;) Review of McCalls Pattern: Comfy Blanket M9570

If you are looking for an easy gift to sew, or you just want a unique snuggy-style blanket for yourself, comfy blankets make great gifts and they are super easy to sew.

The McCalls Comfy Blanket pattern, envelope number M5970 if you're looking for it in the store or online, is labeled as an easy, 1 hour project, but is it really that easy and fast?

While it depends a little bit on your skill level as a sewing machine operator, and a lot on how fast your machine will stitch, I have to say, it's a pretty easy pattern. It will probably take a little over an hour if you are new to sewing, and it will probably be done in less than an hour if you are an experienced sewer.

Description of the Comfy Blanket Pattern

You have three pattern pieces, four if you're adding a pocket, five if you're adding the foot pocket; and the two largest pattern pieces get taped together to form one big piece.

If you're a novice when it comes to sewing there's more good news. Fleece is a pretty forgiving fabric to work with; making it easy to hide small errors. Just make sure you have a ballpoint needle installed in your sewing machine and, if possible, use ball point sewing pins.

Tips for Using the McCalls Comfy Blanket Pattern

1. My first tip after trying this pattern is, stick to the directions that come in the envelope, except for when setting the pocket, if you opt to add the pocket. Have the person who is going to wear the sleeved blanket, which is basically the same as Snuggy brand blankets, try it on and set the pocket where they like it. If you're giving it as a surprise gift, then of course just stick to the pattern directions.
2. My second tip is, add a flat snap or hook fastener to the back of the neck opening so it won't keep falling off when worn.

:) Sewing Project - How To Make Homemade Baby Bibs

Author: Shelly Hill

I just recently became a first time grandmother and have been enjoying the new little addition to our family. I am also an avid crafter and seamstress so I can often be found in my craft and sewing room creating some wonderful things for my friends and family.

With the new addition of the baby girl to our family, I decided I wanted to make some homemade baby bibs. I thought the process would be difficult, but once I got started...I realized how easy it was to create my own bibs for our grand-daughter.

Here are the supplies you will need:

1 pre-purchased terry cloth bib to use as a pattern
1 package of double fold bias tape (2 yard package), per bib
sewing machine
sewing thread
1/4 yard of cotton terry cloth fabric
Scissors
Miscellaneous sewing supplies

Note: If you really want to be frugal, you can recycle some old terry cloth bath towels for this project.

Lay your pre-purchased baby bib down on a piece of white paper and trace around the shape using a pencil, then cut out your paper pattern. Next, unroll your bias tape and cut off a piece of bias tape measuring 34" in length. Pin your paper pattern down onto your terry cloth fabric and pin into place. Cut around the paper pattern and then remove the pins. Cover and pin the bias tape around the raw edges of the sides and bottom of your bib, don't cover the neck area just yet.

Using your sewing machine, stitch the bias tape into place and fasten off. Cut another piece of bias tape measuring approximately 26" long. Attach the center of the bias tape to the center neck area of the bib, pin into place. (note: a piece of bias tape about 10" long is left at both ends of the neck edge for the ties.) Using your sewing machine, stitch around the neck opening so that you are attaching and covering the raw edges.

You can use your pre-purchased one as a guide on how it should be sewn.

Decorations: If desired, you can use 3/4" wide eyelet lace instead of bias tape in step one of the sewing, but you will still need to use a coordinating color of bias tape for the neck area and ties. You can embroider a name or nice design onto the front of the bib or purchase some cute iron-on applique's.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/crafts-articles/sewing-project-how-to-make-homemade-baby-bibs-1266489.html


About the Author

Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. Shelly enjoys crafting, scrapbooking and sewing along with various other crafting mediums. You can visit Shelly online at http://www.workathomebusinessoptions.com for free family and parenting articles or her recipe blog at http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com for free family recipes.