pregnant.

I'm still not close to being able to fit them, but I realized they are way too long for my liking.  I much prefer capri/cutoff style pajama pants instead of the ones that bunch at my ankles.  I don't live in a cold climate, so being cozy in your pjs is actually suffocating.

So, I shortened the pant legs to make them more like long shorts.


Then used the scrap material to make matching capris for Ella!


No specific pattern was used to make these.  I've already made her a couple pajama pants anyway, so I knew the basic sizing and assembly to get these done.  Instead of using a 1" elastic, I used 1/2" because that's what I had at the cutting table at the time.  I actually like the skinnier elastic.  It's probably easier for her to slip off for potty time, too.

Naptime fun

The preschool we plan on sending Ella to requires uniforms and that all students have standard items -- so there are less distractions on material goods and more focus on learning.  I grew up this way, and I agree, it's easy to get distracted by pretty Hello Kitty pencil boxes instead of Advanced Reading Skills workbooks.  Anyway, I knew I wouldn't need to be super-crafty-mom unless it was to come up with something for special celebrations.

Two and a half weeks ago, Ella started "school".  For the past 2 years, "popo" and "papa" (grandma and grandpa) watched her while Ryan and I were at work, but to free up some of their time and to get Ella used to being at school for a few hours everyday, we started sending her to a co-op with other kids her age.  Uh-oh, that means she can wear casual clothes and have customized personal items?!  Here comes super-crafty-mom!!

So it's only been two weeks, I haven't gotten crazy and made new outfits to correspond with a different pair of shoes for every day (although for a 2 year old, she does have a lot of shoes).  But I did try to make a sheet to cover her nap mat!


I whipped out my stash of Premier Prints Suzani in white and candy pink.  I bought 2 yards of it the year Ella was born.  I was initially going to make floor cushions for her bedroom, but just never got to it.

.
The description says it's supposed to be used for stuff like valences and bedskirts, can be laundered but not dried.  Well, you know what, I wash those things because it gets really dusty and I dry them because it takes too long to air-dry!  Plus, the little label from fabric.com said it was "Sheeting".  I'm making a sheet right?  ...don't worry, I pre-washed/dried it and it was actually fine.  It just feels like a medium-weight percale.  It's probably more comfy than a thin sheet on those vinyl mats.  Plus at the time, it was only $6.98 a yard, cheaper than it's going for right now!
 
I modified the tutorial on making a fitted crib sheet from What the Hay to figure out the dimensions I needed.  Hopefully I can get that together and post about that soon!

I may be biased

WAIT!  Mr. Postman... wai-ai-ai-ait Mr. Postman.

According to the tracking on my package, it should get delivered soon!  The estimate is for tomorrow, but it's been tagged in the area since Saturday.  I really hope it comes (today??).  I got so excited that I started cutting out the bias strips I need to finish a project I'm working on.


I'm glad I figured out how to do the piecing and sewing and cutting the other day, because sewing that tube was really wonky!  I have to admit, it was really fast.  With a fat quarter of fabric, I cut enough to make 3 yard bias strip in minutes.

So now I'm just waaaaiting on USPS.  At least they're government workers and will finish delivering mail by 5.  Recently, Fedex and UPS have been delivering my packages after 8pm, if I'm lucky!  Sometimes I check at 9pm, nothing, then when I leave for work at 6am there's a package sitting outside the door.  Uhh, yah, no further comments. 

Update:  As I was backing into the driveway when I got home, what did I see in the reverse camera?  My box came!!! Yipee!  I tested it out with that strip I made, and it was delightful.  During the few seconds it took to make all those nice folds I was smiling at the thought of not having to do it by hand.

No beef, beef tofu

It's about to get personal up in here!

My husband is amazing.  I hope he doesn't mind me writing about this, but I am very proud.

Back in May, he got some unfortunate news from his doctor. Basically, if he wanted to stick around for his family to see his kids grow up and avoid some nasty medications, he needed to change his lifestyle.  Apparently, this man really loves his family. <3

He change his diet, from red meat every day to mainly vegetables and occasionally some salmon. He started exercising, daily for an hour. He lost 60 lbs in about 4 months.  His thoughts: you can't just do it halfway, you need to go all out.  

Many people would ask him if everything was ok.  I guess losing that much weight in so little time makes you start looking "sickly" and for a while he was wearing his same clothes so it was much more noticeable.  He does feel very self-conscious about this stuff, but he looks fantastic.  He hasn't been this size and this energetic since when I met him 12 years ago.  Yes, I realize that there may be a connection between myself and the weight gain.  Also keep in mind, he turned a legal age soon after meeting me.  Beer has lots of calories, well the fancy, imported ones that he used to enjoy.

Well, it's been hard supporting him: eating veggies just does not sound appetizing this pregnancy, and being alone at home to cook and watch a toddler is exhausting when he leaves to workout.  But it's all for the best, and now it's actually easier.  His workouts have shortened as they are more efficient, and he even does a lot of cooking!  We've been experimenting with not-so-veggie, vegetarian options.  He just wonders why we didn't do this sooner.  I believe his phrase is, "Why couldn't we have eaten like this when I started my diet?"


No beef, beef tofu adapted from JC International

1 C  SuperSoy Beef Style Strips

1 package Onion soup (from Lipton's Onion Soup mix), prepared

1/2 Block Tofu, firm

1/2 Round Onion, cut in 1” pieces

1 Bunch Green Onions, cut in 1” pieces

1 Bunch Watercress, cut in 1” pieces

2 TBS Sesame Oil

3 TBS Soy Sauce

2 TBS Mirin

Ground Pepper

Bring 1 C prepared onion soup to a boil in pot and reconstitute soy beef strips in it until liquid disappears.  When liquid disappears, remove from heat immediately and cool.

Cut tofu in cubes and fry lightly in a large skillet.

 

In a separate pot, simmer remaining prepared onion soup with sesame oil, soy sauce, mirin, pepper.  Add soy beef strips and tofu.  Continue to simmer.  Add  green onions, and watercress.   Simmer for additional 5-10 minutes or until onions become clear.