The Love Bug Will Get Ya!

Well if she can put down the cereal for a hot second that is.  In celebration of Valentine's Day coming, I decided I had to turn my little lovey into a sweet love bug this year.  Way better than Cupid (and probably less embarrassing to look at years later).

I started with designing a special little Love Bug Hat complete with heart-tipped antennae.  Made from cuddly fleece, it's become a favorite winter hat too.  I love how the antennae stay up so it's just as fun from the back as it is from the front.  She actually brings it to me to put on her and the smiles & comments we get when she wears it in public are just priceless.

I made one of those super cute, super easy no-sew tulle tutus everyone's always making (the one where you cut some strips of tulle and knot them onto a bit of elastic).  Then I came up with this little felt applique design to put on a plain onesie so I could put together a whole outfit.

Here's how to make the applique:

Start with these basic shapes cut out of some felt:

Pin the big hearts onto the onesie with the ends meeting and, with a sewing machine (or by hand), sew them on near the raw edge of each heart with pink thread.

Stitch the small heart onto the body piece just before adding the body and the head on over the wing hearts with red thread.

Then stitch on the heart tips for the antennae, hand embroider the eyes with french knots and hand stitch the other details with backstitches in red floss.

I put the onesie, tutu & hat on my little girl and presto!  She's turned into a Love Bug:

The Love Bug Hat as been getting us a lot of attention when we go out.  We had a few errands at the grocery store, Target, etc. today and 5 separate people stopped in their tracks and complimented her little hat.  Two asked me where I bought it!

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