First Project- Cyril the Skull

Everyone has skeletons in their closet but at least try to make them smell nice,  This one contains cinnamon & clove, but you can use pretty much any herbs you would like*. Cyril resides with my suit, something that doesn't get worn often so keeps it from smelling musty between wearing**. So here is how to make it;

First step is to draw a template for the skull by making a sort of reverse question mark shape with a line at a right angle from the bottom. I have used a leaflet sent through from my local Tory MP, well I had find at least one good use for him, it appears that his leaflets make good templates.

Then fold the pattern down the open end & cut out so it creates a symmetrical skull shape & cut out

Unfold & pin it to the fabric, in this case it is an old cotton shirt that was a victim of colour run & cut out using dressmaking scissors.

Then make a second template in a circular shape, cut out & pin it onto to some black felt & cut out & repeat so you have two eyes, unless you want a cyclops.

Pin the eyes to the fabric, evenly spaced apart & sew on using a simple running stitch of black thread securing it with a knot at the end, this will now give you a front & a back of your skull fabric.

On the narrower part at the bottom of the piece sew a line using black thread, in this instance I have used embroidery thread using back stitch. Then after sewing that line, sew vertical stitches over that line to give him his teeth securing at the end. Then sew two vertical stitches between the eyes & the teeth to give him nostrils. (sorry I forgot to photograph this bit, predominantly due to a schoolboy error of not realising I hadn't done it before moving onto the next stage & then having to awkwardly fit it in after the next stage which is doable but not recommended)

Sew wrong side to wrong side using white cotton, but leaving enough of a gap at the bottom to stuff with stuffing. (Must not mention sage & onion, must not mention sage & onion, must not mention sage & onion, DAMN IT!). Then turn your skull the right side out. 

Put some cinnamon & cloves in a piece of muslin & tie up into a pouch & gather up the corners of the fabric & tie into a pouch. You will not need much of either of the spices. Start stuffing it with your stuffing then put tin the pouch of spices in the middle of the stuffing.

Sew the bottom up, using a hemming stitch. Tie it off & trim the threads 

Onto the back of the skull sew some ribbon, making sure it is secure again trimming off any threads.

And there you have it one sweetly smelling skull, Sorry for the wonky stitching I am still very much a novice & I didn't pick the best material to use for the project due to its rather awkward weave.

* Using sandalwood may resort in you being called a hippy. Using hemp may lead to hippies wanting to smoke your clothes.

** This is not an excuse not to get your suit dry cleaned when it needs to be.

Gender Politics of Sewing

I would hope that it would go without saying that although my blog/projects will be aimed at the more masculine end of the spectrum, they are not exclusively for men. they are just ideas that you could give as presents to guys, but if you are a woman who likes skulls, dinosaurs, spaceships & the like feel free to do them. The Western civilisation is aiming too much towards pink, princess & cupcake domesticity at young girls at the moment & breaking that mould I think is very much a good thing, especially seeing as though some of our top palaeontologists have been women, the first Britain in space was a woman & anything that can promote that openness should be welcomed by people rather than swept under the carpet. I don't believe that there are such things as girls & boys activities, just activities.

So the point of this blog is that quite often the sewing kingdom in publishing is aimed at women. I have found that most publishing on this subject may do a passing nod at men but perhaps only one or two projects if we are lucky & having been to fabric stores, haberdasheries etc, found the range of patterns for men is frankly lacking which is disappointing as well as frustrating. I would like to create something that is not as drab & uninspiring as the options that are generally available. Although I doubt this blog will change that. I would like to draw attention & hopefully provide some inspiration as well as hopefully getting some more guys sewing. 

Hello

So I am embarking on a new chapter in my life as far as being more creative goes. I am an amateur when it comes to most crafts but I am giving stuff a go. I felt that after last Christmas when nearly everything was home made I thought I will explore things further. Later in the year I will be having sewing machine lessons off my mum, which kind of terrifies me a little as I am cack handed when I try to use a sewing machine trying to guide the material with the wrong hand which means my fingers get bashed , this will be a habit that will hopefully change over time. In the mean time however I will be doing some hand sewn projects.

Along with this I will be adding other crafting jobs & recipes in with this as I love cooking, card making, gardening etc so it won't all be sewing pics. I decided to start this blog as a separate one to my Pagan Chaplain one as the content of it is of a different tone.