The Best Mode of Transport

One of my very fondest memories of my childhood in England was sitting in the upper story of a double decker bus. The real double decker buses, now out of commission, with their vintage charm and tiny steep staircases.

Little Man shares my passion, doubtless fueled by the matchbox version (now quite battered) that he inherited from me. And so, when I saw this whimsical shirt by Boden, I knew I had to make one for my double decker loving boy.

By the by, have you noticed how many British-inspired things have been popping up lately? I'm assuming the recent royal wedding/baby and the Olympics are responsible for the surge in popularity, but regardless of the cause, I'm enjoying the result! 

It is centered, I promise!

For Little Man's shirt I used a like-new tee that I found for $1 at our local charity shop. It would have been easier to add the design if I'd actually made the top, but I thought this was too perfect to pass up. 

Plenty of Wonder Under (and patience) later, the bus took shape. Little scraps from here and there took up their positions, and were painstakingly sewn on. I did forget to interface the back for stability, but it didn't seem to matter in the end.

For the design, I simply enlarged the Boden design, printed it out (in black and white on "draft mode," because I'm a cheapskate), and traced the pieces onto Wonder Under. Talk about a knock off! It's not quite identical, but it's close enough for me!

Little Man has yet to see his shirt, because I know he would want to wear it immediately despite the scorching temperatures. No, it will wait patiently until the weather cools, and then he can sport his favorite mode of transportation to his heart's content.