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Homespun Aesthetic

Sharing my love for the beauty of handmade

DIY Tutorials

Infinity Scarf Tutorial and Amazing DEEMA Hand-Dyed Giveaway

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To celebrate the birthday over at DEEMA’s Rainbows, we are hosting an awesome giveaway and tutorial for using this great hand dyed Bamboo Jersey Knit swirled in Bold Primary. Up for grabs is one yard of Hemp Jersey also in Bold Primary Swirls.

Now, on to the tutorial!!

Short Scarf – finished scarf measures 59″ around and 12″ deep

(Long Scarf – finished scarf measures 90″ around and 12″ deep, Materials Needed: 1 and 1/2 yards of 60″ wide lightweight knit fabric, such as jersey)

Materials Needed:

Cutting Instructions:

  • Cut one strip of fabric across the full 60″ width and 25″ wide.

Assembly Instructions

Fold fabric in half, with RIGHT sides of fabric facing each other and matching long cut edges. Pin together.
Beginning 3″ from one end, stitch long edge in a ½” seam. Stop stitching 3″ from other end.
Press seam flat to blend stitches; press seam open.
Turn scarf RIGHT side out.
Open short ends of scarf.
Place short ends with RIGHT sides together, lining up cut edges. Pin together.
Stitch short edges together in a ½” seam.
Press seam flat to blend stitches; press seam open.
Turn scarf so that seam allowances roll to the inside.
Slip stitch opening closed.
Now, enter below to win a yard for yourself!!

*You can find the original tutorial at Simplicity.

Mushroom and Wild Rice Soup

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Some nights I just crave something for dinner that is not only hearty and filling, but good for me and easy to toss together. That’s where this delicious mushroom & wild rice soup comes in. As an added bonus, it’s vegetarian, so I’m sure that will make some of you a little extra excited. 😉
Delicious Mushroom & Wild Rice Soup
  • 3 tablespoons of butter
  • 1 small red onion, diced
  • 3/4 pound Crimini mushrooms, chopped (These are also labeled ‘baby bella’ at some stores)
  • 2 large Portobella mushrooms, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 cups (32 oz.) chicken broth –(Feel free to substitute with vegetable broth to keep it vegetarian)
  • 2 packages long grain and wild rice mix
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

In a medium pot, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and  mushrooms; cook and stir until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.

Stir in the broth, rice mix (with contents of seasoning packet), salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover at a simmer for 20-25 minutes or until rice is tender.
Stir in cream; heat through. Yields about 6 hefty servings. Enjoy!
mushroom soup

How to Care for Cloth Pads

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Ever since I posted my tutorial for making your own cloth pads, or mama cloth, I’ve been getting questions about how to care for them to make them last. There are actually a few different ways to wash them and I think it really comes down to your own personal preference, as well as your unique period.

Hand Washing:

I actually wrote a post already about how to hand wash your cloth pads. This is especially useful if you don’t have a large stash or if you’re a little wary about tossing in with the rest of your laundry. There is really minimal effort involved and despite the term ‘hand washing’ being used, it’s really more soaking than actually using your hands to get them super clean. When I do choose to hand wash, I use Rockin’ Green’s Femme Rock formula which is specially designed for cloth pads and getting out menstrual staining.

Soaking:

Some people prefer to wash all their cloth pads at once and soak them until laundry day. You can do this by putting them in a pail of water, and you even have the option to add a few drops of essential oil for any odor control you might need. Be sure to change out the water every day or two so that it doesn’t become stagnant and gross. If you have a heavier cycle and go through a lot of pads each day, you may choose to dump and wash at the end of the day, or end of your cycle for those of you with a lighter period.

Dry Pail:

Some people would rather just toss their pads into a dry pail or wet bag and toss into the laundry whenever it’s convenient. Because I have a lighter cycle, this is usually what I do and then I toss mine in with cloth diaper laundry whenever I need those washed as well. Most cloth pads have some sort of closure method to keep them secured to your under garments and  most designs allow for you to fold ends in and snap closed to contain everything in the pad. I don’t do this because the last thing I want to do when I’m tossing them in the laundry is have to go through one by one to unsnap them all. I mean, if they’re snapped shut, how do you expect to get them clean?

Rinsing:

Depending on your cycle, or the fabrics used for your cloth pads, staining may be an issue. If this is the case you may want to rinse your pads right after using them and then continue on to either store them in a dry or wet pail until your wash them. All of my pads have a minky top layer, so staining hasn’t been an issue for me.

As I mentioned above, I wash my pads with our cloth diapers. For that wash routine, they get a cold rinse to remove any excess debris and bodily fluids. I then follow with a hot/warm wash with detergent, and then an additional warm rinse to make sure all the detergent is thoroughly washed out. For drying you can either dry on a low heat in the dryer or you can hang dry in the sun, which also helps to lift any stains you may have.

Additional Tips:

  • Don’t use bleach on your pads! Bleach can break down the fabrics and if not rinsed thoroughly, you’re putting that harmful chemical right against your sensitive skin. If you need a little help fighting stains, opt to hang dry in the sun or you can even use a small amount of an OxiClean type booster in with the detergent cycle.
  • Avoid fabric softener. This can lead to a build up of residue and can cause repelling issues. The last thing you want is a leak.
  • If your pads have a layer of waterproof PUL, be sure you dry them on HOT the first time. When the pads are sewn together, it leaves tiny holes in the PUL and you want to be sure they are heat sealed shut to avoid leaks in the future.
  • Hydrogen peroxide also works well for lifting stains (especially blood) and is a favorite cleaning tool for midwives and nurses. 😉

How do you care for your cloth pads?