Anaïs is slowly but surely getting in to ‘proper’ clothes. Where there were babygrows now there are dresses. Where there were big pull on trousers now there are tights and cute tops. It’s nice that we’re heading in to this stage. Well I say nice, it’s interesting. I’ve never been a mum before so this is all new to me and I’m finding dressing the kids in the morning good fun. I won’t be able to choose their outfits for too long before they refuse to wear what I’ve picked out so I’m relishing it all while I’ve got the chance.
Along with this change in wardrobe comes time for a huge clean out of various drawers and cupboards that are heavy with clothes that no longer fit. Most of them were very generously given to us by my sister and by a friend of Robert’s who also had twins. All in mint condition and smelling of washing powder. But now it’s time to cull the sheer volume and have a good sort out.
Another wardrobe that needs exactly the same doing to it is mine. I’ve got maternity wear still in it, then post-maternity wear and also pre-maternity wear. Some of the clothes that I wore before babies I’ll never wear again but some of them I will. What I’m finding is that it is in chaos and that stresses me out so it needs me to focus and sort it.
Which is what I planned on doing.
And then I got thinking about my daughter’s wardrobe again and how I wanted to make it lovely even though she’s a little young to know, and I got distracted by wanting to make it lovely and now here we are a tutorial for making a padded coat hanger.
Hmmmmm, oh well.
- Cut a piece of wadding/stuffing that is large enough to wrap snugly around the hanger
- Cut in to the top so that the hook will poke out of the top
- Pin it in place around the hanger
- Stitch the wadding/stuffing up around the hanger. You can be as quick as you like with this as you just need it to be held in place around the hanger. It won’t be seen.
- Cut a piece of fabric that is approximately two centimeters longer than the hanger at either end
- Pin a single hem around the fabric and then pin the fabric around the hanger
- Stitch the fabric together creating an envelope with which to cover the hanger with, stitching around the hook and using a small stitch
- And that’s how you do that
You can leave it there if you want to. The hanger is covered and is looking great but I had some Japanese fabric left over that I had bought in the Summer and had used to make Anaïs a wee headband with.
She’s so tiny here. I look at her now and she’s so much bigger, sitting up and chatting away. It goes by quickly, no? Bit scared.
Anyway, I added a fabric flower to each of the hangers and they are easy to make. You can add them to anything you fancy they don’t have to be consigned to the inside of a wardrobe.
- Cut out three flower shapes measuring 6 inches, 3.5 inches and 2 inches
- Starting in the middle of the largest flower shape pull the needle up through the middle of the flower and then gather the fabric inwards threading the needle through the folds
- Continue to gather in the sides of the flower, sewing it in place with loose stitches
- Until it looks like the last picture. You needn’t be too precise with this as it’s not that type of flower, just go with it.
- Take the second largest flower shape and place it on top of the first, pulling the needle up through the center of the fabric
- Again, pull in the sides of the fabric stitching the fabric in to place
- Do the same with the smallest flower shape and before you know it you’ll have a three layered fabric flower
- I put a button in to the middle of mine to hide some of the stitches
- You can put a pin on the back and attach it to a coat or bag. They are multifunctional.
As you can see I haven’t hemmed the edges of the flower fabric. They’re a bit ‘shabbier’ than that and and I’m happy about that. They also only take about ten minutes each to make and that makes me even happier.
I’ve covered four hangers in total so far. I’d never done this before and I’m pleased with the way they have turned out. As they didn’t take that long I may think about covering the rest in time.
But for now Anaïs will get them. I really don’t care that she has no clue what they are. I know and I want to give to her.
I love this dress. I bought this from Baby Gap before Chrimtas and she wore it on Christmas Day. I daren’t try it on her as I think she may have outgrown even this one. A good thing I know, as it means she’s doing well but I LOVE THIS DRESS!
Ahhhhh! I think it’s pretty obvious that the first thing she’ll do with this hanger is………….
….. yes, there it is.
Do you like them, love?
Who knows if she does, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that she’s there, snotty and very bunged up, but she’s there. And all I can do is promise that I’ll always be there for her too.
I love you and I wish you all a wonderful day wherever you are and whatever you may be doing.
Cherry x
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Hi Cherry, thanks for the easy-to-follow instructions!
I’ve seen a lot of these padded coat hangers on sales but I just don’t like their colours/ designs and always wanted to make my own. But I am no sewer. But this was so easy!
I bought 6 wooden hangers for $1 from a charity store and have made two already!
Cherry, where did you find the wooden hangers to use in this craft. I want to do this!
Hello Joyce,
The wooden hangers were already in Cherry’s wardrobe, but I’m sure if you Googled “wooden hangers” you would find something similar, perhaps John Lewis?
Jodie
x
Thank you so much for telling me, how you pronounce your lovely Daughter’s lovely name!!!
Hugs and ♥’s…
‘Cause Valentine Day is coming!
Ah, lovely Cherry! Have you got teeth yet? Well, of course I mean the babies, not you of course! Florence’s first came through mid Jan and the second last week. She keeps biting her thumb as she’s not used to them yet, and gives it such a quizzical look each time, as if it’s the thumb doing the dastardly deed, and not the teeth! Hilarious to watch!
Why not use the fabric from some of your old but loved clothes to cover more hangers? Or maybe some of the babies’ outgrown ones?
Sue x
It does go by too fast. Far far too quickly. But you already have mastered the secret; to absolutely inhale each day with your babies. These hangers are adorable. I can hear Anais’s friends now….”Your mom made these? Your mom is so cool!”
What a great idea with the hangers cant wait to try that myself, i too have some of my little girls smaller clothing hung up in her room, they are just to pretty to be stored away, hope you have a cold free household soon.x
These are so sweet Cherry. I’ve saved some of the sweetest of my girls baby clothes and we’ve hung them up different places over the years. I love that sweet little dress…and Anais is adorable.
I think you look wonderful btw. It’s amazing that our bellies can go back down at all after the size they got when we were pregnant, isn’t it? I look at photos of myself when I was pregnant with my twins and I wonder how I even got up off the sofa.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
Marcia
If you really want to get fancy smancy! you can add a bit of dried lavender in with the batting! or vanilla on a piece of batting! Just had our unlaying chicken laying again, does that mean Spring?
I had 3 boys before I got my girl,,and there was nothing more fun then dressing her up and making her cloths,,enjoy your little doll,,hope you all have a warm weekend,,cheers..
Thank You for the tutorial now I’m off to make my little Sadah tons of flower headbands…. Smooches frm Chicago!!!
What I love about you Cherry is I can pick and choose what is relevant to me. Now I am a grandmother I don’t have need of little girls hangers but all the same I think they are adorable.
Hey Cherry, I’m sure I saw you last weekend shopping with your husband and babies. You looked to be such a happy little family. Something must have tickled you because you were both laughing. Great to see you in the flesh. I absolutely love, love, love your site. Keep up the good work. Home making can be such a joy instead of a durge and you show us all that.
Cherry they are the lovliest hangers and the best thing about padded hangers is, they don’t ruin clothes and nothing slips off them.I have been reading for a long time and been meaning to comment but never get round to it. Yours is one of the very few positive sights around. I love it and you have a big silent following amongst this community. Keep sharing your wonderful ideas with us and your beautiful home and babies.
It’s kinda’ sad, when babies grow out of babyhood.
But!
I can look forward to the most amazing wardrobe of wee dresses, which Anaïs will have! Oh the joy, just to anticipate pics of it.
And to share your joy, as you dress her in this! Dressing little girls, oh my, it’s wonderful. Yes, I had boys too and they were fun too. But… Oh… Little girls dresses… Little girls hair ribbons/and/big bows…. -happy sigh-
Now, may I please ask you to tell us how you pronounce Anaïs’ lovely name? I always simply “read” that name… Never tried to pronounce it. But now, I ask an expert.
Gentle hugs…
Hello Aunt Amelia
You pronounce her name An – eye – iss
Some people think it’s said “Anay” but it’s different to that. Thank you so much for asking. Cx
Lovely hangers. Savour every moment while they are babies, you turn around one day and they are men and women!
Love the flowers! I’ll have to whip up a few of those someday when I have a stash of fabrics. Right now my stash is imaginary. Have a lovely day Cherry.
Hi Cherry,
Your hangers are lovely. I’m sure Anais will love them when she gets a bit bigger (as more than a snack!) and even now she knows her Mum loves her and made her something pretty. My three year old and I spent this week making a pink, red and white Valentine garland for our fireplace – inspired by your fall leaf garland – and we had the most fun. He coloured all the cardboard hearts and helped glue on the felt. But when I was all done sewing them up he asked “when do they turn into leaves?” Hmmmmm. No more showing him your website before we start. i just can’t live up to your beautifully high standards!
Another charming Post. I cannot tell you how much I’ve spent on clothes hangers in the past. Will definitely try to make a few of these for presents. Thank you. Jx
just lovely. And timely too. I’ve been replacing all my hangers from mistmatched to padded, and keep running out. Now I can just cover the wooden ones ~ thanks for that! It looks a lot easier than I expected.
And yes, it really does go by quickly. Too quickly. I go through my little girls outgrown stuff on a regular basis as it mounts up, but there are some that I’ll never get rid of. Some are stashed away, and some hung up as objet d’art.
Love the headband too, sweet idea.
x
Ahhh, you hang yours up too. I’ll show you mine on Monday! Cx