Spring is for babies! I just love a spring baby, Natalie happens to be a spring baby and it really is a fun time to have a newborn. When she was a baby it was so nice to take a walk outside and enjoy everything fresh and new. In my last divided basket post, I proclaimed my love of baby gifts! There is something so cheerful and helpful about a small gift that makes me want to bust out all the projects, including this butterfly Divided Basket.
These Lizzy House butterflies had been calling my name for too long. I pulled them out for projects quite often, but it never quite clicked until I was making the other basket. This happened to be the alternate pick of fabrics and I figured I might as well make it! Our friends are having their first baby very soon and it was fun to think of them while making it. It’s really crazy to think that 10 years ago I was getting ready for Natalie to come. I did try something new for this basket. I’ve been machine basting the lining and exteriors together before topstitching. This has worked really well for me. Yesterday I tried glue basting and it was really slick. I’d recommend trying it the next time you make one!
I hope this basket of diapers will come in handy for all the fun and chaos that a first baby brings. I can envision this set up in the living room for those diaper changes that happen all too frequently, one less trip to the next room to the changing table can be a very good thing. And maybe it’ll live on eventually to hold toys or bath goodies, who knows. Whatever the case, the happiness that gift giving brings me is what makes it worthwhile.
And because I was digging through my bookcase for more baby project ideas, I found some books that I recommend. I know it is quite easy these days to jump online and find free tutorials and such, but I believe that having a beautiful book of projects is still extremely valuable. I kind of have to catch myself sometimes thinking that everyone here that reads this post might already know about certain books or patterns or even fabrics for that matter, but we all start somewhere. These books are ones I’ve personally sewn projects from and have enjoyed, all focused on baby items or project for small children. Some are written by women I can now call a friend. Let me know if you have questions about these books in the comments!
Simple Sewing for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter | Sewing for Boys by Shelly Figureoa and Karen LePage| Little Things to Sew by Liesl Gibson
Growing Up Modern by Alison Harris | Amy Butler’s Little Stitches for Little Ones by Amy Butler
Pattern: Divided Basket
Fabric: Natural History by Lizzy House, Moonlit by Rashida Coleman-Hale (Cotton + Steel) lining,
Apricot shot cotton for divider and handle accent, Robert Kaufman cotton/linen chambray
Hope you have a fun-filled weekend! We’ve got a birthday girl and lots of mother’s to celebrate! ps. My new dining room rug is from Rugs USA! I really love it so far.
Love the sewing book suggestions. Just what I need to get inspired (and grow my to-sew list) to sew for this baby due in August.
Oh how fun! Have fun with all the sewing projects!! 🙂
I love the divided basket – so great! I have a few of those books already but a couple are new to me. Thanks for the suggestions!
So glad you found it helpful! 🙂
Beautiful basket, makes me want to drop everything and whip one up right away :).
Aw thanks Svetlana. 🙂
LOVE your basket! The butterfly fabric is perfect. I enjoy having books to go through. I have your book and the Growing up Modern which I’ve made things from. My biggest complaint with books is I wish they were spiral bound to make it easy to open to a page and have it lay flat when using it. I’ve taken a couple to Kinkos to have them bound. Something the publishers should get on board with!
Thanks Janet! Yeah, I’ve heard of people having their favorite books spiral bound at an office store. Great idea. Actually the Amy Butler book and Sewing for Boys book are both spiral bound inside their hardcover. Pretty nifty. As for others I think there’s reasoning behind not doing spiral bound for all craft books, my publisher Susanne (Lucky Spool) has great insight on this topic, I wish I could find a little snippet of the reasonings she posted in an article I read. She’s been in the publishing world for years. Interesting stuff though! 🙂
You’ve got to love someone named Lotta Jansdotta! (I know I do!) And Jerry… Man alive I can NOT cut into that piece of turquoise heaven… What to do…
Thanks for the book suggestions. I have another GRANDbaby due in August.
This basket turned out so so pretty! I love all your fabric choices. And all your patterns! I just made myself a new 241 bag, and I’m eyeing the campfire. Keep up the good work!
Ah so pretty! I made E a skirt with the green butterflies, such a great print. The basket is perfect!!
I love your Natural History basket! Thanks for the sewing book recommendations.
Anna I love your divided basket. I’ve made a few but I can never get the interfacing right. What are you using for yours?
Hi Leslie, thank you! I’ve been using Soft & Stable, it’s a great substitute for the interfacings I originally recommended in the pattern. You can read more about using Soft & Stable with this pattern here: https://blog.noodle-head.com/2014/10/divided-basket-frenzy.html and https://blog.noodle-head.com/2015/04/divided-basket.html Hope that helps! 🙂