So this is sewing not knitting or spinning. But I figured I would put it here.
I have a lovely Brother SQ9050 sewing machine my DH bought for me over two years ago for Christmas. It can do 100 stitches according to the sales pitch (though I confess counting a straight stitch with the needle at one end & with the needle at the center as two stitches seems a stretch...*grin*) It has an alphabet as well. So you can add a name. Nifty.
I picked up a no sew blanket from Walmart yesterday. Little Guy needs a blanket for prek-3. He wanted the Cars one. It is cute. Sure.
Looking at the instructions, I realize pretty quickly that the no sew method is a nightmare. It requires cutting fringe and then trying each fridge to the other. The specs say the finished size is 43" x 55". So at 1" a piece, that is almost 200 cuts. With the sides matching up... *wince*
So I decide it will be faster to sew. I have my lovely underused machine. It is perfect.
Ummm... Well...
First I think I will sew Little Guy's name on it. Great.
Except when the machine requires an embroidery foot. And I have no clue where the bag of sewing machine parts is currently. *sigh* Look. Nothing.
Of course I say I will add it later. Mind you, the blanket I made for Elder Munchkin for prek-3 two years ago was also supposed to get her name on it. She used it again last year. Wanna guess if her name is on it?? *laugh*
The salvage edges on the fabrics don't match!! Are you kidding me?? The fabric squares aren't the same size.
I decide to sew two edges and then I will cut the excess after when it is stablized by the sewn edge. Good thinking.
So I get one edge & half the other edge sewn. Then I look at the *bottom*. It is a MESS. Threads all over the place, loops. *groan* Had I thought to check the freaking tension?!? Why would I do that? *sigh*
So whee... Get to rip and rip and rip... *sigh* My fav...
Okay. Back to two unattached squares. All good. Start on the salvage edge. Nearly done. I look and look again.
I have sewn the right side out! So when I turn it out to get a nice edge to the blanket, the type will all be backwards. *groan*
*sigh*
I start ripping. Then I decide it is time for a break. So after a shower & lunch, I go back to work.
Got the tension right. Get two sides sewn. Then lay it out and cut the longer edge. I decided I would sew that and then cut the shorter edge. Works. Sew the shorter edge with an opening to turn the blanket. Actually works perfectly.
Had some issues because I didn't adjust the tension when I sewed the edge. It is now going through four layers not two. But I catch it quickly. Only a couple little loops that no one but me and another sewer will notice.
Take a Sharpie and write his name at the corner.
Done.
Not perfect. But it is soft & fuzzy.
If Elder Munchkin needs a blanket for Kindergarten, I think I may have to make her a new one! Hers was made for a three year old. And it shows.
Probably gonna get two lists of things they need. I have to go to Little Guy's school shortly. They are having parents come at 4-5:30. They will do a speech, check over paperwork (the same stuff we had to show when we registered him in MAY!) Then I get to meet the teachers. Of course, it is a school. So they don't have any child care. *groan* So I am going solo.
I also really wonder. What happens with two working parents?! One has to take the time off to do this?! Really??!
I love the school a lot. But I really hope things haven't changed too much. *crosses fingers* Elder Munchkin's teacher left. She mentioned that the feeling had changed dramatically. A lot of the kids coming in last year didn't speak English. So she had trouble with some of them even trying to communicate with them. *sigh* Just have to see I guess...
I really hope I can find all the sewing machine feet! It has at least five for different things (including the automatic buttonholes & button attacher!)
Off to get the rest of Little Guy's stuff together. Whee.
