Links for where to buy fabrics on-line (with UK delivery in mind)

A sewing friend and I recently did a lot of research on where to buy fabrics suitable for baby clothes. Many now are only on-line, but where they have a shop, I've mentioned it. So I thought I might as well share the fruits of our labours. Delivery shown is for UK mainland. I will keep this as up to date in terms of web links as I can - already two have been removed and three added in the space of a couple of months. So my apologies if the links don't all work. And by the way - I take no responsibility for prices or postage having increased since I did my research! Next update: 20th July 2020.

Coffee cup covers

As well as all the scraps in my stash that were woven cotton, or jersey knits, from making clothes for the grandchildren, I had a few odd bits of double-sided ready quilted fabric. Then I found this great free pattern for a coffee cozy from See Kate Sew. I had been idly thinking for some time of how to make our re-usable coffee cups more hands-free - we are mostly using them when with the family, and it is very useful to have spare hands.

See Kate Sew's Coffee Cozy is just that - a cozy - and it isn't hands-free in its original design. But the template was perfect. To find out how I adapted it to make hands free coffee cup carriers, read on!

Applique identification for boot bags

Another scrap buster! I do keep some tiny little bits of fabric sometimes, they can be so useful to make little appliqués. 

We got these new boot bags, great for carting our hiking boots around, thus keeping the car clean etc. But after the first few times of opening up both bags, my boots always being in the second one I tried, I thought - I'm going to label these! And what better way than to put an initial on each? (And use up a tiny bit more of the scrap stash.)

I found a couple of little bits of cottton fabric just big enough, about 2" by 3" (5cm x 7.5cm). You can find out a lot more about how to make appliqués in my post here.  But I'll give a quick explanation below.

Speedy trainer pants

As one of my scrap busting projects, I'd had a request for trainer pants for my two and a bit year old grand-daughter from her Mummy. In lockdown, and with initial shortages of everything from pasta to toilet paper and nappies (diapers), Mummy thought now was the time to make determined efforts to get her toilet trained. 

And just at the right time, I happened upon a post from Steph Sanna (thank you so much, Steph) with pictures of how she had made the Speedy Pants from Made By Jacks Mum into training pants. Perfect. Thank you also to MJBM for the awesome free pattern. (If you'll follow that link, you'll see there is a price attached, but if you subscribe to MBJM Facebook page and newsletter, you can get a code to get the pattern free.)

For more information  about converting the pattern into training pants, read on!

Bean bags to while away the time

Another lockdown / stash busting project:  - to make bean bags. I first picked up the idea from Peekaboo, whose newsletter I receive regularly. Her article on bean bags is here. While some of her suggested games were not so useful for my daughter in a first floor flat with no outdoor space, the method for making the bags was easy. We could be inventive about games for ourselves. The great advantage of bean bags in a flat, with thin walls and floors, is that they can be thrown without making too much noise on the floor, or risking breaking windows!

(However, to be even-handed, I also made a set for the other family who do have a garden.)

Here's all about making bean bags, and some games for indoors and out.