My Upcycling Adventure (Otherwise Known As The Wrap Carrier)

So it's here.. my long ago promised post about how I turned an old fitted sheet into a wrap-style carrier! Let me begin by saying I use this atleast 3x a week and it's held up still. I have no worries about my seam breaking, because I double sewed it. (I am unsure what a "French Seam" is, so I did it my way!)

Here are the tools I used. Simple and easy. An old fitted jersey knit sheet, a standard needle, thread and scissors. I use a tape measure to make sure it was 18 inches wide, but you don't have to do that. You can eyeball it.

As everyone knows, fitted sheets have elastic around the edges to well, make them fitted. I cut closely to the edge, not really worried about how straight it was. I like a "rough" look personally. But if you wanted you too you could make a straight line down the long sides. I also took the seam out of the corners to get more length. in the main part. (I forgot to take a picture.)

I took the big panel left and cut off the edge  to make it completely even. I then folded it in half so that it was equal. (Here is where I used the measure tape to get my 18 inches across.) After I had it equal I cut that in half so that I have two equal pieces. 

Next, I lined up two of ten ends so that it was going to be even when finished. I overlapped the ends by 6 inches. You could do this or you could do a French Seam, which is what most tutorials recommend. I did this way to give her more padding on the back (this will be the part that comes up and holds her) and so that I knew my seams wouldn't give it out. If one did, the other one had it's back. I then pinned them in place so that I could sew them. 

I sewed on all four sides so that it gave me the seams I needed. I did mine by hand because I do not currently have a sewing machine. I crisscrossed the entire way down and back around on all four sides. 

Up close picture of the stitching. I stitched diagonal all around and then did the opposite diagonal coming back to make sure that my stitches would hold up. (Didn't want Sister Bear to crash and boom while wearing!) It took me maybe an hour and half to do the whole project. But, I did it by hand. 

The completed wrap with Rowan in it! I might now have to do a tutorial on how to wrap. ;)

AND JUST BECAUSE.......this is so cute. Brother Bear wanted one, so with the leftover fabric scraps I made one for him to use. Bear-wearing at it's finest!

Cany bars, paper towels and other things the green mom worries about...

There were a lot of things that went into my thought process this week...whether we were meeting my goals for going green this year or not, whether our diet was on par with what I have designed for us, and whether or not allowing that occasional candy bar was okay or going to be the end of the world. I have come to the conclusion that I need to make a list of our weekly goals and our monthly goals to just keep myself organized (and from going insane).


So here's the top five goals I want to work on over the next week to month.

1. Eliminating the paper towels. I figure we're currently out anyway, so now's a good time to buy some quality fabric and make some un-paper towels. So this week will be spent looking for the best fabric to use, one that can with stand stains as I am often cleaning up after small children. 


2. Writing up my proposal for a community garden and why I think the city should let me use the land. It's just sitting empty, so if you have any good ideas or links, I'd greatly appreciate them.


3. Resisting that stinking can of Coca-Cola. Especially considering the news article that just came out about them changing the formulas because of the fear of a cancer warning being printed on them. (My soap box here, even though I do partake, is we know it causes cancer but we still allow it in schools, in our bodies, and purchasable on food stamps. *sigh*


4. My fitness routine. I am doing it, but not really pushing myself. I could be pushing myself-and should. So I want will force myself to wear myself out every single night, except Sundays. 


5. And the last big one.. is that candy bar really going to hurt my son? I say yes, dad says no. I just can't fathom purchasing it and feeding it to him knowing all the yucky neurotoxins and ingredients in them. I am very much open to finding an alternative recipe that I can make and freeze for when he *thinks* he needs one.


Of course, in the big scheme of things these may be simple little stepping stones..but isn't there an old saying that goes along the lines of baby steps before you leap...? Maybe I'm confusing my isms. Either way, these will be our baby steps. We've implmented the Sunday bread making, which to the relief of this momma, DH said tastes WWAAYY better than store bought bread any day. Point! *excited, we did it dance here* It won't be long before I have him convinced that family cloth is amazing too....... ;)

What It's All About

This blog is about myself and my family's journey towards a crunchier lifestyle. Along the way it will be littered with things I love, learn and find important.