I've been doing A LOT of sewing lately, and I feel like all of the practice really is making me better. My most ambitious project to date is Chaela's Halloween costume. Why should a costume for a not-even-one-year-old be such a challenge, you ask?
Because I am a snob.
Originally I wanted something cutesy, like most moms do for baby's first Halloween. But when I went to Joann's looking for a lady bug baby costume pattern, they didn't have one. Then I started looking through the pattern books. Big mistake. I came across several that I liked, but all of the awesome ones were for bigger kids. Chaela being small even for a baby, I knew that there was no way I would find one that fit. My favorite was size 3 at the smallest (Chaela wears size 1/2). I thought that wasn't too big to shrink down (and it was on sale for $2), so I got it. This is the dress:
Wrong! Size 3 is HUGE! As soon as I pulled it out I started thinking that, even though I had already bought pretty much EVERYTHING I would need, I would just save it for when she was 5 or so. But it was too late. Now I wanted her to have beautiful, historical costume and none of the cutesy ones for $10 at Wal-Mart would do. So I decided I was up to making my own pattern.
Not from scratch, of course, but I figured I could use a combination of the one I bought with the one I used recently to make dresses for Chaela and Addie for Gem's wedding. I wanted to be careful, though. I bought brocade for her costume, which is not cheap and pretty hard to work with. So I went to Joann's again and bought four yards of muslin (inexpensive, undyed fabric) to do mock-ups of my design.
The first one was decent. I got the sleeves and length right. However, the neck was too big and it didn't drape the way I wanted it to (slightly sack-like, as you can see). So I went back, redesigned, and did a second mock-up. I left the sleeves off to save fabric. I was very happy with the result, which looked less like a nun's habit and more like a princess dress.
So that's about where I am right now! My next step is to cut the brocade and begin her real dress! I can't wait! Not that we really know what to do with her once she's in her costume. I figured we could take her to a few apartments around the complex and maybe she can wear it when I go to class. The only thing I need to complete it is a little pair of silver slippers!
This is the fabric and trim I'll be using. I love it!
On a side note, my Aunt Peg yelled at me the other day for not having more pictures, so here are random pictures from the past few days! Most of them are from today, actually.
Chillaxin' with her tunes. Yes, that is a very common face that she makes.
Bath time! Still a favorite!
"Mom, I don't know why you keep putting me in these weird ugly dresses that don't close in the back."
Hanging out with daddy, who is still in his work clothes.
I went to Wal-Mart today and saw these cute Halloween barrettes, so I got them. Her first ones! Yes, this is how I plan on having her wear them on a regular basis. Randomly all over her head. I knew you were wondering. Haha.
"Mom, I thought you said this thing was supposed to have candy in it!"
Oh, and those little teeny tennis shoes are her first pair! I'm glad I found them. I've been worried, because with the weather getting bad and her learning to walk, barefoot/socks isn't going to work much longer. They're size 3, and they seem to fit ok. I almost got her some amazing fuzzy winter boots, as well, but decided to see if her feet go up another size by the time the weather gets that bad.
Well, that's all for now. I know it was kind of a lot about sewing, which is boring to like 90% of my readers, but I tried to put lots of pictures to make it interesting!
8 comments:
So I love your mad sewing skillz...you have always been the best sewer that I know! I wish you lived closer so you could help me make a Halloween costume!
Ha! The greatest part about this is that I made that same dress for me in the adult size for my first sewing project for the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism -- like the Renaissance Festival but way cooler -- I can get you info about groups out there if you're interested). At the time, I knew nothing about sewing pattern sizing, and got the smallest size, thinking it would be huge and I could always take it in wherever I needed to. Wrong! It would barely have fit back in high school. Furthermore, the fabric I used was of some unholy synthetic junk... I spilled Dr. Pepper all down the front and it just rolled right off the dress. Weird. It's just so funny, mine was blue and silver too.
Finally, pictures. Her halloween costume is going to be adorable. I buy mine pre-packaged, since my sewing skills suck, and bad. Can't even sew a button, grandma has to do it for me. I can't believe she is going to be a year old soon. Give her kisses!
Love and miss you.
the way you wrote that entry cracks me up. the dress is going to be adorable! she should wear it to church too, to get some more use out of it.
Our baby is the best baby ever! Soon she will be used to you using her as a dress dummy! She is too cute! I can't wait to see her! Be confident in your sewing skillz and cut that brocade!
(Amanda, if you want I am available to help you with a costume after all, Caitlyn had to get her skillz from someone!)
How cute! I can't wait to see Chaela in her costume. I wish I could sew. My favorite thing is liquid stitch.
I amazed at that dress. You are so good at sewing, I wish I was good at something actually useful like you. Oh, and I LOVELOVE that fabric. It is beautiful! Your kids will have the schnazziest Halloween costumes every. Lucky, lucky them.
Whaterver, I'm not impressed. I could do that in my sleep, and it would be perfect!! (I can't keep a straight face while typing that, my kids will be lucky to even slightly resemble what they are supposed to be)!! She is going to be so cute, and I love all the picks! She's HUGE!! (compared to when I last saw her, not all of the other kids!!!)
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