Cucicucicoo

Easy DIY Bat Ears Headband FREE Pattern and Tutorial

Lisa Neri — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 18:06:12 +0000

I just love easy handmade Halloween costumes, so I try to make a new one (or part of one) each year. Last year I shared my easy DIY bat wings tutorial and free pattern and this year I’ve got the matching easy DIY bat ears headband tutorial and free pattern for you!

Cucicucicoo is mainly a sewing blog, but I wanted to make this a “quick and easy satisfaction” project, so they are no-sew, opting instead for the glue gun to put it together.

Want a few more reasons why this is the best bat ears tutorial? Well, here they are:

the hidden wire inside allows you to model and curve the ears to a more natural or interesting shape,
because it’s a no-sew project, you can make these from start to finish in 10 minutes or less,
there is a free pattern for the bat ears, but you could very easily modify it to create ears for any animal or creature, making this tutorial perfect for a myriad of Halloween and cosplay costumes!

So, are you ready to get started making your DIY bat ears headband? Great! Either watch the video below (or here on YouTube) or just continue to read below!

Materials for the DIY bat ears headband

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a 22 x 30 cm (8 x 12”) piece of black felt*
my FREE downloadable pattern (Sign up for my FREE newsletter to get the free downloadable bat ears template!)
a plain headband* (black, if possible, but not necessary)
straight pins*
fabric scissors*
regular scissors*
florist or craft wire*
needle nose jewelry pliers*
glue gun*

(My free patterns are available to all Cucicucicoo Newsletter subscribers. The Newsletter is usually sent out every two weeks (or sometimes less frequently) and you can unsubscribe whenever you want. Sign up for the Newsletter here for access to dozens of free downloads, templates and patterns! If you are already subscribed, just look at the bottom of the last Newsletter you received for the link and password.)

GET THE FREE PATTERN!
Sign up for the Cucicucicoo Newsletter. You’ll receive an email with a link to click to confirm your subscription. After you click it, you will receive another email with the link and password to the private area with the free downloads.
If you’re already subscribed, click on this link and insert the password. You can find the password in your Newsletter welcome e-mail or at the bottom of any Cucicucicoo Newsletter. If you still cannot find the password, put your email address in this form and you’ll receive an email with the current password.

(If you’d prefer receiving the free pattern and newsletter in Italian, just sign up here instead!)

How to make an easy DIY bat ears headband

I only had white headbands, so I covered them with felt to match the ears. If your headband is already black, you can skip directly to the “Make the bat ears” section further down.

Cover the headband with felt

1. Measure around the headband with a flexible measuring tape. (picture A) Then measure the distance from one end to the other. Mine was 2.5 cm around and 36.5 cm long.

2. Cut out a strip from the same black fabric as the ears. The width should be the same as the measurement around the headband while the length should be about 2 centimeters longer than the headband length. Thus, my strip measured 2.5 cm wide and 39 cm long. (picture B)

3. Heat up the glue gun and put a little bit of glue on the top of the headband at one end. Center one end of the felt strip over the glue, making sure that the edge goes about 1 cm beyond the end of the headband. Press the strip down with your fingers.

4. Continue to add glue to the top of the headband, bit by bit, and press the felt down on to it. (pictures C and D)

5. Now put a little bit of glue on the bottom of the headband at one end (picture E) and fold the long edges of felt inwards so that they meet at the center. (picture F)

6. Continue like this, bit by bit, for the entire length of the headband. Be careful not to burn your fingers on the hot glue!

7. There will still be some extra fabric that goes over the ends of the headband. (picture G) If one or both ends are excessively long, just trim them down so that there’s no more than 1 cm extra. I had to trim the side that you can see on the right.

8. Place a dot of glue at the very end of the bottom of the headband, on top of the folded felt (picture H) and fold the end of felt over towards the inside. If you want, you can put a clip over it to keep it pressed down while it dries.

9. Now your headband is all covered and ready to get ears added to it! (picture I)

Make and attach the bat ears

10. Print the pattern without re-sizing it (at 100% size) and cut it out along the line with craft scissors.

11. Fold the felt in half and pin the pattern on it (picture J). Then cut the fabric around the pattern (picture K).

12. Unpin the fabric and separate the two layers so that you have two mirrored pieces. (picture L)

13. Use the craft pliers to bend over the tip of the florist’s wire (picture M), then squeeze tight to press the tip together.

14. Bend the wire so that it goes around the inside edge of the ear, starting from a couple of centimeters beyond the center part between the two halves. When you get 2 cm beyond the center on the other edge, cut the wire with craft scissors and fold the tip over with pliers, as in step 13. (picture N)

It was difficult for me to get still images of this step. If you don’t quite understand, you can watch this part of the video tutorial on YouTube, starting from minute 7:41, to get a better idea of how to do it.

15. Position the headband over the wires going through the center part of the felt. The fabric needs to be a little bit down from the top center with the wider curve downwards. (See picture O to get an idea of how.)

16. Bend the wire ends around the headband. (pictures O and P)

17. I forgot to get a photo of this step, but it’s quite easy. Use the glue gun to put glue over all the wire, including the ends twisted around the headband. Then fold the bottom half of the ear up so that the edges match with the top half and press them together well so that they’ll stick together. (picture Q)

18. Repeat steps 13-17 with the other ear, remembering to position it mirrored, with the bigger curve downwards. (picture R)

19. There are your bat ears! (picture S) Check the edges of the two ears; if there are parts where the glue inside is relatively far from the cut edges so that the two layers separate and open easily, put a small dot of hot glue between the layers and press the edges together. Be careful not to let the glue squeeze out from the inside!

20. Most likely the edges of the felt ears will be a big ragged or won’t match up perfectly in every point. If so, use fabric scissors to trim the edges to a smooth edge. (picture T)

21. You can wear your DIY bat ears headband like that or you can make them more realistic by bending the inside wire with your fingers in order to form more natural curves and cupped shapes. (pictures U and V)

And you’re done!

Wasn’t that so quick and easy? And it really makes a bat costume so much more complete and fun!

I created this pattern in the shape of a typical bat ear (although the shape can vary greatly according to bat species), but you can easily modify it to make any animal ear! I’ve already been thinking about making these into cat ears, but it would be really simple to make them smaller and at a different angle for Batman ears or circles for Mickey Mouse ears! There are also so many other characters with ears in the world of comics and video games that you could do this with if you love cosplay! What type of ears would you make?

Check out these great Halloween tutorials!

How to make easy DIY bat wings for Halloween (free sewing pattern)

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How to Make a Vampire Cape with a Stand Up Collar

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Easy DIY Bat Ears Headband FREE Pattern and Tutorial

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How to Sew a Witch Cape with a Rectangle of Fabric in 1 Hour

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60 Easy DIY Halloween Costumes for Teens and Kids

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10 Reasons to make your own costume

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Make a DIY Minion costume from Despicable Me

Everyone loves the Minions from the Despicable Me world! Learn how to repurpose materials to create your own DIY Minion costume!

Despicable Me costumes: Lucy Wilde's wig and accessories

Another beloved Despicable Me character is Gru's love interest, Lucy Wilde. But you can't dress up as her without her signature hairstyle and detective accessories!

Despicable Me costumes: Lucy Wilde's scarf and coat

Any Lucy Wilde costume also needs her fabulous teal trenchcoat and polka dot scarf! See how to make the scarf and my very hit-or-miss technique to creating the coat!

Do you want all the new sewing techniques and cool modern craft projects, in addition to this DIY bat ears headband FREE pattern? Then sign up for the Cucicucicoo Newsletter here for access to dozens of free printables!

Click here to save this project on Pinterest!

The post Easy DIY Bat Ears Headband FREE Pattern and Tutorial appeared first on Cucicucicoo.

28 Best unique gifts for sewing friends in 2024

Lisa Neri — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 21:25:06 +0000

The holiday season is upon us and I’m sure some of you sometimes find yourself wondering what to give sewing enthusiast friends, right? Well, don’t worry because I’ve come up with the 28 best unique gifts for sewing friends that you can order online or download for free!

The best thing is that these gifts are special, one-of-a-kind items, so you don’t need any technical knowledge to choose a sewing tool, nor do you risk getting your sewist buddy something that she already has! Check out these perfect gifts for sewing enthusiasts, including jewelry, clothing, personalized sewing accessories, drinkware, sewing room decor and other great sewing-themed gifts!

Or, if your well-meaning family members never know what to get you, you could “accidentally” leave this page open for them to see so that they’ll get you exactly what you want this year!

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Fantastic jewelry for sewists

Sewing machine and scissors necklace

I bought this necklace a few months ago and it's become one of my favorites! A suggestion: ask the maker to attach the chain with the scissors to the top of the sewing machine. This is what she did for me to help keep the sewing machine straight instead of letting it get pulled sideways.

Sewing machine and scissors earrings

These earrings are made by the same seller with the same pieces as the previous necklace. I think I'll be asking Santa for these this year to match my sewing necklace!

Sewing machine pocket watch style necklace

This is a watch and a necklace together in a fantastically vintage style! The pendant is shaped like an old-fashioned sewing machine with an embedded clock, hanging from a chain to be used either as a necklace or a pocket watch!

Photo Credit: www.etsy.com

Tiny silver scissors stud earrings

These are tiny, but absolutely adorable, stud earrings that show off your love for sewing, but also cutting into new fabric! Choose from different metal finishes.

Sewing pins earrings

These unique earrings are handmade in ceramic and silver to mimic the look of glass-headed sewing straight pins curved into the shape of hooked earrings! So simple, yet so elegant!

Sewing machine enamel pin

This beautiful enamel pin of a sewing machine would be a perfect addition to your favorite sewing friend's winter coat or bag!

Seamstress tarot card enamel pin

There should be a seamstress tarot card, right? What a funny and pretty pin to show your love for sewing! Definitely a conversation starter!

Clothing and Accessories

Funny sewing T-shirt

A funny and clever T-shirt design that is bound to get a laugh out of your sewing friends! Available in a range of colors.

Sewing and crafting novelty socks

Fun novelty socks are all the rage and these sewing-themed ones are perfect for crafty friends! Choose two designs out of the three shown (fabric shears, spools of thread or skeins of yarn) and have fun showing of your creator pride!

Sewer's hourly rate sweatshirt

For those of us who are sick of getting asked to hem other people's pants or do their mending! This should do the trick!

Specialty sewing tools

Personalized magnetic wooden box with embroidery scissors

Choose your favorite design and add your name to be cut into this beautiful wooden box with a magnetic closure. Included are a pair of embroidery scissors in either the stork or European style. A gorgeous and very useful gift, especially for friends who take their sewing work on the go!

Wooden magnetic cat-shaped needle minder

Know someone who always loses her embroidery or hand sewing needle? This sweet snoozing cat will keep it safe for you!

Personalized seam ripper and stiletto 2 in 1 tool

We all know how important the seam ripper is, but the stiletto is also a fabulous tool when doing applique and quilting! But this lovely piece can be personalized with your name and is available in different covers and an elegant look.

Needle sorter pincushion for organizing sewing machine needles

Your sewing friends know that it's wasteful (and expensive) to throw out a sewing machine needle after every little project. This needle sorter does double duty: a pin cushion and a useful sorter to remember what type your partially-used needle is!

Sewer's drinkware

Funny sewing mug and coaster set

Every sewist knows this is true! Personalize the back of the mug with name and message and you can even choose to get a matching coaster!

Personalized Sewing Knowledge insulated tumbler or mug

Keep your drink cold or hot with this insulated tumbler covered in useful tables and diagrams of sewing machine information! Get your name printed on it for a special gift or choose a mug or other sizes of tumblers.

3D effect sewing machine mug

Hard to believe that what looks like a sculpted mug is actually a two-dimensional print on a standard mug! Very cool effect

Sewing daily affirmations mug

Believe in yourself and your love for sewing! A great way to start the day!

Wall art for sewing rooms

Personalized sewing room art print

Any sewist knows this to be true! Personalize the sewing machine with your favorite sewer's name and choose the style of frame, or just the print.

Vintage Embroidery Thread and Yarn Advert Art

These embroidery and yarn advertisements aren't prints, but true vintage pages from an old crochet book! They are one of a kind, so once they're gone, there won't be any more. They come already framed, so they're a perfect gift all ready to go!

Art print of sewing machine on antique book page

For the sewist who loves reading, this is a perfect gift! The print is directly on a page from an antique Encyclopedia Britannica. Perfect as sewing room decor!

Personalized tin sewing room rules sign

Choose between four designs and add your name to this cute sign that will remind all guests to your sewing room how to respect their host!

Free I'm Sew Happy Sewing Printables

If you're looking for a less expensive gift that you can give to ALL of your sewing buddies, this is a great option! Chelsea offers these files for FREE, so you can download them and print a different color for each of your friends!

5 Free Printable Sewing Posters {For Home & Classroom}

Just like your elementary school classroom had educational posters, so should your sewing area! These five posters are downloadable for free! If you want the high resolution files, just sign up for the free newsletter on the page. Print, frame and hang!

Sewing stickers

Cat on fabric vinyl stickers

Any lover of sewing and cats knows that our feline friends just love taking a nap on our fabric stash! These are such sweet stickers and waterproof, too!

Sewing machine with flowers vinyl sticker

These vinyl sewing machine stickers are waterproof and durable, so they're perfect for water bottles, cars and many other surfaces!

Other fun sewing goodies

Sewing machine USB Stick

Who doesn't need another USB pen drive? So why not get a cute one shaped like a sewing machine?! The brown hand wheel to the right pulls out with the USB stick embedded in it! Choose your favorite color and GB capacity.

Personalized sewing machine Christmas ornament

This ornament looks 3-dimensional, but it's actually a flat acrylic ornament. Add your name to the front for a fun way to celebrate Christmas!

Oh my gosh, I wish that ALL of the people on my holiday list were sewers so that I could get all of these cool gifts! I just might get one of two of these to put in my own stocking this year!

Don’t forget to sign up for the Cucicucicoo Newsletter here for access to dozens of free downloads, templates and patterns! The Newsletter is sent out every 2-3 weeks with lots of great creative projects, technique lessons and special deals just for subscribers!

Want to remember what are the best unique gifts for sewing friends? Then click here to save them on Pinterest!

The post 28 Best unique gifts for sewing friends in 2024 appeared first on Cucicucicoo.

How to make easy DIY bat wings for Halloween (free sewing pattern)

Lisa Neri — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 17:17:05 +0000

Are you looking for a homemade costume idea that’s not only spooky, but also versatile enough to be used for different Halloween or cosplay creatures? Well, look no further because I’ve got the ultimate solution for you! These easy DIY bat wings for Halloween are really simple to make with my free sewing pattern and you can even use them for other characters, such as dragons, vampires, demons, monsters and even superheroes!

Because this project uses non-fray fabric, there’s no need to finish off the edges, making it really quick to sew up!

Just slip your arms into the sleeve tubes and stretch out your wings! This is a really comfortable costume because you just wear it over your regular clothes. If you live in a cold climate, you could also make the sleeves extra wide in order to wear the wings over a jacket!

My easy DIY bat wings for Halloween have an extra detail that just makes it so much cooler: lines of ribbing fanning out towards the tips of the wings to resemble the bones in real bat wings! I came up with two different ways to create this effect, both of which are super simple.

How much fun is it to flap your wings and pretend that you are some other creature? This tutorial also explains how to draft your own wing pattern based on your personal measurements, so you can make your own wings that are longer or shorter, too.

You can also add some super quick and easy no-sew bat ears to complete the look! Check out my tutorial on YouTube here!

So, are you ready to whip up your own easy DIY bat wings for Halloween? Great! You can either watch the following video or continue reading below!

(Don’t get scared off by the length of the tutorial! It’s actually a really easy project, but the tutorial is long because I give a lot of detail so it’ll come out perfectly!)

Materials

Large piece of black non-fray fabric, such as spandex*, with 4-way stretch. This means that it can stretch both horizontally and vertically. You’ll need width at least the measurement from wrist to wrist and the length needs to be about the distance from your ear down to where you want the bottom tip of the wings to fall. For my sewing pattern, you need a piece that is at least 155 x 100 cm (61 x 40″)
My FREE pattern for easy bat wings, but ONLY if your measurements fit mine. See the “Preparing the pattern” section further down for more information about that. (My free patterns are available to all Cucicucicoo Newsletter subscribers. The Newsletter is sent out every two weeks and you can unsubscribe whenever you want. Sign up for the Newsletter here for access to dozens of free downloads, templates and patterns! If you are already subscribed, just look at the bottom of the last Newsletter you received for the link and password.)
Large piece of paper or newspaper (only if you are drafting your own pattern according to your measurements. More info in the “Preparing the pattern” section.)
Measuring tape* for taking your measurements
Ballpoint pins* (for stretch fabric)
Fabric shears*
Yardstick* or quilter’s ruler*
Tailor’s chalk*
Black polyester thread*
Size 90 stretch machine sewing needle*
double needle* for stretch fabric (optional – only for 2nd ribbing technique)

(If you’d prefer receiving the free pattern and newsletter in Italian, just sign up here instead!)

Preparing the easy DIY bat wings pattern

Now that you have all your sewing materials ready, let get the pattern ready. First you need to take 5 body measurements with the measuring tape*. Write them down as you go along in either centimeters or inches.

Take your measurements

Measurement A: Center back of the neck to the wrist (or wrist to wrist, divided by 2)
Measurement B: shoulder down to where you want the tip of the wings to fall. I suggest using the same measurement as A, but you can make the wings longer or shorter as you wish.
Measurement C: circumference of the wrist, divided by 2 (Don’t make it too tight. Leave a little extra space!)
Measurement D: armpit to the wrist, minus 5 cm (or 2″)
Measurement E: circumference of the widest part of the arm, divided by 2, and then plus 5 cm or 2″ (Again, leave some extra space.)

See if your measurements fit the free pattern

These are my personal measurements which I used to draft the free pattern:

Measurement A: 77 cm (30¼”)
Measurement B: 77 cm (30¼”)
Measurement C: 9.5 cm (3¾”)
Measurement D: 48 cm (19″)
Measurement E: 21 cm (8¼”)

If your measurements are pretty much the same as mine, great! That means you can use my free pattern without any problems! See the “Materials” section to find out where to download it. Then you can skip this next section on drafting a pattern and proceed directly to cutting and marking the fabric.

If your measurements are different from mine, you’ll have to draft your own bat wings pattern. But don’t worry– it isn’t difficult!

Draft a custom-fit wings pattern

Grab a big piece of paper (even newspaper is fine), a yardstick*, quilter’s ruler* or other long measuring device, and a pencil.

Draw a horizontal line near the top of the paper the length of Measurement A.
Draw a vertical line the length of Measurement B going down from the left end of Line A.
Draw a vertical line the length of Measurement C going up from the right end of Line A, then another in the same way, but going down from the right end of Line A. This way there’s one line twice the length of Measurement C at the right end of Line A.
Draw a horizontal line the length of Measurement D to the left of Line C. It doesn’t matter exactly where you make it because you will erase it later.

5. Draw a vertical line the length of Measurement E going up from Line A so that it touches the left edge of Line D.
6. Erase Line D and draw a straight line joining the tops of Lines E and C.
7. Draw a curved line joining the bottoms of Lines B and C.
8. Mark two points along this curve more or less equidistant from the bottoms of Lines B and C and from each other, thus forming three curved segments.

9. Draw upwards curves in each of the three segments, leaving the two marked points in place.
10. Make two marks along the left part of Line A, more or less equidistant from each other and from Lines B and E.
11. Draw straight lines from these two marks to the corresponding wing tips. (This is optional, but I like to do it because it really makes the pattern look like bat wings!)
12. Erase the right part of Line A. Then write “Fold” along the left side of the pattern.

Now cut out along the outside edge, and your self-drafted DIY bat wing pattern is all ready!

Sew easy DIY bat wings for Halloween

Cut and mark the fabric

1. Fold the black fabric in half, with the fold at the left side. Pin (with ballpoint pins*) the pattern on the fabric with the edge marked “Fold” along the fabric fold. (You can see that my pattern just barely fits horizontally onto this particular cut of fabric!)

2. Cut out the fabric around the pattern.

3. At the top of the pattern, stick a pin in the fabric fold and one in each of the two marks on the pattern.

4. Unpin and remove the pattern. Separate the two layers of fabric at the top and reposition the pins at the two marks so that there’s one pin in the top layer and another in the bottom layer, for a total of 5 pins at the top.

5. Unfold the fabric and lay it out with the right side up (if there is one). Make chalk markings at each of the five pins.

6. Draw a straight line with chalk from the center pin/marking down to the bottom center wing tip, along where the fabric had been folded.

7. Continue drawing straight lines with chalk from the other four pins/markings to their corresponding wing tips.

Sew the bone ribbing on the bat wings (two methods)

I just love the textured effect that the ribbing along the lines makes. The bat wings are much more realistic that way!

There are two ways in which you can sew these raised lines: with a zig zag stitch or with a double needle.

The double needle version is easier to sew and I personally prefer the look because it is raised enough to give that textured look without sticking out too much. If you’ve never used one, you can see my tutorial on how to sew knits with a double needle.

However, if you don’t have a double needle or don’t want to figure out how to use one, you can just use the zig-zag method. I suggest practicing first on a scrap of the black fabric you’re using before going for it on the actual wings.

Now I’ll show you (on scrap fabric, just as I suggested you do!) how to do each method.

Zig-zag stitch ribbing

Fold the fabric along the chalk line and pin in place with the fold towards the right. (If using a scrap piece of fabric, first draw a straight chalk line running down it.)

Set your machine to a zig zag stitch with stitch width 3 and stitch length 3. Position the top of the fabric under the presser foot so that the left part of the zig zag stitch is on the fabric and the right part goes just over the edge, off the fabric.

Sew down the whole line, remembering to backstitch at the beginning and end. I suggest not starting right at the very edge of the fabric, or it could get jammed up in the machine.

Double needle ribbing

When you sew with a double needle, the bobbin thread creates a zig zag between the two top threads, which is useful in sewing knit fabrics because it gives a straight stitch a bit of stretch that it wouldn’t normally have.

It’s generally a good idea to raise the top thread tension to give more stretch. However, the more you raise the tension, the tighter the bobbin thread gets pulled (see the bottom picture below), which creates a raised tunnel effect on the top of the fabric. Typically we want to avoid this effect in garment sewing, but we’re actually going to accentuate it in order to make visible bone ribbing on our wings! I love how this looks!

I definitely suggest you use a scrap piece of fabric to practice on first. Draw a straight chalk line running down it, then head to your sewing machine.

Set up your machine to use a double needle. (You can look at this post of mine to see how to do this.) Use a straight stitch with length 3 and tension 9. (This is much higher tension than you’d normally use, but it will create more accentuated ribbing!)

Position the top of the chalk line between the two needles. Sew down the whole line, remembering to backstitch at the beginning and end. I suggest not starting right at the very edge of the fabric, or it could get jammed up in the machine.

When you’re done sewing the five lines, remember to put the thread tension back to the usual 4-5.

Above you can see my wings before and after sewing the ribs with the double needle. I love using this chalk roller* because it creates a line that is dark enough to be visible, but light enough that it just flakes off as you sew over it.

Sew the sleeves on DIY bat wings

Now let’s add a sleeve casing so you can wear your easy DIY bat wings for Halloween!

Lay the fabric flat, wrong side up.

If you drafted your own pattern, remember that part of the very first horizontal line that you drew that you then erased? If you imagine it still being there, it would be were you can see the dashed red line in the picture below.

Fold the top of the fabric down along that imaginary line, wrong sides facing, matching the top and bottom of the very edge, so that the fold creates a straight line at the top of the fabric.

Pin along the long fabric edge as you can see above and repeat on the other side to form the second sleeve.

Set your sewing machine to a zig zag stitch with stitch width 3.5 and stitch length 3. Sew down the fabric edge, remembering to backstitch at the beginning and end.

Repeat on the other side, and your sleeve casings are ready!

In this picture of me wearing the wings, you can see how the zig zag creates a tube to slip your arm through. You can’t really notice it during normal use, only if you stretch out your arm so that the fabric falls perfectly straight.

Trim uneven edges

One last step! When cutting two layers of fabric, it can happen that the fabric shears don’t cut both layers evenly, leading to little bits of uneven, jagged fabric. The red arrows in the picture below show a few of the ones on my wings.

You can just leave them as they are if they don’t bother you. Otherwise, use fabric shears (the longer the better) to trim off the uneven bits.

Wear your easy DIY bat wings for Halloween

And now you are ready to put on your handmade bat costume!

Put on some black clothing and slip your arms through the sleeve openings. The stretchy fabric should go snugly around your arm, but not too tight or you might accidentally rip the seams when pulling it on. (This is why I said to leave some extra space when measuring your arms!)

And how much fun are these easy DIY bat wings for Halloween?! Remember that you don’t have to stick to just bats. This shape of wings is perfect for a fun DIY dragon costume, or perhaps a vampire or demon or other spooky monsters! But there are also superheroes and manga characters with this style of wings, like Batman! There are so many possibilities, especially because this design is so easy to modify according to what costume you want to create!

And don’t forget to add the cherry on top of your handmade bat costume with these fabulously simple DIY bat ears! You don’t even need to sew to make them and, thanks to a hidden trick, you can bend them into the position that you like the most! These can also be easily modified to create other ear shapes, too. You can find the free pattern in the same place as this wings pattern (see the “Materials” section above) and watch the following video to learn how!

Want to make some other awesome handmade costumes for Halloween or cosplay? These are two of my most popular ones which you can design according to your personal body measurements:

Do you want all the new sewing techniques and cool modern sewing projects, in addition to the FREE pattern for these easy DIY bat wings for Halloween? Then sign up for the Cucicucicoo Newsletter here for access to dozens of free printables!

And if you want to remember this project for the future, click here to save it on Pinterest!

The post How to make easy DIY bat wings for Halloween (free sewing pattern) appeared first on Cucicucicoo.

Best Pajama Pant Pattern for Kids: Evening Primrose PJ Pants Sewing Pattern

Lisa Neri — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 06:52:33 +0000

Back in 2015 I published my first sewing pattern with sizes, the Evening Primrose Pajama Pants for women. Over and over, people told me what I already knew to be true: it’s the best pajama pant pattern out there because of the comfort and versatility of the pants, but also because of how easy they are to make, even for beginners.

Now, after 8 years, I’m so happy to announce that I’ve finally published the children’s version! Let me introduce you to the Evening Primrose PJ Pants for Kids!

Why is this the best pajama pant pattern?

6 sizes

From about ages 2 to 12, this pattern has boys and girls of all shapes and sizes covered! Measure around the widest part of the child’s hips and choose the size from the size chart. If the hip measurement is wider than size 12, I suggest using the Evening Primrose Pajama Pants for women instead. (It’s fine for males, too, don’t worry!)

3 lengths for all season wear

Currently, this hot summer, I’m only wearing the shorts version of my Evening Primrose PJs. In a month or so, when it starts getting cooler at night, I’ll transition to the ¾ length for just a little extra coverage. Then in the full-blown fall, I start wearing my full-length PJs.

I generally sew my Evening Primroses from thrifted bedsheets (I just love vintage prints!), but when the coldest months arrive, I wear full-length ones sewn from flannel (yardage or sheets) or even fleece. They’re so snuggly and warm!

Waistband options

The Evening Primrose PJ pants for kids features a comfortable high waist (as opposed to the low waist of the women’s version), but both have two possible waistband options: elastic or drawstring. I personally prefer elastic, but I know plenty of people love drawstring! Which do you prefer?

With or without pockets

Pockets are another of those really personal things. Some people hate the extra bulk of pockets (like my sister!), whereas other people (like myself) hate NOT having pockets to stick a hanky or whatever else in, or just to put your hands in for comfort.

So easy to sew!

These PJ pants are an easy and fast sewing project, perfect for beginners! You don’t need to know any complicated techniques, just the basics. If you don’t feel confident with the basics, sign up for my 2-week “Zero to Hero” sewing challenge, which will teach you everything you need to sew a pair of pajama pants at the end!

The sewing pattern includes full instructions with clear illustrations for each step, but you can also watch the following video of mine to see how to sew a simple pair of Evening Primrose Pajama Pants (with elastic waistband and without pockets).

Matching family pajamas

I have seen so many adorable family photos for the holidays with the whole family wearing the same outfits, oftentimes pajamas. But even if you don’t want to pose for the camera, it’s so much fun to have matching PJs with your children! And I have you covered, because I made a special pattern bundle with both versions of the Evening Primrose Pajama Pants pattern, for children and women, 17 sizes at a special discounted price! What a bargain!

(By the way, even though the adult’s version is called “for women”, it’s also perfectly valid for males, too. My son is going through a growth spurt and grew out of the children’s sizes, so I sewed him some PJ pants from the women’s version. He loves them! I’m going to make some for my husband, too, with the same pattern.)

Soooo, what are you waiting for? Grab up your copy of the best pajama pant pattern in the world! I promise that you won’t regret it!

And hey, don’t forget to sign up for the Cucicucicoo Newsletter here for access to dozens of free downloads, templates and patterns! The Newsletter is sent out every 2-3 weeks with lots of great creative projects, technique lessons and special deals just for subscribers!

Not ready to sew this now, but want to remember which is the best pajama pant pattern for future sewing? Click here to Pin it on Pinterest!

The post Best Pajama Pant Pattern for Kids: Evening Primrose PJ Pants Sewing Pattern appeared first on Cucicucicoo.

How to String Chili Peppers to Dry (Sewing in the Kitchen)

Lisa Neri — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 08:10:36 +0000

Sewing is a super useful skill to have, but not only for making clothes or other fabric items. It can be used for other parts of life, for example gardening, because a very simple sewing technique can be incredibly useful for preserving your extra home-grown food! So today I’m going to show you how to string chili peppers on a thread to dry for future use!

In lots of cuisines, my Italian one included, spicy peppers are a must for flavoring meals, and every summer I grow chili pepper plants from the seeds of some of the ones from the previous year. The result? I always have lots of red pepper to use and give to friends!

With just a needle and thread, you can string and hang up spicy red peppers to dry and use throughout the year so that they won’t go to waste.

I also love how these peppers look when strung up! They look really cool on a string and give my kitchen a rustic look when hanging up.

So, do you want to find out how to string chili peppers in a really easy and quick way? Either watch the video below or keep reading for the full tutorial!

Materials needed

freshly picked red peppers, with the green cap still on
a hand sewing needle*
needle threader* (optional, if you have trouble threading the needle)
thread* (it can be any type, even a cheap one that isn’t good enough for machine sewing)
disposable latex gloves* (optional, but very useful to avoid getting spicy oils on your hands and then rubbing them on your face!)

How to string chili peppers

First, pick the red peppers from your plants that have a nice bright red color. Cut them off, leaving the green cap on the top.

2. Thread the needle, but don’t cut off a length of thread yet. Just leave it still attached to the spool.

3. Stick the needle through the center of the pepper’s green cap and push the pepper onto the thread.

4. Continue sticking the needle through the other peppers, pushing them down the thread towards the spool as you go.

*Tip #1: If you leave a longish thread tail, holding it double as you string the peppers, it will let you push the peppers down the thread more easily with fewer tangles. Then, as the thread fills up with peppers, pull the thread so as to shorten the tail and lengthen the usable space.

*Tip #2: To save time, try sticking the needle through 2-3 peppers at a time before pushing them all down together.

*Tip #3: If you have trouble sliding the peppers down without the thread tangling up, you can let out a length of thread between the peppers and the spool, cut it, and thread more peppers from that end.

5. Once you’ve strung all the peppers onto the thread, cut the thread off of the spool, trim the thread ends if they’re really long, and tie the ends together with a double knot.

6. Hang the peppers up to dry. (It’ll probably take 2-3 months.) I like to hang mine from a light fixture in my kitchen, near a window, for a rustic look, but you can also just hang them from a bookshelf edge or from a nail in the wall.

What to do with dried chili peppers

Here you can see the difference in fresh and dried chili peppers. The ones in this picture have been hanging for about 2 years (I had so many that I didn’t need these ones, so I just left them hanging.), so they are a bit light in color, but this is normal.

Once your peppers have dried, you can use them in different ways. For example, you can just break one in half and put it in the pan of whatever you’re cooking. Another way is to put them in a food processor to grind up into red pepper flakes.

My favorite way, though, is to make the typical “olio santo” of southern Italy, a spicy oil that you can drizzle directly on the food in your plate. Read about how to make this spicy oil in my post! (link coming soon!)

If you liked this tutorial on how to string chili peppers to dry, make sure you check out my other gardening ideas! And of course, click to save the project on Pinterest!

The post How to String Chili Peppers to Dry (Sewing in the Kitchen) appeared first on Cucicucicoo.

How to Make a DIY Denim Banner from Upcycled Jeans

Lisa Neri — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 08:41:45 +0000

After a long hiatus from publishing new tutorials, I’m back with a new sewing project that’s perfect for beginners, especially those who love repurposing! So take out all your ripped, worn out or stained jeans and make a DIY denim banner with them!

I love refashioning and mending jeans to get more life out of them, but sometimes you just can’t repair them anymore. And that’s when it’s a great idea to make an upcycled banner from them because you can cut out the salvagable fabric from them!

(Here you can see that I used, among others, my jeans with creative circle patches and my very old DIY maternity pants.)

When you use different pairs of jeans, your handmade denim banner makes a beautiful blue ombre effect that I just love! Isn’t that just so pretty?

(And it matches my circle skirt! Find out here how to sew your own circle skirt!)

I’ve sewn this upcycled banner a bit differently than my other DIY fabric banners so as to show off the white fringe that we all know and love in cut-off jeans! It’s such a unique look to fabric bunting, I love it!

So, are you ready to learn how to make a DIY denim banner from your old jeans? Let’s get started!

Materials to sew a DIY denim banner

Jeans (preferably different shades)
Double fold bias tape (I used 1/2″ [12.5 mm] double fold bias tape, which I made by folding over my handmade 1″ [25 mm] single fold bias tape. You can buy the tape already made in a shop or click here to learn to make homemade bias tape yourself!)
Fabric shears*
Straight pins*
Jeans sewing needle* (you can use a size 100/16 regular universal needle*, too, but jeans needles are super sharp and sew through denim easily)
Gutermann Jeans thread* (obviously you can use other thread, but I love this one that perfectly matches pretty much any shade of jeans.)
Cereal box for the template shape to trace around
(optional) My “Celebrate!” Banner pattern (This project is just a simple rectangle, but the pattern has lots of different shapes and sizes of flags, as well as letters and symbols to applique on them for endless personalization!)

Make the banner flags from jeans

1. First prepare your pattern piece. I used the size M rectangular piece (with seam allowance) of my “Celebrate!” Banner pattern glued onto a piece of cereal box. (This makes it sturdier and easier to trace around.) You can use other shapes/sizes of that pattern, or just cut out a piece of cereal box 4¾ x 6¾” (12 x 16 cm). This includes the 3/8″ (1 cm) seam allowance used in this project.

2. Turn the pants leg inside out, right sides facing, and flatten it so that one seam is at the edge. Trace around the pattern piece so that the grainline arrow goes in the direction of the leg length, not the width. If you’re just using a regular rectangle piece without that arrow, the long sides should go down the leg length. (A above) I’ll explain why this is important later.

3. Pin the two layers of fabric together, then cut out along the lines. (B above)

4. Continue cutting like this until you have the number of banner flags desired.

5. With the fabric still pinned right sides facing, sew down the two long sides with a 3/8″ (1 cm) seam allowance. (C above)

6. Trim the seam allowances, turn the rectangle right sides out, and press flat. Then topstitch down one side, across the bottom and back up the other side. The seam allowance at the sides can be close to the side edges, but leave at least 3/8″ (1 cm) seam allowance at the bottom to allow a decent amount of fringe to come out. (D above)

7. Continue this way until you’ve prepared all your banner flags.

Sew the DIY denim banner

8. Cut the length of double fold bias tape that you’ll need. Calculate the number of flags by the top width of the flags and then add extra for hanging. I like long strips to hang for more versatility, so I usually add about 70 cm (28″) per side.

9. Fold one end of the bias tape right sides facing and sew 3/8″ (1 cm) from the short end. (F above)

10. Trim the seam allowance close to the stitching, then turn the bias tape right side out again, tucking the folds inside. (G above)

Repeat steps 9-10 with the other end of the bias tape.

11. Fold the length of bias tape in half and mark the center fold with a pin. Insert the unsewn top of the center flag inside the bias tape so that the center of the flag is at the pin. (H above)

12. Put a couple more pins in to keep the flag inside the bias tape. Insert another flag next to the center one and pin that in place, too. (I above)

13. Continue inserting the other flags, alternating different shades if possible, and pinning them in place. (J above, which shows after step 14, without pins)

14. Sew down the length of bias tape, from one end to the other, close to the open edges. Use a thread color that matches your bias tape. (K above, which also shows my Cucicucicoo tag sewn into the end of the bias tape)

15. Machine wash and dry the banner, then iron it flat. (L above) Now there’s a nice white fringe at the bottom edges!

And there’s your finished DIY denim banner made from your offcast jeans! What a wonderful way to reuse fabric that would’ve been otherwise thrown away!

Now you have a great excuse to throw a party, so you can hang up your new upcycled banner! Or you can be like me and keep it hanging on a wall all year round!

Denim fringe along vs. against the grain

I mentioned in step 2 that the position of the pattern piece on the jeans leg is important. Now I’ll show you why.

In the photo above, you can see two sewn denim flags. The one on the left was cut properly from the jeans, with the grain running down the length of the rectangle. On the other hand, I cut the one on the right sideways, with the grain running across the width of the rectangle.

You can already see here that the rectangle bottoms are fraying differently. On the left, some white threads are sticking out, while on the right, some blue threads are sticking out. This is due to the way denim fabric is woven.

I sewed the correct rectangle into my banner. Look how the fringe compares to the incorrectly cut rectangle before and after washing. The correct banner has a nice white fringe (red arrow), while the incorrect banner has grown a sort of stringy blue tail coming out of the bottom edge (blue arrow).

I much prefer the white fringe, but if you prefer the blue “tail”, by all means cut your pieces that way!

Have you gotten infected with fabric banner fever? Then go check out my “Celebrate!” Banner pattern, which has loads of options to create the perfect customized party banner for any occasion!

If you liked this tutorial on how to sew a DIY denim banner, check out the lessons that are part of the FREE Cucicucicoo Learn to Machine Sew beginner’s sewing course, which includes a whole section on sewing with bias tape! And don’t forget to share pictures of your work in the Cucicucicoo Creations Facebook group, or on Instagram or other social media with the hashtags #cucicucicoo or #cucicucicoopatterns!

Sign up here for the Cucicucicoo Newsletter for access to dozens of free downloads, templates and patterns! The Newsletter is sent out every week with lots of great ideas and links to a different free sewing pattern every week!

If you loved this DIY banner from jeans, click here to save the idea on Pinterest!

The post How to Make a DIY Denim Banner from Upcycled Jeans appeared first on Cucicucicoo.

How to Make Pumpkin Pie from Fresh Pumpkin and Milk

Lisa Neri — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 06:30:00 +0000

As an American expat living in Italy, I miss out all the specifically American holidays. I’ve been either vegetarian or nearly so for years, so missing out on Thanksgiving turkey doesn’t bother me. But pumpkin pie was another story! It’s usually impossible to find canned pumpkin puree and condensed milk over here, so years ago I decided to find out how to make pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkin and milk!

A few people had warned me that pumpkin pie just isn’t as good with fresh ingredients instead of canned. I honestly didn’t see how that could be true, so I started experimenting with ingredients that I can find in Italy: real pumpkin and fresh milk.

And surprise, surprise! Those people were WRONG, because my pumpkin pie is absolutely delicious!

It feels so good when I make pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkin and milk because I know the ingredients are good and healthy, unlike that creepy canned puree and condensed milk.

Add the all-natural filling to my grandmother’s recipe for pie crust, and you’ve got a winning recipe — literally!

Ready to learn how to make pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkin and milk? Keep on reading!

Print out this recipe!
Scroll down to the end of this post and click “Print”.

Ingredients

Pie crust: 9” (22-23 cm.)

2 cups (300 g.) sifted flour (I used 1/3 whole wheat flour and 2/3 regular white flour)
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. baking powder
¾ cup (170 g.) shortening (I use butter)
1/3 cup (80 ml.) cold water

Pumpin pie filling

2 eggs
2 cups (475ml, about 570 g.) fresh pumkin/squash puree – see the note about puree yields below
¼ cup (60 ml) milk (or light cream or half & half)
¾ cup (175 ml) sugar
1 Tb. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
¼ tsp. ground ginger
¼ tsp. ground allspice (I don’t use this because I can’t find it in Italy)

A note about pumpkin yields

Not all pumpkins are the same. In the United States, there’s one type of pumpkin and all other types are called “squash”, pumpkin being a type of squash. But other parts of the world don’t necessarily have this type.

The picture above shows an American pumpkin on the left and a portion of a Neapolitan (southern Italian) pumpkin on the right. I live near Naples, Italy, and I rarely find American pumpkins even at Halloween. When I do, they’re expensive and I only get them for Jack O’Lanterns.

The traditional pumpkin where I live is bigger and long, with a harder green outside and dark orange pulp. You only need a portion of this type of squash for any given recipe.

As for the amount of fresh pumpkin or squash you need, it really depends on the type and how much liquid it has. I’ve found that I need about 1¾ kg. (3¾ lbs.) typical Neapolitan squash, which lets out a lot of liquid upon cooking. It’s better to err on the side of having extra, so I suggest starting with 2 kg. (4 lbs.) of squash. If there is any puree left over, there are loads of yummy pumpkin cookies, breads or pastas you can use it for!

Make pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkin and milk

Prepare the fresh pumpkin puree

1. Cut off the pumpkin peel and cut the pulp into large chunks. Put them on a baking sheet and bake for about 1 hour at 175° C (350° F) until it is soft.

2. Puree the pumpkin, then let it sit to strain in a colander with a cheesecloth* under it. Put a container underneath to catch the liquid, which you can use later. (My favorite way is to cook rice in it.) I don’t actually have cheesecloth, so I just use a thin cloth napkin or other old table linen.

It takes about 1 hour for most of the liquid to strain out. At that point, I fold up the edges of the cloth and gently squeeze the bundle to get more liquid out. Then I put a plate with some heavy cans of food on top to push out extra liquid for another hour or two.

It depends on the type of pumpkin you use, but get ready to see it lose a LOT of liquid. Mine lost almost 1 liter (32 oz.) of liquid!

Once the pumpkin puree is done straining, turn on the oven to 190° C (375° F) and start preparing the crust and filling.

Prepare the crust

This is my grandmother’s recipe, which she copied from the newspaper in the 1950s or -60s. The original recipe name was “Bride’s All American Pie Crust”, though it’s unclear why it’s only for brides. I assume because it’s an easy, no-fail crust that even fledgling newbie wives can make.

3. Into a 1-quart (medium-sized) bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking powder.

4. Add shortening/butter all at once. Cut it into the flour with a pastry blender*. (Or, if you don’t have one, use a couple of knives held together.)

5. When the mixture looks flaky, carefully stir in water with a fork to make dough barely stick together.

6. Transfer to a slightly flowered pastry cloth* (or an old kitchen dish towel, if you’re me) and roll out lightly to a 1/8” thickness. Lightly rub a bit of flour over the top so it won’t stick, then fold the dough in half.

7. Transfer to the 9″ (22-23 cm) baking pan, push into place and mold the edges between your index and middle fingers and thumb, or push them down with fork tines to make a decorative border. Put the crust to the side.

If you have any leftover dough, roll it out again, cut into strips, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and bake until browned. I loved doing this with my mother when I was little! Another option is to cut out little leaf or other decorative shapes to put on the top of the pie when baking.

Prepare the pie filling

8. In a large bowl, beat eggs. Then beat in pumpkin puree and milk.

9. Stir in sugar, flour, vanilla, salt and spices.

10. Pour into the prepared pie crust. Cover the edges of the crust with strips of aluminum foil to avoid over-browning.

Bake the pie

11. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and continue to bake for another 40 minutes. You can tell that it is baked enough when a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. (You can see the mark left in the center of the pie seen below.)

Cool on a wire rack. Cover and refrigerate within 2 hours.

Take the pie out of the refrigerator about 15-30 minutes before serving so it isn’t cold.

I’m not sure why the edge of the filling always pulls away from the crust when it bakes, but I don’t really care because it’s delicious anyway!

Eat a slice of it plain or topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream!

It makes me so happy to be able to make pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkin so that I can celebrate an important American tradition in a healthy way!

I’d like to offer you a slice of it, but that’s just not going to work, so definitely try this recipe yourself!

Don’t forget to sign up for the Cucicucicoo Newsletter here for access to dozens of free downloads, templates and patterns! The Newsletter is sent out every week with lots of great ideas and links to a different free sewing pattern every week!

Click here to save this recipe to make pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkin on Pinterest!

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Pumpkin Pie with Fresh Pumpkin and Milk

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Straining Time: 2 hours

Baking Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 35 minutes

5.0 Stars (1 Review)

Ingredients

2 cups (300 g.) sifted flour (I used 1/3 whole wheat flour and 2/3 regular white flour)
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. baking powder
¾ cup (170 g.) shortening (I use butter)
1/3 (80 ml.) cup cold water
2 eggs
2 cups (475 ml, about 570 g. - I suggest starting with about 2 kg (4 lbs.) of fresh pumpkin to be on the safe side because you never know how much puree you'll end up with.)
¼ cup (60 ml) milk (or light cream or half & half)
¾ cup (175 ml) sugar
1 Tb. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
¼ tsp. ground ginger
¼ tsp. ground allspice

Instructions

Prepare the fresh pumpkin puree:

Cut off the pumpkin peel and cut the pulp into large chunks. Put them on a baking sheet and bake for about 1 hour at 175° C (350° F) until it is soft.
Puree the pumpkin, then let it sit to strain in a colander with a cheesecloth under it. Put a container underneath to catch the liquid, which you can use later. (My favorite way is to cook rice in it.) I don’t actually have cheesecloth, so I just use a thin cloth napkin or other old table linen.
It takes about 1 hour for most of the liquid to strain out. At that point, I fold up the edges of the cloth and gently squeeze the bundle to get more liquid out. Then I put a plate with some heavy cans of food on top to push out extra liquid for another hour or two.
Once the pumpkin puree is done straining, turn on the oven to 190° C (375° F) and start preparing the crust and filling.

Prepare the crust:

Into a 1-quart (medium-sized) bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Add shortening/butter all at once. Cut it into the flour with a pastry blender.
(Or, if you don’t have one, use a couple of knives held together.)
When the mixture looks flaky, carefully stir in water with a fork to make dough barely stick together. Transfer to a slightly flowered pastry cloth (or an old kitchen dish towel, if you’re me) and roll out lightly to a 1/8” thickness.
Lightly rub a bit of flour over the top so it won’t stick, then fold the dough in half. Transfer to the baking pan, push into place and mold the edges between your index and middle fingers and thumb, or push them down with fork tines to make a decorative border.
If you have any leftover dough, roll it out again, cut into strips, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and bake until browned. I loved doing this with my mother when I was little! Another option is to cut out little leaf or other decorative shapes to put on the top of the pie when baking.
Put crust to the side.

Prepare the pie filling and bake:

In a large bowl, beat eggs. Then beat in pumpkin puree and milk.
Stir in sugar, flour, vanilla, salt and spices.
Pour into the prepared pie crust. Cover the edges of the crust with strips of aluminum foil to avoid over-browning.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and continue to bake for another 40 minutes. You can tell that it is baked enough when a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool on a wire rack. Cover and refrigerate within 2 hours.
Take the pie out of the refrigerator about 15-30 minutes before serving so it isn’t cold.

Notes

The amount of fresh pumpkin or squash you need really depends on the type and how much liquid it has. I’ve found that I need about 1 ¾ kg. (3 ¾ lbs.) typical
Neapolitan squash, which lets out a lot of liquid upon cooking. It’s better to err on the side of having extra, so I suggest starting with 2 kg. (4 lbs.) of squash. If there is any left over, there is an abundance of yummy pumpkin cookies, breads or pastas you can use it for!

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The post How to Make Pumpkin Pie from Fresh Pumpkin and Milk appeared first on Cucicucicoo.

Autumn Cardigan Sewing Pattern Review: Laurelhurst and Drop Pocket

Lisa Neri — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 10:20:17 +0000

I always feel a little sad when it starts getting too chilly to wear my summery tops, so I usually continue wearing them well into the fall with cardigans over them. So I’m going to show you a couple of my favorite DIY cardis for you to make in today’s autumn cardigan sewing pattern review!

I actually sewed these a few years ago and also a few years apart (hence my different glasses) and just never ended up publishing them. But this way, after years of use, I can confirm that I love wearing all of them!

In this autumn cardigan sewing pattern review I will show you the Drop Pocket Cardigan by Jalie and the Laurelhurst by Straight Stitch Designs*.

Two autumn cardigan sewing pattern reviews

Drop Pocket Cardigan

The Drop Pocket Cardigan by Jalie has a really cool design featuring big pockets built into the bottom, with the front which folds into the pocket.

This interesting design is a wonderful way to show off contrasting fabrics. You can either use the contrast fabric for the inside (folding onto the outside of the pockets) as I did, or the front pieces.

The sleeves are snug, so you can only wear it over a sleeveless top or dress.

You must use fabric with a good amount of stretch. I used French Terry, which is just barely stretchy enough. I would like to make another one with regular jersey or perhaps a stretchier thick fabric, like a stretch velour.

Pros:

Unique style which showcases fabric colors and/or prints
Big pockets
You can use a variety of stretch fabrics
Instructions in English and French
PDF pattern download with home-printable file and large format copyshop version
There is an online tutorial with photos showing how to sew it.

Cons:

Jalie is a relatively big pattern company, so their instructions are like the other big companies: very concise, sometimes too much so. While most indie designer patterns have very clear, detailed instructions, Jalies’ instructions are sometimes a bit enigmatic and confusing to follow. However, in the case of this pattern, there is the online tutorial I linked to above which is very helpful.
The sleeves are quite tight, so you can’t layer it over T-shirts or long-sleeve shirts.
The front is not designed to close in front, so you can’t pull it closed if it suddenly gets chilly.

Overall, I really like this garment and definitely am considering making another. The last two cons I listed make it wearable for a shorter period of the year (the in-between seasons that tend to get shorter every year!). However I like that it allows me to wear tank tops to school before it closes for summer, so I like that.

Get the Drop Pocket Cardigan PDF pattern here!

Laurelhurst

I’ll start off with the fact that I love supporting independent pattern designers, and Kimberly from Straight Stitch Designs* is a a designer with a style I really like: simple garments with a unique touch.

At one point I saw Kimberly on Instagram wearing her Laurelhurst* in a gorgeous fuzzy looking fabric. It looked so snuggly and warm, I asked her what fabric it was, and I bought the exact same fabric (a textured boucle sweater knit in cream with black specks from StyleMaker Fabrics – and no, they don’t stock it anymore) and the pattern that same day.

The Laurenhurst is a pretty simple cardigan with a draped front. It looks fancy, but it’s really just a rectangle of fabric extending to the front. Very simple!

Also making it simple is that the edges are not finished off in this pattern because it calls for knit fabrics, which don’t fray.

There is also a detail behind the neck where the fabric folds inward to create a soft fold of fabric, which is more resistant than just a cut piece of fabric. It also helps shape a sort of faux-collar which leads to the draped front.

You can wear it so that it drapes down, but you can also cover your front with it if you get chilly. There are even have optional instructions on adding a buttonhole and button to hold the front closed. This, combined with the fact that the sleeves are wide enough to wear long sleeves under, makes it easier to use in chillier weather.

(And if you use a super snuggly sweater knit like I did, you can wear it throughout the winter, too!)

I always appreciate the swingy factor in a garment, too! Those big front panels are fun to play around with!

The Laurenhurst has two sleeve lengths, so I decided to make a warmer weather version with 3/4 sleeves and regular jersey knit.

This version is great to pop on over a tank top (here shown one of my Collette Sorbettos) in the summer when it starts getting cool at sundown.

From the back, the Laurelhurst looks like any normal top. But you get a nice surprise at the front!

I realized once I started cutting the pattern from this fabric that I wouldn’t be able to fit everything in the cut of fabric I had. So I cut the side panel in half, adding seam allowance to both pieces, and that way I was able to fit in the smaller pieces. I sewed them together and then sewed the rest as normal.

In the picture above (the inside of the cardigan) you can see the patched-together sides (under the sleeve holes) as well as the fold of fabric behind the neck.

Below you can see again the patched-together side and the extended front piece which drapes down.

Pros:

You can use a variety of stretch fabrics
Optional button closure in front
Raw edges – no hemming or edge finishing needed
Sleeves and style allowing for wearing long sleeves underneath
Support indie pattern designers
Contact information in case of questions (another reason why I love indie designers!)
PDF pattern download with home-printable file and large format copyshop version

Cons:

Raw edges. I know that I put that in the pros above, however I usually prefer finishing off my edges for a nicer look. There are, however, no indications on when/how to do so. This particularly bothered me with my sweater knit version because little bits of fabric pulled off the edges. I ended up just using a narrow hem setting with three threads on my overlock machine on all raw edges. However you need to do it at the right time. I finished the top edge off before folding the neck curve down, and finished off all the other edges when I was done sewing the garment.

Overall, I give this pattern two thumbs up. I like how easy it is to sew and how versatile for wearing according to the type of fabric used. I’ve already sewn two and consider sewing another.

Get the Laurelhurst PDF pattern here!

So, which one do you want to try first? The Drop Pocket Cardigan or the Laurelhurst*?

Click here to save this autumn cardigan sewing pattern review on Pinterest!

The post Autumn Cardigan Sewing Pattern Review: Laurelhurst and Drop Pocket appeared first on Cucicucicoo.

How to Make a Hooded Cape for a Child or Adult

Lisa Neri — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 06:30:00 +0000

I am a big fan of versatile Halloween costumes that can be used for different characters. This way we can get lots of use out of each piece and be creative in using them different ways. Today I’m going to show you how to make a hooded cape for a child or adult just by using your own body measurements!

I made this DIY hooded cape for my daughter a couple of years ago and she absolutely loves it, to the point where she sometimes dresses up and goes out with it even on days which are not traditionally “costume days”. She also wore it a few times during school video lessons in Covid lockdown last year. I always love it when my homemade creations are appreciated to the max!

One awesome thing about this hooded cloak is that you can use it in loads of ways! Dress up as a wizard, witch or superhero at Halloween or Carnival. Or, if you love cosplay, you can adapt it to your favorite character!

Don’t think it can only be black; consider all the colors of the rainbow! For example, sew this hooded cloak from red fabric for a perfect Little Red Riding Hood costume!

This cape is basically a circle (or two joined semicircles) of fabric with a simple hood attached. The circle shape is so swirly and fun to play in!

So, are you ready to learn how to make a hooded cape for a child or for and adult? Watch the following video or continue reading for the full tutorial!

Materials

Black fabric (I used satin lining fabric*. The exact amount depends on the length of your cape. I used 4 meters of 1 m wide fabric. Consider that you’ll need to cut out a circle with a roughly 2 meter radius. If your fabric, like mine, is narrower than that, you’ll have to cut out two semicircles and sew them together, like I show in this tutorial.
Flexible tape measure*
Tailor’s chalk (traditional white or white chalk roller*
Fabric scissors*
Pins*
Black polyester thread*
Size 80 universal machine sewing needle*
1 snap (I used a 25 mm [1”] hand sewn snap*
1 decorative button (optional, to cover stitches for snap)
Optional: my free circle skirt template. This helps mainly to make sure that your fabric is folded correctly at a 90° angle and to help you gauge the 1 cm (3/8″) seam allowance at the selvages if you need to join two semicircles, like I show. You can easily make this project without the template.

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How to make a hooded cape for a child or adult

Calculate measurements

Look at my notes below to understand these calculations.

First, measure loosely around your neck. In my daughter’s case it was 35 cm. Then measure the distance from the shoulder down to the point where you want the cape to go to. I wanted mine knee-length. For my daughter it was about 90 cm.

Divide the neck circumference by 6. This is a simplified equation to find the radius. In my case, 35/6 = 5.8333, which I rounded up to 6 cm. This is the number you’ll need for drafting the cloak neck opening.

Add that number to the cloak length you measured before, then add 1 cm (or 3/8″) for seam allowance. In my case, 6 + 90 + 1 = 97 cm. This is the number you’ll need for drafting the cloak hem.

The drawing at the bottom of the page above shows how we will cut the fabric with these measurements, which I’ll now explain.

Draft, cut & sew the DIY hooded cape

If your fabric is at least as wide that twice your second calculation (in my case, 97 x 2 = 194), you can directly cut out one circle. Fold the fabric in half once in each way so you have four layers of fabric with the two folds meeting at the top left corner. Then follow steps #1-5 just ONCE. You’ll have to then cut straight up one fold to open up the circle. Then skip to step # 8.

If your fabric is LESS wide than twice your second calculation, you will need to cut out two semicircles and join them, as I show in the tutorial.

1. Fold the fabric right sides facing so that the top layer is a little longer than your second calculation (in my case, 97 cm). Pin the fold and the selvages together so they don’t slip out of place.

If you want, you can position the circle skirt template (see the “Materials” section above to find out how to download it) at the top left corner to help make sure the fabric is folded correctly, but it’s completely optional. Notice I left 1 cm (3/8″) of space between the template and the selvages at the top (red arrows). This is to account for seam allowance.

2. Hold the zero of the tape measure at the top corner and mark your first measurement (neck opening radius, in my case 6 cm) with chalk. Hold the zero down as you swivel the tape measure from side to side, making marks every time you move it.

3. Join the marks made in step #2 with chalk to make a curve.

4. Repeat steps #2-3, but with the second measurement (in my case, 97 cm).

5. Keeping the fabric pinned, cut along the two lines.

6. Fold the large piece of fabric again like you did in step #1. Position the cut piece of fabric on it, matching the selvages together and the folds together. Pin all four layers together and cut out around the first piece.

Remove the pins and open up the pieces. You now have two semicircles.

7. Position one semicircle on the other, right sides facing. Match up one set of selvages and pin them together. Sew down with a 1 cm (3/8″) seam allowance. If you used the selvages, you don’t need to finish off the edges. If those edges are cut, you need to finish them off with a zig zag stitch or serger.

Draft, cut & sew the hood

8. Open up the cape piece and lay it flat. Measure around half the neck opening, from the center seam to the edge. Start with the zero at the center seam, and pivot the tape measure, holding each point in place with a finger. Half of mine measured 24 cm.

9. Add 1 cm (or 3/8″) to the measurement from step #8. (In my case, 24 +1 = 25 cm.) This will be the base of the hood piece.

10. Measure roughly from your shoulder to the top of your head. This can be a little tricky because the hood for a cape like this should be oversized. I found that 50 cm was a good amount. Add 1 cm (or 3/8″) to that measurement (in my case, 50 + 1 = 51 cm). This will be the side of the hood piece.

11. Draw a rectangle with the calculation from step #9 as the short side and the calculation from step #10 as the long side. Position a plate in the top left corner so that the top and left of the plate touch the sides of the rectangle. Trace around the plate for a perfect curve. Cut out the pattern piece.

12. Pin together two pieces of fabric, right sides facing. Pin the hood pattern on top of that and cut around it.

13. Sew from the top right corner to the left, around the curve, down to the bottom left corner with a 1 cm (3/8″) seam allowance. Finish off the raw edges with a zig zag stitch or serger.

Join the hood to the cape

14. Match the bottom center seam of the hood (the seam joining two short sides) up with the center seam of the cape neckline, right sides facing, and pin them together.

15. Moving from the center outwards, continue matching the edges of the hood to the cape neckline, pinning as you go. (top image above)

16. Sew along the pinned edges with a 1 cm (3/8″) seam allowance, then finish off the raw edges with a zig zag stitch or serger. (bottom image above)

When you lift up the hood, you should see a perfect cross of seams. (I love looking at perfectly matching seams!)

Now just for the finishing touches!

Finish the edges and add a button

17. Finish off the edges all around the entire cape and hood. I just serged all the edges, but you could also sew a zig zag stitch on the edges or fold the edges over twice and straight stitch them in place.

**Note: If you used the fabric selvages when cutting out the two semicircles of fabric, you really only have to finish off the hood opening and the bottom of the cloak, but I chose to finish off everything anyway for a more regular finished look.

18. Sew a snap at the base of the hood. (top picture above)

19. I suggest sewing a vintage or other decorative button over the stitches holding the snap in place so that it looks like a brooch. (bottom picture above)

Now try on your amazing new DIY hooded cape and work some magic!

You (or your child) will have so much fun swishing your arms around, watching the fabric spin and billow out around you!

Now that you know how to make a hooded cape for a child or adult, make another for the rest of the family! Or instead make a vampire cape with a stand up collar, as you can see in the picture below! Have lots of spooky family Halloween fun!

Click here to save this tutorial on how to make a hooded cape for a child or adult on Pinterest!

The post How to Make a Hooded Cape for a Child or Adult appeared first on Cucicucicoo.

25+ Autumn Sewing Patterns and Projects to Stay Cozy at Home

Lisa Neri — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 06:30:00 +0000

After the torrid summers we suffer through here in southern Italy, the arrival of autumn is always quite welcome! We look forward to snuggling down with a book, a blanket and a cup of tea, and all the other comforts of cooler weather. So today I have for you the best autumn sewing patterns and projects on the web to help you cozy up in home sweet home!

These fall sewing projects are great for beginners and advanced sewists alike and will help you enjoy the best of cool temperatures with your friends and family… or for some selfish me-time!

The best autumn sewing patterns & projects

DIY Braided Fleece Blanket Tutorial

Photo Credit: www.sewsimplehome.com

This braided fleece blanket is a perfect project for non-sewers because you braid the fabric instead of sewing it!

Coffee Cozy Pattern - Free Coffee Sleeve Template

Photo Credit: www.applegreencottage.com

Protect your fingers from hot mugs and cups with this coffee sleeve with a free template.

Upcycled Sweater Birds - PDF Sewing Pattern

Photo Credit: Fibers & Twigs

Bring nature indoors with these gorgeous upcycled sweater birds. Add them to a wreath, put them in a basket, or just let them hang out on a shelf.

How to Sew a Felted Wool Pillow with Leaf Appliqué

Download the free leaf template and sew an autumn cushion cover from felted wool sweaters.

Sew a weighted Harry Potter blanket

Photo Credit: Mama Smiles

Harry Potter fans will love the soothing effect of this weighted blanket.

DIY Upcycled Sweater Boots

Photo Credit: Trash to Couture

Cut up an old sweater and attach it to espadrille soles. Voilà, the comfiest sweater boots to wear around the house!

DIY floor pouf - free pattern

Photo Credit: Heather Handmade

Get super comfortable on the couch with this fabulous DIY floor pouf, which you can sew with a free pattern!

Women's fleece pajama pants

Use the Evening Primrose pattern to sew the warmest fleece pajama pants you've ever worn! Guaranteed to keep you cozy!

Upcycled Felted Wool Scarflette

Photo Credit: Sum of their Stories

Refashion old felted sweaters and sew this cute and warm upcycled felted wool scarflette.

DIY denim leaf pillow

Photo Credit: Vicky Myers Creations

Another great upcycled project, this time using different shades of blue jeans for a pretty fall leaf throw pillow.

Sew a mermaid tail blanket

The Sea Snuggler mermaid tail blanket sewing pattern is a fun way to cozy up and stay warm at home... with a little imagination!

DIY pillow blanket

Photo Credit: Sisters, What!

This is no ordinary blanket -- when you're done using it, fold and tuck it up on itself to form a big, comfy throw pillow!

How to Sew Quilted Apple Coasters

Photo Credit: Seasoned Homemaker

Nothing says autumn like apples! These quilted, apple-shaped coasters are adorable and a great way to use up scraps.

How to Sew a DIY Pillow Bed for the Floor

Sew a pillow bed from an old sheet. Throw it on the floor, stack the pillows as you prefer, and relax with a warm blanket and a book!

Dip-dye ombre wool pillow

This pillow's beautiful blue ombre effect is created with dip-dye, an easy technique.

Wool Felt Banner DIY from Upcycled Sweaters

Here's some wool used in a different way. Cut up machine felted sweaters (or use craft felt) into banner shapes and sew them together for a fun and festive bunting banner! Great for DIY parties!

Sherpa and flannel blanket tutorial

Photo Credit: lifesewsavory.com

How much warmer and snugglier could you get than this DIY sherpa and flannel blanket?

How to Make a DIY Infinity Scarf Tutorial + Flannel Fringed Cowl

Photo Credit: www.coralandco.com

I love infinity scarves, and this one has a fun fringe attached to it!

DIY embroidered sunflower blanket from a ruana poncho

Turn an old poncho into a blanket (or just use a wool blanket you already have) and embroider a massive sunflower on it with chunky yarn.

Simple poncho from two rectangles

Photo Credit: www.thecreativelab.it

If you want to make the easiest possible handmade poncho, just sew two rectangles together! (tutorial in Italian, but it's very easy to understand)

Sew a Flannel Pillowcase with Decorative Flaps

No more worries about getting into a cold bed at night with these extra soft flannel pillowcases! These are really easy to sew and have cute decorative flaps on the ends.

Flannel scrap coasters

Photo Credit: Wren Collective

Patch together your fuzzy fabric scraps with these cute flannel coasters.

Simple Felt Coasters DIY

Another type of coaster to put under your steaming cup of tea, these are made from craft felt and use reverse applique to show off the inside color.

Refashion Tutorial: Make a T-shirt Infinity Scarf

Cut up your old T-shirts to make this ombre patchwork style infinity scarf.

Upcycled Crossover Slippers

Photo Credit: Fibers & Twigs

How gorgeous are these crossover slippers made from felted wool sweaters? The pattern is for youth, women and men.

Fabric Flowers for an Autumn Wreath

Photo Credit: Stone Cottage Adventures

Learn to make fabric flowers that will make up an autumn wreath

Refashion tutorial: make pants from sleeves

These refashioned pants are perfect for kids to lounge around on a chilly fall Saturday morning. They're made from the sleeves of an adult sweatshirt.

So, which of these autumn sewing patterns and projects do you want to start on first? Hard to decide, right?

Click here to save this great selection of the best fall sewing projects on Pinterest!

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The post 25+ Autumn Sewing Patterns and Projects to Stay Cozy at Home appeared first on Cucicucicoo.