Have you looked at the SweetPod flickr group lately?  Well, I’ll give you a few of the highlights, but you really should just mosey on over and look at them yourself.

Isn’t this such a great manly carrier with the denim and the scooters? (from Sew She Sews)

Speaking of scooters, here’s another fantastic one:

I absolutely love the fabric choices on this next one from Liz. I think I need to make myself one.

I can’t get over how cool it is to see how people are using my pattern.  Really, you guys are awesome!  It is so fun to see how people put together fabrics and lug around their cute babies.  I’m so excited that people out there are as excited about the SweetPod as I am.

So, about the Saddle Bag pattern.  Many of you have been asking when it will be ready.  It is still in the works.  I’ve got the pattern pieces digitized, I’ve got instructions typed up, but those illustrations are holding me up.  They’ll get done, but I can’t say when.  It seems I have a very hard time holding myself to a time line.  Things like reminding a little boy to go potty, cleaning up the mess when said little boy goes potty in the wrong place, and doing laundry have taken precedent.  Not very exciting, I know, but my life does revolve around bodily fluids and not sewing contrary to popular belief.  I wish I could be more specific, but I seem to totally misjudge when I can get things done and feel like a loser for not keeping commitments, so I’m just going to keep it vague for now.

In the mean time– keep sewing your SweetPods!!  It is SO FUN to see them!

Ever since I dreamed up my baby carrier pattern writing project I wanted to design a bag to go along with it.  I needed to be something that could attach to the carrier to make it function like a back-pack and have enough room to keep essentials on hand, and also work as a stand alone diaper bag that would fit the carrier inside along with the essentials.  So, I’ve been working on (drum roll please…)

the SweetPod Saddle Bag!

It attaches to the carrier!

And makes a great diaper bag!

This design definitely needs some tweaking and refining.  First off, I think this first run is too big.  I was able to fit diapers, wipes, a blankey, and my camera– not to mention my wallet, keys, and water bottle.  In addition to my nearly 30 lb. baby it was WAY too heavy!  But I’m on the right track.

Any of you SweetPod users out there want to try it out?  You should be able to use the home dec fabric left over from making your carrier.  This initial test version of the pattern won’t be super detailed, though, so I’ll need anyone wanting to try it out to be able to do it with minimal instruction.  I’d love to get 4 or 5 more people (RaeLyn is already on board, of course), so if you’re up for it shoot an e-mail to jessica {at} seedpodcraft dot com.  It’ll probably be another week before I get the pattern pieces digitized and ready to send out, but I’d love to get an idea of who I’m going to send them to!  You’ll need a 7 inch zipper, a 1 inch side release buckle, 2 1 1/2″ snap hooks, 1 1 1/2″ single bar slide (I found both of these at my local REI,, but I can’t find any on the REI website), 1/2 yd of 1 inch webbing, and 2/3 yd of your heavy weight solid, lining fabric and neutral flannel for interfacing.

If you’re interested please let me know!

UPDATE ***I think I have plenty of testers!!  Thanks!**

A few months ago, I want to say in late October or early November, my friend Catherine and I were out shopping.  I needed to go to Costco and once we got there I decided to put both of my little boys in the cart, instead of wearing Hunter in my SweetPod.

*gasp* “Can I try your baby carrier, then?!”  Catherine asked.

“Well, of course.”

I proceeded to help her adjust and get her little guy loaded up.  We tried him on the front, swung him to the back, and then Catherine proceeded to stroll, no, proudly strut through Costco exclaiming things like, “This is so liberating!”  “This is so much more comfortable than the Baby Bjorn!”

I said, “I’ll totally make you one!”

Um, well, I just finished it.  Here it is hot off the sewing table.

I immediately had to try it out before I walked it over to its rightful owner.  Since pictures I took myself were more of the mess in my art room than the brand-spanking new SweetPod, I enlisted Jonah’s photo taking abilities.

I used apple green canvas duck for the solid heavyweight fabric, which I totally love.  The carrier I wear daily has a dark brown denim, which has worn in beautifully and is really soft and comfy, but I really like the hefty feel of the canvas on this one.

I think Catherine and her little guy like it too.

I hear it made maneuvering the airport a cinch the other weekend.

I’m glad you like it Catherine!!

Sorry it took me so long.

(So, I’ve had several people ask if I would sew them a SweetPod.  As much as I’d like to say yes, I think you’d be sorry.  As you can see– it’s a long time between October and the end of February, which is how long it took me to get this one done.  Your baby would probably outgrow it before I could get it to you!  And, part of the fun is being able to say, “Yeah, I made it.”  Which you totally can.  Even Jessica says so.  And I promise you’ll be able to do it in much less than 4 months.)