Fossil Rim Blog Tour ~ A Dino-mite Baby Ensemble!

Sometimes, the cutest fabric comes along, and you just gotta make stuff!

Baby Ensemble made by Debbie Proctor & Deonn Stott

featuring Fossil Rim fabrics designed by Deena Rutter for Riley Blake Designs

Boy fabrics seem to get cuter and cuter as the years go by, and this line is no exception!  My friend Debbie, (who just happens to have a new grandson!) agreed to collaborate for this fun blog tour.  When we saw that the line is also offered in knits, Debbie immediately thought of making a baby layette gown.

In her later years, Debbie's mother had made hundreds of these little gowns with matching booties and blankets for charity.

Debbie combined a couple of her mother's patterns to make the ideal baby gown that slips easily over the baby's head... 

...has cuffs on the sleeves to cover those sharp little fingernails so the baby won't scratch his face, and elastic in the bottom for easy diaper-changeability!  1 yard makes 1 baby gown, but you can get 2 gowns from 1-1/2 yards.  Download the free PATTERN and INSTRUCTIONS.  If you haven't sewn with these super-soft jersey knit fabrics, see my favorite TIPS.<<  

Speaking of diapers...this quilted diaper-changing pad was a breeze to make! (Of course, I had to  quilt something!)

Quilt a couple of fat quarters or yardage together.  This one was about 26 inches wide and 18 inches tall.  Nancy Haacke's adorable dinosaur tracks quilting design mimics the fabric! An iron-on vinyl product will protect the surface.

I centered a covered elastic loop on one side, then stitched a faux-piped binding by machine (see tutorial) for a decorative edge.  The elastic loops over a button to hold it closed.

Load it up with a diaper and some wipes and you've got a portable changing pad "To-Go"...  haha, get it? *Ü*

From the scraps of the layette gown, we were able to cut out a couple of "Dribble Bibs".  Who knew these cute little bandannas were so popular! I've seen some with toweling on the back, but this knit will absorb nicely.  You can also download this free pattern HERE.

Next, we wanted a little swaddling blanket, and Riley Blake Designs' double gauze was the perfect choice.  It's easy to square up the fabric by cutting along the lines.  This one was cut to about 45" square.  A small hem finished the edges, then I used a drawing by Debbie's daughter and machine-applique'd (< see tutorial) a little stegosaurus on the corner of the blanket.  A bit of ric-rac gave him the scales.

And finally, we enlarged the drawing and Debbie made a soft little stuffie from the knit scraps.  We used RBD Jumbo ric-rac this time.  You can get the free PDF pattern for the applique' and stuffie HERE.  Make the little Steggie two sided, or add a gusset on the bottom to give him legs.

None of these projects took much time to make, and each one will be a nice gift for a newborn!

Want to see how the baby likes them?

Yup.  We got a wiggly little thumbs up.

Looks like they're a hit for this little two-month-old!

Such an adorable range of fabrics, Deena, and a big thanks to the folks at Riley Blake Designs for sponsoring this post.  For more inspiration (and absolute cuteness), see previous stops on the tour and check back Wednesdays for the next couple of weeks.  Deena Rutter hosts a sale and wraps up on the final stop.

9/13 Kimberly @ SweetRedPoppy

9/20 Deonn @ Quiltscapes <<

10/4 Deena @ DeenaRutter

Happy Sewing!