So.....I saw an idea...a brilliant idea. I thought to myself....my big sister Lizzie would LOVE that as a gift. The only problem was, it was something made for a toddler boy.

For the original idea pop over to ...urm....ok, I can't find it, great start. However I must have read it pretty thoroughly because I remembered how to make it out of my head. Then last week I came across Just Another Day in Paradise who'd also made some dino hoodies. It seems Lizzie's going to be super fashionable among the under 5's this Christmas!

Anyway, here's the hoodie without her in. I'll get a picture of her in it one day I'm sure :)

Fortunately for you blog readers, Lizzie doesn't celebrate Christmas so happily indulged my need for her to open it early so that the surprise isn't ruined. Fortunately she loved it!

Anyway, there are a ton of tutorials out there on how to make this dinosaur hoodie but seeing as I took photos as I went I thought I'd do one too.

First purchase a hoodie. I went for a plain black one after weeks and weeks of fruitless searching for a striped one.

Next make yourself a template. I used a square of 4 3/4" paper, folded it in half then drew a diagonal line from the top corner to the centre ending up with a template like this:


Next you want to cut it out on the fold. (Put your 4 3/4" edge on the fold).

I cut out a total of 8 spikes but only used 7.


I started on the hood as it was lined and I thought it would be a pain. It wasn't but it wasn't as easy as the back.

Lay out your opened triangle on the centre seam, pin and sew. I used tailor's chalk to mark the centre of my triangle so that I sewed it on straight!


Once that's sewn on, remove the pins and put the two sides of the triangle together, pin and sew around the two sticky out sides. I know, real descriptive. Here's a photo to help!


You won't be able to start and end right next to the hoodie fabric but that's ok, just remember to backstitch at the start and end of your stitching and you'll be fine. When you get to the point, lower your needle, lift your presser foot and turn til you're facing the right way. Lower your presser foot again and away you go.

Here's what it looks like when the two sides are sewn.


I did three on the hood and then laid out the hoodie to mark the centre of the back as there was no seam. It would look a tad odd if there was a centre seam down the back. Anyway, I laid them all out together and pinned the spikes on. Then I sewed it all in one go backstitching at the start and end of each spike, lifting my presser foot and moving to the next etc. Then I went back and snipped all the threads after it was done.


Once you've sewn the open triangles to the back then you can pin them together and sew around the outsides like so.

Yes, it is the same photo, well done for spotting my duplicity :)

That's it really,, just as easy as a toddler sized one but probably no less delight for the recipient!

My favourite part about this present was that everytime I went to wrap it up I tried it on 'one last time' and couldn't stop giggling at myself in the mirror. I folded it all up nicely so that when Liz opened it the hoodie looked like a plain black hoodie. It was only when she unfolded it did she realise the special extra she got with it!

If you make one yourself let me know, I'd love to see pictures :)

Samantha xx


At home with Mrs H