New Product: ECO Training Pants

What are ECO Training Pants, you ask? Well, at one point, I received a stash of prefold diapers that were missing layers and were frayed on the edge because layers had been ripped off... In general, unacceptable to make training pants out of. This stash got set aside while I tried to think what to do with them, since I hate throwing things away if I still think they MIGHT have life left in them.

One day, while I was cutting out microfiber towels to make pocket diaper inserts, I noticed that each towel I cut then had a strip left as wide as the center panel on a prefold. A flash of inspiration hit me, and I added 2 of these strips to the outside center panel of one of the above mentioned prefolds, making the center panel 4 layers of prefold, and 2 of microfiber... almost normal again. Adding a print panel on the outside then hides the microfiber, and makes the trainers pretty again.

I can't COMPLETELY trim the frayed edges, but I can trim as close to the prefold as possible, and as such, these trainers are discounted compared to my other prefold training pants.

And voila! Trash prefolds then get a new lease on life, as well.

Welcome Back

For those who are still with me... It's been a long absence with which I used to pull myself together and come back to being a WAHM better than I was before...

First, I made some changes to my pattern, based on tester feedback. The front is squared off to allow for more snap settings, and for it to lay flatter... The pocket opening has a real welt style opening.

The first of the policy changes is that I will no longer be offering custom orders. I may stock 1 or 2 at a time in my store at a later date, but for now, I will only be doing instock. This will allow me to get orders out the same day they are made (assuming ordering before noon AZ time) so that I can stay on top of things without getting behind...

My goal is to stock at least 2 new things each day, alternating between a Pocket day, and a Trainer day, and at some point, I will be adding the mama cloth back in.

Below you find pictured the new pocket diaper design, and Im confident that this design should help it truly fit to potty training... albeit bikini cut at the toddler years.

On My Table

Still getting closer to finishing Jessi's suprise diapers. I may have to change up the pattern a bit, as I am HATING sewing the gussets on the Poo-Pockets pattern, as much as I like what they are good for.

Have MamaofMany's MT all but done. It WOULD have been done if I hadn't spaced and only ordered 1 buckle for the shoulder straps, instead of 2. I'm feeling dumb now. So it's sitting on hold until the second buckle arrives from Strapworks.

Also on the table is an order of 18 OSFM pocket diapers for MiaCatherine. I have the diapers traced and ready to cut out, except for the yellow and kelly green ones, as apparently I didn't check to see how little PUL I actually had.

On the NEEDLES:
a skull jumper in black and lime green for my daughter. Size 6-8. Stay tuned for my adjustments to the size.
Knit Shorties for a YYMN (Your Yarn, My Needles) custom for Mommy24NY, we are just about ready to split for the gusset and legs.
Mate to Cabled Knit Fingerless Gloves for Lindsey
Cabled Knit Fingerless Gloves for Camron, for his birthday
Birthday Surprise for Inge, this friday
Birthday Surpise for Nikki, next weekend
And then of course, the other long term projects;

The Last Transport is Away!

And the last custom, cleared off my table. All that is left is a surprise gift for Jessi, a friend who is expecting twins, a MT to be converted into an SSC for Rachel, and frogging Symphony of Pixel's Autumn Wind longies and re-knitting them into shorts; The longies are frogged and rewound, and Ive even cast on the waistband edge. Lucky for me, knitting is a very portable hobby.

Getting closer to getting ready to debut a new item.... details coming soon

Customs update

I've been a busy little beaver this weekend, and managed to finish up MonicaJoy's trainers, as well as EvaliesMom's Trainers. I am about to start the trainers for LaRees Creations, and Klamb, but I am waiting on an order of Fold Over Elastic. It should be arriving no later than the end of this next week, and since my weekends are when I do the most work, it should be just in time.

An Update;

We are finally starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. I have 2 knitting customs in progress, one of which is nearly done, for MamaElle, her faded denim cotton longies, and the other, for Emz, her zebra longies.

Direct your attention to the side bar for where I stand on Prefold Trainers and Diaper Repair/Upgrade.

Hiatus

I've been avoiding blogging for awhile, plus I was insanely trying to finish Christmas knitting (now that I can see a light at the end of the tunnel) and now I've turned my mind towards Spring. For at least the next month, I will be on sewing hiatus while I finish the knitting projects, including customs, that I have halfway started. In order:

MonicaJoy, cotton longies from the CDN auction. ALMOST done, I have like 2 inches of the second leg, and then the ruffle at the bottom.

MamaElle, well, I bought the yarn, I printed her pattern measurements, but I haven't cast on yet.

MayasMommie, 2 pair of longies in ooga colorways. Yarn is dyed, the trim is purchased, the needles are here, just waiting for me to finish christmas knitting;

Emz, Zebra longies, WAITING for the yarn to arrive, probably will arrive after Christmas.

Also, now have a pattern for knit trainer shells (think of them as woolen underwear) with side snaps in case of an accident, and a snap in soaker. Look for these soon.

Sale!

So I've just finished marking down prices over at my etsy store for a sale we are having. Sale and prices won't last long, so hurry on over there for discounted pricing.

I've also got some new products in the works. Currently we have the wool in one trainers stocked, 1 in boy style, 1 in girl style, I also have some flannel pocket fitteds, including a 3 pack set for $24. That's $8 a piece. You can't get stuffable One Size Fits Most fitteds that cheap. Also just stocked, this adorable set of a flannel pocket fitted and matching PUL cover.

Customs vs instock

I've done a lot of prayerful soul searching and realized that I HATE taking so long to complete customs. With the new job, I just can't get things done the way I used to, and I certainly can't quit the outside the home job at this point. So, I will be closing the customs list for the time being. I have 4 customs I have received which I will be getting down and out, but after that, I will be taking a break from customs and moving onto instock only. I have a number of ideas I would like to work on and get listed, including the wool-in-one trainers, and I would like to list some stock prefold trainers....

I have a lot of things I would LOVE to finish that I can't because I am stressed out over customs. So the customs I have currently in progress are Diorama Mama (she has 1 more trainer to finish); sknowlto with 6 medium trainers with no PUL or anything fancy; anjcolijn 8 with PUL outers; and 2 for Emily-Joe's Mom on CDN.

After that, instock ONLY. And I will do my best to get them done if not this week, then next week

Productive?

So I finished the order for TXMama on Etsy. These are already postage paid and ready to be dropped off. She should have them by Friday, in plenty of time to prewash them for her vacation.

Also in progress is the box for dioramamama. I have 1 cover with snaps on it, and 1 of 4 prefolds converted to underpants.

I know it's been awhile since I posted or even stocked my store. I want to apologize. I'm sorry. I've started a new job, about a 35 minute drive from my house in good traffic, so I haven't had all the time in the world to stock my store. I am trying, however, to at least make good on everything I have promised people.

20 Replacement Trainers

For Kiddo353: Just need to make it to the post office

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Goth Girly Covers and Order Status Update

First the update: Alison1L got shipped out yesterday. Kiddo353 I have 6 trainers done for your replacement. Pink Cupcake Cafe, I have 2 out of 3 of your last trainers done for you.

I finished the punk princess pocket diaper for the WAHM Nation collaborative, and even got 2 new covers done to list in my store. Shown below, as a link, are the 2 covers I just finished this morning. They are a single layer of PUL (one is hot pink with the pink plaid skull and crossbones print and the other is purple with the purple plaid skull and crossbones print) and bound in soft black fold over elastic, with matching black snaps. Shown here on the middle rise setting.



Thanks for looking.

It's been awhile

My deepest apologies to all my followers. For awhile I had a temporary job and was up and out the door by 7am each day to catch the bus and arrive by 9, and then would skip my lunch and catch the bus home at 5, only to arrive home at just before 7.

Happy to announce that that job is over. I can get back to sewing and finishing up what I've got.

First, I have 10 replacement trainers for Kiddo353. My deepest apologies that yours were screwed up so royally. I have 2 done, and 3 more prefolds prepping in the wash, and another prefold cut out waiting to be sewn.

Next, I have a total of 7 for Alison1L, I have 5 done, the 6th pinned together, and the 7th cut out.

Third, I have the pile of alterations on my table for Cat-Eyed Girl. I would say I am about 40% done with these.

I need to stock for the Cloth Diaper Nation congo, grand opening May 10, just in time for Mother's day. I am listing a pink goth girl pocket to go with a punky pink and black goth girl collaboration with Fluffy Baby Behind, Beaucoup Bows, and Squishylicious. I hope I can get it all done in time.

Oh, I almost forgot. Carly linked me on her blog for LilBirdieBottoms. You can see a picture of her adorable daughter wearing the pocket diaper I made that matches her cute shirt and adorable hair bow from Dana at Beaucoup Bows.

Finished, FINALLY

Finished the order for LilBirdBlue, and for Shaan102106. Now the only orders sitting in my apartment are the half-finished order for Kiddo353, and the half-finished order for PinkCupcakeCafe. Also just received an order this week from Alison1L. Well, and Nate's Wedding Suit. And guess what? My fold-over elastic finally arrived today from Canada, so I plan on getting EVERYTHING done this weekend and shipped by Monday.

I'm waiting on some gently used diaper service prefolds I ordered to come so I can sew them into trainers. Oh, and another announcement. I've also joined the Main Street Congo on Hyena Cart, and hope to be stocking some trainers there starting April 3rd. So, when you get a chance, check me out. My section is empty for now, but not for long. And I will continue to stock my covers and pockets over at my etsy store, too, so don't worry that pockets will no longer be available.

And just because I think it's frelling adorable, I leave you with a picture of my latest set, the purple goth girl set. It is a lavender PUL pocket diaper with contrast tabs, and then another pocket with the lavender and camo plaid skull print. Also, each diaper comes with your choice of insert, whether it be a 4 layer microfiber insert, or a 6 layer cotton birdseye insert.



I've also started doing hand-appliqued wool OSFM covers.

Weekend Update

I had a VERY productive weekend. For starters, when I checked the mail on Friday, my Fold Over Elastic from foeyourdiaper arrived, so I was able to finish the order for Shaan102106 and Suzanne. I also finished LilBirdBlue's last 2 trainers, Teliza's 6 size small, and started the orders for Dana of Beaucoup Bows and Jennifer of Pink Cupcake Cafe. I also managed to finish the Clown Fish diaper, which I will be listing later this evening. I missed the post office closing by 15 minutes yesterday, so the finished orders will go out Monday.

Teliza, 6 size small made from 6 what I can only imagine are TotsBots Contours.

LilBirdBlue, the last 2 of her order

Shaan102106, all 8 of her trainers, size medium,

Suzanne, all 6 of her order, 3 size small & 3 size medium, no PUL, and no print fabric, so just fold over elastic.

Dana, of Beaucoup Bows, sent me 9 premium size prefolds to convert to size medium trainers. Here are 2 of them, minus snaps since that is the last thing I do (or rather, make my DH do) before they go out.

Jennifer, of Pink Cupcake Cafe, ordered a total of 12 pocket trainers, 4 size medium, and 8 size large. I have finished and snapped the 4 mediums. I am waiting on more fold over elastic (because apparently I can't calculate yardage, or I'm just an idiot) to do the 4 larges for her daughter, and I need more white PUL to do the 4 larges for her son.

Work completed this weekend

- Finished and shipped 13 of 15 training pants for LilBirdBlue - DCN 0303 2460 0001 0974 0452 (will be finishing the last 2 as soon as my PUL gets here from Kids In The Garden)

- Finished 7 of 8 trainers for Shaan102106. Ran out of Fold-Over Elastic for the second print one. As soon as I receive my emergency order from FOEyourdiaper.com I will finish that last one and get it out.

- Finished Order for CreativeMotherUK. Shipping today.

- Started orders from kiddo353, teliza, and sarasotasue. Waiting on fold-over elastic to come from Canada.

- Stocked 6 OSFM diapers in my store.

- Shipped order for LilBirdieBottoms, DCN 0303 1400 0001 2443 2666

Back on the grindstone

So, I am 6 prefolds into Lil Bird Blue's order. I was planning on having them done by now, however, it seems that just when you feel more on top, the Goddess decides to throw you a curve ball. I spent the better part of last week camped out on my poof trying to keep the little bit of food I'd eaten where it belongs. I am still not 100% better, but feeling ok enough to continue, finally. So I am going to finish Lil Bird Blue's order, and then start on the 8 prefold --> trainers for B Balker. After that, I have CreativeMotherUK, and a few I am still waiting on receiving.

Custom Finished

It took all day, but I managed to finish the custom order for PookaPooka on Etsy. She sent me 6 premium size unbleached Indian Prefolds, and I turned them into 6 size medium training pants without PUL, but with decorative prints. The trainers are bound with fold-over elastic edging, and snap on the sides for ease in removing after a messy accident.


And if you are interested in these and have prefolds to convert, please see this listing and contact me on Etsy. I'd be happy to work something out with you.

Prefolds received yesterday

I received 2 packages yesterday. 1 was a package of 6 from PookaPooka, and the other was a package of 15 from LilBirdBlue. I will be cutting and sewing these today. I hope to at least finish and post pictures of PookaPooka's order.

Stay Tuned.

Shape of A Mother, not really shop related

Every so often, I get this wild hair and decide to go browsing at Shape of A Mother. It always makes me feel more comfortable, knowing I'm not the only one that looks like this. A feeling of comraderie, you might say. So I was browsing there tonite, and I discovered my story. Now I wasn't sure it saved, because when I was posting it, my pc froze and had to be reset, so I didn't think it saved. Imagine my surprise to find that it did. I am finding Shape of a Mother to be a wonderful place, and may it help our daughters grow up with a healthy self image, and may help our sons learn not to expect a stick thin supermodel, that we are all beautiful.

Thank you, now back to your regularly scheduled blogging.