How to make your own LilyWrap

For those that are super creative and would like to make a LilyWrap to donate rather than buy one, Here's How I Do It !!

 

OPTION 1 (slightly looser)

 

OPTION 2 (snug as a bug)

WHAT YOU NEED:
2 squares of fabric.
(1) 4 pieces of ribbon 1/4-1/2 inch thick
(2) 2 pieces of ribbon 1/4-1/2 inch thick

WHAT TO DO
1st: Decide on the size you want

2nd: Cut out a square of an ultra soft and cuddley material and a suqare of a soft coton or flannel. Make sure they are 1-1 1/2 inches bigger than the size you want it to end up being. (ex. if you want a 10 inch LilyWrap, you need to cut 11 - 11 1/2 inch squares.)

3rd: Place the squares together, with the "outside" faces on the inside, so make it "in-side-out".

4th:
(1) Measure out 4 pieces of Ribbon that are the same length as the side of your squares.
(2)  Measure out 2 pieces of Ribbon that are 2 inches LONGER than the side of your squares

5th: Begin sewing the edges of your LilyWrap about 1/4 - 1/2 inch in (whatever you are more comfortable with)

(1) YOU ARE GOING TO SEW IN THE RIBBON IN A 0, 1, 2, 2 PATTERN!!
This means when you get to the first corner you should have NO ribbon.
When you get to the second corner place in ONE ribbon.
Whenyou get to the third corner place in TWO ribbons.
When you get to the fourth corner place in ONE ribbon.
(just like the picture above.)

 (2) You will have THREE corners with NO ribbon, and ONE corner with TWO ribbons.

**You need to make sure at least 1/2-1 inch of the ribbon is sticking out of the corner so you can tug on it to make sure it's secure after sewing it. Sew over it twice if you need to.)

6th: When you get All The Way Around, make sure you LEAVE a 3-4 inch whole!!

7th: FLIP IT !! Turn the LilyWrap "right-side-out".

 

8th: Starting on the side with the Whole you Need to Close... Sew around the edge of the LilyWrap about 1/4 inch in. If you want to you can do a secodn round farthur in also.

9: Now pull the corners together and tie the ribbon. Your LilyWrap is complete!!

OPTION 1

Pull the three corners together and tie the center ribbons to the outside ribbons.

OPTION 2

Fold up the bottom corner, fold in the side corner, then wrap around the ribbon corner. One ribbon goes around the back, the other goes around the front, and they tie together.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

MORE TO COME ON HOW TO LAUNDER LILYWRAPS AND PACKAGE THEM TO DONATE TO AN NICU OR LABOR AND DELIVERY UNIT.

To learn more about the family that inspired LilyWraps visit

http://lilysamazinggrace.blogspot.com/

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LilyWraps

These tiny little blankets are made in honor and memory of Baby Lily and all babies that leave their families too early.

These LilyWraps are made in particular for families to purchase and then donate to a local NICU.

LilyWraps are made special with ultra soft materials. When a baby is born prematurely he/she is extremely fragile. These babies are so fragile they can not be dressed, instead the parent's use the blankets to wrap their baby who is struggling to live or has passed and hold them. LilyWraps are made with extra love and care so that families can hold their beautiful baby for as long as possible.

LilyWraps will come with a postcard for each one so that the families can have a simple not from me, and you can fill out the back with your name and a personal note if you so choose.

Help raise awareness for premature birth and neonatal death.

Our hope is that LilyWraps will become well known and highly donated. Donating a LilyWrap to your local NICU will help a family feel loved during a very difficult time in their life.

I personally have journeyed with friends through the loss of their babies prematurely, and stuggled to find ways to show them how loved they are. Donating LilyWraps helps these families feel the love you have for them as well as the love you have for their precious baby.

For many families, the day of their birth is the only time they will get to hold their baby. LilyWraps are designed to be gentle on the baby's skin so that families can wrap up their child and hold them and cover them with all their love.

If you would love to purchase LilyWraps to donate to your local NICU or a family in need please visit my etsy shop and click on the section called LilyWraps.

Sleep Sweetly on Etsy

Thank you for your support.





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March for Babies!!

Most people have heard of March for Dimes. But, have you heard of March for Babies?

March for babies is specifically to raise awareness of the risk of Pre-Mature Babies. Did you know that almost half a million babies are born too early every year? I'm not just talking about pre-mature babies due to health factors or pre-mature labor. Some moms actually ask for an early c-section or labor induction!!

I know the thought of having your child one or two weeks early doesn't sound like that big of a deal. Whats 1-2 weeks out of the 9 months you carry the baby? IT ACTUALLY MATTERS A LOT!!

A baby's brain and lungs are not fully developed until the 39th-40th week. The last two weeks are so critical.

I'll be walking for March for Babies on April 14th, 2012 !!
You can help by donating to sponsor the walk http://www.marchforbabies.org/Lizzsather 

What March of Dimes has to say about it...
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/getready_atleast39weeks.html
 
Here's why your baby needs 39 weeks:

• Important organs, like his brain, lungs and liver, get all the time they need to develop.
• He is less likely to have vision and hearing problems after birth.
• Babies born too soon often are too small. Babies born at a healthy weight have an easier time staying warm than babies born too small.
• He can suck and swallow and stay awake long enough to eat after he's born. Babies born early sometimes can't do these things.

Why scheduling an early birth can be a problem
Experts are learning that scheduling an early birth for non-medical reasons can cause problems for mom and baby. For example:

• Your due date may not be exactly right. Sometimes it's hard to know just when you got pregnant. Even with an ultrasound, your due date can be off by as much as 2 weeks. If you schedule to induce labor or schedule a cesarean birth (also called a c-section) and your date is off by a week or two, your baby may be born too early.
• Inducing labor may not work. If your labor is induced, the medicine your doctor or certified nurse-midwife gives you may not start your labor. When this happens, you may need to have a c-section.
• A c-section can cause problems for your baby. Babies born by c-section may have more breathing and other medical problems than babies born by vaginal birth. (Most babies are born by vaginal birth. The mother's uterus contracts to help push the baby out through the vagina, also called the birth canal.)
• C-sections can cause problems in future pregnancies. Once you have a c-section, you may be more likely in future pregnancies to have a c-section. The more c-sections you have, the more problems you and your baby may have, including problems with the placenta.
• A c-section is major surgery for mom. It takes longer for you to recover from a c-section than from a vaginal birth. You can expect to spend 2 to 4 days in the hospital after a c-section. Then you'll need 4 to 6 weeks after you go home to fully recover. You also could have complications from the surgery, like infections and bleeding. So it's important to stay in touch with your health care provider even after you go home. 

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A Baby Security Blanket and Wooby is a Must Haves!!

Every child i have met has that one very special blanket that they carry around with them. A little security blanket. A super soft wooby. A blankey to snuggle with at night.

Lovey Tag Blankets are fantastic for kids who love textures, the tags on their pillows/blankets/clothes, and playing with he different fuzzies on their balnkets and toys. Lovey Tag Blankets come in a multiple of sizes. They have two different textures of materials for the front and back, and different textured ribbon tags around every side.

Woobys are simpley adorable... They are made with the softest cuddle fabrics, and premium, soft cottons. Each Wooby has one extra special corner thats gather together so children's little hand can grab on and hold snug. These blankets are perfect for the chid who loves something soft against their face. If your child loves to rub the corners of blankets with their fingers or on their ears, these are made special for doing just that.

The best part is I can make you multiples of the same, so when one gets dirty, you have another to replace it while washing the other. You'll never have to tell your baby "Sorry, you have to go to bed without it, it's dirty." Just swap them out for a clean one and they will be as happy as can be.

Check out more about these items and others that I handmade to help little ones feel loved.
SleepSweetly on Etsy

Want to know about others who make wonderful handmade items for kids?
Check out Team EtsyKids at http://EtsyKids.com

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Unique Washcloths

Everyone needs washcloths !! From babies to grandmas, washcloths are a must have.

But, why use simple single colored washcloths when you can have one with some pizzas?

Why wonder which washcloth is yours? You can have a set of washcloths with your own cute design so everyone knows they're yours!! Too fun!

Are you a nursing mom? Why carry around the large, heavy burp cloths? These can adorable washcloths can double as mini, super absorbant burp cloths?!

These cute little washcloths range from 12 inches to 15 inches. Made from a super soft terry cloth and cotton or flannel stripes, these washcloths are adorable and soft.

Handmade washcloths are soft enough for a baby's delicate skin, stylish enough for kids/teenagers, and artistic enough for adults.

These would make a great gift for anyone!!

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Extra Large Receiving Blanket

Most mothers love to wrap their babies up in warm and cozy receiving blankets. The problem is, they are never big enough to snuggle them the best.

The receiving blankets I make are much larger than the ones you buy in the stores. These receiving blankets are 30 x 44 up to 36 x 44 inches.

All my receiving blankets are made with a single layer of premium flannel and have loop sewen hemed edges.

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Diaper Stacker

Check out one of my new items, just posted this morning !!

Diaper Stackers are GREAT Multi-Purpose items.

I've seen them used as diaper hiders/stackers, laundry hiders, towel stackers, clean clothes stckers, baby doll bins, cloth diaper keepers...

I also have matching baby blankets in my etsy shop Sleep Sweetly.

Check it out and let me know what you think!!

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