Folding Change Pad Carry All Style #1

Last year I brought you this post with my tutorial for making a change pad clutch (an all in one change pad and diapers and wipe carrier). Included in that post I had a couple of pictures of a diaper bag set I had made for a friend that had both the change pad clutch and a folding change pad. Since that post I have received numerous e-mails asking for a pattern or directions on how to making the folding change pad. The one that I had made for my friend was made using a pattern from this book:


so I didn't feel it was my place to share those instructions on my blog since they were not of my creating. Since then I have created my own version of a folding change pad that is super quick and easy to make. This is version #1 with an elastic fastener strap which doubles as a wipes and diapers holder. TADA!!! This still allows the convenience of a all in one change pad without the size of the change pad clutch (which I had some complaints about). Here is a tutorial:
Materials needed:
1 piece of fabric 22x15
1 piece of fabric 22x3
1 bath towel cut into a piece 22x15 (you want to use a decent quality towel for thickness and softness. I got mine at my favorite big blue store for $4.00 I was able to get 3 change pad pieces out of mine plus left over for bibs)
1 piece of velcro 3 inches long
1 piece of elastic 3 inches long (3/4 inch wide is what I used)

Step #1 Cut your two pieces of fabric. I was able to get my fabric in a little bundle at Walmart. It came with 6 different pieces I think, all precut to 22x16". It was super convenient considering the cutting staff at my Walmart work at the pace of a sloth. (just a side note I had to add) Step #2 Place towel piece down on fabric-right sides together
Step #3 Round your corners. I saw this trick on another blog. Use a CD as a pattern for rounding your corners.

It works best on the fabric not the towel. Trace the edge of the CD and then cut on your traced line.

Step#4 Pin your sides together and sew around all the edges. I used a Serger for mine but you could do the same thing on a regular machine with a 1/4 inch seam. Leave an opening for turning.

Step#5 Turn the entire thing right side out and top stitch around the edge at 1/8". Make sure you tuck the edges of your opening in while you are topstitching to secure them.

Step#6 Now for the strap. Take your remaining piece of fabric and fold it in half width wise, right sides together and sew along both sides. Again I used my Serger but you could do a 1/4" seam on a regular machine. Turn it right side out and press with an iron.

Step#7 Pin your elastic 2 6/8" from the open edge of the strap piece. I used 2 6/8" as a rough estimate. You are going to stretch this as you sew and you want it to be in the center of the strap piece. You may want to adjust it slightly depending on your elastic stretchiness.

Showing you that it is pinned nearer to the open edge. Notice that I tucked in about a 1/4 inch on my opening. Don't forget to do that.

Step#8 To begin sewing, sew across the end of the elastic first. Then put the needle down in the elastic and lift your presser foot and turn the strap piece so it looks like this (lengthwise facing you)

then pull it out straight. I took this picture when I was sewing my second side. To help hold the elastic it is a good idea when you stretch it out to pin it at the loose end to help hold it there as you are sewing. Sew all around all 4 sides of the elastic. I don't know about anyone else or if there is some secret I don't know about, but my sewing machine hates sewing over elastic. It eats it up. It's ugly. If yours does that too, know that you are not alone.

It should look like this when it is finished.

Step #10 Now a quick how too on folding these. (sorry some of these pictures are at odd angles-not sure what I was doing). Start with towel side up.

Fold in half.

Fold one side in (like in 3rds)

and the other side. At this point it doesn't matter which side you fold first. But after you add your strap piece it will.

Step #11 Attach the strap. You will attach the open edge of the strap first.

You want to attach it to the side of the folded change pad that doesn't have any flaps showing like this.

Center it and attach it with some pins. You want to attach it right where the change pad folds. It will look like the elastic part is not centered but once you add the diapers and wipes it will all even out.

Step#12 Now unfold the change pad and sew over this open edge.

Step#13 Attach velcro. You will want to attach one piece of velcro to the strap on the same side that the elastic is sewn to-right near the end-parallel with the end and the other piece of the velcro will be sewn to the change pad edge like this (sorry this is blurry). This is the opposite side of the side you sewed the strap too. You want the velcro to be centered just like the strap so they will line up when you go to secure them. Sew all around the edge of the velcro.

Step#14 Now another lesson in folding-only this time it matters which way you do it. So once again you start with the towel side up and fold it in half only you want the side with the strap to be on the bottom.

Fold the non velcro side in first

then the side with the velcro

and secure the fastener. In the picture below I have turned my change pad around 180 degrees from the picture above.

The back side.

And this is how it looks once you add a wipes case and 2 diapers. It holds a max of 2 diapers and 1 wipes case. It looks really cute with a coordinating wipes case like the picture at the top.

Stay tuned for versions 2 and 3 coming soon!!!

This tutorial was featured on Craftaholics Anonymous

Baby burp cloths and other baby creations

In case some of you have worried that I have lost my creative touch, I am finally here to post a few of my latest creations. I have been busy trying to make things for my Melon Days baby boutique and I have just been waiting to post a few of the projects all at once. My stack is getting bigger each day of items to sell and my craft room is beyond recognition and repair I am embarrassed to admit. It looks like an explosion happened in there and the amount of usable space is diminishing rapidly. I have decided to give up trying to "tidy" it up weekly as it is just no use. In just a few weeks the room will become small fry's and I will be relocated to the laundry room so I am just trying to grin and bear it until then. But that has not stopped my creativity. Here are a few of the latest creations.

First baby burp cloths. I found this idea on the blog Needle in a Haystack. I found this blog through the blog A little Tipsy. Both of these blogs are FABULOUS. I love it when I find great new blogs and tons of ideas. Thanks ladies to both of you. Anyway back to the burp cloths. On Needle in a Haystack she shows burp cloths that she made combining flannel and cloth diaper material. I didn't spend much time checking out what she did to make these. I saw the idea and immediately thought, "that is perfect!!!!!" and got to work. The flannel burp cloths are so cute but not very absorbent. This idea allows you to combine the cuteness of the flannel fabric with the practicality of the cloth diaper. GENIUS!!. Here is what I used.
I bought a package of these:

Then I just cut out my burp cloth with one piece of flannel and the other of the diaper material. I pinned them right sides together (p.s. is there a right side to a cloth diaper?) and sewed around the edge. Then I turned em right side out and sewed the opening closed and stitched all the way around. TADA, burp cloths, cute and absorbent. They are pretty light weight but I actually like them that way. I think they are easier to use.

Then I was thinking of a clever way I could package them up for my baby boutique booth and came up with this cupcake idea. I folded and rolled my burp cloth, along with a strip of extra material together to make the cupcake. Then I decorated with some ribbon and flowers and pins. It took me forever to get one just how I wanted it and after looking at it for so long I didn't even know if I liked it. But I persisted and made enough to take a few pictures. Then when I looked at them in the pictures I knew it was worth the effort. I think they turned out adorable. I am planning to package them as sets of 3 for my booth. I think I will look for some little boxes or something to put them in. Stay tuned for the final product.  For a tutorial on how to make these check out my interview over at U-Create

Here is another recent project; a little girls bow holder. I didn't want to make something that was too huge because I am trying to focus on baby stuff. I used an 8x10 " picture frame that I got at the DI. I repainted it and sanded the edges. I used my trusty Mod Podge to glue a piece of scrapbook paper over the backing of the frame. Then I added three ribbons to hold the hair clips.

Side view.

Another one with a different background.

Lastly, M is for Miracle.

I made one of these for the nursery in our home before small fry was born. Since we didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl I made one that says, "Precious" and have it hanging over her crib. I wanted to make a few of these to sell as well. Here are just 2 of the ones I have made. I know that every baby is a miracle but for those who have been trying to have children for a while or thought they never could have children, the birth of their baby is extra miraculous. I made these with those people in mind.

I am extremely embarrassed to post these pictures with the carpet of my sewing room as the background. I do vacuum it once a week but small fry loves to take the strings out of the trash and sprinkle them everywhere and I am not too careful to make sure I throw any of mine directly into the trash after vacuuming day. Hence the terrible background. Sorry, it was late when I took the picture. No time for a cleaning. Boy and girl Miracle banners.

Inspiration update

I felt like I should check in and explain my recent lack of creative posts. I have just not been feeling well with this pregnancy and feel currently like I am in a creative slump. For some odd reason my nose hurts really bad with this pregnancy. Now isn't that just the strangest thing in the world. Feels like I have been punched in the nose but I haven't and it is causing a major creative block (well at least I am blaming it on that). So I promise creative things to come, hopefully soon.
In other news I have recently been featured on FaveCrafts.com. This is a way cool thing for me and I love having my ideas reach more people. I tried forever to add their "I've been featured button" but it is not working, or I am not working (we will blame the nose once again) so I will have to try again later. I don't think the feature has been published yet, I just got a e-mail to review it. I will link to it when it is published. But go and check them out in the mean time. Lots of great craft ideas. Hey I think I will spend some time searching for inspiration there later.

Twice as nice

It just keeps getting better here in the blogging world. I was featured again on One Pretty Thing again. This time it was my Valentine fortune cookies that were featured. I just have to say again how much I love this website. I have found some great ideas from it. What a great thing she is doing. It is really fun to have my blog out there and be seen by more people. That prompted me to add a widget to my sidebar for followers. If you would like to be known as a Small fry & Co. follower scroll down and add yourself. I would be honored. If I don't get many followers I may get rid of it as it is kind of pathetic to have it for only 1 or 2 people. But I thought I would give it a try.
Also having more viewers makes me want to pump out the crafts faster and faster. It is a bit frustrating because I have so many other things to do too. I know with the blogs that I follow it is sad when I go to see if they have something new and they haven't updated in a few days. I guess that is how life is. As my younger brother would say, "there is more to life than crafts." It is true. I will do my best to keep new things coming.

I was featured

This is super exciting for me. I sent my Valentines chair pouches ideas into a couple of other blogs/websites and I was actually chosen to be featured. YIPPY SKIPPY. You can find my little idea at One Pretty Thing This is a great website devoted to new craft ideas daily. You can find me under her Valentines Roundup for Feb 4th. Can you believe it? So exciting. Go check out the website too for crafty inspirations of all descriptions.

Thanks One Pretty Thing.