Tutorial: Here's Lookin' at You Eye Patch

I have too many good jeans and pants that give in the knees well before their time. I did try the iron-on jean material patches only to be disappointed that the patch either fell off or was ripped off by restless fingers before the day was over.

Another problem was trying to use my Steam-A-Seam to cover a hole. Inside the fusible web left a sticky or scratchy surface and bothered little knees. So I came up with the idea of doing a reverse appliqué, appliqué. Or as I like to call it, an Eye Patch.

This patch was WELL received and even though I hadn't washed the pants yet (yeah, I know, I should have done that first), the jammies were off and these were on before I could mention the washing machine.

I think they go really well with an alien graphic t-shirt, don't you? My little one picks out his own clothes most of the time. As an aside on that subject, I heard a mother at the playground once declare that her son was absolutely NOT going out of the house with his red ball cap on (it would clash with his green and yellow complete John Deere outfit)! Seriously chick, get a grip.

Whooo, I'm back. (slapping face) I can't get on the subject of playground mommies. I do like the nanny that comes with her charge, though. She keeps it real.

Well, let's get on with the tutorial, shall we? I know you are ALL wanting to make some eye patches for yourself, so without further ado, here it is:

Tutorial: The Eye Patch

Step 1: Find a hole. (I couldn't resist)













Step 2: Download a copy of my eyeball cutouts, or draw some eye elements onto your fusible web.












Step 3: Apply the pattern onto the main patch fabric. I'm using a red patch as a base for my eyeballs. If you are a little confused by this step, please refer to my tutorial on how to appliqué using a fusible web by clicking on this link.









Step 4: Iron on your pieces and allow to cool. Make sure these guys are on really well. Once he's on the jeans, I'm sure he'll be taking a lot of face-plants into the ground.










Step 5: Carefully insert the entire patch into the pants leg, centering your eyes directly underneath the hole. Make sure the fabric is flattened down. See him peeking out? That's what you want.










Step 6: We needed to make sure the eyes were in the right spot because for this step, we need to pin down the patch all around the opening of the hole. I'd place the pins a little inside of the good fabric, on top of where it's starting to wear away.









Step 7: Now here's where we reverse appliqué the appliqué (say that 10 times fast). I like to use a small embroidery hoop on this so the fabric layers won't slip and slide around as I sew.










Step 8: Secure your fabric and trim away any excess or stray jean/pants threads. Get out an embroidery needle and some floss. I did an organic sort of circle around the eyes. No need to be perfect. I used this basic back stitch, making sure to knot my thread securely when complete.








Here's what he looks like after the embroidery. Isn't it nice when wiggly lines actually look good?













With the pants leg turned inside out, you can see that there are places where I had to 'reload' my needle and a couple of knots. This brings us to step 9...








Step 9: To make sure that my knots will not come undone and to clean up the backside a little, I put a few scraps of fusible web onto small strips of fabric and bonded those strips to my knots (see the three knot areas?). This way, the fabric strip on the top is permanently bonded with the thread and fabric underneath. Now I don't have to worry about anything coming loose. Carefully trim around your stitching, leaving .25" or .125".






Step 10: Last step! Now we need to free out little monster and give him (or his eyes at least) room to breathe. I like using a seam ripper for this job. Just pierce the worn fabric with a seam ripper and follow the stitch line all the way around the circle, leaving .25" or .125" of fabric.








You're finished! Now go take him out on the town and have some fun.

I really hope you'll give this a try, you won't be sorry! Be creative with your reverse appliqué and there will be smiles all around.







This is just a friendly reminder to you all to:

Tutorial: Animal Tails

Well, dang. I had anticipated posting this tutorial LAST week, but well, you know. Last week wasn't our week to meet deadlines of all sorts. Deadlines with work, but also our laundry deadline (i.e. we are down to our last skivvies), grocery store deadline (i.e. do you think that thing in the back of the fridge is edible?) and other stuff. Ugh.

Anyway, I know I said that last week I would post a project and this is it. Our animal tail tutorial. It's really no big deal, but lately, my boy has been running around with pipe cleaners attached to his belt loop calling them a tail. So, I decided to make some tails that may hold up a little better than a pipe cleaner (after playing with them for a few days, it looked like the pipe cleaner had mange).

Okay, let's start! Just find some old (or cheap) socks. I like the long tube socks - the longer the sock, the longer the tail.

Turn the socks inside out:


We want as much length as possible on these tails so I'm incorporating the foot as well. In order to make that look more like a tail and less like a sock, we need to very carefully cut out the heels.


Carefully pin the heel openings together. We're fashioning a tube, so we want to close up this hole.
Sew up each hole. My socks were extra stretchy knits, so I went over the seams again just to be sure. Turn them inside out:


Now you have two tubes instead of socks. The tops of my socks are way too thick, so I'm trimming these away (note: they make excellent arm bands).


I don't want thick ends on my socks because I'm going to cut down about two inches into the sock top (below). These will become my ties to tie the tails onto belt loops. Since this is a pretty good knit fabric, I'm not going to worry about unraveling fabric.


Fill your tails with cotton or poly-fill but not too tight.

Once filled, you're going to sew up the opening. I didn't do anything too fancy here, just made a seam and went over it one more time for good measure. Sew right below your cut.

I like to roll the finished tails in between my hands to get the lumps out and make them more even. Then tie one on and get ready for fun!

Have some fun with your little animals!

Appliqué How-To: A Tutorial

Well, now that I have started offering a few appliqué patterns on this blog, I think it's high time that I offered you a lesson on how to actually DO the appliqués so you can get busy putting these cute patterns to work.

I have been graciously invited to be a guest blogger, participating in Celebrate the BOY hosted by Rae from Made by RAE and Dana from MADE. They both have gobs of wonderful patterns and crafts for boys on their sites for the month of February so please visit these sites (and get ready to bookmark the heck out of them).

TUTORIAL: HOW TO APPLIQUÉ

MATERIALS

1. Puddle Jumping Designs Retro Race Car Instructions
2. Marker for tracing
3. Double-stick fusible web
4. Scissors
5. Fabric scraps (you really don't need much!)
6. T-shirt (I made mine based on Dana's tutorial. Check it out here). Or any fabric surface you'd like to appliqué.



Notice there isn't any sewing machine in this picture? That's right! When you use the double-sided fusible web, there really isn't a need for a sewing machine. So if any of you were a bit worried that you'd never be able to do this project, never fear! You just need to reach back to the basic skills you learned in grade school: tracing and cutting. Oh, and there's also ironing, but I don't think that was part of the curriculum. Anyway, this is EASY.

First, cut out all of the pattern pieces from the second page of the pattern design. Some pieces may be small so it's up to you if you want to cut them out or freehand them later. I include them so that people who enjoy doing intricate work can do so, but embroidery, freehand or leaving it blank is just fine.


Next get out one sheet of your fusible web. I like to use the Steam-A-Seam 2 Double Stick Fusible Web. The fabric doesn't fray, it bonds instantly with heat and washes well.

Notice that one side of the fusible web covering comes away easier than the other side:

This is the side you do NOT want to trace your pattern on. Flip it over and arrange the pattern pieces on the fusible web paper. Make sure you place the pattern pieces FACE DOWN on the fusible web. This will ensure that your pattern will turn out pointing in the right direction (I have done this the wrong way too many times to count. Urg.).


Cut out all of the pattern pieces leaving at least 1/8" to 1/4" of space around each shape. This is very important! I can't stress this enough. Leave room around each shape. Trust me.


Place each pattern shape on the WRONG SIDE of the fabric. This way, the right side of your fabric will be facing outwards and not bonded with the fusible web. Press down pretty hard to be sure the web is sticking to the fabric and won't move when you're ready for cutting.

If you'll notice, I did not use the wrong side of the orange fabric. I ended up having to re-do these. That happens! At least the pattern pieces are so small that I have plenty of fabric left.

Now you can cut out your pattern pieces. Be careful not to move the traced paper too much as you cut, so your fabric piece can be as accurate as possible.


Once all of your pieces are cut out, you are ready to layer your pieces on your t-shirt. Just refer to your pattern instruction to see how each layer will work. This is how they will look:

First Layer
Put the car body in position.







Second Layer
Tuck the three wheels in under the car.







Third Layer
Add with wheel detail, windows and grille.







Fourth Layer
Final touches! The racing stripe, license plate and headlights finish up your piece.






Once you are satisfied that your fabric pieces are exactly where you want them, follow the instructions for your fusible web to adhere them to your shirt. I set my iron on the cotton setting with no steam. Press for a few minutes and let it cool completely.

You're done! This should make some boy (or girl) very happy. Be sure to click on the SHOP button or Free Pattern button on the sidebar at the left for more appliqué patterns.


As always...

Play Clay Dinos

I had all the intentions of posting this before the Christmas frenzy hit, but we went right into hunting and gathering mode (i.e. hunting for the gifts and gathering up the clean laundry). Still, I believe that this project is fun and easy to do for a winter's day activity.

I decided to do some play clay shapes for a playdate, but instead of just regular play clay, I wanted to find the right recipe to bake the shapes so they could be painted and hung up as decorative ornaments. I think that this recipe (I altered it slightly) will do the trick.

Play Clay (or Baker's Clay) Recipe
4 c flour
1 c salt
1 1/2 - 1 3/4 c water

Mix all the ingredients and knead until dough is smooth and ingredients are fully incorporated.
Roll out the dough to about 1/4" thickness and use any shape cookie cutter. I used a regular straw to poke holes in each shape for a ribbon to go through later.


Bake the cut out dough at 275° for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours until the shapes are completely dried and hard. Once the shapes are cool, get out your glitter and paint and go to town!

As always, remember to