First-best sewing friend

Babies. They're coming at me from everywhere at the moment (not my own, of course). This usually isn't a problem, I went through a baby-knits frenzy about 6 months ago and i've still got a stash of hand-knits with no home, but it's getting hot here. Too hot for baby cardigans.

How thoughtful of Martha Stewart to solve this conundrum for me.

This is a great pattern. Although it took me about an hour to figure out how to read it the first time I made it. Is it just me and my lack of sewing ability or is this a confusing pattern? Only thing I do differently is sew the inside ties in the seams. Anything to avoid hand-sewing. Which leads me to this:

My binding foot is my first-best sewing friend (it and my quick unpick ;). Notice the bias-binding around the neck? Well stifle that groan and buy one of these. Binding and material go in the front, perfectly sewn bias binding comes out the back. No hand-sewing required. However I should clarify that the bias-binding isn't always perfect...occasionally for some inexplicable reason (like your needle sitting in the wrong place) it will not catch both sides. When this happens you can swear and throw the tape measure across the room. That is a perfectly reasonble, mature, adult response.

This little top went to one of my all time favourite babies, Frances (seen here in part of my great baby cardigan explosion.) She was christened yesterday and took it all with dignity and grace. That is she didn't scream her lungs out like I would have. Not a peep.