Go-Fish Game

I'm hooked.

Okay, bad pun. (My husband's the only one who can make good jokes in our family.) But after making the Go-Fish game with Laura last weekend, it's been all I can think about.

After we made one for the girls, I persuaded Laura to make another set with me for one of our friends, and today I made yet another set. I love this game.

The tutorial was here, and super-easy. (The page recently disappeaed, but I'll leave the link up just hoping it magically reappears someday!) I'd like to add a few tips, though, having made (or having a hand in making) thirty-two of the little guys in the last seven days.

~Make fish in pairs. It adds another dimension of learning to the game. You can also play around with different textures: make two from sequiny fabric (is that a word?), two from corduroy, etc.

~Magnet tip: the tutorial has you sew around a fish shape traced on fabric, and leave a small opening for slipping the magnet through. Then you sew the opening closed. Laura and I found it easier to simply place the magnet inside the layers of fabric before you sew around the entire fish shape. (We put it in the middle of the fish's body so the presser foot wouldn't run over it.) It eliminates the hassle of stopping and starting.

~They're not just for fishing anymore. Our magnetic friends also stick to the fridge for counting and sorting (imagine that!), and the fishing rods also pick up alphabet magnets when you dip them into the bag.

~Centering pictures: if you're using a fabric with a child's favorite character on it, center the character across the whole fish, not just the fish's body. This is because you're going to sew an arc across the fish's body to hold the magnet in place, and it can interfere with the picture. I learned this the hard way today. The fishies still look cute, but they would've looked nicer had I not had to sew across Curious George.

~Do anything your heart desires. Love iron-on transfer paper like I do? Print out pictures of your family members on it, iron them onto fabric, and turn those into little fishies. (Look! I caught a Daddy!) Or write alphabet letters on them if you're studying the alphabet. Embellish the fishies with buttons, or embroidery, or. . .whatever your creative mind can imagine. Then send me pictures! I'd love to see them.

~Have the kids help. Depending on the age of the child, kids can help you choose the fabric at the store (or from your stash), place magnets inside the layers, push the magnets around inside the fish (so you can sew them in the "nose"), put away pins, and best of all, sit on your lap as you sew. Kardelen and I had such a special time together doing all of these today while Bia napped. It was one of those moments I'd dreamed about before we had kids--anticipating a little girl who would sit on my lap as I sew. It was sweet.

~Gifts, gifts, gifts. Birthdays, Christmas, you name it. Great for boys, who can be hard to sew for. Very inexpensive. Lots of fun. It's one of those classic kids' toys, don't you think?

~Bag it. Use coordinating fabric to sew a drawstring bag to keep the fishies and poles in. (Make two poles per game, if you like--then they'll be able to play with a parent or friend. And wind the strings around them before you slip them in, so they don't tangle.)

I'd love to hear and see pictures if any of you make a Go-Fish game!

Happy fishing.