Monday, September 28, 2009

How Indi made a softie.

This morning Indi (aged eight), and I found ourselves home alone for a few hours and decided to make an owl softie.

First off, we heat set one of the owls we screen printed yesterday. We did this by ironing the back of it.

She then drew around the shape of the owl adding a couple of centimetres, the seam allowance.

Then she cut along the line she had just drawn.


Earlier in the week we had been to the local craft shop to buy some elastic and the girls chose a fat quarter each for holiday crafting. I love letting them buy fabric because it is guilt free shopping for me. Indi chose this floral print.

The printed side of the owl and the right side of the floral were placed face to face and then the two were pinned together.

Indi then cut the floral fabric by tracing around the owl shape.

At this point I decided she was probably ready for a quick sewing machine lesson so I got out my old Bernina, saved for exactly this moment, and set it up.

I showed her the basics and then drew a whole lot of squiggly lines on some fabric which she traced using the machine. She got it so quickly and was dying to make something.

She then machine sewed around the line of the owl print that could be seen from the wrong side. Obviously this seam could also be hand sewn.

I marked a big line on the fabric for where she had to stop sewing. A gap between the start of the seam and the end has to be left for turning the right way out and stuffing. The gap was about eight or ten centimetres wide.


She then pushed the owl through that space we left in the stitching to turn it the right way out. She used the wrong side of a texta to press into the ears to push them right out into shape.


And then she stuffed him with enough stuffing to give him a good shape but not too full or he wouldn't be cuddly.

I forgot to take a photo of the seam she sewed to close him up. Obviously there are ways to do invisible, neat closing seams, but as we were in need of a quick finish at this point in time she just machine sewed along the outside.

Then, assuming we had finished, I left her to go and make a call and when I got back she was accessorising her owl by sewing him a scarf.

What fun!
Tomorrow she wants to make a bag.

32 comments:

  1. so cute! i like the stuffing hanging out photo the best....and the scarf :-)

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  2. Go, Indi-Go! Great work.
    Talk about a chip off the (no so) old block.
    xx

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  3. Oh, Indi, you are so clever. I love your owl. He has such an adorable face. he looks wise and cute at the same time. A bit like you. And I love his scarf!

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  4. It's a very lovely owl ~ your little girl must be as talented as you are on the crafting front ~ I guess she has a very good teacher though!! :O)

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  5. That is the best owl ever! well done for having the patience. Hopefully this will be the start of a life-long love.

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  6. It seems you have a very talented seamstress at your house, well done Indi. I think he is very cute. You could even make some dangly legs to sew on the bottom too.

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  7. Indi, you can be proud of your sewing skills. I know many adults who cannot sew as well as you. Good on you. Cherrie

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  8. 100% adorable. What a wonderful softie. I am now inspired to give it a go myself. (Although I doubt I could make anything as cute at that sweet owl). Does he/she have a name?

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  9. Go Indi!!!
    I can't wait until my kids are old enough to learn how to use a sewing machine!!

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  10. Great work Indi!! If its as chilly down in Daylesford as what it has been here of course he needed a scarf!

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  11. Being involved in the creative act is learning. The expansion of the mind and spirit. It is without favour. So it does not matter what our creative endeavour, as long as we are engaged in 'the act of learning'. Being Involved in the creative act is being involved with the essence of life.Go creative and inspirational family

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  12. CUTE! Great craft for the holidays. Fantastic job for Miss Indi! xox

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  13. Dear Indi,
    Your owl is wonderful ! Do you think you will be making more? if you do make more could I please buy one from you? I collect toys and think that one of your owls would love to come and live with the toys in my sewing room.
    Let me know what you think.
    Cheers
    jodie

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  14. Oh that's a wonderful school holiday crafty thing to do! Indi is a natural too! It's fantastic - well done to the both of you.

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  15. A very lovely owl!! I hope my daughter wants to sew when she's 8! It looks like lots of fun :-)

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  16. And the cycle starts all again. Just magical!!! Bring on the bag!!

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  17. This is fabulous! I look so forward to doing this sort of thing with my daughter when she's old enough. What fun!

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  18. This is such a warm the cockles of the heart blog post! I totally love your little story of the owl and the enthusiasm and ability of Indie is fabulous. Well done!

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  19. What a clever girl! Th owl is super cute!

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  20. Your blog has me smiling from ear to ear, this is fantasic! I can't wait until my girlies are older and I can teach them to sew.

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  21. Very cool softie! Love that Bernina!

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  22. great project, I am very inspired :)

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