Hungry Hungry Hippo with Frances Suzanne

Today’s guests are more new friends from my days with Project Run and Play! I can’t wait to meet these follow Alabamians one day! The ladies at Frances Suzanne make the most precious clothes for their nieces! Amazing work! To me it reminds me of the south and the clothes I grew up in.  I am so jealous about how beautiful all their piping is! They also run a really fun series on their blog, Flip This Pattern. I love seeing what everyone creates from the different patterns! Be sure to check them out!

Welcome Ashley and Emily!

Hi, I’m Feelin’ Crafty Readers!! We are thrilled to be joining you in the “Sew Ready to Play” series, and are thankful Louise challenged us to once again get those creative juices flowing….while producing a garment, based on a theme. In case you aren’t aware of us {or what we do}, we are two sisters that sew for our other sister’s children – three girls, ages almost 4 to newborn. And, if you like what you see….we welcome you to follow along on our many sewing adventures as we work to create some unique and special garments for our nieces.

A few months ago, we introduced EA and CL to the “Hungry, Hungry Hippo” game….a LOUD, childhood favorite of ours. Yes, the original game…from our childhood. You’ve got to love those colors, don’t you?!?! Well, CL FELL IN LOVE with it! As in, she asks for it whenever she comes to visit…

Ground rules have been established: There is absolutely no playing of the game when anyone is asleep in the house, and all marbles must be accounted for upon completion of the game. Oh, and to start the game we all throw our hands in the air to get started {keeping it fair for anyone trying to get a “head start!”}.

After YEARS of game play, we have ALL our marbles {literally, not figuratively}…..save one. Pretty impressive, huh?? Still, to incorporate that little trivia fact into our dress, the green hippo is sans one marble button. Technically, it might have been because Jo-Anns had no more button “marbles” left after we passed through a few weeks ago, and they hadn’t restocked yet. BUT, the story sounds so much better :).

So, about the dress…. We began with the Oliver and S, Roller Skate Dress {size 18-24 mo}: A COMPLETELY “flippable” dress {sewn once before with minor flips}, but for this one we left it practically as-is and detailed instead.

“Color-blocked” piping was added around the neck and sleeve edges. While we LOVE adding piping to garments, we had never tried a “color-blocked” affect. Super easy, and super satisfying!!

“How easy?” you might ask. SIMPLE!! Follow the directions below to make your own color-blocked piping. Choose your colors, choose your width….and you have yet another way to make a garment completely unique…

We then reverse appliqued four “Hungry, Hungry Hippos” along the hem of the dress {using this tutorial}….mimicking the game board, and positioned in the same order. Each hippo had a little top-stitching detail added, as well as two button eyes for good measure.

Then, five button “marbles” were added beside each one – with the first “marble” being placed on an additional black tab. Again, just like the game board!

What did CL think?? First…she thought they were owls {??? Monkeys maybe…but OWLS???}!! Just keeping it real, people :).

But after further inspection, she noticed the “marbles” and then recognized the dress as the “Hippo Game” dress. YAHOO, and SUCCESS in our books!!!

Our only regret: not being able to incorporate the hippos’ names within our design. Classic, huh? We especially find humor in the pink hippo’s name: Harry!!!

Currently, we are bucking for CL to be the “Hungry, Hungry Hippo” game board for Halloween. What do you think? Would it pass inspection in your neighborhood??