Saturday, March 2, 2013

Pumpkin Pi Onesie (Free Pattern)

With Pi-Day coming up here in a few weeks, I thought I'd update my list of Pi themed crafts and creative fun.  (Never heard of Pi Day...google it.  It's a day when you get to celebrate all things math and circles.  It's on March 14th of every year because 3-14 are the first three digits in the never ending number Pi 3.141519....

I shared Anson's Pumpkin Pi onesie several months ago at Everyday Art as part of their Pumpkin Palooza celebration!  I realized that I never got around to reposting it here.  So here goes...

I'm a former math and chemistry teacher and I married an even nerdier high school science teacher, so we're turning our kids into super nerds and they don't even know it.

Here's Anson, sporting his new Pumpkin Pi Onesie.  (Amazing how fast they grow.  This is him a couple months ago and he already looks totally different.)

He's outgrown his other Pi themed onesies, and this was a perfect one for Halloween and Thanksgiving...because what's more Thanksgiving than Pumpkin Pi?!?  (Hahahaha...5 months later he can still wear it, although it's considerably more snug on him now.)



It's getting a bit hard to take pictures of this guy because he wants the camera SO BAD!

So bad in fact, that he crawled for the first time trying to get to the camera.  (Hahahaha...and now he walks and runs all over the place...and still loves to get the camera.)
(And if you like those pants, I'll be posting the pattern and tutorial on sometime in the next week or two...uh...yeah...still need to write that one up.)

Lucky for me he hasn't realized this crawling thing can actually take him places more than a few inches away...I know...give him a few days.

What to make one of your own?

First you'll need to download and print this free Pumpkin Pi template.

Trace the pumpkin shape onto some Heat'n Bond Lite or similar product.  Cut it out, and iron it onto the backside of your fabric.  My fabric of chose for shirt appliques is T-shirt scraps because you don't have to worry about the edges fraying and it makes stitching it onto your shirt easier.  Then you'll cut out the fabric to match the edges of the Heat'n BondYou'll also want to trace the green stem and iron that onto a green scrap.
Then trace the Pi symbol onto the papery side of some freezer paper.  (You find freezer paper at the grocery store near ziploc baggies and the like.  One roll of it will last you for hundreds of cool, personalized T-shirts.)  Iron your stencil onto your pumpkin shape, making sure the Pi symbol is centered.  Trim off most of the excess freezer paper.
Dab your paint into the gaps in your stencil.  Be sure to tap up and down, not side to side so that the paint doesn't leak under your paper.  I usually use regular acryilic craft paint because that's what I have on hand and it my experience it works well and ends up with a slightly textured distressed look.  Using fabric paint will also work well.  

Peel of the freezer paper and let dry COMPLETELY.

Once your design is dry, iron the pumpkin shape onto your T-shirt.  (By the way, I check out the racks at Goodwill for plain, good quality shirts every time I go.  It's usually cheaper and better quality than shirts from a craft store, as long as you're selective.)  Tuck the stem piece under the pumpkin slightly before ironing.  Iron thoroughly to get it to stick.

Stitch around the edge of your applique to secure the edges permanently.  (You can buy Heat'n Bond that does not require stitching, but I don't recommend it.)  I don't do anything to secure the ends of the thread because I don't want extra thread to show.
Instead I leave long tails of thread.
Pull the front thread around to the back.
Then tie the ends together in several secure knots.
And trim.
It looks perfect on the front and your thread won't unravel.
Then put your shirt on your cute baby...or bigger kid...or even yourself.

And if you're the type who likes the number Pi as much as we do, you might want to check out this post with more shirt ideas and other Pi fun.  I'll have it updated with a few more activities in a day or two.

And if you love math enough to consider making a Pumpkin Pi Onesie for your little one, you'll definitely want to enter my current giveaway for a Pi Necklace from Boutique Academia.  The giveaway is open until March 18th at 12:00am.

Please show my sponsors some love...
Southern Cross Necklace from Boutique Academia
Fibonacci Necklace from Boutique Academia
Pi Necklace from Boutique Academia

I'll be linking to:

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12 comments:

  1. Almost Pi Day already??!! How time flies. Thanks for the cute project on such a darling boy.

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  2. My engineer husband would have decked our babies out in this little outfit every day! So cute!

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  3. Thanks for reminding me about Pi Day! Now to try and make some shirts!

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  4. That is ADORABLE!! My husband and I get into Pi day, we are both engineers and love math. My brother-in-law is a math teacher and I made him this cake , with Pi included of course! :)

    New follower from Sarah Lynn's Sweets!

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  5. This is too much!! I LOVE it :) I am going to have to reproduce this pumpkin pi shirt :) We are starting a link up party on Thursdays (today:), and we would love for you to join us with this post and/or any others you would like to include. We are at allthingswithpurpose.com. Hope to see you there!!

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  6. This is adorable! I would love for you to join the Pinworthy Projects link party! http://www.atkinsondrive.com/pinworthy-projects-link-party-week-10/

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  7. This is supper cute!!! <3 it! (I found this on the "or so she says" link party.

    XXOO
    Kristy @ 3 Peppers Recipes (for life)

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  8. Very very cute! I have a friend who will LOVE this! I'd love for you to check out our Pattern Party! Those with patterns and templates to share are invited to link up!
    http://getyourcraptogether.blogspot.com/search/label/Pattern%20Party

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  9. That is so cute! My husband is a math teacher, so he would totally love this. I could even make him a matching t-shirt. :)

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