This is part 3, we’ve already covered how to make a death eater mask, and how to make a hogwarts robe out of a t-shirt!

For the boy’s Death Eater costume, he really didn’t want any Slytherin gear, as he said (and rightly) that Draco Malfoy skulking around as a Death Eater would not be wearing his Slytherin scarf.  But since a death eater doesn’t really look like anything other than a creepy guy in a mask without something to indicate Harry Potter-ness, I talked him into the scarf, so Draco could go incognito.

So here’s the quick tutorial on making the Slytherin scarf.  As with any of my sewing projects, I’m not a seamstress, and I don’t measure.

Supplies:  1 green sweatshirt and 1 grey sweatshirt.  We’re basically just using the sweatshirts as a comfy and cheap source of material here.

Step 1:Assess your fabric potential: If your sweatshirts have design on them, that will limit the amount of fabric you can get off of them, so take that into account.  Minimally you should have a large piece from the back, a large piece from the front, plus you can split your sleeves along the bottom seam for 2 more large pieces.

(see more steps under the photos)

Step 2:  Cut your rectangles.  Figure out the width you want your scarf to be.  You’ll need to cut out rectangles of fabric for your stripes at double that width, and at least 5 or 6 inches tall (the taller, the less you need – use the size of your workable fabric to determine how tall).   If you have more fabric available from one of your shirts, plan on that one being the one on the ends of the scarf, so you’ll need 1 more square of that color.

The rectangles of each color should be approximately the same size (i.e. all the greens 7 in and all the greys 5 in) .

Step 3: Layout.  Starting with your end color (Green in my case), lay out your rectangles in order to get an idea of length.  Remember, you’ll be sewing these together, so you’ll lose some length to seams.  Remember to start and end with the same color (in my case, I also made the green end pieces a little bit taller)

Step 4: Sew together the rectangles. Start with one end piece.  Place “good” sides together with the good side of the opposing color, and machine stitch.  Continue until you have one long piece of stripes.  Remember to place the sides you want to show together each time you add a new color.

Step 5: You now have a long piece of striped fabric.   But both of your ends are still unfinished, so run a quick hem on either end (see photo)

Step 6:  Fold your long piece of striped fabric.  in half lengthwise, so that the bad side is showing.  Pin all the way down, making sure each stripe matches up.

Step 7.  Sew the seam you just pinned to make a really long tube.  Turn tube right side out to see your finished scarf!

Here’s a few tutorials to start you on your way!

Kids Refashioning Tutorials:

There are a ton of these out there, these were just a few I had saved in my ‘to write about’ file!

• TUTORIAL: Boy’s Sweater Vest (from a Man’s Sweater) at MADE (via OnePrettyThing)
• The 15 Minute Dress (made from Bandannas!)
• Another cute sweater vest idea, this one for a girl from an accidentally shrunken sweater
• Make baby leggings from a scarf.

• Here’s another idea – Baby Legs from socks!
• So cute! Kid’s pants from shirt sleeves.
• Also from Indie Tutes, a child’s dress from an adult T-shirt (great use!)
• A girls sundress from a men’s shirt.. too cute!

• Or a girl’s dress from a fun T-shirt!
• An oldie but goodie, with Easter around the corner: A bunny hat from a kid’s t-shirt! (via Craft)
• T-shirts make great materials : Make Baby Sleep Sacks or Make a cute baby hat!(via Little Birdie Secrets)
• Toddler Lounge Pants from old T’s – comfy and stylin’!

• Toddler Ruffle Skirt from T-shirts a Sew Much Ado
• Girl’s Jean skirt with flower trim made from (duh) old jeans.
• Mom’s old skirt becomes a cute girls dress.

And some for the adults

(sorry guys, this are pretty much all for the girls — someone find me some good men’s refashioning and i’ll post it!)

• fancified cardi at Angry Chicken
• Cute belted skirt from a men’s dress shirt at CraftStylish.
• Men’s Shirt to Dress at Clevergirl

• Another men’s shirt to ladies shirt refashion
• Another one, via Whip Up, cute peasant top from a men’s shirt.
• Ugly Mom pants become a flouncy skirt!
• Pretty flower necklines for t-shirts

And a few that were published right here on Dabbled!

• Winter’s not over yet, has your little kitten lost his mittens? by Heather from Dollar Store Crafts
• Turn two outgrown shirts into a new long sleeve Tshirt by Me!
• Give old girls jeans way cute new life by Colleen from Some Art Fabric / Slothcraft.

(Got a cool refashioning project you’d like to see published on Dabbled? Email Us- dot[at]dabbled[dot]org!)

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A big welcome to Jeanne from WildWoods Art who brings us a lovely tutorial on making a recycled wreath for Halloween! Jeanne is a big Halloween inspiration!

Who doesn’t like to hang a pretty wreath on their door or fence in celebration of a Holiday or Season?  We’ll make such a wreath and it will even be out of recycled plastic bags!

Hi! I’m Jeanne Gripp of WildWoods Art. I am a self-taught Folk Artist who delights in making items of whimsy. I try to incorporate cast off items in as many of my creations as possible.
This wreath is made from a metal coat hanger and plastic bags. I used the plastic sleeves that a newspaper would come in to protect it from the weather. Regular (clean) plastic trash bags or shopping bags can also be used.

Supplies needed:
metal coat hanger
pliers
scissors
plastic bags – I used orange and black for Halloween

Step 1. Bend coat hanger to form a circle. Use the pliers to help form the curves. Using the pliers, bend the hook of the coat hanger to form a closed circle. This will be the loop from which the wreath will hang.

Step 2. Cut plastic sleeves or plastic bags into 2 1/2″ x 5 1/2″  strips. Because a wreath always looks best when very full, A LOT of strips will be needed !

Step 3. Tie plastic strips onto wire form. Over and over again! I make my wreaths while watching TV – it’s a very mindless activity. (Both watching TV and tying on the strips!) I like to use a double strip when tying onto the form. Push the strips together as they are tied on and alternate the ends. This will add to the wreath’s fullness. Do not pull the strips too snug or you might stretch out the plastic and cause it to snap.

Step 4. When the wreath is full, a bow will need to be made. Cut a 8″ wide strip of plastic approx. 54″ long. Double over the strip so it is 4″ wide. Doubling over the strip will  help your bow to ‘stand out’ and not flop over. Take this strip and tie a large bow around the ‘neck’ of the wreath (just below the loop you made for hanging).

VOILA` ! You now have an all-weather wreath. The color of plastic used for the wreath can be changed to suit the Holiday – green wreath with red bow for Christmas or even pastel colors for Spring or Easter.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this! Stay tuned for more Halloween fun, all month long: Halloween at Dabbled