Friday 31 January 2014

The terrors of the universe!

"These creatures, my dear ignorant blog readers, are the most brutal, vindictive, venomous, murderous beasts in the entire universe!"
"VERMICIOUS KNIDS! That's what they are!"
 
..... So yeah, we've been reading books and I've been painting T-shirts with the kids again, and this morning both my gorgeous little vermicious knids trotted off to daycare in their brand new clothes.
 
I gave P a collection of Roald Dahl books for Christmas and we've read The Twits, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and now Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.
 
 
The kids definitely found the nasty aliens in the lifts of the Space Hotel lobby pretty frightening but then they got really involved in the story and were delighted when everyone escaped those murderous beasties. In fact, A has requested a Vermicious* Knid teddy to sleep with. If only I could crochet, I think an egg shaped, greenish-brownish blob would be pretty easy really.
 
* and yes, a not quite three year old trying to say 'vermicious' is pretty cute!


I also figured that an egg shaped blob would be pretty easy to paint, so the kids painted their own Knids with the help of a freezer paper stencil outline. P's T-Shirt is a standard size 6 Field Trip raglan T


Here I did the lettering by using the Transfer Pencil that I used for P's Kenzo Tiger sweater and then hand painting over it.


And then I snuck this on the back! He thinks it's a bit dorky, which cracks me up, cause really the whole T-shirt is kinda dorky and I'm not sure that this is what tips it over the edge! Their mum is a book nerd who likes to sew and paint so he'll have to get used to it!

I used a T-Shirt Transfer on the back and was too lazy to cut out every letter so it looks pretty ordinary. I think the ultimate way to do lettering would be to use a stencil cutting machine to make a freezer paper stencil. Did you hear that Flipper? Birthday idea there darling....


A's dress is an alteration of the same Field Trip pattern. I used the size 3 and lengthened and widened it to make a basic A line dress. Sadly, my red Transfer Pencil wouldn't work on the pink fabric and I couldn't see it well enough to paint over it. But it made enough of a mark that I had to try and put the T-Shirt Transfer lettering over the top. Minor fail, but she had such fun painting her Knid she doesn't mind at all.


I finally ran out of the pink cotton/lycra knit (used here and here) so we found some nice stripes for the back. I can't recall where this stripey knit came from but it feels so very nice. I might find a use for the rest of it for me!

 When they're not storming through the house destroying everything in their path the Knids Kids like to play Fairies too. That would be much more peaceful except that A gallops up and down the hall shouting "Flutter, Flutter" at the top of her voice. At least my Christmas Tutu is getting worn, and he accessorised with the handbag himself!




14 comments:

  1. Hehehe, love those last two pictures! Glad your tutu is getting worn! Great shirts, we love those books, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. THanks, when they're good together they are ever so cute.

      Delete
  2. These are adorable. You might be the best mom ever :) I also heart that your son isn't afraid to dress up like a fairy and play with his sister. What an awesome big brother!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a kind thing to say, thanks. He is a sweet kid. his other favourite game is being a kitten. That just involves crawling around and getting the occasional pat from me, so I kind of like that game!

      Delete
  3. I really like how you've mixed up the fabrics in that dress. It is cute. And what a cool way to keep the kids still thinking about and 'involved' in the books you are reading them. ... You might need to be careful what you read them next

    Not so sure about the socks with the skirt (apparently a bit of a no-no when shopping) but I like how you don't appear to have subscribed to the usual restrictive stereotypes for boys and girls!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a nice accident to run out of the solid pink fabric, wasn't it. I guess I'd call it colour blocking if I'd thought about it!
      The only book I've struggled with to date was Wind in the Willows. I'd forgotten just how slow and rambling it is, and then the whole section with the small near-dead otter and the religious analogies. That threw me for six and won't be appearing on a T-shirt!

      Delete
  4. Hehe your kids are so cute. Love the customized shirts, the dress, the fairies, all of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kristin. Apart from the books, I've got this huge long list of films that they could "star" in. I'll have to write it down as I sometimes crack myself up thinking about it, then forget by the next day!

      Delete
  5. Did a lot of people ask 'what's a knid?', or did they know?? I always found that book kind of dark and spooky - I wasn't at all keen on the 'minuses'. But I have to say, the knids are pretty cool. And your knidwear is fantastic :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess these T-shirts have a better chance of recognition that my Slaughterhouse 5 quote one, but sadly, I wasn't expecting the daycare staff to know what knids were. However they always say lovely things about the kids clothes, even if my jokes go way over their heads.
      I remember reading some "adult " Roald Dahl books when I was a teenager and they were terrifying!
      Knidwear is a great word, that could catch on, thanks!

      Delete
  6. This is great- books on clothes, lovely knitwear, adorable kids! Having just sewn my first O+S raglan tee I was also admiring the lovely finishes on the neck, sleeves, and hems. They look perfect! Can I ask what order of stitches/machines/finishing procedures you used? Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Elizabeth. I'm feeling rather proud of my knit hems so I'll happily share my tips, all of which I have learned from others: T-shirt is sewn/constructed entirely using my overlocker. For the hems and to stitch down the neckband I use a double needle. I use woolly nylon in the bobbin as it doesn't break like regular thread does. Then I have a second bobbin casing with the tension backed right off so the bobbin thread is nice and zig-zaggy. Finally, I did use my walking foot this time so the bits where I go over a thick seam are still nice and smooth.

      All of that I've learned through trial and error and reading tips from more experienced sewers!

      Delete
  7. You're a legend. Roald Dahl is my favourite author of all time. Can you make me a shirt please? I'd happily be queen of the dorks :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great shirts! It wonderful that you made them to go with a their books.....I'll have to try the same thing for my kids one day.

    ReplyDelete

I get a real kick out of knowing you've visited the blog and love to read comments. Thanks.