Cute Crafties: City-Mouse Toy

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/city-mouse-toy

Cute Crafties: Birds of a Feather Family Tree

Introduction

Help your kids visualize their extended family in a cute and colorful way. Use our tree template to transfer the tree onto a bedroom or playroom wall, and paint. Then use the bird templates to depict the grandparents and successive generations.

Step 1

Print the tree and bird templates. If you have a projector, use it to project image onto wall, and trace with pencil. Otherwise, print on multiple sheets of paper and tape together. Tape templates to wall and, with transfer paper taped beneath, trace outline.

Step 2

Using transfer paper, trace birds onto limbs. (Start with owl grandparents at bottom, then branch up and out with children and grandchildren.) Paint tree; let dry.

Step 3

Paint birds; let dry. With fine-tip brush, write in names.


Read more at Wholeliving.com: Birds of a Feather Family Tree - Martha Stewart Crafts 

Cute Crafties: Stuffed Animals From Kids' Drawings

To bring a child's drawing to life, pin the cut-out drawing, facedown, to two pieces of fabric. Trace with a fabric pencil, leaving about 1/4 inch all around. Cut out. Sew on button eyes. Pin fabric again, right sides facing. Sew together, leaving an opening for batting. Stuff with batting, and then sew closed. Sew on other features, such as ears, limbs, and embellishments.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Stuffed Animals from Kids' Drawings - Martha Stewart Kids 

Cute Crafties: Baby Kimonos

Though in modern Japan, kimonos are worn mostly on special occasions, many features translate wonderfully to everyday baby clothes. Wrap shirts or dresses are ideal for babies, who dislike having clothing pulled on or off over their heads. Kimonos tie or button securely closed, and the fasteners are out of the way, so curious babies aren't tempted to toy with or nibble on them. And the double layer of material across the chest will add extra warmth where a toddler will need it most.

Our kimono is amazingly versatile. Basic and clean of line, it takes on different personalities depending on the length and the fabric it's made from. Short kimonos make lightweight, comfortable shirts. Longer kimonos can be dresses or coats.

Tools and Materials
Pattern paper
1 yard of fabric
2 yards of single-fold bias tape
10 inches of thin ribbon
Sewing supplies

Baby Kimonos How-To
Preparing the Pattern
1. Download and print our template, and use it to make a two-piece pattern.

2. Use our pattern full-size for size 0 to 3 months. For bigger babies, enlarge it as follows: For 3 to 6 months, photocopy at 105 percent; 6 to 12 months, 110 percent; 12 to 18 months, 115 percent; 18 to 24 months, 120 percent; 24 to 36 months, 125 percent. If you are using a thick fabric, use the next size up.

3. After you have assembled the pattern, lay the fabric wrong side up, pin pattern pieces on top, and cut out (a 3/8-inch seam allowance is included in the pattern). Mark dots on fabric pieces.

Sewing the Kimono
4. Make ties: Cut 21-inch piece of single-fold bias tape. Open tape, fold in half, with right sides facing, and sew along crease parallel to fold. Trim close to stitching. With loop turner, turn inside out; press. Cut into three equal pieces. Lay main-garment piece flat, wrong side up, front toward you. Lift fabric at angled cut at the shoulder; pin two ties at dots, positioning as shown. Fold up sleeve hems by 3/8 inch twice, pin, and topstitch.

5. Lay front-flap piece wrong side up; fold left side in by 3/8 inch twice; pin and topstitch. Place front-flap piece on main-garment piece over the right sleeve, right sides facing; align angled shoulder edges, sandwiching in ends of ties, and pin. Stitch along angled edges with 3/8-inch seam allowance. Zigzag edges. Beneath angled shoulder, fold side edge of main garment under twice by 3/8 inch; topstitch to hem. Fold kimono in half along shoulders, right sides facing. Pin along sides and underside of sleeves. On left side (with garment front facing you) at dot under the arm, pin a 5-inch ribbon. Hand stitch another 5-inch ribbon at dot on edge of front flap. (These provide inner ties.) Sew along pinned edges with 3/8-inch seam allowance, catching tie. Zigzag edges. In curves under each arm, make 5 cuts in seam allowance without cutting through straight stitching. Hem kimono as sleeves were hemmed. Turn right side out.

6. Pin the third 7-inch tie at dot on angled edge of garment front, as shown. Cut 8-inch piece of bias tape. Open, pin to angled edge, right sides facing, starting at neck and aligning edges as shown; sew along top crease, catching tie. Fold tape over fabric edge, refold at crease, and hand stitch to wrong side of garment, sewing to end of tape. Press.

7. Trim away point of fabric extending beyond angled edge of front flap. Cut a 12-inch piece of bias tape, and use it to cover the raw edge of the neckline as you did the angled shoulder, turning ends of tape under to hem. Press.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Baby Kimonos - Martha Stewart Crafts

Cute Crafties: Animal Hat for Little Kids

Bear cubs are almost always warm, and have no need for hats. Your infant, though, has less natural insulation to protect him from the chill. A teddy bear toque keeps the heat in and provides a cheerful playmate. Even better, it can be made from a plain knit hat using nothing more than some cotton batting and a few quick stitches with contrasting yarn. Look for a tall hat with a rolled edge, like this one, or unfold the cuff of a ski hat. The end result proves it: Two heads are cuter than one.

Animal Hat How-To
1. Begin with a knit hat that has a little extra height. Put a marshmallow-size ball of batting inside peak of hat, and squeeze bear's neck to shape head. Mark eyes and nose using a fabric pencil.

2. Remove stuffing; create eyes with knots of contrasting yarn. Sew a yarn "X" for nose. Replace batting.

3. To shape head, loop a rubber band at neck to hold in place; wrap matching heavy button thread around neck three or four times, just above rubber bank; knot. Repeat twice more to shape ears. Remove rubber bands.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Animal Hat - Martha Stewart Crafts