Make a Vintage Looking Moppet Hat

A moppet hat may be just the thing to top off a vintage looking outfit.  This is an easy sew project. Here's how I made the moppet hat for my granddaughter's Little Miss Muffet outfit:

1.  Start by cutting out a 17 inch round circle of white fabric .

2.  2" in from the edge of the circle add single fold bias tape all around the circle.  Make sure you leave an opening in the tape to insert elastic.

3.  Add lace onto the edge of the cap.

4.  Insert the elastic around 1/2 - 1" smaller than the head circumference.  
5.  Sew the ends of the elastic together.

6.  Make a bow out of ribbon.  Tack the bow in place.  

You're done.  Now, wasn't that easy?

This type of hat works great for a vintage looking costume and it's so easy to make without a fancy pattern.  xoxo Grandma

Linked to: Nap Time Creations

How to Make a Child's Pikachu Costume

Anyone here into Pokemon?  My grandson absolutely loves anything and everything Pokemon.  My children were never into this phase, but oh my grandson and his sister sure are.  For Halloween last year, my grandson wanted to be Pikachu, a Pokeman character, for those of you who aren't into this character. I am one of those people who is clueless about this stuff. This meant I had to look at a lot of images to figure out how in the world to make this costume. 

First who is this creature? A quick Wikipedia search told me that "Pikachu are often captured and groomed by humans to fight other Pokémon for sport. Pikachu are one of the most well-known varieties of Pokémon, largely because a Pikachu is a central character in the Pokémon anime series."  

Next, I downloaded a few images for reference. Then I created the following pattern for your personal advantage, so if someone you love wants this costume, you won't have to search and sketch and figure it out like I did. You're welcome.

Supplies needed:

• Download Free Pattern Pikachu here and back strips here
• 2 1/2 yards of yellow fleece (I made a size 6 costume)
• Scrap of black fabric
• White felt for eyes
• Red felt for cheeks
• Yellow and black craft foam for the tail (get sticky back kind if available)

For the basic hood pattern, I used Butterick pattern #5597, the lobster head.
For the body pattern, I used this same pattern enlarging and rounding the front to about 6 inches larger, width wise for the back.

Being the cool dad that he is, my son tried on the Pikachu hood at the school party. Doesn't he look so hip?  Alright, back to your instructions... Machine embroider the eyes and cheeks onto the head. Then machine embroider the black tips of the ears onto the yellow fleece. Sew the ears together leaving the bottom of the ears open. Stuff the ears and pin in place onto the hood. Hand sew the ears in place.

Cut the tail out of craft foam, and if you're not using the sticky back kind then use foam glue to piece this tail together. You'll sew the tail into the back of the costume by slitting a hole where the tail needs to go. The foam is easy to sew right through so don't worry about that, it's just very awkward to sew, as you'll see. 

To get the tail to stay pointing upward, sew a piece of the tail into the upper portion of the costume.  I wish I had made a larger tab for doing that because my grandson's tail came undone & I'm all the way across the US from him and can't fix it.  

Oh well, he still seems to be happy in his costume.  I asked my son if people knew what he was supposed to be. He said not everyone knew, but apparently there are those who are a little wiser (or cooler) than I am and knew exactly what a Pikachu looks like. Happy costume making all!  xoxo Grandma

Linked to: Nap Time Creations, Project Run and Play

Serving Through Sewing

"No time is better spent than that spent in the service of your fellow man."  That quote rings true to me and today, I'd love to get you thinking of ways you can use your sewing talent to bless others.  Below is a list of six organizations that need sewers who are willing to give of their time and create specific projects.  If you're up for a little challenge, choose at least one of these groups and make something for someone you don't know.  When you're done, I promise you'll feel good inside. Service just does that to you! 

Skirting The Issue- Sponsored by Simple Simon. From July through August, sew any size of a skirt for girls in your local foster care system.  These skirts are a blessing to girls throughout this system so they can have something new for back to school. Below are a few tutorials that can help you create a cute skirt:

Free skirt tutorials:

Easy Back to School Skirt, a Refashion & Tutorial

Flock of Birds Skirt

This year Simple Simon has also added quilts to their list of handmade items to donate to the foster care system in your area.

Sew Powerful- Sponsored by Liberty Jane, asks others to sew cross body purses for girls and women living in Zambia. Below is a link to teach you how to use your scraps to make this project.

Using Scraps to Make a Cross Body Purse for a Good Cause

Primary Children's Hospital- Sew monsters, safe sleep sacks, or medical play dolls as shown in the photo below.  You can even make no sew soft blankets.

Feel free to go to this post and download a free pattern and tutorial on how to use fleece scraps to make a few monsters:

1 Million Pillow Cases- "American Patchwork & Quilting is challenging quilters, sewers and crafters to help us reach our goal of donating one million pillowcases to local charities.  Many charities can benefit from the donation of a pillowcase and the challenge gives you the opportunity to donate and make a difference in your community."

The Linus Project- "Provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers."

Humanitarian Quilts- Make a quilt that will be given to those in need.

If you know of any other organizations that you think should be added to this list, please leave me a comment or send me an e-mail and I'd be happy to add them.  xoxo Grandma

How to Sew a Few Little Monsters

One of my favorite charities is looking for people to make stuffed monsters for the children's ward.  Working toward my goal of using up the fabric stash I've accumulated, I found some scraps of yellow fleece. So why not use this fleece to make monsters for them? It worked perfectly. 

If you want to make some little monsters of your own, here are the details: 

1.  Download the free pattern here. Then cut out the pieces as follows:  2 each of the body, 4 each of the horn, 2 each of the eye, 2 each of the pupil and how ever many teeth you want your monster to have.
2. Place your eyes, pupils and teeth onto the head of your monster.  I use temporary spray adhesive to hold my pieces in place.
3. Machine embroider the white eyes.
4. Machine embroider the teeth in place.

5.   Machine embroider the black pupils and then the smile.
6.  To make the hair, wrap yarn around four of your fingers four times.  Cut the yarn and hold the ends together.
7.  Machine stitch the four strands of yarn together.
8.  Baste the stitched end of the yarn hair onto the top center of the head.

9.    Using 1/4" seams, right sides facing, stitch the horns together.

10.  Clip the curves and turn right side out.

11.  Stuff the horns with fiber fill.

12.  Baste the horn's openings closed.

13.  Pin and then baste the horns onto the head as shown.

14.  For the tail, cut 8 pieces of yarn 8" long.  Sew or knot the top of the yarn together.

15.  Braid the yarn and knot the end.

16.  For the end of the tail, wrap yarn around four fingers 10 times.  Tie the braid around the center of the yarn.  

17.  Tie the end with a knot and trim the ends so your tail looks nice and fluffy.

18.  Cut a tiny hole on the center of the back at the tail marking.

19.  Thread the tale's braid through the opening.  On the wrong side of the fabric, sew the fabric back together and sew over the tail's end several times, because little children will pull the soft fluffy tail.

20.  Now, pin the front to the back, right sides facing.  Stitch around your monster making sure the horns, hair and tail are inside the monster. Leave an opening at the bottom of the monster between his legs.  Clip the monster's curves. Turn your monster right side out and stuff.  To finish your monster, hand sew the opening closed.

Monster-making is a lot of fun because not all monsters need to look exactly the same.  You can tweak my pattern to create your own unique monster. Not having to make the exact same creature over and over again is just so much fun....don't you think?  

For more variations on monster making, go to this post.  xoxo Grandma 

Shared at:  Threading My Way
Featured at: Threading My Way

Sew Easy Boy's Bow Tie

Doesn't this little guy look so dapper in his bow tie?! It is the cutest little bow tie and it's so easy to make.  I promise, it'll take under an hour to complete. All you need is a little scrap of fabric. 

Materials needed:

• Fabric: cut per below.

1) 13 1/2" x 1 3/4"  - Neckband

2) 4" x 6 1/2" - Bow tie

1) 1 3/4" x 2 1/2" - Center of the bow tie

• Velcro
• Thread

1.   Add a safety pin to the ends of all the cut pieces.  For the neckband, add a safety pin to both ends.  

2.   With right sides together, fold the pieces in half and sew using 1/4" seam allowance.  Leave the ends open to turn. For the neckband, sew the small ends and leave the opening in the center.

3.    Once sewn, all the pieces will look like this.  Turn all the pieces and iron them flat.

4.    Mark with a pin, the middle of the bow tie pieces.

5.    Fold the ends toward the center of the bow and with a zig zag stitch, sew down the middle of both bow ties.

6.    Find the center of the neckband and mark with a pin.

7.    Stack the bow ties one on top of another.  Wrap the center piece around the bows and neckband and pin.

8.    Tuck one raw edge on the center piece under an edge that has been folded under about 1/4"  Hand sew the two edges together making sure you stitch a few times through the neckband.

9.    Sew  1.25" of Velcro loops on one side of the neckband.  Sew 3/4" of hooks onto the opposite side of the neckband.

Only 9 steps and your bow tie is complete. I told you it was easy! Make that little boy in your life handsome in a classy, new bow tie.  xoxo Grandma

Best Dressed Doll

For the past five months I've faced several challenges, resulting in very little blogging.  It all started out in January with two broken bones in my arm, which left me with major nerve damage that needed months of physical therapy. The same injury threw out my back and needed the help of a chiropractor to get it back into it's proper place.  Then a neighbor's dog bit my leg  (I now have a huge fear of dogs which means I plan my morning jogs by the trails without dogs.)! Next, cancer showed up on my arm and nose, resulting in a skin graft. The final trial (knock on wood) was when my computer died and I had to figure out what to purchase to take it's place (sure, that's not really a challenge, but I am technologically challenged, so it was a big one for me).

To get through my challenges, I've turned to my kind of therapy - sewing a slew of outfits for 18" dolls.  My husband jokes with me and says that my doll is the best dressed doll in town.  He's right of course!

So, sit back and relax while I share some of the outfits I've made, and patterns used, to create this doll's wardrobe.

Photo 1

-Five Layers of Ruffles dress:  added 2-3" onto my favorite shirt pattern and then evenly added layers of lace trim.

-Sandal Pattern:  Pixie Faire, Gladiator Sandals

Changed pattern as follows: created one wide strap each and made a simplified oval center strap.

Photo 2

-Tutu and Leotard: Tutu made up pattern using tulle, trimmed and topped with lace.

-Leotard pattern:  Lee and Pearl, Tweak the Pattern 1051a One Piece Swimsuits for 18" Dolls (free download).

-Ballet Bag Pattern: free pattern xoxo Grandma.

Photo 3

-Pink Ballet Dress:  Extend your favorite doll tee-shirt 2-3" longer.  Using 7 pieces of tulle 3" x 29" gather and sew to the bottom of the tee shirt.   

-Ballet Bag Pattern: free pattern xoxo Grandma.

Photo 4 

Red, white back to school playwear:  

-Shorts pattern & tutorial: xoxo Grandma.

-Backpack Pattern:  McCall's #3469

-Clipboard Pattern:  free pattern & tutorial xoxo Grandma.

Photo 5

-White Ruffle shirt:  take any tee-shirt pattern and add lace/tulle trim to the bottom of the shirt. 

-Blue pants:  Simplicity #3551, view D.

Photo 6

Pioneer Outfit Pattern:  McCall's #3627, view A/G

-Apron pattern: free pattern xoxo Grandma.

Photo 7

Red, white and blue dress pattern:  

-Pixie Faire, Yacht dress 

-Sandal Pattern: Pixie Faire, Gladiator Sandals, used sticky red felt for the material and changed pattern as follows: created one wide strap each, made a simplified, oval center strap and no sewing around all the small pieces.  

Photo 8

-Japanese Kimono Pattern:  xoxo Grandma

Photo 9
-Jacket Pattern: xoxo Grandma, Lace Hankie Into a Doll Top
-Skirt:  Left over scraps of fabric and trim sewn together, no pattern used.

-Top:  Camisole, self created pattern.


Photo 10
-Fishing Set Pattern:  xoxo Grandma

Photo 11
-Camo Cargo pants set: Pants added 2 side pockets to a basic pant pattern. Used a scarf for the fabric.
-Sandals:  same as in photo 7, the fabric was from an old purse.

Photos 12 & 14

-Party dresses: The fabric came from a fancy baby dress which none of my daughters liked. 
-The baby dress was cut up and turned into two party dresses.  
-The skirt pattern is McCall's #3627, view H.

Photo 13
-Lace sleeves and lace added to a basic tee-shirt pattern.
-Short skirt pattern, lace sewn underneath the hem.

Photo 15

-Peach tunic was made from a linen tea towel with crocheted edges. 

-Capri's: Simplicity #3551 view B, cut shorter to make capris.

-Sandals: simplified version of the gladiator sandals see photo 7.

Photo 16

Brown and Turquoise outfit:  
-Basic tee-shirt pattern, sewing leftover pieces of lace down the center of the top beads used as accent buttons.  

- Brown Leggings:  Simplicity #3551, view D.

Photo 17

-Poodle skirt:  Free Pattern xoxo Grandma.

My goal, besides diverting my attention from my injuries, was to use up all the little pieces of fabric I've saved without purchasing any more.  But I often get ideas for accessories to accompany an article of clothing I've just finished.  All these creative ideas occasionally result in purchasing a little "new" fabric. I'm beginning to think there needs to be a help group for fabrics addicts. Fabrics Anonymous, right? Ah well, at least I have the best dressed doll in town!  xoxo Grandma 

1958 Poodle Skirt for an American Girl Doll - Free Pattern

When I saw this 1958 McCall's pattern #2252 for an original poodle skirt, I just knew it would be fun to scale down the pattern to fit an 18" American Girl Doll. 

After sketching and playing with fabric, beads and a little ribbon, this is how my version of this classic 1958 skirt turned out.

Add white socks and some saddle shoes and this doll will be set to party like it's 1958.

If you'd like to make one of these skirts, keep reading because the directions and poodle applique pattern are below.

Materials needed:

• Good quality felt
• faux fur (I trimmed my faux fur to about 1/4" long)
• beads and or sequins
• 1/8" wide ribbon
• black felt or fleece for the poodle about 5" square

Directions:

1.  Cut out a 17" circle from good quality red felt for the skirt.  In the center of the circle, cut out a circle 3 1/4".

2.  Machine applique the poodle in place onto the felt skirt.

3.  With black thread, hand stitch black beads or sequins onto the felt in a curved line to form the leash.

4.  Make the dog collar, by hand sewing a sequin around the dog's neck then add a clear bead which will hold the sequin in place.

5.  Tie a tiny bow using the 1/8" piece of ribbon.  Hand stitch the bow onto the top of the dog's furry head.

6.  Hand sew a white bead in place for the eye.

7.  Cut a 1 1/4" slit down the center back of the skirt.

8.  Cut 1" x 11 3/4" red felt for the waistband.

9.  Sew using 1/8" seam, sew the waistband onto the top of the circular skirt, leaving 1" of the waistband extending beyond the skirt's top.

10.  Sew Velcro hook onto the 1" extended waistband edge.

11.  Sew the Velcro loop onto the wrong side of the other end of the waistband.  Your 1958 poodle skirt is finished.

Download the poodle applique' pattern here and enjoy making your own 1958 original looking poodle skirt.  xoxo Grandma