Thursday, September 9, 2010
Vacation!!
There will be no posts or sewing till the end of the month because I'm going on vacation. Walt Disney World and a Disney Cruise!!!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
FINALLY!!
The costumes are finished (kinda). They were three costumes and four items. It was almost like a sewing bootcamp for me. I'm so very glad they are finished. I was stressing about it something fierce.
Prior to this year I really only sewed a few things a year and took my sweet time on them. Summer is a hard time for me to work on sewing because even though my son isn't in school there are a lot of things we like to go out and do. It also doesn't help that we aren't really on any schedule during the summer months. These costumes needed to be completed by this Friday (Sept 10) because we were leaving to go to Walt Disney World for two weeks including Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. We went last year as a family of pirates (bought costumes) and had a great time so we really wanted to go again. Next year I think we will actually go in October though so I have a little bit longer to work on costumes.
For my son I used pattern Butterick 3244 for the astronaut (View C) to make Buzz Lightyear.
It's not exact, but I did study dear old Buzz trying to get it the best that I could. I will be adding some embellishment to his bib...eventually. The boots, the cuffs, the belt, and the bands are made of felt. The hood was supposed to be as well, but I made it out of broadcloth (like the jumpsuit) because I just don't think felt on your head is a good idea in Florida. I made a 4T for my son who turned 4 last May and is in the 50th percentile for height and weight. I really proud of it and I was pleased to see that Alex loves it too.
For myself I decided to go as Red Riding Hood. For the cape I used Simplicity 5840 and for the dress I used McCall's 4948. The cape was featured previously, but here is the whole effect...
And just the dress...
It's a little big because in my rush to finish I decided this wasn't going to be the first pattern alteration I made. This was only my second zipper and I hate them with a fiery passion. It looks fine though. Especially since no one is going to see the back since I will be wearing the cape. I was going to hem the cape to a length closer to the dress, but decided the longer length would work fine. I used Gingham for the apron and broadcloth for the sleeves and top (the same cloth I used for Buzz's jumpsuit). Since I have a boy and I have never made myself a costume before these are The Girlest Sleeves I Have Ever Made. Very puffy. Cute though.
When I decided to do this costume the companies hadn't come out with their patterns for the Autumn yet. Imagine my surprise and frustration at seeing McCall's 6187 which is a Red Riding Hood costume.
Lastly we have my husband the Jedi.
I didn't make him pants because I ran out of time. I suppose I could run out to Joann Fabric and whip something up, but I'm not going to. ;p He and I agreed the pants don't matter as much as the top.
He's always wanted to be a Jedi. Last year the plan was for him and Alex to be Jedi, but when I was shopping for fabric he had an opinion on what kind of fabric he wanted me to use. This year he was not consulted and broadcloth was once again used. I am a fan of broadcloth for costumes because it's what my own mother used every year.
I am extremely glad these are done, but kind of frustrated that they took me so long that I'm probably not going to make Alex another Disney shirt before we leave. That's fine though, just means he will get to celebrate more when we get back.
Prior to this year I really only sewed a few things a year and took my sweet time on them. Summer is a hard time for me to work on sewing because even though my son isn't in school there are a lot of things we like to go out and do. It also doesn't help that we aren't really on any schedule during the summer months. These costumes needed to be completed by this Friday (Sept 10) because we were leaving to go to Walt Disney World for two weeks including Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. We went last year as a family of pirates (bought costumes) and had a great time so we really wanted to go again. Next year I think we will actually go in October though so I have a little bit longer to work on costumes.
For my son I used pattern Butterick 3244 for the astronaut (View C) to make Buzz Lightyear.
For myself I decided to go as Red Riding Hood. For the cape I used Simplicity 5840 and for the dress I used McCall's 4948. The cape was featured previously, but here is the whole effect...
When I decided to do this costume the companies hadn't come out with their patterns for the Autumn yet. Imagine my surprise and frustration at seeing McCall's 6187 which is a Red Riding Hood costume.
Lastly we have my husband the Jedi.
I didn't make him pants because I ran out of time. I suppose I could run out to Joann Fabric and whip something up, but I'm not going to. ;p He and I agreed the pants don't matter as much as the top.
He's always wanted to be a Jedi. Last year the plan was for him and Alex to be Jedi, but when I was shopping for fabric he had an opinion on what kind of fabric he wanted me to use. This year he was not consulted and broadcloth was once again used. I am a fan of broadcloth for costumes because it's what my own mother used every year.
I am extremely glad these are done, but kind of frustrated that they took me so long that I'm probably not going to make Alex another Disney shirt before we leave. That's fine though, just means he will get to celebrate more when we get back.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Red Riding Hood
Woo hoo! I have nearly completed the cape!
It's Simplicity 5840 view A. It still needs a clasp and to be hemmed. I'm holding off on the hemming till I have the dress finished and can figure out how long I need it. After I started sewing I realized most red riding hood costumes don't have sleeves and are more cape like. This is a little more medieval, but I'm hoping if I shorten it up (a bunch) it will look fine. My husband stated that as long as it's red and has a hood people will know what I'm going for.
This thing was a mountain of narrow hems. The sleeves, the middle edges, the caplet, the hood. I don't know if I saved any time with all the sewing the Threads method requires, but I definitely got a lot less frustrated.
This was also a lesson in READ THE FRAKIN' DIRECTIONS. I was ticked at Simplicity because I cut out all the pieces and didn't have room to cut out the hood. In the directions (just looking at the picture) it seemed I was supposed to cut it out of some random piece of stray fabric. I managed to cut it in two pieces instead one in the scraps and added an extra 5/8" where they were supposed to be one so I could sew them together. After I get to sewing I find out I was only supposed to cut one of the caplet and cut the hood out from the layer under that. Oops. You can't tell so no harm done, but lesson learned. I had another cutting error/mad at pattern maker for no good reason, but I'm going to save that anecdote for the post when I finish the dress.
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| Excuse the folded caplet, it really does lay fine. |
It's Simplicity 5840 view A. It still needs a clasp and to be hemmed. I'm holding off on the hemming till I have the dress finished and can figure out how long I need it. After I started sewing I realized most red riding hood costumes don't have sleeves and are more cape like. This is a little more medieval, but I'm hoping if I shorten it up (a bunch) it will look fine. My husband stated that as long as it's red and has a hood people will know what I'm going for.
This thing was a mountain of narrow hems. The sleeves, the middle edges, the caplet, the hood. I don't know if I saved any time with all the sewing the Threads method requires, but I definitely got a lot less frustrated.
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| Picture just doesn't do it justice. |
This was also a lesson in READ THE FRAKIN' DIRECTIONS. I was ticked at Simplicity because I cut out all the pieces and didn't have room to cut out the hood. In the directions (just looking at the picture) it seemed I was supposed to cut it out of some random piece of stray fabric. I managed to cut it in two pieces instead one in the scraps and added an extra 5/8" where they were supposed to be one so I could sew them together. After I get to sewing I find out I was only supposed to cut one of the caplet and cut the hood out from the layer under that. Oops. You can't tell so no harm done, but lesson learned. I had another cutting error/mad at pattern maker for no good reason, but I'm going to save that anecdote for the post when I finish the dress.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Quick Note of Thanks!!
Thank you Threads Magazine!! I am using their instructions for narrow hems (same Threads July issue referenced in Mickey Shirt #1) and it has made things ten times easier. I'm working with a polyester interlock and it's extremely slippery. This technique has given the fabric the weight needed so it doesn't roll. Hopefully this will cut down on frustration and make things go quicker. Fabulous!
No Power!!!
My power went out from Wednesday at 5pm to this morning (Friday) at 4am. I just taken a dinner break from sewing the red riding hood cape when this happened. It was really annoying. The upside I guess is that because we had to go out for meals yesterday we spent the whole day out. I'm not a going out kind of person lately, but it gave me an opportunity to get the car the 60,000 mile check up (important when driving from WV to FL in 5 weeks) and I got the final notions needed to complete the costumes. I have the Jedi tunic half done just hanging in the closet waiting on hwt interfacing. The cape didn't really need anything so it's almost finished (again, narrow heams = Evil). Hopefully I will have something to show after this weekend.
Thanks all who are reading this because without you I'm just talking to myself and that's crazy enough when I do it out loud let alone out in public.
Thanks all who are reading this because without you I'm just talking to myself and that's crazy enough when I do it out loud let alone out in public.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Plan
The last week or so has been all about tracing and cutting. I'm still not done, but I wanted to update with "The Plan" for the Halloween costumes.
Last year I was supposed to make a Jedi costume for my husband and son. It didn't happen due to procrastination. Also due to the fact that my husband had unrealistic opinion on the fabric he wanted me to use. (Wool? For Halloween season in Texas and Florida? Really?) This year I ignored my husband took matters into my own hands. Here is fabric and pattern (Simplicity 5840):
Next up we have my costume. We are taking these costumes to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World in September. They can get kind of touchy when you dress as a princess. It's not allowed on a regular day (for adults). For the party they allow it, but they watch you like a hawk to make sure you at no time do you try to pass yourself off as the actual princess. (Everything short of following you around and yelling "You aren't affiliated with us!".) For this reason I'm not relying on my princess Belle knock off dress (that and the fact that it's a 18-22 and I'm a 14-16 so I drown in it). Disney hasn't had a Red Riding Hood movie (yet) so that is what I chose.
The cape:
The dress (McCall's M4948):
Loving the plan for the cape. Too cool for just Halloween. I can probably wear it while I vacuum and iron. No one will ever know...
Finally there is the plan for short stuff. I finally convinced him Buzz Lightyear was cool than a pumpkin or a gingerbread man (and learned my lesson about looking at costume patterns with my four year old next to me). I'm going with Butterick 3244:
I still need to get the purple and the grey, but the jumpsuit is all white so I'm concentrating on that first.
Four items, tons of pieces. More than I thought there would be. Half way done with tracing and cutting though. Wish me luck!!
Last year I was supposed to make a Jedi costume for my husband and son. It didn't happen due to procrastination. Also due to the fact that my husband had unrealistic opinion on the fabric he wanted me to use. (Wool? For Halloween season in Texas and Florida? Really?) This year I
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| View D |
Next up we have my costume. We are taking these costumes to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World in September. They can get kind of touchy when you dress as a princess. It's not allowed on a regular day (for adults). For the party they allow it, but they watch you like a hawk to make sure you at no time do you try to pass yourself off as the actual princess. (Everything short of following you around and yelling "You aren't affiliated with us!".) For this reason I'm not relying on my princess Belle knock off dress (that and the fact that it's a 18-22 and I'm a 14-16 so I drown in it). Disney hasn't had a Red Riding Hood movie (yet) so that is what I chose.
The cape:
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| View A |
 |
| View A |
Finally there is the plan for short stuff. I finally convinced him Buzz Lightyear was cool than a pumpkin or a gingerbread man (and learned my lesson about looking at costume patterns with my four year old next to me). I'm going with Butterick 3244:
 |
| View C (obviously) |
Four items, tons of pieces. More than I thought there would be. Half way done with tracing and cutting though. Wish me luck!!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Mickey Shirt #1
This is the first shirt I've made for our Disney trip in Sept (Simplicity 3856).
I had originally cut out the pieces last year before the move. Then moving craziness ensued and it was lost in the shuffle. Then it got shelved for other projects. Finally I hunkered down to get it done and my concern that it's too small now was validated. When I cut this shirt out I cut it for 3T. I hoped it would run big and still fit when it was finished. Not so much. When I had him try it on I realized it was too small, but he can still wear it open with a tee underneath for the trip (I'm hoping).
I really like these sleeves. The little sewn in fold is adorable. Unfortunately, this was the last pattern where I cut out the tissue included instead of tracing so I'm going to have to either trace and make adjustments myself or just wait till Simplicity is on sale at Jo-ann's again for 99 cents.
We now have 65 days till our Walt Disney World trip so I'm freaking out about our Halloween Costumes for the party. I have them planned (Red Riding Hood for me, Jedi for Brian, and Buzz Lightyear for the little monkey), but now I have to actually make them. Costumes really are my favorite thing to make so it will be fun, but I'm just paranoid I won't finish them in time or something equally disappointing will happen.
I wanted to let y'all know about a tip from the July 2010 Threads magazine that I'm loving right now. With the Halloween costumes some of the pieces are bigger than the standard tissue paper I use to trace them. Previously I just taped tissue together, but in the tips part of the issue they mentioned using plastic tablecloths on a roll like you use for catering. I got mine at Sam's Club and it's perfect. I used a black marker to trace and it doesn't bleed through. So awesome.
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| Doesn't he look thrilled. |
I had originally cut out the pieces last year before the move. Then moving craziness ensued and it was lost in the shuffle. Then it got shelved for other projects. Finally I hunkered down to get it done and my concern that it's too small now was validated. When I cut this shirt out I cut it for 3T. I hoped it would run big and still fit when it was finished. Not so much. When I had him try it on I realized it was too small, but he can still wear it open with a tee underneath for the trip (I'm hoping).
I really like these sleeves. The little sewn in fold is adorable. Unfortunately, this was the last pattern where I cut out the tissue included instead of tracing so I'm going to have to either trace and make adjustments myself or just wait till Simplicity is on sale at Jo-ann's again for 99 cents.
We now have 65 days till our Walt Disney World trip so I'm freaking out about our Halloween Costumes for the party. I have them planned (Red Riding Hood for me, Jedi for Brian, and Buzz Lightyear for the little monkey), but now I have to actually make them. Costumes really are my favorite thing to make so it will be fun, but I'm just paranoid I won't finish them in time or something equally disappointing will happen.
I wanted to let y'all know about a tip from the July 2010 Threads magazine that I'm loving right now. With the Halloween costumes some of the pieces are bigger than the standard tissue paper I use to trace them. Previously I just taped tissue together, but in the tips part of the issue they mentioned using plastic tablecloths on a roll like you use for catering. I got mine at Sam's Club and it's perfect. I used a black marker to trace and it doesn't bleed through. So awesome.
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