Make this badge for your super hero - instructions to follow

A couple weekends ago, my husband and son went to Ikea for D and Daddy Day as we like to call it. I was happily creating when I got a phone call. My very shaken husband was calling to tell me how he had just saved our son’s life!

A piece of broccoli got stuck in D’s throat. After rubbing and patting his back, D was still struggling for breath and turning red. Super Daddy forced his finger(s?) into D’s mouth, found the stuck food and scooped it out. There was sick everywhere, and crying. A few people came to help clean up. By the time I was hearing about it, D was clean, dry and playing with the toy kitchen, perfectly fine. Super Daddy on the other hand, was going through that belated cornucopia of emotions that always hits after big events.

(As an aside, what an interesting behavioral phenomenon, eh? We are programed to stay calm and deal with the situation and then fall apart once all is well. I wonder if this is what caused things like P.T.S.D.?)

Once I got over my own reaction, I felt the need to do something to honour my husband. I don’t tell him what a great father his is nearly often enough and that day especially, he really needed to hear it. I knew he would never wear a super-hero cape so buying one from Jenn at playmemamacrafts was out (maybe in a couple years I’ll get matching ones for D and Daddy). I was inspired in that direction though, so I started thinking about a badge. I’ve been pinning transfer methods on pinterest and Interweave Magazines (I forget which issue – I signed up for a bunch of their newsletters). Frequently, people were talking about how to print onto fabric using an inkjet printer. This made me lament my choice of printer for a few minutes (I have a laser), and then decide to try it anyways. Here was my chance. I figured if I used thin, well-ironed fabric it just might work.

Iron fabric. Tape top and bottom to a piece of printer paper.

Centre the text so you know it will be on the fabric, not the paper.

To my surprise, it worked! (Sorry about the picture quality though.)

I cut around the printing, being careful not to touch it (it did smudge a little). Then using yarn and large running stitch (the in-out stitch) I secured the fabric onto a spare piece of triangle felt I had. You could use any sturdy fabric. I like felt because it`s so easy to sew into.

For the ribbon, I used this great purple ribbon that came from around a box of holiday chocolates last year. Anything would work though. I tied mine on through the back of two of the bottom stitches, but you could easily use a safety pin or glue.

My husband was pleased to have this, and has placed it right above his coat-hook so he sees it every day.

Now I have to figure out what to do about Father`s Day! What are your plans? Are you making something, shopping locally, or going somewhere interesting?