I realized this morning that not only do I have to make three desserts before Thursday, but my daughter does not have a Thanksgiving outfit! I can't let her go through her first turkey day improperly dressed. A cursory look at available outfits did not satisfy the image I had of her staring longingly at the loaded table, and I was not going to spend $30 either. Hence this DIY project was born out of scraps I had around the house. No shopping required!

In this project I'll cover
*copying a pre-made onesie to make your pattern
*creating a unique design with fabric paint
*making your own bias tape
*putting it all together

Required Materials
*1/2 - 1 yard fabric for garment depending on your babies size
*1/2 yard fabric for bias tape, preferably 100% cotton
*small bit of tulle netting
*1 piece of printer paper
*permanent marker
* fabric paint
*iron
*sewing machine

Step 1: Creating the Onesie

Fold you fabric in half and place your onesie on the fold, backside down. Trace the back of the onesie, twice. The front side of a onesie is the same but with a deeper neck and shorter bottom flap. I used tailor's chalk, but whatever you want to use as long as it washes off. Tracing the arm hole can be a little tricky. You can use a tracing wheel and paper for an exact curve, if you like.

My example onesie has pointed overlapping flaps at the shoulders instead of a straight seam, I chose to just cut straight across because my purple fabric was not long enough, but if you want to copy this feature: measure how far the wing extends past where the garment naturally folds (the shoulder seam). continue your side seam that distance and simply curve your line back to meet the neck curve, just like you would do when copying the crotch of pants. This your way you do not have to awkwardly move the garment to trace the design feature.

Trace the sleeves on the fold, twice, just as you did for the front and back pieces

Unfold you two large cut fabric pieces and pick the front piece. Lay your cut fabric under your onesie front side down. Trace the deeper neckline and the shorter bottom flap of the front. Now, as you are going to put bias tape on the bottom and neck edges, cut right along the edge of your pattern onesie at these spots, but for the side and shoulder seams leave at least 1/3" of seam allowance.

Step 2: Adding the Design

Find a design your wish to paint. I searched thanksgiving coloring pages for a turkey. Print the design on regular paper, sized to fit your garment. You will have to flip the image if there is any writing or lettering involved.

Take a piece of tulle netting and a permanent marker. Laying the netting on your image trace it with the permanent marker. Now lay the tulle on the fabric and trace the marker with tailor's chalk or any fabric marking tool.

I then painted over the chalk lines with black fabric paint. Let dry for AT LEAST 4 hours! Then come back and paint the rest of your colors in. Let dry at least 4 hours, overnight is best.

Step 3: Bias Tape

To make bias tape you must first decide how wide your tape will be. I made double folded 1/4" tape, so my fabric was 1" wide. If you want 1/2" wide tape, you fabric will be 2" wide. basically whatever the end result width, multiply by 4. The bias is a diagonal cut on the weft and straight grain of the fabric (it goes from right to weft ;-p).

Measure 1" strips for 1/4" tape and sew the strips together by alternating the diagonal cuts, you want the cut ends to overlap in a V. Place right sides of fabric together there is also a good tutorial here for the continual spiral technique (http://www.fiber-images.com/Free_Things/How_Tos/free_how_to_make_bias_tape.html).

Fold your bias tape in thirds and press. Or!! (the following technique I didn't learn about until after I made my tape)

To fold and iron the strips, if you do not have the nifty little tool. Place a long needle on your ironing board so that it pierces the fabric in two places. The space in the middle will be the width of your single fold bias tape. Fold your fabric and pull it under the needle and under your iron. Continually pressing the fabric as you pull it through.

For double folded, fold in half and press again.

Step 4: Sewing the Bias Tape

I cheated in how I sewed my bias tape since it was so small in width. Generally you unfold the tape completely and stitch right sides together, then refold and over stitch the opposite side.

To cheat you simply plop the fabric in the middle of the double folded tape, pin securely and sew close to the edge. Check the back side to make sure you caught both sides of the tape! If you miss a spot, just rip that section and re-sew.

I sewed my bias on before sewing any other seams and I like the edges to be encased.

Step 5: Seams

As my garment was very stretchy and I have no serger, I combined a zig-zag and straight stitch for all y seam then clipped the fabric close to the seam.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

Sew the sleeve as usual: turn sleeve inside out and place inside the garment with right sides together, use pins to evenly space the sleeve cap through the hole and sew.

Add snaps, either sewn or pointy prong style to bottom flaps and voila! A completely one of a kind Thanksgiving outfit!