Ash Ketchum's Pokémon Journeys Backpack • Recycled Materials Notes

 

Outer shell: 

Green material and carrying handles: $1.99 grocery tote

Black material: Leather from a broken office chair

Logo: Free rubbery fabric swatch that came with something I ordered

Inside lining: Black satiny fabric from an evening gown

Ash Ketchum Pokémon Journeys Costume

Here is a little guide I put together in case anyone wants to make an Ash Ketchum costume:

Ash Ketchum Outfit:

Cap

Ash has a red baseball cap with a white bill.

I used a red baseball cap and painted the bill white. For the logo I traced the image off my computer screen to make a pattern and then cut it out of black and green felt. I stitched it on with my sewing machine, which was a challenge, but it can easily be glued or hand-stitched to the front of the cap.  An embroidered logo would look great too! 

Shirt

White cotton t-shirt in a thicker weight with a painted red stripe.  Mask off the stripe with painter's tape and insert a piece of cardboard inside the shirt to prevent bleeding to the back of the shirt. 

Vest

Blue vest with yellow twill tape stitched on as a trim.

Gloves

Black fingerless gloves with stretchy red cuff fabric.

Shorts

Blue shorts with black stripe on side.  I just used jeans because it was chilly out, but blue shorts with a stripe of removable matte black tape or 2" black cotton twill tape added would work well during warmer seasons.

Footwear

Black sneakers with white string/shoelaces in an X and blue gaffer's tape for the blue details.

I haven't personally tried the gaffer's tape, but it is supposed to come off easily without leaving a residue unlike duct tape.

If you are going all in... I also saw that you can order custom shoes!

Ash Ketchum Backpack:

Outer shell: I cut apart a green bag that I purchased for $1.99 and upcycled black leather from a broken office chair seat.

This green canvas fabric looks like a good color match and weight and can be combined with black canvas/leather/faux leather for the base of the backpack.

For functionality I added a zippered front and side pockets and also added in the original shopping bag handles.

Lining: I used some black satiny material from a party dress that I had no chance of fitting back into. Black ripstop would be a good choice if I were going to make something similar again. 

Zipper: I used a 18" purse zipper in black. The on screen zipper looks light gray like the buckles and extends all the way down to the black part of the bag, so depending on the size of your backpack, you might be using something like a 27" zipper. 

Logo: I cut the logo from a black, non-fraying material using the same pattern pieces from the hat. I had a square sample of rubber-ish fabric in my stash that I was able to use. 

Black Straps and Silver Buckles: I used 1.25" cotton webbing but any 1"-2" polypropylene webbing will work fine too with coordinating silver slider buckles.

If you don't want to make the backpack from scratch, you can customize a green backpack like this one –

Extras:

This Pokémon Poké ball tin dents easily, but it still makes for a decent prop. 

...and don't forget your best buddy Pikachu!

Storage Bag for Clover Mini Iron

 

My first attempt at doing a triple zipper. My seam ripper got a lot of action during this project, I kept sewing the pieces together in the wrong direction 😫. I also had to attach the iron to the outside because it was just a bit too large to fit inside. I’m storing the cord inside the middle pouch, so I guess it worked out okay.

I watched this YouTube video a gazillion times to help create this- https://youtu.be/7tlPLdkFz5k 

Now that I have the general idea of how to make one, I'm excited to make other ones in different sizes.

First Attempt at Tufting

Reupholstered my kitchen chair with a stretch velvet, which is probably just suited for Christmas dresses for 5-year-old girls, and some vintage brass buttons.  Documenting it here before it gets covered in Nutella fingerprints and spilled milk. 

House slippers for my son made from cotton twill cat fabric that I designed a few months ago.  I might remake these (for myself) with some interfacing, lining and stiff heel support. I upcycled his underwear elastic for the green band around the ankle :)

Testing out a piping presser foot with some recycled gift bag handles and scrap wool felt. I am thinking this would look cute as a pocket detail.

Upcycled jeans marker and pen case

This case was made out of my husband's jeans, some Mod Podge, and an Amazon cardboard box. I made the markers from a kit I purchased on the Crayola website (Crayola Marker Maker kit refill), so much fun to mix the colors, I want to make more!!

Découpage canvas

My first try at découpaging paper napkins to a piece of a scrap canvas. I love how it looks like it is printed directly on to the canvas!

2 designs added to my Spoonflower shop

Lollipop Panda and Black Sprinkles on Mustard. I had these printed on satin fabric and they came out like silver and gold.

New Timmie Tadpole jackets and coats in the works

Mickey Mouse testing out a wool coat with pom poms

Art Supply Tower

I've added an ink penthouse to my art supply tower. Acrylic drawers purchased from Muji and The Container Store. Love them.

Easiest way to repair shoelace tips (aglets)

For these shoelaces I used clear 3/32" heat shrink tubing, a hair dryer, and tweezers to prevent burning my fingers.

1. Cut the desired length of tubing
2. Slip shoelace inside
3. Hold lace with tweezer
4. Apply heat with hair dryer

So fast and easy! The shrink tubing is great for quick fixes of crushed plastic aglets, to shorten your laces or to make custom laces out of other cords or ribbon. I am going to try the colored tubing next. Thrilling! 

Reconstructed headphone ear pads

Reconstructed using a swatch of organic cotton jersey of my "tribal lines" print. 

Above is a pic of the UrbanEars headphone ear pads taken apart. I reused all the components other than the top fabric with the peeling paint. These ear pads are great because they click right back in easily.

My son thought I was making donuts while working on this :), so keep away from hungry toddlers.

Slipcover for child's sofa chair

I made this slipcover last year for the P'kolino Little Reader chair.  Very wrinkly from a year of toddler abuse but overall in decent shape still.

DIY bow tie to match adult sneakers

I painted a small piece of canvas with acrylic paint to match my new minty green sneakers. I attached the bow tie to my son's shirt with a piece of elastic that I made a little slit in and looped it around the first button near the collar.

New to me - scallions from sprouted red onions.

 I chopped some with celery and pepper for a vegetable cream cheese. Yums.

Cupcake dinosaur cake

Inspired by this one - http://www.mycakeschool.com/blog/dino-is-ready-to-party/

Milk of Magnesia deodorant

This totally works!* One pump per pit and you are good to go! 

Update: 1. I switched from Phillips to a version that doesn't contain bleach (sodium hypochlorite) 2. Don't use a pump, the liquid will dry up and clog the pump. On Amazon they sell empty roll on deodorant bottles that would work much better, but I've just been pouring some out a little at a time in the cup provided and using my fingers. 

*as good as other natural deodorants I've tried.

Elephant Garlic

One clove!

Time to make the (mini) donuts

Playing with my new toy from my sis-in-law! Banana walnut donut with cinnamon frosting. This donut machine will definitely be a fast track to a full spandex wardrobe. It is dangerously easy to make sweet treats!

Hand modeling courtesy of hubs.

Recycled calendar -> gift wrap

Old calendars make awesome, thick wrapping paper for small items.

First art supplies for baby

Hopefully we can do some collaborations soon. From Norman & Jules in Park Slope.

From my grandparents garden

They both have passed away within the last three months but their legacy will continue through the garden.

Finally using up my washi tape

Apple from Battleview Orchards in NJ

Homemade apple sauce. Found BPA free lids from Ball.

Finally some selection! The guac is for me :)

What to do with stained baby clothes?

Chop it up and make a new outfit!

This is my first sewing project with recycled NiNi clothes. A onesie hybrid with Mickey Mouse inspired buttons :). This project gave me the idea to cut up my own clothes and make stuff for him instead of buying new things, using his existing wardrobe as the base pattern. Baby clothes stress me out, such limited time usage and then you wonder everyday if you should save it in case another baby comes along.  I won't feel bad about reworking the stained clothes or my clothes though, so this is the start to some fun times at the sewing machine. Naps and grandparent babysitters permitting.