Hoppo Bumpo (n): A children's game. Played by folding one's arms and hopping on one leg. Aim is to bump opponents, so that they lose their balance. Last person standing wins.


August 12, 2008

Beary tricky



Yesterday I set out with Argy and Bargy to do the week's grocery shopping and when I came-to, I appeared to be at the cutting counter in Spotlight with a basket of goodies. Funny, that.

Amongst the purchases was a small stack of wash cloths at bargain basement prices. Just right for turning into washcloth puppets. I saw the idea for a very cute frog washcloth over at Tin Can Canoe over the weekend and thought I would try and follow the linked tutorial, which is on Cut Out And Keep. Being as I had rather a lot of brown washcloths, it seemed that a bear might be in order.

Now the tutorial is very straight forward, but as usual I managed to complicate things in a way that only I can. As I cut into my super-cheap wash cloths, I noticed that not only were they shedding terry toweling everywhere, but the fabric appeared to be imminent danger of out-and-out disintegration. Right-o, I thought, I can fix that with my trusty overlocker. In fact why don't I just sew the whole thing with the overlocker. It seemed a good idea at the time.

So it came as a bit of a surprise to find that the overlocker really didn't like several thicknesses of loopy, falling-aparty towelling bears ears with their dangerous curves. I got away with the first ear, but the second one was sucked into the overlocker. I couldn't believe the mess - it took me half an hour to extract the ear and the huge tightly wound knot of thread. All the while Argy was yelling excitedly pull, pull, pull, Mum. I virtually need to put my foot on the machine to help lever out the fabric and thread mess.If I'm going to have a sewing accident, its always going to be a big one!

Anyway, tempted as I was to throw in the towel .... or wash cloth, even .... I persisted with the serging and the end result is Grubby the Bear, a pal for bathtimes at our place.

14 comments:

  1. Grubby looks cute! What a great idea. I fear if I do something like that for baths, the kids would want to stay in there forever!

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  2. Grubby is so beary beary funky and practical too, thank heavens you didnt throw in the towel. Geez you make me laugh and I am sucker for a good pun - I am still giggling at a message you left for me a few weeks ago that told me I was a "sewing machine"!

    BTW Spotlight is evil I tell you, e.v.i.l. - enter only at your own risk.

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  3. beary cute! (my attempt at bear humour) But seriously, he is cool! Well done on not throwing said overlocker out the window.

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  4. very cute - I hate it when I have an altercation with the overlocker. Glad you won yours!

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  5. Love Grubby the bear! They would be great little gifts for little ones.

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  6. I am laughing as I am reading this....I know I shouldn't....well done in hanging in there until the end
    sharon

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  7. He he he, it's amazing how you were magically transported to Spotlight...great story and what a cute little beary hand puppet!

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  8. Grubby is great! I too sometimes awake to find myself in Spotlight - it's very strange!!

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  9. He is so sweet. I admire your bear toweling commitment, I fear I would of thrown my bat and ball and gone home. My little guy loves Spotlight, he thinks it is the best carpet shop he has ever been to and they see MM's - sweet.

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  10. Hey - he is super cute!! I bet he's a huge hit in the bath, very well done, he's worth the sweat and tears.

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  11. Grubby is too cute, and what a memories you will have when you use him. Way to keep going and not give in when your overlocker conspires against you!
    Lisa

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  12. Last time I bought bathtowels, they were cheapies from Spotlight.

    Lasted about a month before they looked absolutely ratty and threadbare.

    I've learned my lesson :p

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  13. Love, love, love it!! Totally made me smile... Bears and Tigers and Lions are in the bath - Oh my :)

    Very cute & I hear ya about the shedding terry... I've had the same issues a few times.

    Sergers Rock.

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