It is done! My MDW (Memorial Day Weekend) project is completed!
In other good news, I got back behind the wheel of the sewing machine (wheel? hey, don’t kill the cliche, okay?) for the first time since I helped my mom make matching PJs for me and my American Girl doll when I was 9. This was BIG. I don’t sew.
Side note: This is where my mom and I are complete opposites. She says that all four of her children’s labors were more easy than setting up her first e-mail account but the woman can whip up vintage Vogue shift dresses over a 48 hr period with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back. Think I’m kidding? It’s an impressive sight to behold! The pattern practically bows down to her. Anyway, back to me … I’m more with the computer than the sewing machine myself, so, this was epic.
As much as I’d love to “blog announce” that the blanket is perfect and I’m a natural, my finished product is probably closer to a grade school sewing class feel than a start-your-own-etsy-site feel. But, I feel that I, for one, am stronger for it (cleansing breath of deep and profound maturity).
Haha! Now for the technical stuff…
First, always read the manual (which I did) … even the trouble-shooting section (which I didn’t), and here’s why …
Because I ignored [cough], I mean, overlooked this paragraph, I experienced a couple, shall we say “thread malfunctions” that may or may not have involved a seam ripper and a prayers for patience. It also meant that the regular, non-embroidery thread I was using for my decorative finishing stitch went through cycles of doing this:
Overall, the finished impression isn’t totally hideous. Nobody is running in terror. But, the “decorative stitch” I picked just looks more like my favorite inside-out sweatshirt stitching from high school than I’d like it to.
Second, the original pattern blog didn’t mention this, but I struggled with the different strengths/characteristics/whatever of sewing flannel to cotton. The flannel was more stretchy than the cotton and I felt like I was fighting it more than I would have liked. But that’s okay, I’m over it. And I’m already dreaming about trying another one of these guys in all flannel for my little Fall baby. 🙂
Last, Big Plus! Look at the SIZE! Have you ever seen such an awesome swaddling blanket? I’m thinking that this will be great for covering the carrier and tummy time as well!
Sorry about the shadow-y quality. This is what happens when you take pictures on your phone’s camera at 10:30 at night. Learn from me. Take normal pictures at normal times with normal light, okay? Thank you. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the animal print is green, teal, orange, brown and yellow on a cream background and the flannel stripe is in the same colors plus a dark navy (which I chose to accentuate with the aforementioned disaster of a decorative stitch).
That pretty much concludes my thoughts on this project. It was fun, easy, cute (especially if you follow all your sewing machine instructions) and I would definitely keep the pattern/idea on my list to reuse for baby shower gifts, etc.
Did I mention that I was taking pictures of this at 10:30 PM? I’m not old. It’s the pregnancy, really. Anyhow, I need to sign off before my kids wake back up at half past the crack of dawn.
More on our extended weekend later …
Have a great Memorial Day!
PS: want the blanket pattern? You’ll find it at Passionate Homemaking – click here.