Light Covers

Welcome ghouls and goblins, to a special Halloween project at Urban Threads!

This week, I’m going to show you a few ways you can spook up your Hallow's Eve celebrations with our very special stuffie monsters.These little guys are fantastic multi-taskers, because not only do they work as little stuffies, but they also work fabulously as monster lights!With a few modifications you can turn your machine into a monster making factory, the likes of which would even make Dr. Frankenstein jealous.

Grab your monster and a set of string lights (make sure they’re for indoor use so they don’t get hot), and lets get started...

First, we don’t want to be sewing monsters until the witching hour, so let’s speed up the process a bit.

We’ll be using the smallest size of our little stuffy monsters, and even on my little Futura I can fit three to a hoop.Simply select your design, and copy paste as you would in any other program.Make sure you leave a little space between your monsters so you can cut them out and have a little extra room.

If you’re able, you can save even more time by rearranging the steps your machine takes while sewing.Instead of sewing each monster out one at a time, set up your stops so it sews all the outlines, then all the eyes, etc.You’ll save yourself a few color changes that way.

Now, choose a fabric that’s sturdy and won’t fray, but isn’t too thick, because you want light to be able to shine through it.Test your fabric by holding it over one of your lights.Lighter colors work best.I discovered felt is especially good for this project.(Yeah, I know that’s not felt I used.What have I told you before?Do what I say, not what I do.)

Hoop up your fabric with some tear away stabilizer.We want as little as possible between the light and the fabric so it shines through brightly, so we want to be able to remove our stabilizer when we’re done.

Set your machine to sewing.All we’re stitching right now is the front of the monster.You can see that my machine is stitching all the outlines, then all the eyes, then all the mouths, so I don’t have to change my thread as much. It saved me a lot of time.

Little ghostie pumpkin is especially enthralled by this process.

While your monsters are stitching, it’s a good idea to cut out their little appendages while you wait.My little resident zombie helped.You can print the templates if you like, or create your own.These are your monsters, after all.Let your inner mad scientist take over.

Once your monsters are done sewing, un-hoop them and cut them out.Leave about 1/4 inch around each monster so we have room to sew them.

Turn your monsters over and carefully remove the stabilizer. Don’t tug on the little guys, you don’t want to hurt them or disturb your stitches. Just because they’re monsters doesn’t mean they don’t have feelings. 

For the backside of your monster, you can either stitch out the other file, or, since you’re making loads of monsters and want to save time, you can just cut out a piece of the same fabric roughly the same size as your monster.

Monster seems to think it’s a good idea. Heck, he looks positively thrilled. Then again he’d look like that if you told him Halloween was canceled.He has a very limited range of emotions.

Flip your monster over and tape his appendages in place.Nothing fancy, we just need them to stay in place when we stitch him together.

Now pin him back to his fabric, and carefully cut him out, making sure to cut behind the appendages.It wouldn’t do your monster much good to lose an arm.Be sure to keep at least 1/4 inch around your monster so we can stitch him together.

Repeat as necessary in order to create your army of monsters until you have enough to take over Tokyo or at least fill up most of your lights.

How many monsters you need or want is up to you.Some string lights, especially those that already have some sort of cover to them, usually have less lights per string.Normal lights will have more.As with all lights, don’t leave them on for hours unattended.It’s not a good idea to leave monsters unattended anyway.

If you’re really worried about heat, grab a set of LED lights. They cost about the same and don’t heat up at all.

Now, to finish off your monsters.Follow the already stitched seam, but leave a 1/4 inch gap at the very top your monster’s noggin’.You want to be able to fit the light inside but keep it in there snug.Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam.

Your monster should look a bit like this, with a nice big hole where is brain should be.(He won’t be a target for zombies at least).Test one of your lights to make sure it fits inside his head.Snug is good. If it’s too loose, stitch it a little bit smaller.

To secure your monster lights, take a piece of your monster fabric and cut a small strip.Glue one side to the inside of the opening, and slip the light inside.

How you finish the strap is up to you.If you want permanent monster lights, fold the flap over the light string and glue it back inside.If you want removable ones, so you can change them in and out, use a small piece of Velcro on the other side instead.

You don’t have to use a strip if you don’t want, as long as you made the hole snug they actually stay on by themselves, but they won’t stay put if tugged on.It all depends on how permanent you want your monsters to be.

Continue until all your monsters are happily hanging out in their new lighted home.

Plug em in, turn off the lights, and let the monsters shine!Now you have your own custom, handmade string of monster lights! And who doesn’t love monster lights?

Use your awesome little glow monsters to add spooky ambiance to your Halloween festivities. You can stitch your monsters any way you like, giving them all different colors, appendages, and personalities.Make more every year and soon you’ll be able to light up the night with monster’s galore.

But wait, that’s not all these little monsters can do for you this Halloween... 

These monsters also happen to be perfectly sized to make a spooky set of finger puppets!

Using a non-fraying fabric, like felt, make your monsters as you did above, except when you stitch them together, leave an opening at the bottom instead of the top.

Presto!Instant finger puppet madness!Delight the little ones with monstrous puppet plays, or give them out as treats to the pirates, mummies and ghosts that come about looking for sweets this year.You can even fill them with pieces of candy first!

Have fun crafting up all sorts of Halloween goodies this year! And have a...