Simple Baby Boy Gifts to Sew

Do you need a perfectly simple, yet cute baby boy gift? Today, I'm sharing with you two of my favorite gifts to sew. 

This bow tie and these baby booties both take around 30 minutes to whip up from start to finish, which makes them top contenders for simple baby boy gifts. Plus, look at them... they're darling! 

The free pattern called "Baby Booty" includes a photo tutorial. You'll find this on Michael Miller Fabrics blog. It can be downloaded here.  Once you download this pattern, I'm suggesting you do the following to improve the sewing process just slightly:

• Step three states to use a seam ripper to rip an opening for the elastic. I think it looks nicer to make buttonholes for the opening instead.
• Baste the top & top lining and the heel and heel lining before you sew them onto the sole.
• Add batting between the soles. This gives the soles warmth and cushioning.

This dapper bow tie always impresses a new mom or dad. You'll find the free pattern and tutorial here. For fun, if you have enough fabric, make a matching bow tie for the Dad to be.

Find an hour in your day, grab some scrap fabrics and sew up these two baby boys gifts.

You won't regret making a few extras to have on hand for the next baby shower you're invited to. xoxo Grandma

Refashion Licensed Apparel

My husband has several favorite sports teams he loves.  He usually makes sure our grandchildren have licensed apparel from these teams.  His favorite team though is the San Francisco Giants. He is a die hard fan! I love that he wants our grandchildren to learn to love his teams! Well, as you're probably aware, purchasing licensed apparel can be costly.  Months ago, I was given a child's San Francisco Giants sweatshirt. Sadly, the zipper on this sweatshirt was broken. What good is a sweatshirt you can't zip? Replacing the zipper would have been tricky on this particular jacket, so instead I decided to cut off all the team logos, because they were in perfect shape. 

I then purchased a fleece-lined black sweatshirt for $11.00 from Walmart.  I took those MLB logos, pinned them onto the new sweatshirt and using a close zig zag stitch (see the image above to show you the size and width of the stitch), I machine embroidered the logos in place.  I recommend using the same color of thread as the jacket.

In less than 30 minutes, I had a new Giants sweatshirt for my youngest grandson.

When I showed the newly decorated sweatshirt to my husband, he actually approved. Out of curiosity, I looked to see what a new SF Giants sweatshirt with a zipper down the front would cost, they were at least $40.  

This simple refashion resulted in a nice savings, a happy resourceful grandmother and a darling, warm grandson in his new San Francisco Giants sweatshirt.

Happy refashioning licensed apparel!  xoxo Grandma  

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

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

Awesome Airplane T-shirt

There's nothing better than creating something for a little child that they are passionate about. This little boy lives on an Air Force base and loves planes. So, I searched the web for an image of an airplane I thought he'd enjoy. So, if you're up for putting a smile on a little child's face, then follow the easy steps below! 

First, copy your image onto a blank word document and then stretched the image to the size you want it.  Print off two images of the design you want.  One image will be your pattern and the other will be used for placement of the pieces. Cut apart the image into pattern pieces.  Now, take those images and cut them out of scrap knit fabric.

Then use spray adhesive and temporarily mount the fabric in place onto the t-shirt.  

Use a fabric pen to draw any detail lines onto the pattern pieces.  To help machine embroidery work best on t-shirt fabric, add tissue paper or tear away interfacing to the inside of the t-shirt.  Using a zig zag stitch, stitch the design in place adding all details.

The above image is how your t-shirt will look from the wrong side of the t-shirt once all the machine embroidery is finished.  Go ahead and tear away any of the tissue paper or interfacing you want, cutting all loose threads as you go.

And, that's it! Pretty easy, right? The hardest part of this entire project is simply selecting the perfect image for the shirt!  Enjoy making these awesome t-shirts for any child with these easy steps.  xoxo Grandma

You might like these projects:

Boys & Bugs Shirt

Everyday Tank Tour - SF Baseball Style Shirt

Designing Boys Shirts With Bleach Pens

Boys & Bugs Shirt

This shirt is a fun, easy project to make for any bug loving child.  For this project, I purchased a solid ready made T-shirt for $1.50.  I found this bargain on sale at my local Walmart. I hoped that with my arm still not completely operable due to breaking it in January, that this would be a project I was anxious to try.  

The first step is to decorating a shirt is to download the free bug pattern I designed here.

2.  Gather together the following supplies:

1.  Knit fabric scraps 
2.  Washable fabric marker
3.  Fabric spray glue 
4.  Fabric scissors
5.  Thread
6.  A solid T-shirt

3.  Now using the downloaded pattern, cut out the basic bug shapes from your scraps of knit fabric.

4. Use the fabric spray adhesive to temporarily adhere the fabric to the T-shirt by spraying the wrong side of the fabric and then putting the shapes, right side up onto the T-shirt.

5.   With the temporary fabric marker, draw on the details like the bug's legs and eyes onto the fabric.  These will be the lines that you use as guides for the machine embroidery.

6.  For the legs, use black thread.  I used a technique called scribble stitching to finish adhere the bugs onto the T-shirt.  To learn the basics on how to scribble stitch, go to Threading My Way, here.  As you can see by the close-up photo below, I only used the detail lines as a general guideline.  Plus I finally got my brace off my arm and sadly, my left arm still isn't working right so this is as close to the lines as I could get.  

Enjoy making this simple bug shirt!   xoxo Grandma

Linked to:  Threading My Way, Project Run & Play, Totally Tutorials

Princess and Superhero Summer Pajamas

I wasn't going to participate in Project Run and Play's June sewing challenge, not because I didn't want to, but because I had a lot of other projects that needed to be finished and put away before my grandchildren arrived at my house for an extended summer stay.  

I'm happy to report that these grandchildren arrived last week.  The second day they were at my house, my three-year-old granddaughter asked me if I would make her princess "pajamies".  My five-year-old grandson also said that he needed summer pajamas too. Their mother, my daughter, said he definitely didn't need any more pajamas. Regardless of the need, how could I say "no" to either of them? After all, it's not everyday that I get to make custom sleepwear.

For the pattern, I decided that the Kiki & Company princess dress would be the perfect inspiration for creating my granddaughter's summer princess pajamas.  

I bravely took these two grandchildren fabric shopping. I wasn't surprised when bright pink tricot fabric and matching lace were selected by the three year old. To accent the bright pink, I also picked up white tricot fabric and white lace. My grandson selected a cartoon-looking super hero knit fabric, which his mother wasn't crazy about, but hey... it's his pajamas not hers. (Honestly, I didn't like the cartoon fabric either but, it really did look like his kind of fabric.) 

I've always heard that fabric shopping with children is a good way to let them be involved in the sewing process and I wholeheartedly agree. It was fun to watch them look through the fabrics and excitedly decide on something.

My grandson's super hero summer pajamas were a breeze to sew together. I sewed up a basic tee shirt and shorts. He loved helping me with the process by operating the sewing machine pedal according to my every command.  He also loved trying to bonk me with this giant panda bear!

For the princess "pajamies" I changed Kiki's pattern. On top of a white underskirt, I added a slightly wider pink overlay skirt with an open front seam. I omitted the elastic in the skirt, choosing instead to gather the skirt and sew it to a princess bodice, like on the Kiki & Company Cinderella dress. 

I hand stitched white sequins and clear lavender seed beads to the white lace flowers, because sparkles were also requested by this three-year-old. The raw edges were all finished with the pink lace as the binding.  More pink lace was sandwiched in-between elastic for the shoulder straps. The bodice has pink lace layered onto the front and I finished off the look with pink ribbon streamers and a pre-made pink ribbon rose. 

One night this week she wasn't going to eat her dinner, so I bribed her by telling her that if she ate it she could help me finish her pajamas.  I'm here to report that bribery still works! She too got to be the sewing machine pedal operator as I once again gave the "start and stop" orders. As an added bonus, she also got to push the scissors button on my machine. She thought that button was magical.

After taking these photos this three-year-old said, "Grandma now I need a crown."  Well, of course she does, how did I neglect that detail? We plan on making that happen another day.

Thanks to Project Run and Play and Kiki & Company for the inspiration for these "pajamies."  I've now got two very happy grandchildren with new summer pajamas at my house and we couldn't be happier.   xoxo Grandma

Top 10 designs for June:  Vote Here for your favorite design.

Just Calling this a "Polo Shirt" - Refashioning a Polo Shirt

You're going to love this project because it's an easy, easy sewing refashion and the pattern is free. Here's how this project began, when I read about February's challenge for Project Run and Play to create an article of clothing for a child using Living with Punks  pattern called Mademoiselle Muscle Tee, I wasn't sure which direction to take. Then I read that Frances Suzanne, is having a "Free For All" this month too.  The title made me curious, what on earth is a free for all? I learned that this is where those who sew are encouraged to make clothing for a child using a free pattern and then share what they've created.  I'm so happy to link this easy refashion up to both parties. 

I also made this boy a fabric shark. It is a free pattern too and can be found HERE at Patchwork Posse.
 The comedian that he is, you'll notice his new shark in a few of these photos.

I decided to make a new shirt for one of my grandsons. Now, please note that no one is allowed to tell my grandson that "mademoiselle" means "little lady" in French because he would not like this new shirt I made for him if he knew I used a "girl" pattern to make him something.  I'm just going to tell him it's a polo shirt. 

For the fabric, I decided to use one of my husband's shirts.  I'm not sure why my husband decided to put this shirt in our pile for charity because the shirt looked great on him. But he did so I decided to just go with the flow and refashion it.  When I knew I'd be flying cross country this weekend to visit my grandchildren and welcome grandchild number 9 into our family, I started to make a few grandma gifts to take with me... like this shirt. I decided to see if I could turn my husband's classic polo shirt into a boy's size polo shirt.

Here's what I did, from the original shirt, I cut off the sleeves.  Next, I carefully folded the shirt in half, laid the pattern so that the "cut on the fold" was along the folded shirt then I cut out the front of the shirt keeping part of the shoulder seams and all of the original neckline intact.  Keeping the original neckline intact is super important! Then, I pinned the back shoulder seam of the pattern to the front shoulder seam (folding over the seam allowance) and cut out the back of the pattern. This is how this step looked - you know, just in case you want to try this project at home too.

Next, I scaled down the sleeves by cutting off the knit cuff, cutting the length of the sleeves and then the width of the wrists down to a size 5.  Then, I reattached the knit cuff.  I took those "new" sleeves and pinned them onto the new armholes and sewed them back in place. 

Once the sleeves were sewn, I pinned the side seams, matching the stripes.  Which matched perfectly I might add.  

Then I sewed the side seams together.  The final step to this shirt was to hem it.  I first turned up the edge one inch and pinned it in place. Then I used my lovely hemming stitch to finish off the bottom of this shirt. This finishing step was so so easy!

Turn the shirt right side out and in about 1 1/2 hours, I had a new shirt to give to my fun-loving grandson and it didn't cost me anything except the thread.  I like that kind of low cost project, don't you?

I wish the Nautica sailboat was a little higher on this shirt, but I'm going to leave it alone and call it good! I hope my grandson enjoys these gifts and never learns that this shirt is called anything more than a polo shirt!   xoxo Grandma

Thank you to Nu Image Studios for permission to use a couple of these photos on my blog.