DIY Animal Hoods

Has anyone seen these hoods?  I am gaga for them.  I want every single one.  Did you hear me? Every single one.  

I tried my hand at making my own cheap knock off.  Yes cheap, as in looks as cheap as it feels.  But oh, they turned out so cute.  Cheap and cute.  I still want a Spirit hood and imagine it feels like silk and real fur all mixed together (I do believe theirs are acrylic though...but probably high quality acrylic and not the sale bin at Joann's).

All you need is: a couple hours, preferably kid free because they will interrupt you a lot and want you to make other things instead...put the cat out too because she will sit on whatever you are trying to work on, and a room you are OK with destroying because it will get super messy.

Supplies needed:

felt (or any other easy to sew material...I used felt on the kids and thrifted polyester on mine because I new it wouldn't bunch up with the fur)

fur and lining 1/2 yard to 1 yard of each (I had a ton leftover)

felt or any fabric for embellishments

needle

thread

scissors

pins

sewing machine

hooded sweatshirt - the size of the person you are making it for.

 You can see I changed up my lining.  I really wanted to use this fabric but didn't have enough.

 Simply trace the hoodie part and at the nape (where it would sit around your shoulders) cut in a few inches and then continue to cut all the way down the length of the sweatshirt in a straight line to the bottom of your sweatshirt sleeve.  This should give you an accurate spot for little pockets.    You could do it another easy way too...measure.  I don't like to measure though.

 This is what it should like.  

Your pieces will include:

2 pieces each of the lining and fur in the shape of your hood.  

4 pieces of fur in the shape of ears (round for bears, triangles for cats and so on). 

 And 2 smaller pieces of felt or lining fabric for the inside embellishment of ears.

2 pieces of the fur and 2 pieces of lining for the pockets.

If you want to add paws...or little triangles for nails cut duplicates as well.

 add your paws or nails to the bottom of the right side of lining.

 add the felt to the inside of your ears (on the fur side) and stitch together the pockets...lining + fur right sides together.

 stitch the back side of the hood only of both lining and fur right sides together.

after adding your embellishments stich ears right sides together.

 cut any excess fabric on the outside of stitches.

 turn everything right side out.

pin ears on the fur and stitch them in place.  Also add pockets to bottom of "sleeve" (lining side facing fur) and stitch the sides and bottom only.

 Pin right sides of lining and fur together and stitch everywhere EXCEPT back of hood (neck).  This is where you will pull everything through.  I left about a 12 inch opening to make it easy.  Once everything is pulled through stitch the back of the hood shut.

 bottom part.  Pockets are on the other side.

 Wear it wrapped around like a scarf.

 Or draped around you shoulders and stick your hands in the pockets.  Have fun.  If you make one I would love to see it!  

Next up...making an abominable snowman for my son.  He thinks the bear is wack.

Linking up here.