Thanks to Fairfield World for providing me product and compensating me for this post. All ideas, patterns, opinions, and enthusiasm are entirely my own. This post contains affiliate links.
My oldest daughter was introduced to the Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger a year or so ago and they quickly became her favorite books (even surpassing Harry Potter for her.) She's been sharing them with her friends ever since discovering them and asked for a Keeper of the Lost Cities theme for her recent birthday party. The Keeper of the Lost Cities books have interesting girl and boy characters and Harry Potter fans looking for a similar (and yet very different) series will love these books. I can definitely see more Keeper of the Lost Cities projects in our future.
This is the author's rendition of Sophie and Ella. (Lots of Shannon Messanger's Keeper of the Lost Cities Character Art can be found on her blog here.)
Regular blog readers will know I can't pass up an opportunity to give encourage reading and give bookish gifts, so I made her and Ella Elephant. Ella is Sophie's (the main character) stuffed elephant that is one of the only possessions she brings when she has to leave her human family to join the Elvish world to which she really belongs. Ella is described as a bright blue elephant with a Hawaiian shirt and she shows up in multiple books as a comfort to Sophie, and Sophie has a hard time sleeping without her.
Not being able to find any Ella patterns or Ella ready to buy, we made our own.
Here's what you'll need:
- 1/2 Yard bright Hawaiian Fabric
- 1/8 yard Structure One Sided Fusible Interfacing from Fairfield World
- 1 Blue Elephant - This pattern is made to particularly fit this elephant.
- 2 Copies of Each Pattern Piece - Ella Shirt Pattern 1 - Ella Shirt Pattern 2
- Buttons (optional)
- Sewing machine, thread, pins, and an iron
Directions:
Print out your pattern. (2 each of Ella Elephant KOTLC Shirt Pattern 1 and Ella Elephant KOTLC Shirt Pattern 2) Be sure your print settings are set to ACTUAL size to make sure your shirt fits.
You'll need to print two copies of each piece. Cut one copy out. Flip it over, and tape to the second piece at the blue lines.
Fold your fabric and line the pattern up with the RED line lined up with the fold. Do NOT cut the red line side. Cut around your pattern.
Cut Structure One Sided Fusible Interfacing to go inside color. Iron in place to WRONG SIDE of fabric according to manufacturer's instructions. You should end up with pieces that looks like this.
Fold over the raw edges of the sleeves 1/4 inch twice and iron.
Topstitch to hold in place. You should now have two pieces that look like this. With RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER, pin shirt together at sides.
Stitch with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Clip arm pit corner.
Matching centers, sew collar to the neckline of the shirt with 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Fold seam allowance under and topstitch so collar will lie flat.
The finished shape of the shirt will seam a bit odd, but it should fit your elephant well.
Hem the bottom of the shirt by folding under 1/4 inch twice and stop stitching. Repeat with the two front openings of the shirt.
If desired you can embellish with buttons and if you really want to go the extra mile, you could add button holes. I add a couple of buttons for looks, but didn't bother with button holes.
