Kids' Art Smock made with reusable shopping bags: a tutorial

Last week, I gave away a handsewn oilcloth art smock. 
Did anybody notice all the bias tape binding on it? 
Would you like to make your own?



You can make this with any material (preferably something waterproof and wipeable).  Oilcloth can be hard to find and doesn't have a huge variety of prints (that I can find).  Laminated cotton is just super expensive for a project that is going to be used for kid's art!  So...I opted for those cute, cheap shopping bags they now seem to sell everywhere!

This smock has a pocket with spaces for all your "arting" materials.



For this project you will need:
one patterned reusable shopping bag
5 yards 1/4" wide double-fold bias tape (make your own following this tutorial!)



Step 1: cut off the sides of the bag
 

Step 2: cut the top and handles off the bag
 

Step 3: fold the bag, right sides together
 

Step 4: trace and cut out one front, one back and one pocket piece
(pattern here)
To print pattern, select "actual size" and "poster" to tile pages.  Overlap at least .5".
 

Step 5: sew binding to top of pocket (see here for how to)

Step 6: pin and then baste pocket onto front of smock
mark the pocket binding in fourths  (hard to see my pins in the photo!)
and sew straight down, making sure to backstitch at the top edge

 

This is the back side of the front - you can see the stitching much better - basting around the edge, and three sewn lines to create four pockets
 

Step 7: sew binding around back opening
 

Step 8: sew shoulders, making sure to backstitch at beginning and end of seam

Step 9: measure 7" from one end of bias tape
at the 7" mark, pin to one side of neck
 

Step 10: starting at end of bias tape, stitch bias tape together and then continue past pin to sew bias tape around neckline.  Continue 7" beyond back opening edge (where bias tape overlaps).

Step 11: Cut four 10" pieces of bias and sew along each long end
knot one end of each tie
sew to smock about 3" above pocket binding on front left and right
sew to smock back, matching placement from front ties

Step 12: starting at the bottom center back, sew bias tape around bottom, up side, around armhole, down front side, across front bottom, up other front side, around other armhole, down back side and finishing at starting point (see here for how to finish).  As you sew, make sure you encase the ends of the four ties.

It should look like this when done! 


 Now, try it on your little ones and see what they choose to create! 

 

 

 

 

 

Show Me a Story Book Review and Giveaway

 

 When little E was a baby, I met a very talented crafter at a local fair.  Emily and I quickly became friends, and she was a source of crafty inspiration for me. 

Five years later, Emily has combined her creativity, teaching background, ability to inspire and personal love of story to create Show Me a Story: 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children's Storytelling.

It is filled with ideas for parents, teachers, caregivers and anybody who loves children and stories.  Emily offers engaging crafts and activities for all ages to nurture children's storytelling.

  

 The girls and I were fortunate to join Emily at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art to make a project from her book.  We made Memory Cards.  Little E's first card was of a horse, a story long-forgotten in my mind.  It was enlightening to see her artistic rendition and hear her story of what must have been an important event for her. 

Here is our collection of memory cards when we were finished.  Can you guess which one the three year old did?  I think her story will be about creating the card, and I know Emily will be thrilled that the project inspired a story for little A.



The same joy and love of stories Emily exhibits in person is what makes her book so unique and a must-have!  (This is Emily looking at little E's horse memory card.)



Another wonderful thing about Show Me a Story: 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children's Storytelling is that Emily suggests ages for each project and activity.  Little A and I enjoyed collecting rocks one morning on our daily walk.



When we got home, she LOVED painting them and creating the Magic Pebbles from Emily's book.  For A, I think the magic and stories come from having a special project she could do herself.  Still, I can imagine her hiding these around the yard and pretending to be a fairy.



As the resident 5 1/2 year old, little E creates detailed works of art, and is starting to tell stories to accompany them.  After perusing Emily's book, she wanted to create the Traveling Puppet Theater. 



Like the other projects, there is as much story in the creation as there is in the final product.  Little E created her idea of Rapunzel (and was clear that the only puppets she wanted to make were Rapunzel and her mother - should I be flattered or worried?) and loves the power she has to tell and create the story to fit her ideas, loves and fears.

I love that Show Me a Story: 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children's Storytelling has projects and activities the girls and I can enjoy now, and so many more we can look forward to in the years to come.

I can't wait to hear what stories A and E come up with next!

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Now that you've seen what a lovely book this is, would you like a chance to win a copy?

Leave a comment telling what kinds of stories you prefer hearing or telling.  Is it mystery? fairy tale? fable?  Be sure to include your email!

Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will run through Friday October 12th at 12 p.m. EST

You can also visit the Storey Publishing blog for a list of book reviewers (and a few more chances to enter and win!).

And, because I know your children will want to get their storytelling craft on after seeing this book, I am giving away this handsewn oilcloth smock to one other lucky winner! 

 

Good luck!