I hear the roar of the big machine

This weekend, among many other things, I have been making baby clothes. Inspired by sushidog's recent comments on the subject, I thought it would be nice to give as a baby-present something handmade. Sadly, I lack Sushidog's crocheting skills and was a little stumped for ideas. However, I can wield a sewing machine best out of three, so under guidance from the mother bought some purple fleece and pattern to make what I understand is called "a bunting". (For anyone who knows nothing about technical baby clothing terminology, it's basically a sleeping bag with arms. I#ve always thought trying to get a wriggly baby into anything which actually had legs was a mug's game.)

Any of my friends are now advised to begin espousing just how much they like store-bought things, as my dressmaking skills appear to have weakened considerably while I wasn't looking. Still, if nothing else it will ensure that little Adam[*] learns by ommission the vital importance of good tailoring before he's more than a few weeks old.

I'd like to complain to Simplicity, though (the pattern producers). If you sell someone a pattern, and advise them to make it in fleece, do not include a multitude of instructions to "press open seams". Have you ever tried pressing fleece ? No, of course not. Well, I now have and I can assure you it is every bit as pointless an exercise as you'd think. I was amused to note, though, that the paper pattern pieces still had a notional waistline marked on them. When making what is basically a sack (which has no waist) for a new born (who has no waist), I thought that was a nice touch.

In other sewing news, the overlocker and I ( are not becoming friends )

[*] Note for marjory: Newsflash - the unfortunate child who will receive the purple monstrosity I have created is Penny not-P-any-more's firstborn, who arrived just a few days before my birthday.