Jungle Fever

Hey all!  I've spent so little time on the computer this week, it's kind of eerie.  And, if you haven't already noticed, that's added up to me being really horrible about getting around to comment.  We've had major work done on our backyard the last few days--oh, how I wish I would have taken a "before" photo.  Plus, you know, I've had handymen around as well.  They packed up this afternoon, which is a good thing, since I need to get shower prep into high gear.  I wouldn't want to have to get rough with them and kick them out and all -- ha! like I even could.

Which leaves me with just enough time to show my best on-line friends the completed baby quilt!

When I was looking around for inspiration, this Spring Fling quilt at Cluck Cluck Sew really caught my eye.  Isn't it so bright and pretty?

I copied her pattern and came up with my "Jungle Fever" version to baby-ize it--and I had to give it a catchy name, too!

Here's my other little secret...

Shhh, this is the one thing Healthy Chick doesn't know about yet.  I was so inspired when I saw these over at marthastewart.com.  I went right out and looked at the thrift store and found a sweater similar to the dog in the photo.  But,

I did not buy it!  I wasn't sure if I was going to make an animal, and figured I was in FL, who's going to snap up a sweater?  Sure enough, when I went back a couple of days later, the perfect sweater was gone.  I looked for a sweater in the color closest to the quilt colors as I could find--it doesn't sound that hard, does it?--there weren't many choices.  You can see, I went with a coral number.  (For the record, I didn't follow Martha's directions at all, except for the sweater thing.)  I used this Simplicity pattern and chose it simply because it looked cuddly.

In the way of friendly advice, I would not suggest this project for a beginning sewer because I had to really work to get all of the pattern pieces laid out correctly (the sweater was sized XL, but it was small and a V-neck to boot, there are only the tiniest scraps leftover).  The knit wanted to spread out when I sewed it, an experienced sewer would be able to handle it, but I think a beginner would get frustrated.  I used a small zigzag for stitching and pushed the fabric under the needle as I went along.

The baby goodies.

(I'm still going to make a dust ruffle, but that ain't happening before the shower!)

One last look -- see ya soon!