Bring On The Rain: Twister Mat Raincoat Upcycle

I wish it would rain! The skies keep rumbling with sounds of thunder, and clouds grow dark, but nothing happens. We want it to rain so Little Miss can play fun games outside in her new Twister mat raincoat.

 

Ever since I made my Twister Poncho a few years ago, she has been asking for her own. I resisted until now because my poncho was large enough to cover me and both kids easily. 

 

Everyone is getting bigger so it was time to make hers. I have been steadily collecting Twister games from resale stores when I come across them. They are available in retail stores, but you can't beat a resale price and opportunity to upcycle an item that may be one step from the landfill. I needed two for my adult poncho and two for hers, but one would have enough for her. I chose two because of design decisions I made. 

I used Simplicity 8305 for this project because it didn't require much modification to make it a raincoat. It is a combination of view A and C with modified the pockets.

Working with the Twister mat requires a bit more focus and a few more tricks than working with fabric. You don't want to melt or tear the plastic. Ripping seams due to mistakes will result in many perforations in the seams so I had to take time. This was not a fast, complete in one sitting make. It took about 2 days of work to come together and we love the result. 

• Toss it in the dryer on express cycle with a damp paper towel to get the wrinkles out before cutting. Check periodically to make sure it isn't too hot. 
• When pressing during construction, press the lining side with a low iron
• Underline the Twister fabric with lining fabric so they behave as one. I used four colors of thread and my serger for this. 
• Use clips instead of pins to hold the fabrics together
• Sew with jersey/ball point needles or any with a fine point

I learned  a lot from making the poncho for myself and customers. I took those lessons and added fun touches to this raincoat.

Little Miss is enjoying a summer of color with purple dyed hair. I took advantage of her love of color and added them every chance I had.

The first added color feature is multi-colored bias binding with rainbow color thread stitching

To make the multi-color binding:

• Begin with purchased extra wide double fold bias tape
• I cut 12-inch sections of all of the colors
• Open the ends and pin, right sides together, raw edges even
• Stitch the ends together
• Press seams open
• Refold along original foldlines and press

To that, I also added mismatched buttons and button loops

Alternately placed bias-trimmed pockets   

                                   

I really like the three-part hood of this pattern. It allowed me to showcase key aspects of the game mat.

A "Stockin' Feet Game"

                                                     

 "Twister"                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

                           
 "The Game That Ties You Up In Knots"

                                                                                                                                                                    

I am ridiculously thrilled with the lining fabric and how perfect it is for this project! I love the primary color hand prints on this fabric that I got at an estate sale. It is perfect for a Twister raincoat!

     

It is hurricane season in Texas, so I know the rains will come. In the meantime, a little plea to the sky cannot hurt right?

      

 Well, that didn't work. We will enjoy the sunny day anyway.

Happy Sewing,
Bianca

Twister Rain Poncho Using Simplicity 6630

I'm sure it's a great game, but I have never played Twister. I was recently given the game by a friend who was decluttering. I opened the box, saw the fun polka dots and felt the feel of the plastic. I immediately knew my non-playing Twister streak would continue; it just screamed protective rain gear! The plastic would be a perfect and the fun colors would brighten my spirits on a cloudy rainy day.

A single play mat is sufficient yardage to make a raincoat or small poncho depending on the pattern layout and design taste. I really wanted to maximize the "Twister" text and to be certain I had more than enough "fabric",  I sought out a second mat and got to work.

I have many good candidates in my pattern stash for this project. I was anxious to get started so I decided on my Simplicity 6630 reversible poncho pattern. I know it works and it was already cut. 

I made a few changes to the original design. Here are the construction elements:

• I choose a tone on tone cotton fabric for the lining. After cutting the Twister fabric out I serged the individual pieces to the matching lining pieces. With right sides together, I  stitched all but the top together then turned and pressed the lining side with a medium heat setting. In doing this, I finished the edges and added weight to the poncho.
• Omitted the center back seam.
• Installed a separating zipper to the front
• Secured the sides with black heavy duty snaps
• Added a pocket on the right side, camouflaging it somewhat in a green polka dot. 
• Positioned the hood to accommodate the word Twister only partially maintaining the back seam of the hood. 
• Lined the hood with the Twister fabric so it is visible when flipped down.
• Topstitched the outer edge of the entire garment securing the lining to the plastic. 

The interior seams were mostly sewn on my serger with a basic four-thread seam. The machine sewing was done using a ball point needle to minimize damage to the plastic. When possible, I stitched with the lining fabric on the bottom to prevent feeding issues with the plastic. I was able to use my general purpose foot with no problem.  

Open

Pocket

Side Snap

Zipped

Back

 

I ran a few errands wearing this today. If you are shy, do not make this; it is an attention grabber! Delighted people stopped me everywhere I went paying me compliments. I walked past a comic book store and heard a guy yell in a booming voice, "Awesome! A Twister Poncho! I want one!"    


***Update*** I am making another using the modern McCalls 6209. I will share the changes I made when I am done. 

Stay dry and Happy Sewing,
Bianca

The Season of Sentimental Sewing

Memory is a powerful thing. Every time I smell Peach Nectar by Bath and Body Works, I am immediately transported to Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. I wore that fragrance during my semester abroad more than 15 years ago. My mind is flooded with  feelings of adventure, freedom, curiosity and joy I experienced. The flashes of memory are always surprising in their vividness and the pleasant feelings they evoke.

We all have these sense memories and at times, long to recapture feelings brought by positive experiences. I was recently commissioned to make a garment that reminded the client of the love and care her grandmother imparted in a "Little Red Riding Hood" cape she was given as a child. I was nervous to take on a project loaded with such sentimentality, but I was willing to take the risk.  For this project, I had several cape patterns from which to choose and she decided on retro Simplicity 6630.

                   

                   

We considered, wool, fleece, and microsuede as fabric choices and decided on red microfiber for the exterior. This pattern is designed to be reversible though she did not want contrast. I chose a red cotton broad cloth for the interior.

                   

Here is Ann in the completed cape. She loves it and says it does the trick. It is like the cape from her childhood made with love by her grandmother. I see that smile on her face and I can imagine her as an adorable six-year old with a pretend basket of muffins. :)

Her enthusiasm about her cape was palpable. Her joy was overheard by a passerby wanting to give that feeling to others. That person commissioned me to make two more to be given as holiday gifts! I got busy and made them!

Black, red and grey plaid with cranberry interior.

                   

                   

                   

                  

Grey and white Hounds tooth with a Panne velvet interior. 

                   

                   

                   

                   

and one for my sister in a print exterior and denim interior. 

                   

                   

                    

Whew! I am beat! Making a reversible garment is like making 2 garments at once and requires twice the time. Having satisfied recipients made it worth it. I have written a review of the pattern that you can read here.

Have done any sentimental sewing? What did you make? Have you received a treasured garment? What was it? Who made it?

Happy Sewing,

Bianca