Manning Up the Baby Swing

My pink baby swing was just too girly to pass along to my daughter for her new baby boy (who has still not arrived!).  It needed to "Man-Up".

It used to look like this: (I had to find an image on google because I forgot to take a before pic, but this is the exact swing)

I very gently removed the seat and the mobile and smoothed them out on the table, then I laid tissue paper over them and attempted to draw a pattern of the various pieces. Then I tried laying the tissue paper under the swing seat.  All I got were crazy scribbles.  Sooooo.....

I ripped the thing apart.  Using each piece as the pattern for a new piece turned out to be the best way to get the proper shape and fit.  And, I just peeled off the pink top layer leaving the padding, backing, snaps, tabs, and straps that came with the swing originally!  Bonus!

Putting it back together was a challenge.  I forgot to take "before" pictures, and I forgot how the pieces all came off!  This turned into a swing seat puzzle.  I contemplated running out and buying a new swing.  $129.99 for a swing!  Egads!  Ok, motivation returned.

I even decided to try piping, something I've never done before.  It turned out pretty good!  I'm happy with it, but next time I will make the effort to go find my zipper foot before I do the piping.  Might make sewing it a lot easier.  And I really like the piping of the solid brown to break up the "wild" look just a tad.

I did it!  I put the pieces together, sewed the back attaching pieces on, added the bias tape trim and straps, put it back on the swing frame, snapped it and there it is!  Yippee!  Now, let's just hope it holds together.

I had a volunteer to test it and see if it would hold.  Only took about a minute and she was fast asleep!  Hmm, maybe I should keep the swing after all!

It's not totally done yet.  I still have to "Man-Up" the pink head stabilizing pillows and the mobile.  I'd better hurry, my little grandbaby boy will be here soon! He's overdue!