Random Craft Post #1

As I've said in previous posts (and those who know me can will confirm), I really enjoy making things. I grew up in a very crafty family. We used to make rag rugs and baskets, felt boards in massive quantities and of all kinds, beaded necklaces and bracelets, wooden signs and bird houses, cutesie little stuffed pillows with sayings on them, and so on. We'd pack up our goods and sell them at local craft shows. It was fun and I loved it!
Another fond memory I have was entering our homemade crafts into small town county fairs. One year I proudly displayed 3 ribbons from a walking stick I had whittled with a carving knife and another ribbon for a portrait I drew of a man's face.
I am so grateful for those memories and experiences. I learned how to use the creativity God gave me to take a few raw materials and create something new and wonderful! I really want my children to grow up with similar experiences. Sewing, building, drawing, sculpting, painting, and creativity with crafts are such a great activities to do as a family and these are wonderful tools for teaching our children about their Creator who is the ultimate artist!

With all that in mind, and with the prodding of my husband, I decided to post about a weekly (or whenever I get around to posting it) craft.
I'll try to make them do-it-yourself posts, but I'm really bad about taking pictures and even worse - way worse - about following any kind of pattern, so I'm usually just winging it as I go. I usually just get an idea in my head or see something somewhere and decide that I can make it cheaper.

Just an FYI about me and crafts:
-I am not an expert.
-I hate following directions, patterns, etc.
-I usually wing things and fix it along the way. AKA very little measuring, ironing, or pinning done.
-I am not a perfectionist when I make things for myself/my family so I cut corners.
-I usually don't do things the right way, but stick to what I know and what works for me.

So if you are a perfectionist when it comes to following rules, directions, patterns then you will probably hate these posts. Sorry about that.

Even if it's not quite a tutorial I'll try to write a little blurb about how I made it and how it can be easily replicated. I try to stick with crafts that I can make during a nap or two, so they'll be fairly quick and easy to make.

So on that note, I'll start with the first craft.

Knotty Baby Hats

So easy. So cute. I thought it was ridiculous to spend $5-15 on a baby hat that could be whipped up in 3 minutes, so here's my version for you all.

What you'll need:
-Jersey knit fabric (or an old T-shirt)
-Sewing machine
-Thread
-Preferably a walking foot pedal for your sewing machine, but can be done without one

What I did:
Honestly, I just guesstimated the size of Declan's head, cut some fabric and sewed it up. Of course, it was too big so I had to fix it.

Is there a better way to do it? Yes.

Take a baby hat that you know fits your baby to use as a template (I didn't have one so I had to make a smaller one to use as a template). Fold your fabric in half, right sides together, making sure the stretch is going horizontally.

Lay your baby hat on top and cut around it but, adding about 3 inches in length to the sides, and add an additional little tuft on the top for the knot (see picture). I make my tuft about 2 1/2 inches wide and 5 inches tall.

 Sew along the edges of your hat with a zig zag stitch (04 in picture), or if you have it do the 03 stitch pictured above (with walking foot attachment). Of course, don't sew the base/brim of the hat (part where baby's head goes in).

Here's what it will look like after sewing around the edges.

Before flipping your hat right side out, fold the brim of your hat about 2-3 inches up. Sew this part down with a zig zag stitch.

Make sure to line up the seams. 

Pin it in place so it doesn't move too much when sewing.

Use a zig zag stitch to finish off the brim.
(This is what it looked like on the outside after I flipped it right side out).

Flip your hat right side out and tie a little knot at the top.

Put on baby and kiss his or her cute cheeks!

Of course Em wanted to join in on the fun too!