Anyway, hope must spring eternal, because when AJ of Confused Kitty Creations, who has long been one of my cosplay crushes, asked for testers for her new toddler sewing pattern, I immediately volunteered to sew, of all things, a 1) hat, for my kid who hates anything on his head, with 2) an octopus on it, because apparently I haven't yet learned my lesson. It was a fairly quick and easy project, even with the instructions in beta, and it was such a nice change to work with a pattern where all the notches and pattern pieces lined up perfectly! I've worked with too many patterns (including those of my own sloppy drafting) where I have to manhandle and ease pieces to get them to work, but this one didn't require any such fudging. The fit was also perfect for the recommended size for SHB's age, i.e. just a little bit of ease, and he's got a rather large head for his age.
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| I tried to play with the color on the image so that you see my less than stellar stitching on the face pieces. |
Summary:
Pattern: Tako Sun Hat
Fabric: Scrap cotton fabric in my stash, quilting weight, plus a little bit of high quality felt for the facial features
Notions: A tiny piece of Velcro for the strap, interfacing for the brim
Hours: Maybe three? I made it a while ago, so I don't really remember.
Total cost: Free, since it was all from stash.
Final thoughts: Well, I adore it, even if SHB doesn't. Because as I really should have predicted, he wouldn't have any of it. He thought it was funny to put on for about five seconds, and then he pulled it off and refused to let me put it back on.
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| This is pretty much the only normal photo I got. |
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| He pulled it off before I could do the straps. |
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| I have about fifty more photos that are variations of the blurred-toddler-trying-to-pull-off-the-hat theme. |
He did think it made a great barnyard animal toy transporter, though.
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| Look at that self-satisfied smile in the last one! |
Thankfully, cats make much more patient models (now there's a phrase I never thought I'd type), even if they don't really know how to wear hats.
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| Fenxi is not impressed. |
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| Gummy is resigned. Or is he resentful? |
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| Dawww. |
*SHB also wants to know what noises inanimate objects make, e.g. the ceiling, puzzle pieces, whiteboard markers, hats, etc.
[Disclaimer: I received this pattern for free in exchange for testing it for the designer, but all opinions are mine. I was not required to write about it on my blog; I just think it's really cute, and who doesn't want to see a picture of a cat in a hat?]
I'll have to admit I read the title as the most sweet palindrome Taco cat:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.catsvscancer.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Taco-Cat-Spelled-Backwards-Is-Taco-Cat.-e1430184838220.jpg
Your hat is cute, you should not be disappointed when Tako is unimpressed. Your cats make very cute models, too!
I'm pretty sure Walnut would feel about a taco costume the same way SHB feels about this hat :P
DeleteIf we don't know what noise an animal makes, it either goes "num num num" or "harrugh" (like the hippopotamus from Thud by Terry Pratchett!). Oh and fish go "bloop bloop".
ReplyDeleteBloop bloop! That's great!
DeleteFish: glub, glub, glub
ReplyDeleteSharks: chomp, chomp, chomp
Sea stars: twinkle, twinkle
These may not be scientifically accurate.
We did have sharks go chomp at first, but then I worried about whether that was setting sharks up to be villains when in fact, more people have car accidents than shark attacks. Then again, I might be overthinking it ;)
DeleteFish: glub, glub, glub
ReplyDeleteSharks: chomp, chomp, chomp
Sea stars: twinkle, twinkle
These may not be scientifically accurate.
That is ridiculously cute and I want an adult version!
ReplyDeleteI think AJ is working on one!
DeleteThe photo of his happiness at using the hat for his toys is so epic. =D Should be listed as additional uses for the tako hat. Also Walnut is like the best model evar.
ReplyDeleteThanks again SO MUCH for helping me test this! I think adult version is definitely on the next- to-do list 'cause I want one too...
And omg, you have been one of my blog celebrity crushes for a while. When we started talking, all my friends were so jealous. LOL <3
What?! *blushes* I've been crushing on your work ever since a random Google search for Batman Beyond cosplay turned up your Inque! And then I found all your historical stuff, and I'm pretty sure I died the first time you commented on my blog.
DeleteThat is so cute!!!! I'm pretty sure that octopi make "wubba wubba" noises. ;) It reminds me of when my girls were little. Our elderly cat had died and, when I was explaining this to them, I told them that he was now frolicking in the afterlife. They required a demonstration of frolicking. This went a LONG way to make them feel better and they still remember that, though they are now in their 20s. :) I'm glad all is well with you and your beautiful family!
ReplyDeleteAww, that's a lovely way to remember your cat! I'm going to have to remember that.
DeleteAt least you're trying to be realistic about your noises. I'd probably just quote Finding Nemo. That hat is ridiculously cute, but Hobbit wouldn't leave it on for more than 3 seconds either. Sigh... Hopefully it'll grow on SHB!
ReplyDeleteHaha not all of our noises are realistic! At some point we gave up and started miming.
DeleteDid I ever tell you about the time we redid Syo's room all in yellow, since that was her favourite colour, and then she decided three days later she didn't like yellow any more?
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, I feel you. On the other hand, the hat is adorable and so is the kid, so, well, we'll take what we can get, right?
I must now fight the urge to put a hat on my cat...
Oh dear, I guess at least I didn't paint a detailed wall mural for him or anything!
DeleteWow, SHB is getting B! What a string bean! Also that hat design is super cute. Hmm...ceiling noise might be beyond me, but puzzle pieces, when all goes well, say SNIK.
ReplyDeleteExcellent, I will totally use that puzzle piece noise!
DeleteWell, I think it's cute, even if SHB doesn't. I hope he'll wear it for you ocassionally.
ReplyDeleteThat seems to be the general adult consensus! Today he surprised me by voluntarily wearing it for five minutes, while indoors on a cloudy, drizzly day. So there's that. :P
DeleteAww it's absolutely adorable and he looks incredibly cute in it! It always happens with kids, you put so much effort into something and they go for something completely different. It's like when you buy loads of toys for them and they're more interested in the boxes! I hope he wears it at least a few times for you, it's such a lovely make! XxxX
ReplyDelete