Sewing for Boys

SHARK FIGHTER

By ari - February 13, 2014

Disclaimer: Real quick, I just want to make it clear that in no way do I condone violence against sharks! They're my favourite animal ever and even though they're kinda scary they are so awe-inspiring. They don't deserve to be killed! I could possibly go on a big shark-culling rant later on about this because it's just not cool! I know it might seem kind of stupid to be choosing a shark fighting song when I am not into fighting sharks, but it's a nonsense song as it is. Don't sweat it. It's fun :) It's the Aquabats. Enjoy!


I'm a Shark Fighter, I fight sharks!

I was asked to be a part of Sew in Tune this year, which is awesome because I really had fun last time I was involved! I have wanted to do this song for a really long time, so was stoked that I finally got to do it! It's one of my favourites, Shark Fighter by the Aquabats


Now if you don't know the Aquabats you are missing out. They don't sing about sex or drugs, they sing about pool parties and pink pants. The lead singer, MC Bat Commander is the creator of the tv show Yo Gabba Gabba! They're sort of a ska band, and like a wise friend once told me "I like ska music because no one can be sad listening to ska!" And you know what? Tim Hell of a Hat was right. You can't be sad listening to ska, especially not the Aquabats!
Shark Fighter is a song I have loved since it dropped, when Vince was a little lad, and he has had to listen to it pretty much every time we go anywhere in the car. It's our jam! It wasn't until last night when he started to sing along to it that I realised just how much we listen to it! The kid only ever sings to one song by the Pixies and a Bliss n Eso song, so I was stoked that Shark Fighter was now in his line up of 'lyrics he thinks he knows'



The song is about our hero, Shark Fighter. He wears a bandanna and a topaz necklace, he's extremely reckless. The story is that he had a girl and a shark took her away from him. Maybe the shark ate her, but I like to think the girl ran away with the shark ^_^ So now Shark Fighter has a vendetta against sharks, his only goal is a shark casserole.

For Shark Fighter's outfit, i didn't want to do a costume-type thing, although Vincent would have LOVED that heaps. He really likes what I came up with though, so win! I really wanted like an 80s hero kind of vibe going on, and I did contemplate putting some hair extensions in Vin's hair so he had a mullet!

The shorts are the Small Fry Skinny Jeans by Titchy Threads, in a size 4. I used an old pair of stretch denim jeans for the fabric, they were a pale blue and once I stitched up the shorts I i tied fabric scraps around sections of it and chucked it into some blue dye for the night. I am pleased with how they came out! I was a little concerned about awkwardly placed rings of dye, but thankfully there is none! Vincent really likes them because the denim is stretchy, and that's his new favourite thing is stretchy shorts! 

I used the Flashback Skinny Tee by Made by Rae for Shark Fighter's shirt. I dip-dyed the bottom of the shirt once I had sewn it up, leaving it for about an hour so that the bottom would be dark and the dyed water would seep up to the chest region. It's got a realy subtle ombre going on and I was stoked that it worked out exactly the way I wanted it to! The shirt refers to the lyric "I will avenge my lady with my life! Or until I die in a fight against the Underwater Army of the Night" and features freezer-paper stencils of sharks, Jaws-style, across the bottom. I used a toothpick and some white paint to do some little stars across the chest.


For our little Sharkie, I actually made two of the shark shirts. One for her, and one for Vincent because if you can't beat them, join them! For reals though, I knew he would want to be a shark too so I made him his own shark shirt too. I used the Bimaa Sweater pattern by LouBeeClothing as a base, turned it raglan-sleeved and self-drafted my own hood. I sandwiched a row of zigzagged white felt between the hood & the lining to make shark teeth, and I cut a split in the back of the shirt to add the dorsal fin! The fin is padded with towelling, and i swear it stood up a lot better in the practice run that it does when Eddie is wearing it. She looks like a sad little shark :( 
Her leggings are from my own pattern, and I stencilled (using freezer paper) over and over and over and over the words "Duh Dun"! I know it's a bit obscure but i love them because it's the sound I make when we are playing sharks in the pool, ala Jaws theme!
We went to the beach last weekend to spend time with my inlaws, and I cleverly did not have everything finished in time. Because Shark Fighter photos at the beach? Would have been PERFECT. So I did the next best thing, bundled the kids in the car and headed to the small town Tim grew up in and took pics at their cute little pool. We went for a swim afterward and Vincent was still in Shark Fighter mode!

I'm so happy with their outfits, actual wearable outfits that are going to be a good addition to their wardrobes. The kids have SO many clothes, lots of handmade which rocks, but it's winter soon and I should be sewing for that! How could I resist some Aquabats goodness though?
he rides an otter like a motorcycle!
Check out the rest of the Sew in Tune series on
Melly Sews
and
Boy, oh Boy, oh Boy

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16 comments

  1. kristin13 February 2014 at 15:05

    Haha I love this! So fun - love the handprinting and the dye-ing and the shark tooth bimaa! You're awesome.

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  2. Annika13 February 2014 at 18:47

    oh girl! that's amazing! i really can't say which piece of the outfit i love most. maybe the shark t-shirt? though the bimaa and the leggings and the shorts are freaking cool, too.
    well, you did an awesome job as always...

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  3. Ravenna14 February 2014 at 00:34

    These are hilariously awesome! I love that you have turned sewing children's clothing into an art form. Keep 'em coming :)

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  4. Ann14 February 2014 at 00:35

    These are some seriously cute outfits! I'm always so impressed with the level of detail you add to everything.

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  5. Unknown14 February 2014 at 09:28

    LOL I LOVE IT! Hahahaa you are too cool Ari. I love the 'duh dun', I was thinking about that Jaws theme song the whole time I read this. Great job hun :)

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  6. Sabra at Sew a Straight Line14 February 2014 at 11:54

    shark bimaa!!!! I love all of this. So.much.fun!

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  7. thingsforboys14 February 2014 at 14:02

    I love the 'duh dun' all over the leggings...too cute! Would have loved to see Vincent rock a mullet! Cool outfits!

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  8. Melissa15 February 2014 at 00:30

    Love this Ari! Thanks for sewing along with us.

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  9. Olga Becker @ Coffee+Thread16 February 2014 at 09:12

    Shark sweatshirt is the coolest! Love both outfits!

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  10. Ajaire16 February 2014 at 22:58

    This is so much fun! Is she the cutest shark ever? I love that hood with the teeth. So smart and somehow adorable on her. The tee and shorts look like a perfect wardrobe addition. You put so much work in Ari! Great job!

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  11. Ruby Velour17 February 2014 at 10:43

    I AM DEAD FROM THE CUTE! I want shark hoodie so bad!

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  12. Rebecca Holmes17 February 2014 at 16:04

    So fun! I love everything about these! I too hear the Jaws theme when I read "duh, dun".

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  13. Anonymous18 February 2014 at 14:11

    I realllllllllly love the sharklette (oh yes I did) hoodie! I would wear it every day. It reminds me of my favorite quote from Tower Heist.. "sharks are born swimming.."

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  14. Anonymous18 February 2014 at 14:13

    Not sure if my previous comment worked.. but in case it didn't.. I <3 the sharklette hoodie!

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  15. Unknown19 February 2014 at 11:21

    So much fun! Great job!

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  16. Unknown20 February 2014 at 14:53

    HAHA . . . I agree exactly with Kristin and Annika, first 2 comments! CUTE as can be: SAHRK ATTACK outfits for 2 little boys! I LOVE the shark hoodie! Your text/commentary is "spot on" and the photo shoot is WAY TOO COOL, especially by the small pool! Looks like all 3 had a FUN FUN FUN time during and after the photo shoot. Creative and UNQUE outfits for this SEW IN TUNE series. Sarah Helene in Minneapolis

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