Tying Fabric Belt

I always have issues with fabric belts that are too long, especially if there is not a buckle. Like on this coat, I don't like how it's tied:

Thankfully I saw this little one loop trick (thus can't take credit for it), and I am a huge fan of it already:

I made a video on how to do it:

Good luck!

M&M Costumes

For Halloween this year, I made M&M costumes for my husband, Boo, and myself!

Materials:

String

Sharpie marker

 Pencil

Scissor

A piece of regular printing paper

Felt in M&M colors of your choice

(Don't forget white felt for the "M")

Batting

Hot glue gun

Sewing machine 

(Although sewing is not necessary; you can use Steam a Sem)

I got everything from Joann's. I believe the felt material was about $2.50 per yard, and I used a coupon (20% off entire purchase), so it was a great deal. I got 1.5 yards for one toddler, and 3 yards for one adult. 

Boo was purple, the Husband was yellow and I was green M&M.

Let's get started.

Take a string and tie the pencil on one end. With it, measure your toddler from the top of the shoulders to the waist. Add about an inch to the length and mark it with your Sharpie.

Tie the Sharpie on the other end of the string, and cut. 

You will use this as a compass to draw circles.

Fold your felt material in half (so you get 2 circles with one cut) and lay it down. Hold the pencil down on the fabric, making sure you have enough to go around, and trace a circle with the Sharpie. Cut out and you will have something like this:

You will need two more circles with the felt, and again with the batting, but this time, they will be about 1.5 inches smaller. So shorten the string and repeat the steps above.

You should have 2 bigger felt circles, 2 smaller felt circles, and 2 batting circles.

Take one of the bigger circles and lay it over the toddler. You want to roughly mark the areas you need to sew with a Sharpie. You want to leave holes for the head/neck, arms and legs. 

Pin the other larger circle onto this. I know it's a little hard to see, but this is a sad looking diagram I drew for you. It indicates the holes (don't sew there!) and black lines to sew with a 1/4" allowance, or as close to the edge as possible: 

After sewing, turn it right side out, and you will get this:

Have no fear! It doesn't look like much, but it will be perfect in no time! 

Cut and trim as needed - and something I discovered -  the trick is to cut the neck and leg holes a bit straighter...less of a circle. When the toddler puts it on, it will create more of a curve. Trust me. It will make complete sense. =)

Now you will create a sandwich of: felt - batting - felt. 

So, turn the sewed circle inside out.

Lay a batting on top.

Lay the smaller felt circle on top of the batting.

Hot glue the smaller felt circle onto the sewed circle. The glue and batting inside will stiffen the felt in general, and will keep the M&M round shape better. Repeat the "sandwich" on the other side. Turn right side out. You're almost done!

I went online and found a picture of the "M". I traced it on a printing paper, cut it out, traced that onto the white felt, and cut out.

Hot glue the "M" in the middle of the circle, making sure the head/neck hole is up and the leg hole is down.

Ta da!

You now have the cutest M&M running around. =)

Good luck!