Penguin Hoodie DIY

I got the idea for this hoodie from a shirt I saw, and decided to make a hoodie. I got the hoodie for $9 at hobby lobby and the fabric for $4 at Walmart. I would recommend washing the hoodie before you do the DIY part. Also, I would recommend trying on the hoodie in EVERY step before sewing anything down. Anyway, on to the tutorial.
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Things you'll need:
-A black hoodie
-white fabric of some sort (I used felt)
-orange felt
-black felt
-pink ribbon (optional, see step 4)
-a large safety pin
-needle&thread, scissors
(also,  having a carpet floor is pretty necessary for this project. like, really necessary.)
Step 1.lay your hoodie down on the floor and pin down. This is why having carpet is really helpful. When you pin down the bottom waistbandish-thingy, stretch it so it doesn't scrunch anymore. this will make everything easier. Lay your white fabric (mine is felt) out and pin in an approx. penguin shape. you can either guess the shape, or you can look at a picture.

Step 2.

Once you have the shape you like and you have it pinned, cut about a 1/2 inch bigger than the shape. This just gives you room to work with, and even though I ended up cutting another inch off, it's always better to start out bigger and get smaller than to not have enough. Then pin your shape down and sew. Then feel for where the pocket is, cut that fabric out and sew onto the pocket. this may sound confusing, but when you have your hoodie in front of you, it should make sense. 

here's a close-up of the hoodie pocket. Here you can really see the detail, and also what kind of stitch I used. I used this stitch on everything except the bow.

Step 3.

Cut out oval-ish eyes from the black felt and a triangle from the orange felt, used as eyes and a beak. Figure out where you want them on your hoodie, then pin them on and sew. 

                                        

Step 4. (optional, only of you want an adorable bow)

With your pink ribbon, fold, gather and sew to make a bow. I can't explain exactly how to do it, but if you don't know how, you can probably find instructions online somewhere. 

this next picture shows how to attach the safety pin. Sew it onto the bow on the side that DOESN"T open: this will leave the opening side free to pin to the hoodie.

 Step 5.
After you wash the hoodie again, pin the bow onto the penguin's head. I pinned the hood's drawstrings into the pin too, it keeps them out of the way and looks really cute. Then go wear it!

good luck making your own penguin hoodie!

IT'S DONE! (big grin)

What is, my precious? The mystery project? Yes precioussssss, yes. We're very smart, very witty, we knows it's done!
Da da da.....

IT'S THE FELLOWSHIP CLOAK!!!!!

So for the instructions, I used the amazing and wonderful and detailed instructions over at alleycatscratch.com (acs) and if you're making one too, I suggest using their website. It's probably the best you'll find. For the fabric, I used a $3 per yard stretch knit from walmart (of all places! but really, their sewing dept. rocks) which is a lovely silvery-grey color. It shimmers when it is moved or the wind blows it. For the clasp, I ordered a lg hook&eye closure from ward's 5&10 online store (the only place I could find the right kind of clasp mentioned at acs.)

I basically just followed their instructions, and it turned out wonderful. The only thing is, if you're using an old bed sheet to make a pattern with like they suggest, DON'T USE A FITTED SHEET. And yes, I speak from experience. The elastic gets in the way and sorta defeats the purpose of a pattern. Anywho, it turned out fine so that's what matters.

Another thing. I got the leaf clasp off eBay for $6 and it's really good quality. Don't buy the plastic ones, they look cheap and cost as much as mine, which is completely metal with shiny green enamel and silver metal veins. So ya, just look till you find a good-quality pin. The leaf just pins over the closure, so no stress is out on it.

So I'm totally wearing this for halloween. I have a whole Frodo costume put together, but I won't reveal that until the official dress-like-a-character-from-The Lord of the Rings-without-getting-weird-looks day......... Er, I mean halloween. But hey, basically the same thing, right?

:)

Sooooo me. Lol.

iPhone 4!!!

So I didn't make cupcakes this week, I really just didn't have much time. But I got my iPhone!!! It's an iPhone 4 in white. It's awesome. I've already figured out how to do a ton of stuff on it, including writing and posting to this blog! Apple has a blogger app for iPhone / iPad users, so that's how you can so it. I suppose you could also just use the safari as well.
Oh and needless to say, now that I have unlimited texting, I'm officially a texting addict. Welcome to the club of texting addicts :)
I'm currently trying to find a good yet cheap case for it, because I know how clumsy I can be. I am taking good care of it though... after all, it is my preciousssss. Ok not really, but I couldn't resist.

today's (ACHOO-SNIFFL-COUGH) post

as you can tell from the title, i have a cold. not a horrible one, just an average energy-drainer. so on Sunday, i had my first ECIYO practice, which was reaallly hard. not impossible, but almost. and as soon as that was done, i headed off to my first chamber orchestra rehearsal for my hs' Ragtime! production. that went better, but i'm looking forward to both groups' next practices. it was just, i was totally drained by the time the day was over. it felt like a day of ISYM. lol.

also, i'm learning how to play Brielle by Sky Sailing on my uke. Sky Sailing is a old project by Adam Young, along with Port Blue. Eventually, he dropped these and created Owl City, which is how we know him now. Brielle is one of these songs written in that time. in case you didn't know, i LOVE Owl City. alot. i'm trying to convince one of my friends to play the ukulele too, because the arrangement i'm inventing needs 2. and there's practically no uke covers of Brielle on youtube.

Owl City is one of my favorite bands. Adam is a Christian, and his cover of In Christ Alone is amazing. like, seriously phenomenal. really. especially if you hear his story behind it.

Cupcakes #2!!!!!

so i got the second cupcake project done from my book, Planet Cake. for the antennae, i used spaghetti noodles since i have nooo clue what mung bean noodles are. or where to find them, for that matter. anyway here's a couple pics:

dragonflies!!!!! everybody loves dragonflies. they're so cute and sparkly. like, their wings sparkle when they land on your finger, because they are so metallic and all. so i loved this project. i did realize though, that you're supposed to use a whole heart for the wings on each side of the body.....but oh well. i don't think anyone will notice =)

lol, preciousss

the moment when you get a Barnes&Noble email, and you get a silly happy grin all over your face, because they called "The Hobbit" a top pick book.
and your day is made.