Sewing on My Own

The most exciting thing about sewing is that one can choose her own textiles. I only found a few bedding sets in stores that I liked but were well beyond the amount I am willing to pay. Those bedding sets that were in my price range were not very interesting. Even shopping in consignment shops, the selection of baby bedding is sad.

Sewing has enabled me to create my own bedding without having to settle. I was so excited to finish the crib sheet, I began work on the dust ruffle for the crib using some fabric I had selected years ago for my classroom. I didn't think then that the material was for a baby, I just liked the colors! It works well for the dust ruffle though. (REMEMBER: click on the picture to bigify!)



My only wish is that I had chosen a pattern set that was less fussy. There were all sorts of odd tricks and turns to making the ruffle - the bottom consists of three parts oddly sewn together.



The material ended up being so thick, I had to adjust the tension. I then re-read the directions for the end pieces only to discover that I had pressed the lower third section incorrectly on the longer sides. Oh well - with my not so straight sewing, it hardly matters! Even with measuring using several rulers and one protractor, the pieces didn't quite match up and I had to gather material along the way. I also learned that when the pattern says "baste", one should baste and not pin! Thankfully, I learned this lesson before I had to make the pleat!



More importantly, the dust ruffle fits for the most part! Hurray! If I were to make another for when our little one is older, I am hoping I can just measure from the floor to the deck of the bed and sew one long piece - without a pleat!

After finishing the dust ruffle, I was so enthralled, I wanted to make blankets like the one I received at a baby shower.



A childhood friend's mother had sewn it using her mad ninja sewing skills. It is so soft and well put together, I really wanted more of these!



Since my straight stitching isn't so straight, I was not going to attempt any curved corners or try for the fancy stitches (after consulting my manual, my machine does not do that anyway). I had purchased two fabrics in Houston both with owl designs - one was a thick flannel and the other a normal cotton cloth. I didn't want owls on both sides of the blanket, so here in Seattle I purchased some light flannel and regular cotton cloth with polka dots. I first attempted to work with the heavy flannel and the blanket resembles a sopapilla rather than the flat, smooth tortilla of the "model" blanket.



I do like the material - it's just that I made the mistake of not sewing up most of the sides and then cutting the material a little closer. So, in addition to being puffy, it has this long straight stitch on one end and looks a little funky. However, it is soft and a good weight for sleeping. I did attempt a fancy stitch - a zigzag! I turned corners! Yay me!



I then used the other two fabrics and took care to have both pressed, neatly lined up, and decided to stitch most of the way around the blanket so that there would be no external straight stitch. It almost worked - it is less poofy than the other!



I still cut too close to the edge AND I marked on the right side of the cloth so that I could not see where I was stitching! I ended having to rip one side because of this. Also, I neglected to test out the zigzag length before I began stitching, so there is a little section of zigzag that is different than the rest. I was so tired however, I decided to use my artistic license and leave it instead of ripping it out.



I do like the owls in this blanket - they have a lot character and it will be good to point out to our little one. I am so glad they are not "Disney-fied" and are interesting!



Now I have to take a brief break from the sewing and finish preparing the room for the baby! I have crates to move, this computer to relocate, a bassinet line, and a need to turn our computer desk into a changing table. Let the nesting begin!