Materials:

1.75 yards flannel

1.75 yards liner (I choose thick velvet-ish fabric)

Buttons

Some scrap vinyl

Tassels

1. Fold fabric in half, then half again

2. Cut circle with 29” radius

3. Cut circle with a 3” radius out of the middle for the neck hole

4. Open up the circle, cut a straight line, opening up the cape

5. Now we are going to make the pleats where the pockets go. If you don’t want pockets (or pleats, skip to step 11)

-Measure 20” in at the bottom edge, mark

-Measure 3” past the first mark, mark this spot

-Tuck the 3” portion back on the underside so it points towards the opening

-Pin pleat along edge

6. Now we are going to cut the pleat open on the back side, about 13” in length. Roll this edge back once and stitch to finish.

8. Using the scraps from around your larger circle, cut the pockets by tracing your hand.

9. Sew each pocket right in to your pleats. You’ll sew along the top edge of each side first, and then sew the pocket itself together.

10. Top stitch the pleat as follows:

11. Lay out your cape, cut a copy out of the lining fabric.

12. Using the rest of the scraps from your big circle, cut a collar. I just used as much as I could, I didn’t measure or anything.  Sew pieces together, leaving bottom arc open. Then turn right-side-out, press and top stitch

13. Sew collar to right side of cape (1/4” seam). Then sew lining to the cap (1/2”), leaving an opening on the front straight part so you can turn it right side out.

14. Turn cape, press, finish opening. Now you can top stitch.

15. Now mark and add buttons to the front. I chose to have the buttons face inward so you wouldn’t see them

16. Put on the cap, mark where you want you “arm” to be defined. Stitch multiple times here, about ½” up.

17. Add tassels.

Done!!

To start out I found this amazing knit at G Street for $3/yard. With my Living Social deal my purchase was ½ off ($25 for $50), so it was basically $1.50/yard. It’s a panel- print knit called “Bunny” and it has a pretty good weight to it; almost like a light sweater. I needed 3.5 yards because of the panel. So I made this dress for $5.25 + a closure. Pretty darn good.

****Before I go on I want to make a note: Even though we are working with a knit, I don’t recommend using elastic thread. It will bunch/ruffle the fabric and we want smooth seams. So instead use a small zig-zag. *****Oh and all seams are 0.5”*****

Here are the measurements you’ll need:

1. Cut two (opposite of each other) as follows:

2. For the upper back, cut 1:

3. For the skirt panels, cut 3:

4. The ties: cut 4

5. Sew ties together, turn right-side out, top stitch. Now you’ll have to strips

6. Assemble the panels, attach the skirt to the top, pleating in the excess in the skirt.

7. Sew Front panels to back panel at shoulder.

8. Trace arm hole, add seam allowance. Cut two as follows:

9. Sew front right panel to back panel along side seam.

10. Pin one tie strap in place on back panel at left side seam. Then sew together back panel, tie strap and front left panel along seam.

11.  Pin sleeve to dress, sew

12. Finish the neckline/side seams by rolling the edge

13. Hem the bottom

14. Attach the second tie strap to the outer edge of the right front panel

15. Attach hooks on the outer left panel and on the side seam which attaches the right front panel to the back panel. This is so when you put the dress on the left panel will stay secured with the hooks and the right panel is tied in place.

And that’s it!

A while back I showed you a sketch for what would become my first paint-along project. I’ve had this done and sitting above my fireplace for a while now, but I just haven’t gotten around to putting together a post. As a note, you don’t have to make this into a clock. Make it a cute painting with what ever colors you want. It will look great in any house. Or print out the owls small and make little personal paintings as gifts to friends.  This is a beginner level painting for sure, just about anyone can do it. I promise! It only seems long because I explained the steps as I went.

First a word about my painting style. For the most part, I blend on canvas. There are only 2 parts of this tutorial that require this technique, but it’s easy to follow along. Secondly, I almost exclusively paint with craft paint. I know it is a little taboo not to use “real acrylics” but craft paint is way cheaper and I’m used to it now. I typically buy what ever is on sale, but just don’t buy the ‘gloss’ ones. And lastly, I buy cheap paint brushes. I tend to buy the multipacks that come with a variety of sizes. I recommend getting a basic one (like this one that I own) and a thin line brush set (like this) to start out with. And for this painting, you’ll need a large brush, around 2″.

So here’s what you’ll need:

-16×20 canvas, primed

-Clock kit

- Balsa wood: 1 square (or round piece) ½” thick. And 1 long piece cut to length to fit just inside the canvas stretchers

- Scissors

- Large Brush (about 2″ wide)

- Detail/thin line brush

- Small brushes

-Angle Brush (optional)

Paint Colors:

-Brown

-Dark Brown

-Orange

-Teal

-Light Blue

-Light Purple

-Skintone/light peach

-White

-Black

-Cream

The Background:

1. Take your large brush and dip it a little bit of water. Then dip it lightly into the light blue paint.

2. You are going to take long strokes, the length of the canvas, with the blue paint. By adding the water, you are giving it a more translucent and layered look. Streaks of lighter and darker blues are good. But for the first coat, it should be pretty light over all. Let dry (use a hairdryer to speed this up)

First Coat

Second Coat

3. Now you are going to do the same exact thing, just a second coat. Let dry completely.

4. Tracing the birds: (the following is PC based, sorry Mac people)

4.1 Right click on the images below

4.2 Click “Save Images As”

4.3 Navigate to where you want your images to be saved, in this case the desktop, and save the image

4.4 Now, right click the file icon, select “Open With” and then select Paint

4.5 In paint, go to “File” then “Page Set up”

4.6 In the bottom right corner check “fit to 1 by 2”. This will expand the image to a larger size.

4.7 Print. Cut and take the image together so it is one complete Owl.

4.8 For this step you can use normal pencil, but charcoal works amazingly better. Cut the owl out close to the outline. Cover the back with charcoal.

4.9 Place the owls on the drawing where you’d like them. Tape with painters tape or with scotch tape.

4.10 Trace with a pencil. This will transfer the image to the canvas.

5. Now for the branches. I added a little bit of cream to the brown to make a slightly lighter shade of brown. This way, it won’t blend in too much with the owl. Using the Medium brush, free hand the branch so that it goes across the page and under the owl’s feet. Add some smaller branches if you want. While the light brown is still wet, add some dark brown to the lower side of the branches. Blend on canvas.

Light brown

Add dark brown

Blend

6. Now it is simple “color by number” so to speak. Here’s a break down of what goes where. You’ll want to mostly use the small brushes and maybe the angle brush for filling in the spots. You’ll probably need multiple coats of each, which can be time consuming. Make sure in between coats, you let the paint dry, otherwise you’ll just smug off the old paint.

7. Now comes time for the outlining. I know it seems scary but there are two tricks to this that will make your life way easier. First, use a long skinny brush and long slow strokes. This will make a nice smooth line. Secondly, add just a little water to the paint to thin it out. Thick clumpy paint will hinder you in making a nice line.

Sign your painting! It’s your work of art

To add the clock:

- Cut a hole in the center of the owl’s tummy large enough that the shaft of the clock and get through.

- Hold your long piece of balsa behind the canvas. Using a marker, go through the hold in the tummy and mark the balsa wood

- Glue your ½” piece of balsa to the long piece on the opposite side of the board from where you just marked (so you can still see the mark)

- Now you are going to drill through all of your balsa wood, at that hole location. You’ll want to use a bit that is large enough that you can slide the clock shaft through easily.

- Mount your balsa wood to the back of the canvas, I used hot glue and it worked just fine.

- Install clock according to kit directions.

Done!!! How beautiful!