I needed to make a little something for my newest grand-niece. I found this pattern in my craft pattern stash. I think it is OOP now, because the going price on Ebay and Etsy is almost $40!! It’s a nice pattern, but NOT worth THAT much money!!
I probably should have looked at the dimensions printed on the back of the pattern envelope before beginning this project. Because this throw is WAY too big for an infant! Hopefully she will grow into it, or maybe her older brother will enjoy it right now. This throw is close to 5 ft x 6 ft! It’s almost adult sized!
The concept behind these throws is simple. Fleece doesn’t ravel, so there’s no need to finish the seam allowances or edges. The seam allowances are on the FRONT or TOP or OUTSIDE of the throw. This puzzled me for a minute, until I realized it leaves a smooth back, which might be more comfortable.
It also allows the seam allowances to become outlines on the animal shape. Very clever!
The throws are a double layer of fleece, When the underlayer is a different color from the upper layer, and the seam is sewn with the seam allowance on the outside, the contrasting bottom color seam allowance makes a nice design line.
The only problem is that in some places this makes a LOT of layers. Two layers of fleece, sewn together to make a single piece, isn’t bad. Sew two of those layers together and you’re sewing through four layers of fleece. Now cross that seam at 90 degrees with yet another seam, and now it’s just a thick monster. And, because I was using furry fleece, I had a thick, furry monster. My poor Babylock Symphony struggled in places, and that machine never ever struggles!
I didn’t use the black and white suggested by the pattern. I fell in love with a three yard pre cut piece of brown and cream camouflage furry fleece at my local craft store. I chose a furry brown for the head. I wanted cream for the belly, but they had no furry cream so I settled on foggy grey.
I had a little trouble keeping the slippery fleece layers together when stitching the top layer to the bottom layer. I wish I had used my walking foot!
I think I will use this pattern again, to make the bug. I have some bright green fleece in my stash and the craft store carries black fleece. BUT I will look for ways to reduce the bulk in some of the seams. And, I will use my walking foot when sewing the top layer to the bottom layer, to reduce stretching and slipping.
Would I recommend this pattern? Yes, but not for $40! I suggest buying the current animal throw pattern, and use that as a starting point to draft your own bug, or bear, or fish, or dinosaur, or whatever.
Also, this bear seems to have no hands or front paws. I’ll add them if I make the bear again.
And yes, the bears nose IS crooked!! I’m going to blame my cat for that. KC liked laying on the bear during construction. Maybe the bear thinks KC smells funny? LOL!!!!
<b>Pattern Description: </b>
Fun animal shaped fleece throws
<b>Pattern Sizing:</b>
One size fits all
<b>Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?</b>
Yes, except I used different colors
<b>Were the instructions easy to follow?</b>
Mostly yes. The seam allowances for these throws are on the RIGHT or OUTSIDE of the throw. I didn’t see this mentioned in the instructions, although it’s clear from the drawings.
<b>What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?</b>
In some places, the double layer of fleece plus the folded back seam allowances make a lot of bulk, and that’s doubled in places where seams meet and cross
<b>Fabric Used:</b>
Fluffy fleece
<b>Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:</b>
I used different colors
<b>Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?</b>
Yes, I would sew this again, but I’d take steps to reduce the bulk at the seams and maybe even make my version reversible. The bug looks like a fun throw!
sewingroomcafe 