Give a favourite toy a makeover with this smart set

What you need...

• Patterned and plain cotton fabric
  Thread: machine, hand sewing
  Clear or narrow elastic
  Sewing needle

instructions

1. Waistcoat - 1. Using the templates provided on the pattern pages, cut out two front panels and one back panel on the fold. All seam allowances are 5mm unless stated otherwise. Sew the two front panels right sides together onto the back panel only, joining the shoulder seams.
   
   2. Pin the waistcoat out flat onto a large piece of cotton fabric and cut it out. Sew the long neckline seam only, then stitch the bottom of the back waistcoat panel. Finally, sew the armhole edge only, so the four side seams remain open.
   
   3. Cut into all curved edges, taking care not to snip through your stitches. Use a safety pin or loop turner to help pull the front panels through the shoulders and out of the sides to turn it the right way around.
   
   4. Press flat, then press the back panel side seams inside by the 5mm seam allowance. Tuck the front panel side seams inside the pressed back side seams and pin. Use a needle and thread to sew the side seams together using a ladder stitch.

2. Bloomers - 1. Using the templates provided, cut two pairs of trouser panels from your chosen fabric, with a 5mm seam allowance (unless stated otherwise). Sew two pieces, right sides together, along the curved crotch seam, then repeat for the other pair.
   
   2. Lay the two pairs on top of one another, right sides together, and sew the outer side edges only. Use an iron to press a small 5mm rolled hem onto both bottom edges. Sew into place. Repeat the small hem around the waist.
   
   3. Zig zag stitch with clear elastic along the bottom two edges just above the hem. Pull the elastic taut as you sew so it gathers up. Repeat the elastic around the waist in the same way, overlapping the start and finish. Sew the inner leg seam, right sides together. Turn the bloomers right side out and finish.

3. Necktie - 1. Cut a 6cm x 45cm strip of fabric; all seam allowances for the necktie are 10mm (unless stated otherwise). Fold the strip in half lengthways and pin. Draw a curved edge on each short end, 10mm away from the open long side, that finishes at the fold.
   
   2. Sew the curved edge along the long open end and finish at the other curved edge, leaving a 5cm gap in the centre of the long edge. Trim any seam allowances and cut the curves before turning right way out through the gap. Press flat and sew up the gap by hand with a ladder stitch.