Why do wings have straps

If you happen to have your wing recipient handy, it really is a good idea to try the wings on to get a perfect fit. Try not to tighten the straps too much, as they have a tendency to ride up if the elastic is too tight. The adjustable snap method is a wonderful idea if you don't have the recipient handy, the wings will be shared by multiple children, or wings will be worn over different weights of clothing.

This is another step that really helps to stabilize the wings and add structure. Sewing the spine involves stitching through a lot of layers. If you're having difficulties, try starting the spine seam down a bit from the top part of the wings - don't try to start stitching right from the top, because the seam allowance is too thick here.

What worked for me was to start around the mid-point of the spine, sew down to the bottom, pivot, sew as far as I could to the top sewing over the loop piece as described in the instructions , then backtack to secure the seam. After sewing the body, there are a number of ways that it can be sectioned. I chose to use perle cotton, wrapped tightly to give the head some definition, then stitched in a criss-cross pattern to add a decorative element. From the side, you can see that the body is hand-stitched to the wings and any knots from sectioning the body are nicely concealed by the wings.

Here are my completed wings, modelled on a fall day by my 8 year old. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories.

According to aerospace engineer at the University of Toronto, Chris Damaren, your potential solution looks something like this: "The length of each wing length needs to be at least the length of the body of the reindeer," he said. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. More From Flight.

T ake your time and really work the wing edges by rolling them back and forth between your fingers to ensure that they are properly turned out and will sit as nicely as possible.

Once you are satisfied with your wing-turning, it is time to press. Again, this step requires taking some time to do it well. As mentioned in the pattern, pressing helps to compress the batting and firm up the wings - they really start to take shape here. Apply firm pressure as you iron and press down in one spot at a time, rather than swishing the iron back and forth.

When topstitching the wing edges, go slowly around the curves. For sharp curves like the wing tips and Luna tails, I find that it works best if a do a couple of stitches, stop with the needle down, lift the presser foot, and adjust the angle of the wings manually before continuing.

If you're sewing through a particularly thick spot, it may be necessary to hand crank for a stitch or two. This is where all the trimming we did previously really helps. We now have wings that are beautifully-turned, pressed, and topstitched! We'll be back soon with Part 4 of the Wings sew-along, allowing time to approach the tasks in Part 3 at a fairly leisurely pace.

We'd love to hear how things are going! Our sewing patterns embrace simple, step-by-step construction and the timeless charm of natural materials. Try Us Free. Children Our children's patterns are gender-neutral and created with all children in mind. Goals for Part 3: Sew straps if you haven't already Baste straps to wings Sew front and back wings together Trim and clip Turn and press Topstitch Sew straps and baste to wings "Sewing the Straps" and "Joining Together" in tutorial This is actually at the very beginning of the tutorial, but I like to save this step for a time when I'll be sitting down at my sewing machine, just to streamline the process.