Choose your own synthetic character fleece adventure

Both kids were very much in need of new dressing gowns and slippers, and if there's one kind of fabric where I just genuinely do not give a shit, it's synthetic fleece.

Until there is a Nani Iro equivalent in polar fleece then it may as well be licensed characters as far as I'm concerned. So of course, that's what they chose.

The pain of purchasing such dreadful fabrics was lessened somewhat by Spotlight having a sale on "licensed character fleece" and then completely removed by how much the kids really love this kind of thing.

The dressing gowns are made using Kwik Sew 2654 which I'd made previously and hated making. The result was fine although it seems to be one of the very few things I've made and never photographed.

I suspect it was in my very first days of sewing knits and I definitely didn't own an overlocker. I figured maybe it wasn't the pattern, it was me, and I should give it another chance.

Since I already had the size XS (4/5) drafted I just added length to the sleeves and hem to make A's version. probably about 1.5"on the sleeve and 2" on the hem length if I remember rightly.

This Disney princess fleece is disappointingly thin but she was sold on it. The proper weight, contrasting fleece on the shawl collar adds a bit of warmth at least.

P's Marvel comic version is the straight size 7/8 and fits fine. The great thing is that as they grow, you just unfold the cuffs and keep using it. Once the length gets to Hefner style hip height, it's time for a new one. Easy.

I had planned to use the sewing machine just for the facing steps and do everything else on the overlocker, but the fleece shifted in such a way that the overlocked seams were likely to miss the bottom layer. I ended up basting on the sewing machine then overlocking every seam.

It was no quicker or easier than my first version, but they do look nicer on the inside.

There was just enough leftovers to cut a pair of Happy Feet slippers each. Hers are Kids Medium and fit well, his are Kids Large and are a bit small. I'd traced around their feet on paper to get the sizing and knew his would be close, but I guess the seam allowances took more out than I'd figured. So, really, still shy of 8 years old he has small adult slipper sized feet??!!

I redrafted the tops of the slippers slightly to be a bit higher at the back heel and to come further up the foot at the front. It reduced the opening size considerably and at least they don't fall off as readily as previous versions of this pattern.

Using tissue paper to stitch through I've added these mini soles of carpet underlay to the undersides. If you like your kids as sliding missiles you can skip this step (at your own peril).

I'm not going to kid you, sewing yucky fleece into boring garments like slippers and dressing gowns did drag on. But it was worth it in the end....

... and while I was faced with the task of stitching the icky fabric I hit the Maaidesign shop and bought some much nicer fabric!

Happy Feet!

The keenly awaited and much requested (in my dreams!) PDF pattern for sewing your own lycra cycling booties is on hold until I buy some more clear elastic tape. Has anyone else sewn with that stuff? It was my first time, and while I worked out that the pattern will eventually use 26" of 1/4" clear elastic to make one pair of booties, I chewed through almost 3 yards of the stuff in my trial and error sewing!

I think I've worked out the pitfalls and have tips on how to use just enough elastic tape and retain circulation below your ankles. Aren't you glad I went there first?!

Meanwhile, I made some little slippers...

These are the Mary Jane version of the Favourite Things Happy Feet slippers. I've made the clog style slippers twice before, but chose the strap style to girly them up a bit this time around.

The outer fabric is a fat quarter of some quilting cotton, the bias binding some leftovers from my Travel Quilt and the lining is some crazy, fluffy synthetic stuff from an old change table cover.

The lining fabric is incredibly cuddly and here's a tip for new mums; do not cover your change table mat in some really snuggly, soft fabric unless you want your kid, mid nappy change, to be trying to roll over and snuggle into the cover. My kids were "blessed" with phenomenal core strength as babies and I would be holding their legs up in the air, fumbling for the wipes, as they were twisting themselves like an angry snake trying to get onto their tummies and rub their faces on this fabric.

Cover your change mat with some rough, furnishing fabric or cold, crisp cotton and save the fluffy stuff for lining their slippers when they get older!

I added some rubbery, non slip stuff underneath to try and reduce the chance of my morning coffee being interrupted by sliding torpedo kids. Although, I clearly recall the delights of galloping down the hallway then flying across the kitchen floor in my bedsocks, so perhaps the next pair will be a recklessly unsafe pair of slippers. (they ain't called slippers for nothing!).

The pattern is nicely laid out with good instructions but the challenge lies in sewing so many thick layers around some tight curves. There is a layer of quilt batting between the lining and outer fabric on the sides and two layers of quilt batting (the pattern calls for three) in the sole. That adds up to seven layers plus the bias binding to stitch, and, while I made my first two pairs with the regular sewing foot, this pattern really suits a walking foot. Oh, and a thimble, but no, I still don't own one!

If you weren't convinced you needed to sew cuddly slippers, here's the proof; when their feet are happy, they exude cuddliness and for just a moment, peace reigns in the household.