Introduction: Reflective Dino Hoodie
Transform your regular hoodie into a reflective dino hoodie and be more visible at night! With some reflective spikes that use the amazing high-tech retroreflective mojo developed by 3M you'll be much easier to spot. In a city where the drivers are a bit crazy and any edge helps to avoid being run over these just might save your life!
Or help you look a bit goofy. That's worth something, right?
Thanks to Rachel for sewing advice.
Step 1: Get an Old Hoodie
This hoodie has been great for me. I failed to return the favor and during a big wheel race I tore a big hole in the back.
Ah well, now I have an excuse to rip it up even more in the name of science!
Step 2: Tear It Up
The hoodie itself here has two layers. The inside gray layer and the outside black layer. I ripped the seam of the gray layer and then pulled the back out through this opening and ripped up a lot of the back layer that way.
I was more concerned about the way the black layer would look an no the gray. SO I was pretty careless about the gray and took my time ripping the seams of the black layer.
Step 3: Start Making the Spikes
The spikes for the hoodie are sewable 3M reflective fabric. You can buy this in 1, 2, 4, or 6 inch widths. This stuff is 2 inches wide. I wanted to have a spike be about 2.5 inches wide on the bottom so I planned for a 3 inch wide triangle since some of it gets sewn under the fabric.
Long story short, cut a 6 inch piece off.
Step 4: Fold, Draw, Sew
Fold the fabric back over itself, draw on a triangle, and sew it up!
The folding and drawing are as easy as you'd imagine, but be careful with the sewing. Go nice and slow so it doesn't get bunched up.
Step 5: Cut and Turn Inside Out
Trim off the excess fabric and use a dead pen or a popsicle stick to turn it inside out.
Step 6: Stuff It!
I grabbed a small amount of polyfill to give each spike a bit of volume. How much you use is up to you so keep trying different amounts until it has the right fullness.
Step 7: Sew Back In
Here's the hard part. You want to sew the hoodie back together with the spikes inside it. You make a sandwich with the two pieces of the hoodie with the spike in the middle. Then you carefully sew it all together.
It helps to pin everything in place. These two shots show the hoodie/spike sandwich and the inside after all of the spikes have been sewn in.
Step 8: Sew Up Other Layer
Now sew up the inside layer and you're done! You can make this look nice and pretty or messy. It's up to you.
Step 9: Wear It!
If you want some help being seen at night then throw this on when it's dark out.
This is not the best for riding a bike, since you should be wearing a helmet. However, once off the bike, I've found this helpful for crosswalks at night.

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Light Up Your Ride
19 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
You did the same thing as penandsword. Dont steal, man...
12 years ago on Introduction
Haha thanks!! i made a dino hoddie!!! its awesome!!!
13 years ago on Introduction
As soon as I find a donor-hoodie, I will make this >:D
13 years ago on Introduction
you said you found the 3M in 6 inch strips, can i ask were id purchases these? nice 'ible btw!!
14 years ago on Introduction
I love dinos and not being hit by cars!
14 years ago on Introduction
I would run around like a dinosaur :D
14 years ago on Introduction
I would totally rock that
14 years ago on Introduction
That's awesome! But i think it should be a color more different then black. I mean its dark at night.
14 years ago on Introduction
Arch your back and then... and then look back at me, mean. Like a... Like a dragon...
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
interesting...
14 years ago on Introduction
Like Big Earl says, "you are a very convincing dragon"!
14 years ago on Introduction
caption contest please?
14 years ago on Introduction
slick and sleeck
14 years ago on Introduction
RRAWRRR...that means i like it in dinosaur...
14 years ago on Introduction
dude. nice. i might just try this
14 years ago on Introduction
5*/fav/vote Awesome!
14 years ago on Introduction
Great work! different, but still tame.
14 years ago on Introduction
Hahaha That is so cool !!! 5*
14 years ago on Introduction
Awesome!