... because I already ado'ed long enough (but I've been a-doing and a-doing all this time... mowing, planting, mowing, more planting, mowing, weeding, mowing, etc., etc.)...
Anyway, I am finally finished testing The Menagerie pattern!!! Here are some progress shots I took along the way (that I never got around to showing you):
And now I'd like you to meet Mama Roo and her baby girl, Jodi!
I had a terrible time deciding on which fabrics to use (as usual), since I had no actual kangaroo colors of fleece. I finally went with some pieces that I'd been gifted awhile back in exchange for asparagus. They were scraps, but they went together well, and there was enough to do the job (although there's a seam at the top of the pouch instead of a fold because the piece was too small).
Of course a girl baby couldn't be Joey, so she became Jodi. Ha. Isn't she a cutie pie?
I give this pattern an A+ rating! It is amazing! There is soooo much in it, as you can imagine, with all those animals. But there are basic pieces, and variations to go from there. LiEr has gotten it all down, step by step, to make it easy for you. Just be sure to read all the information at the beginning, before you get to the individual animal instructions. You will need to refer back to this in the making of your animals.
The absolute hardest part of this pattern for me was that there were no seam allowances on the templates (for good reasons), so I had to remember to add my own. This is the first pattern I've ever had to do that with in my 45+ years of sewing! I didn't goof in cutting it out, but being the ultra-conservative piece-layer-outer that I am, trying to get the best layout to save fabric, I was constantly catching myself not leaving room for the seam allowances between the pieces! Ha! But I managed. As for the rest of it... the baby 'roo was a bit fiddly just because it was so small, but not that bad, and everything went together pretty smoothly. The thing I love about sewing with fleece is that it's so forgiving. If your seam is a little off, it doesn't show. :)
I've sent my final notes to LiEr, and she will get the pattern tweaked and up for sale ASAP.
Update: The pattern is now available for purchase! Read LiEr's important post about it here first, and then you can purchase it here!
I know some of you have been waiting a long time for this pattern, but believe me, it's worth the wait! Enjoy... and I hope I get to see pics of a lot of the animals that are made from it!
9 comments:
So cute!!! That little Jodi is indeed adorable and they make a perfect cuddly pair. I love the mix of solids and prints you used. And how nice of someone to trade you fabric for asparagus!
No seam allowances on pattern pieces can be a challenge for me too. I've only made a couple of items with patterns like that, but they make me worry that I'm not cutting them all with the same width seam allowance (on top of the worry that I might forget them all together). The last time I used a pattern like that, I just cut out the paper pieces with the extra seam allowance around them (I did have to print two copies of the pattern, since some pieces were too close together to cut them all out of one). I was able to draw an even seam allowance around each piece before I cut it out, and it made it so much easier when it came time to cut the actual fabric.
Jenny
Thanks, Jenny... especially for the tip - now why didn't I think of that?! I would certainly do it the next time! At least with the fleece it didn't matter so much that my seam allowances weren't all exactly the same... 'cause they weren't. ;)
Nothing like mowing the lawn between two sewing sessions :P
The result is awesome! And fleece is excellent (for many reasons), a softie needs to be soft for the little girl who will hug it!
Does managing the seam allowances makes it a hard project to start with for a beginner? I'm starting to think about Christmas gifts (yeah, already) and I might try myself at some sewing..
Looks perfect as always! Love the fabric combo, and these critters sitting on the grass make for some lovely photos. Cuteness.
Thank you, ladies! And did you notice that there were no cats in the pics? That was a minor miracle (although they would've made nice size reference)! (It pays to feed them first and then quickly take the pics while they're eating. ;)
Geneviève, if you use Jenny's tip above, you won't have any problems with the seam allowances. I think you could do these animals if you're careful at reading and following directions (and you know how to reach me if you need help). I just wouldn't start with the baby 'roo, since it's more difficult just because of its size and the tiny working spaces.
Adorable! I'm so excited to see this pattern :)
Thanks, Maryanne! :)
Absolutely adorable!
Thank you, Bobby! :)
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