A challenge: what can I make with an old dressing gown belt?

[vvviola]

The backstory is here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2150031-AIBU-to-consider-cutting-up-DDs-comfort-object?

But long story short: I need to make something cuddleable from an old dressing gown belt so that DD2 can take it away with her instead of us having to lug a massive dressing gown around with us.

I have basic sewing skills, but that's it.

So far, the best idea is to make a snail. But she doesn't particularly like snails.
(Things she does like: dinosaurs, diggers, princesses, cows, fairies, minions... she's got interesting taste!)

Can you crafty people help me as my imagination and google skills have failed me (and I ended up with some pretty dodgy pictures in one of my pinterest searches!)

[Allalonenow]

You could make it into a rose cushion. Get a cheap cushion, velvet or satin, look at places such as TK Max etc.
Chop the belt into four sections, roll each one up, to resemble a rose or a rosebud, tack together at the base, then sew firmly onto the cushion.
You could add more roses in another fabric to match the cushion if you wanted to.

[IScreamForIceCream]

An octopus? Blob for the body, belt cut into 8 for the legs. Blob can be dressing gown, or something else.

[IScreamForIceCream]

Could you make it into a crocodile? A long thin one. Maybe you can find a long thin dinosaur.
Embroider on some teeth, eyes etc in white, and do some ridges or spines in another colour.

What material us the dressing gown, and could you open out the best to have a double thickness?

[Allalonenow]

Or get a cushion in a contrasting fabric, place the belt, cut up if required, to form your DD's name or initials, tack or pin in position. Use contrasting embroidery silks to whip stitch the belt onto the cushion.

Or even simpler, get a cushion with a picture she likes, princess or fairy etc, appliqué strips of the belt around the edge of the cushion as a border.

[IScreamForIceCream]

this is a bit miniony. Could you sew strips of belt into an easy shape and give it cute features?

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

You could make a small cushion, cut the belt into shorter lengths and sew them on the cushion.
Could be gathered so looked like frills.

or a round cushion with the belt in a spiral.

[vvviola]

Wow! Some brilliant ideas, thanks!

The material is that soft fleecy stuff, so should hopefully be a bit forgiving of my lack of sewing skills. I think it could open up, so would probably be about 10cm wide.

I like the cushion ideas, but it needs to be something very portable, that can squash into a bag for when we're travelling and leaving the main dressing gown behind.

I've just realised that I can remove the pocket from the dressing gown which gives me a wider square of material - so the octopus idea might work...

[Allalonenow]

Sounds as though you've still got the whole dressing gown?

Spread it out, and using the part with the pocket on it, cut a large oblong with the pocket central but towards the top. Hem and gather the fabric into a little drawstring bag, with a ready made pocket.
Have a look at Pinterest or Etsy for shapes etc. your DD will have a soft little bag to keep all her special treasures safe, also from YPOV very transportable.

[vvviola]

Oh yes, we still have the dressing gown - it's DD2's comfort blanket. She sleeps with it, cuddles it, hides under it. Cutting it will not be countenanced.

But equally, I'm not dragging an adult sized dressing gown on the plane for an upcoming trip.

So the idea was to make something cuddly from the belt (and maybe pocket) and she could bring and cuddle, without having to do anything to the big dressing gown that she can still have when she's at home.

[RockinHippy]

I would make a cuddly snake - get some nice soft toy eyes, the cat ones would work here, or some silly googly ones & a bit of felt to make a tongue

open up the belt

Maybe shorten it a bit. - maybe ask DD how long she wants her snake

Taper one end to a long point - when inside out, sew down the long edge to close the snakes body

Turn inside out, stuff with kapok or similar

Take one piece of another complimentary woven cloth for the underside of the head.

Lay the pocket & this fabric together & cut it into a snake head shape, with seam allowance

Cut felt snake tongue shape, slightly longer than needed

Fix the eyes in place - maybe add a bit of embroidery to the face too if you are confident enough - couple of black nostrils at least

Pin tongue in place & sew the head together inside out

Turn through - stuff & attach to the body

If DD is old enough not to chew it, maybe think about adding a length of the plastic covered gardening wire through the body so she can bend & shape her new toy as she likes :)

Good luck

[RockinHippy]

Or make it a but shorter - add legs in the contrast cloth & make a lizard instead

[steppemum]

Could you shorten the sleeve? That was the dressing gown is still intact, but you get a nice piece to use.

I would recommend not stuffing it, but going more along these lines
flat bunny

or this
flat cuddly

easier for packing, and keeps the soft foldable texture of the dressing gown

[vvviola]

I didn't quite manage octopus - it's a bit more like a squid

Hopefully it will do the job and she'll like it...

[IScreamForIceCream]

I LOVE IT !!!!

He looks ace. And very happy.
And I am honoured that you chose 'my idea'.

[YesIDidMeanToBeSoRudeActually]

That looks ace

I remember your original thread, hurrah for a happy outcome, you will have to let us know what she thinks!

[RockinHippy]

:) very cute