Transformer T-shirt Tutorial

My first born girl, my barbie-lovin', lipstick wearin', playin' in Aunt Mimi's high heeled shoes girly-girl, the original princess of the family, decided she wanted to have a Transformer party for her 5th birthday. I am so used to pink and purple and had no idea what I would find for Transformers for a birthday party (thanks to the recent movies, transformers run rampant on Earth...well, at least, transformer party supplies do).

Last year, I started making outfits for my kids for their birthdays (see the patchwork twirl dress on the top of my blog? I made that for L for her fourth birthday), so I was excited to conquer the challenge of a girl transformer outfit. Since Princess/Transformer L isn't much into dresses anymore and I didn't want to risk spending hours making something that she wouldn't even wear (which happens more often than I like to admit), I decided on a t-shirt and skirt.

Is there such thing as a female transformer?

No?!?!

Well, if there was, I think she should look like this:

Optimus Prime would be smitten.

She is feminine yet fierce...perfect for my little Transformer Princess:

I had to beg L to put the whole outfit on and go outside so I could take pictures. She wore the t-shirt for her birthday but this is the first time she put on the skirt. But she really got into the "photo session" once she realized that I wasn't going to make her pose and smile pretty!

Want to make a transformer t-shirt (You can use these instructions to make any image on a t-shirt, like a peace sign)? You don't even need a sewing machine! You do need:

1. Fabric

2. Iron

3. Iron-on Advesive (I used Therm O Web)

4. Scissors

5. Exacto Knife (not totally necessary but makes it easier and better)

6. Image of the autobot (I got one from Google Images).

Step 1. Lay iron-on adhesive over autobot image and trace lines from autobot onto adhesive paper (see photo under step 2). Step 2. Iron adhesive with transformer image to fabric according to instructions on the iron-on adhesive package: Step 3. Use exacto knife to cut out image of transformer: Step 4. (optional) Trace the outline of the autobot image onto another piece of iron-on adhesive paper. I am going to use this to add more color to the autobot image: Step 5. Iron adhesive to fabric according to iron-on adhesive instructions and cut along lines: Step 6. Here we are going to place the "face" of the autobot on the (pink) fabric. Remove paper backing from iron-on adhesive and lay autobot details on top of blank autobot fabric shape so that you have a completed autobot face. Iron according to iron-on adhesive package directions. If you are not doing the secondary fabric (pink), then just lay the autobot pieces directly on the shirt and iron according to iron-on adhesive package directions. Step 7. Now we are going to secure the autobot face to the shirt. Remove paper backing of the iron-on adhesive from the (pink) fabric and lay in the center of the shirt, a few inches below the collar. To find the center of the shirt, fold in half and iron to make a crease down the center of the shirt. Line up the center of the autobot with the crease. Iron the competed autobot face to the t-shirt according to iron-on adhesive package directions: You could end here, but I wanted to add a little bit more girly-ness, so I cut off the sleeves:

Then I did a very narrow zig-zag stitch along the edge of the sleeves with purple thread. This creates a neat wavy edge on the sleeve:

I also did a zig-zag stitch around the outside edge of my girl autobot, but this isn't necessary. You cannot even see the zig-zag stitch so I won't even bother with a pic of that.

Do this for anything! Does your child love dinosaurs? Cut an image of a dinosaur out of green fabric and iron on to a t-shirt! You could even take something from one of your t-shirts, cut it out, and iron it on to your kids t-shirt (I am thinking of your old INXS or ACDC t-shirts; cut around the letters or images and affix it to your kid's t-shirt!). It is a great way to not only add personality to t-shirts but also to hide stains. Whatever you do, have fun with it!

Getting Multiple Sizes Out Of Tissue Thin Pattern Paper

My First Post!

I do quite a bit of sewing...at night when the kids are sleeping...without patterns because I hate patterns. I shouldn't say I hate patterns, because I LOVE the final result when following a pattern it's just the process of getting there that I have trouble with. So when I decide to use a pattern, I usually spend quite a bit of time reading the instructions and looking at the pattern pieces before I even start cutting. Because THAT is the worst part, cutting. I want to use a pattern for the multiple sizes it provides because I have 3 little girls for whom I have to make 3 sizes. OR because I love the design so much that I make want to make one for my 3 year old now and again next year when she is a year bigger. The problem is, how do I cut multiple sizes out of the pattern paper without completely ruining the pattern??!!?? I googled it, I asked my mom, I spoke with a veteran sewist at a fabric store and I got the same answer (trace the pattern), just different ideas on how to trace the pattern. Google results suggested medical paper because you can see through it (how am I going to get that stuff?), mom suggested tracing paper and wheel (too expensive for my cheapo butt), and lady at fabric store suggested tracing the pattern onto old wrapping paper (cannot do because I have switched to reusable wrapping "paper", plus that would take too much time to cut each size out, trace, then cut the next small size out).

So I accidentally came up with this solution:

1. Take a large piece of paper (I used the backside piece of paper from a large coloring book that my kids have no interest in). You could use newspaper, wrapping paper, or that paper that comes on a large roll that your kids color or paint on (I think you can get a roll at IKEA for $5 or so). Lightly tape the pattern paper onto the large piece of paper and use a permanent marker to trace the size you need from the pattern.

2. Look-see?! The pattern paper is so darn thin that the permanent marker goes right through! Copy the other info from the pattern (cut number, size, grainline, etc.). Do the same for each size you need from the pattern. This particular pattern provided me with a size 4, 5, and 6 so I traced the size 4, then the size 5 and I can use the pattern paper if I need size 6. You will then need to cut the new pattern pieces out of the paper onto which you traced.

3. Use these pattern pieces to cut out your fabric-I place fabric on my cut mat, lay the pattern piece on top, and weigh it down with canned tuna or soup or whatever I have in the cupboard. I like using tuna cans because they are shorter than soup and don't get in the way as much.

This probably won't work as well with adult clothing, unless you have paper big enough to fit the pattern pieces. You could also tape pieces of paper together to make a larger piece of paper.

Last night, I cut all the pieces I need for my 3 year old and 5 year old to each have a new summer outfit, so tonight I get to start sewing. And all of the pattern pieces are still intact so that if my girls like their outfits enough, I can make some more of the same!

Sombody's Sewing tonight!