Jenny Garland

Boutique Bath Wrap Tutorial

Hi there crafty friends (and mom). With summer approaching, I was thinking about our neighborhood pool. I end up carrying so much with me. You know... toys, buckets, shovels, towels, snacks, etc. I was trying to figure out how I can cut down on what I carry, especially since I'll be traveling with two lovely ladies this year.

I have seen cute bath wraps in boutiques. Um, my girlfriend and I saw a plain WHITE one at JC Penney's for $42 last week! Do people really pay that? I digress.

Basically, I decided I should make one for Kate. Not only does she look so super cute in it, it's one less thing I have to carry now! Woo hoo.

Well, one wrap turned into two (a girl has to have options, right?) and I made a tutorial for sizes 12 months - 8 years if you want to make one too! Download the pdf from my left sidebar. I'd love, love, love to see what you come up with if you make one, so send me a link to your blog post!

Happy sewing!

Your napmats, my pattern!

Remember my napmat? Ya'll have been sooo sweet to email me and leave comments about how much you and your little ones have enjoyed it. Here are a few pictures from some moms who have made their own. If you make one and want your picture included, blog it and send me the link :)

If you would like to download the pattern, there is a link on my left sidebar.

*Please remember, these are for personal use only and not to be sold for profit. Thanks :)

How to Refinish Furniture

Hi there! Due to an astronomically high volume of requests for a video tutorial (under 5), I present to you ... my simple, no fuss, no muss way to refinish furniture. This is likely not the "professional" way to do things, but it's cheap, it works, and it looks great!

This is my first attempt at a video tutorial. Um, I completely forgot to do an intro. Sorry about that.

Below the video, you will find a summary in case you need to refer to it or find my voice severely annoying :)

Materials:
- furniture
- medium and fine grit sandpaper
- tack cloth
- paper towel
- Zinsser's shellac primer
- satin spray paint or semi-gloss paint

Step One: Sand

Step Two: Clean furniture with tack cloth

Step Three: Prime

Step Four: Paint

Easy, peasy folks. Give it a whirl!

Before and after:

  

PS... Be sure to visit Edie for more painting inspiration!

Reversible Baby Carrier Cover Tutorial!

In anticipation of Baby #2, we recently pulled out Kate's old Baby Bjorn. I noticed it's a bit faded and well, drabby looking. I looked online and you can buy a Bjorn cover if you want to shell out big bucks. Or... you could make one yourself and save lots of $$. I'll show you how :)

This cover will fit all Baby Bjorn® carriers, the Evenflo Snugli® Carrier, Jeep® 2 in 1 Baby Carrier, and the Infantino® Euro Rider Soft Baby Carrier.

 

Baby Carrier Cover Tutorial

1. Pull out your new, used, or borrowed baby carrier. Take off the straps so you just have the body of the carrier.

 

2. Find the center points (lengthwise) of the carrier and trace onto posterboard. Add 3/4" seam allowance (dotted line) around pattern. Be sure NOT to add seam allowance to the middle line (this will be our fold line).

3. Trace pattern onto two coordinating fabrics (be sure to fold fabric on fold line). Cut out.

4. Fold edges 5 edges 1/4" on wrong side of fabric. Fold again 1/4" and stitch close to the fold line.

 

5. Place both pieces right sides together. Pin and serge/sew using a 1/2" seam allowance. Remember not sew over areas you just top stitched!! If you sew, be sure to finish the edges with a zigzag or overcast stitch.


6. Turn right side out. Press. Insert baby carrier body. Reattach straps.

Kate calls this a "belly basket" - how cute is that? :)



(edited to add this picture, as Sara Paige was not born yet when I made this!)

 7. Post a picture to the Jenny Garland Baby Carrier Cover flickr pool! :)

* This carrier cover would look really cute with a pocket, monogram, ruffle, or ric-rac! Go crazy :)

Not Your Everyday Nap Mat Tutorial

My friend needed a nap mat for her daughter for preschool rest time. I love the fabric on this nap mat; it's so girly and fun. Minkee fabric is pretty slippery when sewing, but other than that, the pattern was a breeze. Speaking of a pattern, I couldn't find one I liked so I created this nap mat tutorial. Feel free to download it for personal use :)

I used a foam insert instead of batting to add extra cushion. I also finished one length of the mat with velcro, so the foam can be easily removed before washing.

Leave me a comment and let me know how it worked out for you!