Latest Creations

Again — that title isn’t exactly accurate.  I’ve had these finished for a while but I had to get them shipped off and make sure they had reached their destination before I could post pictures.

James Marshall Leonard (my cousin’s FOURTH!) was born in mid-July and although mom and I had decided before he arrived that a handmade blanket was in order it took a good 6 weeks after he arrived to *finally* get it to him.  Working on a major project with two kids (and without a blueprint) apparently takes a bit longer than I had anticipated.  Eventually I finished and was really pleased with the result.

I used the same faux chenille tutorial that I used for a blanket for Paige several months ago but I added a monogram (which for someone as lacking in the spatial skills department as I am wasn’t the easiest thing I’ve ever done) since I wanted to make it a one-of-a-kind special deal for this little guy.  Here’s a close-up:

Here’s a shot of the backing:

Close-up:

Another close-up, this time of the faux chenille side.  I used a flannel for the top piece and I really like how it helped to beef it up a little bit.  Plus:  the softness can’t be matched.

I always have a fear when I work on any big project that I’m going to screw it up somehow and that all the hours I put into it will have been wasted.  I always feel a great sense of relief when this turns out not to be the case.

I also sent another little goodie to Sweet Baby James.  I have been working some with old clothes to repurpose and/or improve what I already have on hand.  Just before I began work on the blanket I spent some time going through old t-shirts and came across the USNA Class of 1995 t-shirt I bought during graduation weekend and had worn for years and years (until I had children and ended up wearing a different size t-shirt…but that’s another story for another day).  While poring over the blanket I remembered that it was sitting in the stack and immediately knew I wanted to try making a romper.  I merged a tutorial and a pattern, added navy cotton knit as a trim fabric, and came up with this:

Because the original shirt had been well loved for 10 years I had to do some tricky cutting to make the front and back straight.  I lost a bit of the wording at the top, but considering that it originally covered my entire shoulders and was downsized into an infant romper I was pretty pleased with the result.

Serendipitously JJ’s name is near the center of the back, taking a starring role in the outfit.

I know I could improve upon both designs if I were to do them again anytime soon, but for right now I’ll just leave well enough alone.  We’ll call them couture, how’s that?

I hope Sweet Baby James enjoys the blanket for years to come and that the romper will fit him when it’s warm enough to wear, despite a very strong genetic tendency towards being extremely tall!