PB Inspired Mobile Tutorial

I have been on the quest for the perfect crib mobile.  Having made my own crib bedding, I figured I was going to have to make a mobile in order for it to match.  Last time I was at  Pottery Barn Kids, I saw this mobile...

...and thought....hmmmm...I could probably make something similar for a lot less than $45.  I came up with this:

PB Inspired Crib Mobile Tutorial:

Supplies:

9 sheets of heavy 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock (I used 3 sheets of 3 colors)

1 small wooden dowel

1 10" embroidery hoop

4 small tacks

4" by 42" of scrap fabric

glue gun and glue stick

Clear Monofilament 

1. To prepare the hoop, my helper cut 2 pieces of the dowel to the same measurement of the diameter of the hoop.  Next, he crisscrossed them and, using pliers, inserted the tacks into place from the outside of the hoop.  We didn't not take pictures of this step, but this is what you should have: 

2.  I chose to cover the hoop with some of the fabric that I used in the nursery.  You could also leave it as is or paint it.  To cover it, I cut 2 strips of fabric about 2" by the length (about 42" from bias to bias).  If you use a larger hoop, you will need more strips.  I began with a dab of hot glue, and simply wrapped the fabric around the hoop.  

3.  To cut out the shapes, I used my handy-dandy Silhouette Cameo.  If you don't have one, you could certainly cut shapes out by hand, but it's going to take awhile.  I made my shapes about 4" by 2 1/2", and was able to cut about 6 per page.  I chose 3 (a dog, snail, and turtle) shapes and cut 1 different color page for each shape (so I ended up with 6 blue dogs, 6 white dogs, 6 grey dogs, etc.).  Since I used my Silhouette, I just added a little dot to the top of each shape to act as a hole punch for hanging.  If you cut them by hand, you will need to use a small hole punch. 

4.  To string the shapes, I cut approximately 30" of clear monofilament.  I randomly chose a shape to be on the bottom and tied about 3 knots.  

Next, I slid another shape on and just secured it with one knot about 2 inches above the first shape.  I tried my best to alternate between colors and shapes.

I repeated this for each shape.  I decided to make 1 strand with 6 shapes for the center of the mobile, 4 strands with 5 shapes to tie on each section of the cross, and 8 strands of 4 shapes to tie 2 onto each quarter of the outside.  To keep the strands from tangling while working, I taped them to a wall.

5.  For the final step, you may want to find a patient buddy.  I had my husband hold the mobile as I tied each  strand on.  I secured each strand with about 4 knots.  I found it handy to keep a pin near by in the event that I needed to untie a strand. This step was a bit hectic with no free hands for photos.  Just keep tying with the longest strands towards the center.  You will need to find a way to hang this bad boy.  Apparently the PB ones don't come with hangers.  I plan on tying 4 long strands of monofilament where each of the dowels meet the hoop and attaching the whole thing to a hook in the ceiling.  I'm holding off on that step until I have the crib in place so I know how high to hang it.  

The final product:

Hope you had a nice weekend!

I have a confession...

I think I have a blanket problem-- as in, I can't stop making them.

If you know me well, this may not come as a surprise.  You see,  I had a favorite blanket as a child.  It wasn't an "it,"  the blanket was a "she" and her name was Binka.  Binka lived in my bed for shamefully too long.   I didn't sleep in the fetal position, cradling my blanket-- Binka was more of a extension of my pillow, providing the most perfect neck support one could imagine.  It wasn't until I got married that I was forced (more so by my mother than by my husband) to part with Binka.  I'll spare you any photos of my most prized possesion (mainly because she resides 700 miles away in a special treasure chest (literally) at my Mom's house).  In my memory, this blanket was the most beautiful thing in existence, but for years anyone who had the pleasure of seeing Binka outside of my bed was terrified. Not until my most recent trip home did I realize what they saw.   She no longer contained any batting, the lace trim looked more like moth-eaten dryer lint, the pink and yellow flowers were long gone, and the original quilting had vanished.  Not to mention, Binka is riddled with holes.  For years, I saw past my blanket's grotesqueness--I remembered the tea parties she attended, the comfort she provided as she was being soaked in my tears, and the fears she alleviated when I was certain that there was a monster under my bed.

While I don't wish that my future child sleep with a blanket until it is no longer acceptable to do so, I firmly believe that every child needs the perfect blanket.  In the past year I have made a couple of my favorite new babies faux chenille blankets using a tutorial by MADE, and I just knew that my little guy needed one too (despite the fact that I have already made him two perfectly adorable blankets already).

I ventured to Joann's with high hopes for the fabric but was thoroughly disappointed in the fabric selection for little boys.  I was envisioning a super graphic print for the plain side, but no such luck.  After traipsing though the store for entirely too  long, I settled upon a pale green striped flannel.  I was happy to find some solids that coordinate pretty well with the Backyard Baby collection.

Using my silhouette, I added an "E" to the plain side before delving into my hours of straight line sewing and cutting.

I hope the baby finds at least one of these to be the perfect cuddling blanket, but it's pretty likely that I'm not finished with blanket sewing...

More Baby Crafts

By the time May ninth rolls around, anyone reading this blog is going to be super bored with photos of things I have sewed for this baby.  I apologize in advance.  Baby sewing is just sew addictive because it's like instant gratification --everything is so small that it takes minutes to cut and minutes to sew together.  This is my kind of crafting!

Last week I made a couple of burp cloths and a soft tag block.  Apparently babies like to chew on the little ribbons that stick out.  My husband is fascinated with the minky (the green dotty fabric)--he thinks that everything should be made from this fabric.  The tag block was made using the tutorial found at Zaaberry.

The burp cloths are actually made out of cloth diapers because they are supposed to be great for spit-up coverage.   I'm not sure about that yet, but they sure are cute!  There are about a million tutorials for these burp cloths out there.  I liked using the ric-rac, because rather than having to hem the sides of the fabric, I simply sewed the ric-rac close to the edge and then ironed the edge over.  Then I just sewed the whole strip right onto the diaper.

26 Weeks

Not much to update on.  The bump is getting bigger and the little guy is having fun wiggling around.  Still crave ice cream like nobody's business and do not want to go near any more pickles. Bathroom trips during the night are becoming more and more frequent.  Thankfully, we have spent the last 6 hours moving our bedroom from upstairs to downstairs so I will be next door to the bathroom.  No more navigating our twisty attic-like steps in the middle of the night, but his was not the main reason for the move.  Now we will be on the same floor as the baby when he comes.  The upstairs has been converted into a sewing/office/dressing/guest room.  If we are ever able to make this random combination presentable, I'll post some pics.