Dragon Tee Tutorial

Earlier this week, I shared some photos of these tees I made my boys with the amazing custom Fire Scales Fabric from Rumpled Stitchings flash preorder (Closes 15th April 2017, be quick!) and had so many requests for the pattern name that I agreed to upload the templates I used along with instructions to my blog so you can make your own! My boys have literally worn these solidly since the photos were taken and I'm pretty sure your little people will love them too ;)

*** PLEASE NOTE ***
​ It is ESSENTIAL you check your local laws and make sure they fully comply whether gifting or selling.  EG. In the UK these would class as dressing up and need CE testing & marking etc and as the maker that is your responsibility. Alter the templates as needed to comply.

Materials List

• Jersey knit fabric as per your pattern requirements plus extra.
• Scraps of fusible interfacing or stay tape for stabilising purposes
• Suitable sheet wadding (I used 270g weight)

Tutorial

1. Start with a well fitting t-shirt pattern which includes a hood with a centre seam. (I used the MBJM Hot Chocolate as a base pattern leaving off the bottom band and making the sleeves short in length)
2. Print the templates below for the wings, tail and spikes or draw your own, altering to ensure all requirements are met for compliance & law purposes
3. Prepare the back pattern piece.  a) If your pattern piece is a 'cut on the fold' type piece, you don't need to do anything here, instead when cutting, simply move the pattern piece slightly away from the fold of the fabric and cut 1cm away from the edge of the pattern piece on the edge you would usually line up with the fold.  b) If you have a full pattern piece for the back, draw a line down the centre back, then another one 1cm away on either side marking that line with the words, 'cut on fold'. Cut down the 2nd line you drew and discard the side without the centre back line and then do as described in 3a.
4. From main fabric, cut 1x Front, 2x Back (mirrored), 2x Sleeve (mirrored), 2 x Hood (mirrored), 2x Wings (mirrored), 1x Tail
5. From Lining fabric, cut 2x Hood (mirrored, optional but looks best), 2x Wings (mirrored) and 10x Spikes (5 pairs mirrored)
6. Apply 1.5cm wide lengths of interfacing to the back pattern pieces, the entire length of the centre back raw edges.
7. Using a 1cm Seam Allowance, sew the wings, tail and spikes by layering wadding, main fabric right sides up and lining fabric right sides down, leaving the shortest sides (the one which will be attached the top) unstitched.
8. Trim seam allowances on all sewn edges, clipping and notching curves and points where needed.
9. Turn all pieces the right way out, using your fingers or blunt object such as a chopstick or lidded pen to gently push the edges out
10. Baste closed all the open edges with a 6mm seam allowance.
11. Draw then sew or freehand sew the 'veins' to the wings and tail.
12. Construct the outer hood. Lay 1 hood main piece down, right sides up. Arrange 3 'spikes' around the hood with raw edges matching and ensuring the spikes are facing the right way. Lay the second main fabric hood right sides down on top, matching raw edges and pin or clip all 3 layers together. Sew with the pattern specified seam allowance.
13. Construct the back. Lay 1 back piece down right sides up. Arrange the wings right sides together around 1/3rd down from the top matching raw edges, then arrange the 2 remaining spikes equally beneath the wings, raw edges aligned. Lay the 2nd back piece down on top, right sides down, raw edges matching and pin or clip entire seam. Sew with a 1cm seam allowance. 
14. Sew the back, front, sleeves and hood together as per the pattern, hem the sleeves, stop before sewing the bottom hem.
15. Lay the t-shirt down with back facing up towards you. lay the tail on top, right side facing down, aligning raw edges with the bottom raw hem and centre back seam (tail will go upwards and point towards the hood, tail lining will be the side you see). Pin or clip and sew tail on with a 6mm seam allowance, sew again with a 15mm and then a 25mm seam allowance.
16. Fold tail down and hem the whole tee with a 25mm seam allowance
17. If regulations allow it, tack down the wings at the sleeve seams.
18. You're Done! Upload a photo or link in the comments!

Templates

Click HERE to open the templates up, then print at 100%.