I feel like I released the Women’s Hero Vest so quickly after I released my Scout pattern that I haven’t had enough time to give Scout all of it’s glory – so here’s a post dedicated to Scout!
I sewed this Scout set for Lil during the testing phase of the pattern. She chose the skirt fabric and I found some other fabrics in my stash that went with it to make the sweatshirt from. The sweatshirt fabric is a french terry knit I’ve had in my stash for years so I was happy to finally put it to use! I wanted to do something to jazz up the front of the sweatshirt but wasn’t keen on applique. Instead, I dug out my paints and freezer paper and made myself a big love-heart stencil. I don’t have a big range of fabric paints (okay, I only have black) so I mixed silver paint (nothing special, just kids acrylic craft paint) with some fabric fixative. If you are not familiar with fabric fixative, it is a runny liquid that you mix with regular paints to make them washable when painted on fabric. After the paint has dried, you need to heat-set it with a hot iron for about 5 minutes and then you are supposed to be able to wash it without running or washing away. (Here is a link for more information, I bought mine from Spotlight years ago.)
I’ve used this fixative a few times and it has worked really well in the past. I was a bit apprehensive about mixing it with metallic paints and I had to paint about 10 coats onto the fabric before it finally stood out and didn’t seep into the fabric and disappear. Because the paint is so thick, the painted heart area of the sweatshirt is pretty stiff and creases easily but it has been washed quite a few times – and even dried in the dryer a couple of times and is still nice and crisp!
I really like this sweatshirt and it looks great with a pair of jeans too.
These Scout skirts are a tried and tested favourite in our house. I love them because they are super fast and easy to make (the longest step is hemming that long circular hem, but you could always leave it un-hemmed if you couldn’t be bothered) the whole skirt is finished in about 30 minutes. I also love them because knit fabric = no ironing! So they can speed through the wash and back into the wardrobe without being stuck in the ironing basket for weeks on end! Lil loves them because of the comfort factor, fun fabric choices and of course…awesome twirlability!!!
The Scout skirt is a great project to sink your teeth into if you are just starting out sewing knit fabrics and feeling a little fearful. Here is a gorgeous version of the skirt one of my pattern testers, Gail made for her daughter. I need to get me some of that fabric – so pretty!
And that ends my little tribute to Scout!
SUPPLIES: Make It Perfect, Scout pattern // {Sweatshirt} Lilac french terry knit // black ribbing // {Skirt} Lillestoff knit Butterfly Woman in Lilac // black jersey knit.
