Olive the Ostrich and her gear [a tutorial]

 

Good Morning my dears!!

Today, I have a very special someone I'd like to introduce to you.  Her name is Olive the Ostrich, and this is her gear.

 

The Olive wristie, complete with changing mat.

There's enough room in the wristie for the changing mat, a couple of diapers, some diaper creme, and a credit card.

 

 

The changing mat opens up to this 25X25" flower,

 

and folds down to this 5X7" rectangle and velcro closes.

 

 

 

So you want to make some Olive gear of your own you say?  Well then.  Let me tell you what you need to do.

First, I'm pretty sure that Laurie is going to have some Olive gear fabric sets here, which will contain all the Olive the Ostrich fabric you will need (and yay!!  There will be leftovers for scraps!  My favorite part!)  So go on over and order that.

And then..... follow these steps: 

To make your own Olive wristie and changing mat, this is what you will need:

• 2/3 yard Olive the Ostrich fabric
• fq heart flower fabric
• fq stripe fabric
• fq millefiori fabric
• 3.5" velcro
• 2 yard package of iron on vinyl
• metal clip part of a lanyard
• 3 inches cotton tape
• 26"X26" flannel
• contrasting thread
• petal template (cut out A & B and join at the dashed line to make the petal)
• wristlet body template
• wristlet flap template 

All seams are 1/4" unless otherwise specified.  When zig-zag'ing edges, make sure the "zag" doesn't go more than 3/8" into the project. 

When using laminated fabrics, I don't use pins since the pins will put holes in the laminate.  I didn't feel the need to use anything to keep the fabrics in place, but if you need to, use a spray baste to hold the pieces together.

Instructions:

1.  Cut your pieces:

• cut 2 petals each from the heart flower, stripe and millefiori fabrics.
• cut one 6" circle from the Olive the Ostrich fabric for center of changing mat
• cut one 26"X26" piece of Olive the Ostrich fabric and one of flannel
• cut 2 wristlet bodies each from the Olive the Ostrich (lining) and stripe fabrics (outside)
• cut 1 flap from each of the heart flower (lining) and millefiori fabrics (outside)
• cut the velcro into a 3" and a 1/2" piece
• cut a 2"X3" piece of strip fabric for velcro closure on mat
• cut a 4"X3" piece of heart flowers for pocket
• cut a 2"X12" piece of stripe fabric for wristie strap

 2.  Using the iron on laminate, and following the manufacturers instructions, laminate the26X26 piece of Olive the Ostrich, the millefiori flap, and the 2 stripe fabric wristlet bodies.

 3.  Make the wristlet

• Sew one of the sides of the 3" piece of velcro centered and 3" from the top edge of one of the laminated outside body pieces.
• Using a zig-zag stitch, and with wrong sides together, zig-zag stitch both "v" darts closed on both laminated outside body pieces. 

 

 

• Place the outside pieces wrong sides together, matching up the dart seams and pushing the seams up.  Place cotton tape 1/2" inside left seam and 2 1/2" from the top edge.  Zig-zag stitch around the sides and bottom of outside pieces.
• Center oned side of the 3" piece of velcro 1/2" from inside fabric flap bottom edge and use a straight stitch to sew. 
• Place flap fabrics wrong sides together and zig-zag around all edges. 
• Using a zig-zag stitch, place flap on the back side of the laminated wristlet body, line up the angle of the flap with the top edge of the wristlet body, and sew.

 

• Turn under 1/4" around pocket fabric.  Edge stitch the top (longer) edge.  Center the pocket on one side of the wristlet body lining pieces and 2 1/2" from the top edge and straight stitch around sides and bottom of pocket
• Using a straight stitch and with right sides together, sew 2 "v" darts on each of the lining pieces. 
• Place lining pieces right sides together and sew sides and bottoms together, making sure to line up dart seams and leave a 3" turning hole on the bottom seam.
• Place the right side of the outside pieces into the lining, which is right side in.  Push the flap down, into the lining, line up side seams and use a straight stitch and a 3/8" seam allowance to sew top edges together.
• Turn the bag through the hole in the lining then sew the lining closed. Zig-zag around top edge of bag, making sure to fold the flap back as you do this so it doesn't get in the way.
• Fold and press in 1/2" on long sides of strap fabric.  Fold in half again and zig-zag around edges.  Overlap ends 1/4" and using a straight stitch, sew the ends together.  Place strap in clip end of lanyard. 

4.  Make the changing mat

• sew the petals together in groups of 2, then sew the 3 groups together, to complete the flower.
• center the 6" circle in the middle of the flower and zig-zag edge stitch in place.
• Lay the flower on top of the 26" flannel square and use the flower as a template to cut out the flannel layer.  Repeat with 26" Olive fabric square.
• Layer the flower, flannel and laminated backing so the edges line up and stitch the layers together by stitching in the ditch from the center of each petal out to the edge.
• fold 2"X3" mat closure strap in half longways and zig zag around edges.
• Using a straight stitch, sew one  of the 1/2" pieces of velcro within 1/4" of one of the short edges.
• Place the velcro strap 1/2" in the seam and centered in one of the petals of the layered flower. Using a walking foot, zig-zag around edge of flower.
• Fold changing mat, mark where other end of velcro should go on the laminated fabric, and sew other side of 1/2" piece of velcro to the laminated side of the mat, through all layers.  (it should end up being somewhat centered in the flower)

To fold the mat, put the velcro strap at the top, fold both sides of the flower into the center, repeat, slightly overlapping one side.  Fold up about 6.5" starting from the bottom and repeat until the velcro strap can be closed.

 

 

I hope you enjoy using this pattern!

Happy Friday to you!

~Penny

Comments

[Michele]

That is absolutely the cutest! The changing pad is adorable. I need a baby!

[Tara]

It's fantastic, of course! Love the use of vinyl!

[Angela]

SUPER SUPER Cute!

[Lynne]

YOu are a very very clever girl indeed - this is just too fabulous

[Rachel at Stitched in Color]

What a super cute and unique changing pad! You're always coming up with something so clever. Love it!

[nicke cutler]

that is really cute!

[krista - Poppyprint]

You are so clever!!! Great designs, Penny.

[sue brown]

geeez Penny, how did you become so awesome? You really are too clever.

[amylouwho]

penny! this is one of the cutest things I have ever seen. Seriously!! I love it! miss you!xo

[Amandajean]

Penny!

This is amazing. I just love it. Your creativity astounds me.

AJ

[Allie]

This is adorable - what a GREAT idea!!!!!!!

[Nova]

genius!

[Audrey]

This is so cute! I am bookmarking this one for future baby gifts!

[Dayna]

Baby gift! This is spectacular, Penny! Thanks for sharing!

[sewkatiedid]

love the flower.

[VickiT]

Wonderful tutorial and fabulous idea. Thank you so much.

[Carmen]

YAY! Baby brain has slowed me down enough that I only realized today that I'm the lucky recipient of this gift. Emma thanks you!

[Ashley F]

I couldn't get my center right. The whole piece was puckered and wouldn't lay flat. I had to taper each seam in to the center point, making all the petals touch in the center rather than leaving an open circle as the pattern would suggest. Not sure what I did wrong, but my version seemed to come out fine (after a few choice words with my sewing machine!)