Tree Time!

Our resident Mr. Grinch ♥

A little dancing to the music ♥

We woke up to another winter wonderland this morning -- I love it when the snow sticks to the trees!

How lovely are your branches!

Adventures in Hatmaking

As I mentioned in my snowy post, Emily and Jessica were in need of new winter hats. I took it upon myself to make their hats, keeping the style and comfort of the ones they loved (for years!). By cutting up Jessi's hat at the seams, I was able to get a basic idea of the pattern.

There were two main problems with the girls' previous hats, other than the fact that they were getting too small: the hats didn't properly cover the girls' foreheads or neck areas.

I took measurements and made adjustments to create my own pattern. Using scrap fabric I sewed up a few tester models until I got the right fit and finish. This is a painstaking and often frustrating part, but at the same time it's satisfying when you finally get right.

Sketching my ideas

Models 1, 2, 3

Looking good on the front...

... but not quite right on the side

The final, adjusted pattern

Fleece was on sale when I went to Frabricland, so for $15 I was able to buy enough fabric to make three hats (0.75 metres of the inner and outer fabrics). Sweet deal! I chose the leopard print and black inside fabric to match the girls' black snow pants and any coat they want to wear. Plus then they get to pretend to be snow leopards! Now onto the sewing...

Step 1: cut out pattern pieces

Step 2: sew the ears

Stitch line in the centre to create a 'groove'

Step 3: sew the head pieces together

(for both inner and outer layers)

Step 4: sew inner and outer layers together

(at face hole and bottom seam),

then flip hat outside out

Flipped outside out

Step 5: sew the neck area closed as much as possible,

leaving a hole in the inner layer

Step 6: close the gap by hand (using an invisible stitch)

I used this tutorial on youtube

Step 7: sew around the face and bottom seam 

(to properly fasten the inner and outer layers together)

Make sure you don't run out of thread!

An optional 8th step is to attach the inner layer to the outer layer near the ears to prevent the inner layer from shifting too much. I just did a small stitch by hand.

The result: a cute, warm, and nice-fitting hat for winter. I like it so much that I might just make myself one as well!

Coverage and warmth for all

Get your hat on!

Snowy Morning

We woke up this morning to our first big snowfall of the season!

Emily and Jessica couldn't wait to get outside and play. The sewing project I was working on at the start of the month was an upgrade for the 'bear' hats they've been wearing since 2013:

2013

2014 

 2017

Modelling their new hats -- Much better! 

And now onto the playing (while Mommy takes pictures and Daddy shovels...).

Spotting Canada geese in the sky

(making their way south no doubt)

The school buses were cancelled today, but the girls were happy to go to school anyway for a quiet day with their friends and lots of snow playing at recess.

Emily was happy, I swear! ;)