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It's not because we're cheap, it's because we care (what other people think)
Every time Ittybit is invited to a birthday party, when it comes to finding an appropriate present, I turn into a strange and sad version of the entity known as Competimommy.
The gift -- especially when you don't know a person and are trying to make friends -- becomes all important.
It can't be too loud, or take up too much room. It can't cost too many dollars or too few cents. It has to conform to a parenting style you may or may not espouse -- Attachment, Free Range, Conservative, Liberal, Waldorf, Licensed Character Friendly, Plastic Aversion, Barbie Is Killing Feminism -- lest the item wind up in the trash.
Silly, I know. It's just another thing that will inevitably take up space on yard sale table or gather dust under a bed.
Since the crafting virus has recently settled in, I've been thinking of ways to spread the germs. Birthday Parties seem perfect.
Handmade, after all, is kind of the new black; upcycling, the new salvage.
So, fresh off the success of felt crowns, and feeling a little smug about the boy’s Monster Pilla, for the most recent party we attended we made a …
HEY! MONSTER, WAKE UP! PILLOW
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
* A man's extra large sweater (I used something I found in the closet that resembled terry cloth but softer)
* Something small made of polar fleece that has pockets I used a child's-sized vest.
*Buttons
* Threads of matching color
* Embroidery floss
* Fabric scissors
* Fiberfil stuffing (Yes, I did gut a thrifted pillow)
* About 20 minutes with a sewing machine (or an hour with a needle and a beer)
WHAT YOU DON'T REALLY NEED (unless you are worried you will drive a nail in the coffin of the economy {causing terrorists to win} if you don't keep buying stuff) BUT MIGHT BE NICE.
*A small (tiny) travel alarm clock
WHAT YOU DO:
* Launder garments if they've been laying on the floor of your husband's side of the bed or the bottom of the kids' closets. For any length of time. Ever.
* Cut the backside of the men's sweater into a large rectangle.
* Cut the pocket (top side only) off the fleece.
* Fold the pillow material in half and eyeball where the middle is.
* Place the pocket in the spot where the middle seems to be and pin it to the pillow material.
* Unfold the pillow fabric and topstitch the pocket around three sides. Leave the top open (unless your monster happens to eats laterally or sub-mandibly (that's not a word).
* Sew on the eyes with embroidery floss. (You could alternatively use felt circles and blanket-stitch them to the pillow fabric).
* Refold pillow material (wrong-side out) and sew around three sides, leaving the last side open enough to jam in the stuffing.
* Turn right side out and stuff it (I've always wanted to say that).
* Turn open edges inward and whipstitch pillow closed.
* Wrap clock, slip into pocket. All you need to do after that is make a card and you're good to go.
The gift -- especially when you don't know a person and are trying to make friends -- becomes all important.
It can't be too loud, or take up too much room. It can't cost too many dollars or too few cents. It has to conform to a parenting style you may or may not espouse -- Attachment, Free Range, Conservative, Liberal, Waldorf, Licensed Character Friendly, Plastic Aversion, Barbie Is Killing Feminism -- lest the item wind up in the trash.
Silly, I know. It's just another thing that will inevitably take up space on yard sale table or gather dust under a bed.
Since the crafting virus has recently settled in, I've been thinking of ways to spread the germs. Birthday Parties seem perfect.
Handmade, after all, is kind of the new black; upcycling, the new salvage.
So, fresh off the success of felt crowns, and feeling a little smug about the boy’s Monster Pilla, for the most recent party we attended we made a …
HEY! MONSTER, WAKE UP! PILLOW
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
* A man's extra large sweater (I used something I found in the closet that resembled terry cloth but softer)
* Something small made of polar fleece that has pockets I used a child's-sized vest.
*Buttons
* Threads of matching color
* Embroidery floss
* Fabric scissors
* Fiberfil stuffing (Yes, I did gut a thrifted pillow)
* About 20 minutes with a sewing machine (or an hour with a needle and a beer)
WHAT YOU DON'T REALLY NEED (unless you are worried you will drive a nail in the coffin of the economy {causing terrorists to win} if you don't keep buying stuff) BUT MIGHT BE NICE.
*A small (tiny) travel alarm clock
WHAT YOU DO:
* Launder garments if they've been laying on the floor of your husband's side of the bed or the bottom of the kids' closets. For any length of time. Ever.
* Cut the backside of the men's sweater into a large rectangle.
* Cut the pocket (top side only) off the fleece.
* Fold the pillow material in half and eyeball where the middle is.
* Place the pocket in the spot where the middle seems to be and pin it to the pillow material.
* Unfold the pillow fabric and topstitch the pocket around three sides. Leave the top open (unless your monster happens to eats laterally or sub-mandibly (that's not a word).
* Sew on the eyes with embroidery floss. (You could alternatively use felt circles and blanket-stitch them to the pillow fabric).
* Refold pillow material (wrong-side out) and sew around three sides, leaving the last side open enough to jam in the stuffing.
* Turn right side out and stuff it (I've always wanted to say that).
* Turn open edges inward and whipstitch pillow closed.
* Wrap clock, slip into pocket. All you need to do after that is make a card and you're good to go.
posted by toyfoto at
7:27 AM
3 Comments:
I love it!
I think Barbie's legs sticking out from the monster's mouth would have been a nice touch.
I like the way Anonymous thinks. That will be the craft for the kid whose parents I do know. When (and if) my skills get better I think a King Kong/Fay Wray tribute pillow is in order.
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