A few months ago O drew this portrait of her baby sister. I loved it so much that I wanted to do something to preserve it (she drew it on lined notebook paper). After thinking about it for a few days, I realized it would make the perfect softie!
I traced around O's drawing with an iron-on transfer pencil (I have no idea where to find these pencils. I have looked and looked, and the only one I could find was in my mom's old sewing stuff, so it is probably 30 years old). I ironed the drawing onto a piece of cotton fabric. Then I embroidered along the lines using the backstitch. This was simple and fast to do, and O was VERY proud.
After I finished the embroidery, I cut out the fabric along with a same sized piece for the back of the softie. I pinned them right side to right side, sewed them, and left a small opening for turning. After I turned the softie right side out, I stuffed it, and my mom sewed the small opening closed. Done!
O stared it for a while and wondered why she didn't give baby sister a nose or a neck :) I'm looking forward to making more softies from the girls' drawings. I'd also love to make pillows using their drawings (which would make a great gift for grandparents).
Edit to add: I photocopied O's drawing 1st...I didn't ruin it by tracing over it with the iron-on pencil. The actual drawing is framed downstairs in the kids' art area and is hung low on the wall at their eye level.
This is so adorable - love the idea! Would be fun to see how they evolve over time!
ReplyDeleteI love this! What a great way to preserve an early drawing. I may have to dust off that sewing machine!
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant idea.
ReplyDeleteYou just inspired me! I have been looking for all the pics my kids have drawn of their father through the years for Father's Day. I also have been saving all his old plaid shirts. I am wondering if I have enough ambition to make a patchwork pillow, wallhanging or quilt combining your idea and his shirts. I love your idea. Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI did a quick version of this a week or so ago. I gave the kids some squares of muslin and a few permanent markers and let them draw on the fabric. Then I stitched it up to make stuffed animals. Turned out cute and the kids love them. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing idea! I'd need to learn how to cross stitch first. Could u please show a picture of what your end result was
ReplyDeleteI believe your basic school pencil will transfer with a hot iron -- and lots of b/w copies from a home printer will, too. The advantage to the printer is using a scanner to put it in and manipulating (like reverse image) the picture until it's exactly what you want. Try it!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome idea!
ReplyDeleteYou can find hot iron transfer pencils at A.C. Moore or any sewing/notions store. They are hard to find, but look for a brick red/brown pencil hanging. They are sold in cardboard bubble packs like pens come in and A.C. Moore keeps theirs in one of 2 places - next to the embroidery floss or with their sewing notions. It just depends on the location.
Waterdreamer- The 2nd picture shows the finished softie :)
ReplyDeleteThat is SO sweet! What an amazing idea!
ReplyDeleteVery cute idea :)
ReplyDeleteJoAnn's carries the pencils:
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?CATID=cat3423&PRODID=prd11597
Very cute idea :)
ReplyDeleteJoAnn's carries the pencils:
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?CATID=cat3423&PRODID=prd11597