Lila is now a full two weeks into five.
I must say, I felt differently about five than I did about the proceeding birthdays. I’ve always been the type to get a bit nostalgic and sad around birthday time, trying to hang on to those final days of each year before they’re gone forever. Five, though – I’m just plain excited for five. Every year has been pretty extraordinary, of course, but I have these wonderfully high hopes for five. I can’t wait to see what this year brings.
One thing it’s brought already is a late birthday gift – a Purl Bee lap duvet made with double gauze and shot cotton.
There are so many great Purl Bee blanket tutorials, and when Anna posted her lovely baby seal lap duvet I remembered that I had some double gauze (Nani Iro’s Melody Sketch in Pastel) in need of a project. This is such a wonderful, cozy blanket. The double gauze and shot cotton are both extra soft fabrics, and the wool batting makes it so warm and lofty – I used a crib-sized Dream Wool and tacked it down by machine every six inches.
I really intended to give this on time – it looked like a pretty simple project, so I started it a couple nights before her birthday. After spending an entire evening trying to lay two pieces of fabric on top of one another without wrinkling (I’m not kidding – why was this so hard for me??), I got tired and gave up. The main problem, aside from general unwieldiness and ineptitude, was that the backing ended up two inches shorter than the double gauze, and I couldn’t bear to cut into that precious double gauze. The whole reason I was using it for a blanket (after hoarding it for 13 months) was to avoid taking a scissors to it AT ALL. But in the end it seemed silly to buy another piece of shot cotton just to save two inches of Nani Iro, and I was already a week behind schedule, so I proceeded.
I ended up taping the fabrics to my kitchen floor prior to pinning, and besides not being the cleanliest option, it worked out alright. Both fabrics have some stretch to them and I never really got things to lay straight and even. My finished rectangle is a little wonky, but it’s passable. And what it lacks in mathematical precision it certainly makes up for in cuddleability.
The tutorial calls for 1.75 yards, and I only had 1.5 yards of double gauze (making it even harder to chop off those two inches!), but it’s still a good sized blanket, even for me. I didn’t have double gauze for the backing so shot cotton seemed like a good alternative. There were so many color options to go with those dots, but I eventually settled on Quartz – I’m not a big pink/purple person, but Lila likes it, and I found this shade to be wholly non-offensive.
I added (as I do) a little embroidered tag to the back.
And just a few more birthday things to show – the traditional invites:
A birthday banner (which just came down today):
And she requested a birthday crown like Oscar’s – I used the tutorial from Heidi & Finn. They’re so quick and simple to make.
We thought about doing something more elaborate, but decided to keep it simple and have a little birthday party with neighborhood friends like we’ve done every year. She chose ice cream sundaes for the party – those little polka dot cups are filled with kid portions of the toppings, in a futile attempt to minimize sugar overload. Adults were free to make their own bad decisions. Not pictured: salted caramel sauce and hot fudge – both excellent recipes if ever you’re looking.
And on the real day, we had a gummy bear adorned chocolate cake. I think it’s safe to say that I’ll never use another chocolate cake recipe as long as I live (I like it with plain old vanilla buttercream, though).
We fulfilled (in the loosest sense of the word) her wish for a pet with a betta fish. It’s not the most exciting animal – in fact it’s hard to tell if he’s dead or alive or part of the plastic plant or what, because he almost never moves. Not exactly the rabbit she asked for, but what can I say, we aren’t pet people. And that big box in the back is her very own Janome Hello Kitty sewing machine (it was quite a bit cheaper in the store, just FYI). This thing is the real deal – it’s a great little machine. I don’t know, five is probably slightly premature for a sewing machine, but I got excited about the idea and couldn’t help myself. She loves it and is doing great so far, I just wish we had more time to use it together. But alas, the presence of a toddler in the house makes most activities utterly impossible. Still, it’s an exciting new development, and just one tiny part of why five is looking like so much fun.
So there you have it.
F I V E.
What a lucky girl she is, to have such a special birthday. Five is wonderful and it just keeps getting better. My daughter received that same Hello Kitty machine as a hand-me-down when she was 6, and I have been SO impressed with it’s capabilities…it’s a real machine. I even use it in my girls’ sewing camps in the summer. Thanks for your posts, they are always inspiring! 🙂
Can I move in? You can throw me parties whenever you want! Seriously, I adore the blanket, isn’t it the best? So warm and soft? I need to make another. The colors are just gorgeous. I can always spot your style a million miles away, beautiful. Lila look so cute at her new sewing machine. How exciting!!! I’m trying to plan for Natalie’s 8th (and golden) birthday coming up in May. I feel so terrible at planning! She’s asked for a guppy, I think it’s a great starter pet, especially since she doesn’t take too much interest in our dog. 🙂
What a lovely birthday you have given her. I love your blog, it is very inspiring! By the way: if Betta fish don’t move much, the water may be too cold (it’s a tropical fish who needs warm water (77-86°). A friend of ours had a Betta fish that was almost still all the time, and when she got a thermostat for his fish tank and the water was warmer, he became a busy, happy little chap.
I sure hope you share the sewing projects you do with Lila. I have 2 daughters – 4.5 and 3, and I’d love some ideas!
Gail, I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again – You are the queen of birthday parties! You really are. We have three birthdays next week – would you like to plan the parties for us? 🙂 Beautifully done! I think I will try your chocolate cake recipe next week. I found a cake on Pinterest I was hoping to replicate for Tia. It also had candy around the edge but not gummy bears.
Also, I wanted to thank you for the tip on sizing down on the Hide and Seek Dress. Since Tia is also on the verge of turning 5 I didn’t know which size to buy. I almost bought the size 5+, it was even in my cart and I was ready to pay on Paypal, but I remembered what you said. I changed to the size 4 and it was still quite big on her. She would have been swimming in the size 5. (She is a small girl.) So thank you for that. I really appreciate it!
Happy birthday dear girl! and quilters often joke that the only time their floor gets washed is when a quilt needs basting 🙂
Oh that all sounds like such a lovely birthday celebration!! Five is such a big year…a year where they turn into a Kid and not a preschooler! And, good heavens that lap duvet looks sooo amazing and comfy…and now I may just have figured out what everyone is getting next year for christmas! 😉 Happy Birthday to Lila! Great job mom! 🙂
I made the exact same blanket for my newborn daughter-I chose both of the same fabrics…I , too have never been much of a pink/ purple person, but having my first girl led me to this blanket combo. It’s so sweet.
Happy belated birthday to Lila! Love the handstamped invitations – a real labor of love! And so fun to see her wearing her O & S birthday dress:)
That blanket is beautiful! What a lovely gift – one that will become a keepsake as having received it on her fifth birthday. When you have a beautiful, cherished piece of fabric like that, it’s nice to make something less temporary than a piece of clothing that will be grown out of. You will both be able to enjoy it for a very long time this way!
What a heartwarming post! Everything is gorgeous. It will be a dream come true if my soon to be 3 year old will want a sewing machine when she is old enough.
That duvet looks fabulous! And happy five to Lila- I look forward to sewing machine updates! Looks like a lovely celebration.
Wow what a beautiful duvet! Hope Lila loves it. I love the one Emily made for C so much – you’re right it’s cozy for adults and plenty big, too. Five has been so fun for us – so many “big kid” things have happened (reading, tying her shoes, doing her own hair, losing her first teeth, learning how to add…I could go on!). Happy birthday to Lila!!
Love everything about this post. That duvet is fantastic. I want to make one for each of my kids now!
What a beautiful cuddly blanket. I have never used nani Iro but I am starting to think I need some! Happy birthday lila:))
Happy Birthday, Lila!
Oh that nano iro is exquisite! I would have a hard time giving that up! And I cannot wait for my little ones to get their first machine. So much fun.
Happy Birthday Lila. All of this is lovely. I adore the duvet and her crown is so elegant.
Happy birthday Lila! And I couldn’t agree with you more, 5 IS special. I love everything you have made, but the quilt has been on my to do list and it’s going to be made now just with the little needed push that came from your post:-)
Oh my gosh! I loved this post and then I got to the sewing machine bit!! I can’t wait to buy a machine for my 3 year old (but I WILL wait) and her name is Kitty … ahhhhhh, Lila’s machine is THE perfect machine!! 🙂
Sorry if this is a repeat but did you make Lila’s beautiful chartreuse dress with the grey polka in front? Would love to try that!
Party looks super fun and colorful!
Thanks
Betsy
yes! it’s the oliver + s hide and seek dress – details here!
Happy 5th birthday, Lila! 5 is a fun age…they are able to do so much on their own but still think mom and dad are the best.:)
Five does seem like a new and exciting age. Though possibilities are dampened by crazy toddlers and needy babies! Haha. Love that nani iro. So pretty. It dues hurt to cut into that sort of thing.
Thank you for sharing this! I’ve been dying to make a Nani Iro blanket for my almost two year old and was scared to use it like a quilt. So happy! My oldest daughters have had that same Janome nearly 10 years and it’s still in use almost weekly (by the 17 year old)! Thank you!