antennae, a la The Tick

Dedicated to those who have always wondered what it is like to wear the tights of justice.

Materials:

- fabric (if using extremely lightweight material, use interfacing) and hood or toque to attach antennae to.

- 18 gauge wire

- needle nose pliers

Step 1:

Cut 4 rectangles from fabric about 1.5" by 6.5" (or desired size).

The photo shows an extremely professional and not at all crayon silly illustration of an approximated antenna shape. Cut the rectangles to match the shape shown on the left hand side.

Step 2:

Put two antennae pieces together right sides out. Top-stitch along the edges of antenna, leaving the bottom inch or so unsewn (this part will be inside of the hood). Repeat for remaining two antennae pieces.

Step 3:

Cut two 10" long piece of wire and use your pliers to make a small loop on one end of each wire. With the loop end first, insert a wire into an antenna. Then, sewing slowly and being very careful not to sink your needle into the wire, top stitch the antenna to form the divisions between the little knobbly things (um, sorry. Vocabularly fails me here. See picture.) Repeat for second antenna.

Step 4:

Cut a 1.5" slit in the hood where you want your antenna to stick out (cut it horizontally to the hood edge so the antenna faces outwards, not sideways.) Push the antenna through the slit from the inside of the hood.

When positioned just right, tuck the edges of the slit back under. Pinch these edges together, with the antenna sandwiched between, and stitch 1/8" (or as close as you can) atop the slit. Round the seam to sew off the edges of your pinch to avoid puckers on the top of you hood. This will close off the slit with the antenna being held in place (again, careful of the wire). Repeat for other antenna.

Step 5:

To secure the antennae vertically, the remaining 3/5" of wire is bent into a flat spiral and stitched flat against the hood. Use your pliers to bend the wire as it emerges from an antenna at a 90 degree angle. Shape the remaining wire into a spiral that will lay flat against the hood. (Form a small loop on the very end to avoid having the wire's raw edge poke into your head.) Since you did not sew up the very bottom of the antenna, the spiral will separate the fabric and hopefully everything will stay unbunchy. (Which is a word. Really.)

Once you are satisfied with the placement, put a few stitches in by hand to secure the spiral flat against the hood, while the antenna remains vertical. Repeat for other antenna.

Line the hood to cover the wire spiral. Your antennae will remain upright, manipulatable, and lightweight.

Step 6:

Spoon!

P.S. I also suggest you wash garment on delicate and hang to dry.

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