funky witch costume

I made another witch costume, but this time it's a little more fun, and less traditional.  It's for a little girl in our neighborhood, who is the same size as Rora (we'll call her Little Miss.)

(modelled by Rora)

I still used the corset-style belt from Simplicity 4139, but this time I made it a little smaller than recommended so that the lacings would be more obvious and Little Miss' mom chose green ribbon for the same reason:

The tutu is a no-sew tutu, except I didn't like the idea of the waistband being stapled, so I sewed it.  I guess it's more of a "minimal sewing" tutu.  (If you don't know how to make one of these, just Google "no sew tutu" and you should end up with plenty of options.)

The cape is simple.  It's 36" wide, and the length that I wanted.  Then I gathered it into a length of extra-wide double-fold bias tape (make sure to cut it long enough to tie on either side of the gathering.)

And the true test of whether a costume/outfit/dress is a success: does it make her want to smile and twirl?

The hat Rora is wearing is the same hat from last year's witch costume.  Little Miss already has a hat, so there was no need to make her one.

dress shirt pajamas (simplicity 5343, 5534)

Last week I found myself with a dilemma concerning the youngest troublemaker's pajamas.  He's wearing size 24 month clothes, which I think is one of the hardest sizes to fit with a pre-made pattern.  Most baby patterns go up to 18 months, and the toddler/child sized patterns start at a size 3.

Since patterns tend to run a little big, I took Zoram's measurements, and then measured the pattern pieces and felt confident that the 18 month pieces would fit.

Trying to make a two-piece set for him like his brothers, I used Simplicity 5343 for the pants, but couldn't bring myself to dress my little guy in the empire waisted frilly top (nor would his dad have been very happy with me):

As I began looking around, I decided I didn't have the time (or the brainpower) to make up my own pattern for a top, nor to size down the pattern pieces I was using for my older troublemakers.

And then it dawned on me . . . what is a pajama top, anyway?  Nothing but a button-up shirt made out of flannel!  Score!!  Simplicity 5534 (out of print, but luckily I already had it in my pattern library) had just what I was looking for!

The pajamas ended up fitting just like I wanted them to, although if I could go back, I would probably make the top an inch or two longer.

(Ignore the new, slightly too big undershirt sticking out of his sleeve.  It'll shrink in the wash.)

witch costume (simplicity 4139)

Rora was a witch for Halloween this year, and for her costume, I used Simplicity 4139.  This pattern was very detailed, but I found that it was the details that really made the costume special.

She had a dress, a corset-style belt, a cape, and a hat.

skeleton costume

Xavier was a skeleton this year.  For his costume, I also used Simplicity 4133 for the pants, shirt, and hood.  Then, I created my own applique bones and used wonder under to attach them, after which I sewed them on for strength.

mummy costume

Samuel was a mummy this year.  I used the pants, shirt and hood pattern from Simplicity 4133, and then tore strips of farbric, which I then sewed one by one onto the pieces to make a mummy.  If I were to do it again, I would try to do them a little less uniform, but you know me . . . I don't do random!

dorothy costume (simplicity 4139)

Dorothy was the final installment to out Wizard of Oz themed Halloween last year!  I used Simplicity #4139, and made Rora into the cutest little Dorothy ever!!

There were a few things I really loved about this pattern:  first, I can reuse it to make Rora into a witch (like this year,) or a princess, or a fairy with the pattern pieces they give you in this pattern.

Second, I hate when a Dorothy costume is all one piece, and you can tell from a distance.  In the movie, Judy Garland wore a shirt with a gingham jumper over the top of it.  I really dislike when the "shirt" attaches to the top of the jumper, but for a small child I can see the value in having the costume all one piece.  This pattern was the best of both worlds.

The costume was all one piece, but the only place you could tell that was on the zipper in the back because the shirt attached at the skirt, not the top of the jumper!  Hooray and huzzah!

Don't forget to check out the other characters in our Wizard of Oz Halloween: Toto, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man!

the tin man costume (simplicity 4133)

Last year, in going along with our Wizard of Oz theme, Samuel was the Tin Man.

I once again used Simplicity #4133 with a few changes.

I didn't make the "heart" on the watch chain, since most of the book/movie, he doesn't have that.  Also, I tacked the uppermost shoulder hinge on each side to the shoulder so they didn't look so droopy.

If I were to do it again, I would lose the foot covers completely, and maybe just spray paint an old or cheap pair of shoes silver, since I already had the paint from spraying the funnel on his head.  The foot covers just flopped around all night long while we were Trick-Or-Treating and ended up getting completely mangled.

Don't forget to check out the other costumes in this series: Toto, the Scarecrow, and Dorothy!

scarecrow costume (simplicity 4133)

This costume was actually the second costume I ever made, and it's been worn many times since then.  Last year, the idea for doing the Wizard of Oz theme with my kids all started with this costume.

I used Simplicity #4133 to make the scarecrow costume originally, and when I realized the costume would fit Xavier, and that I still had the pattern, the wheels in my head started to turn about turning my other kids into characters, too.

From what I remember about this pattern, it was a fairly intricate pattern with rafia for the straw, patches on the pants, five different pieces to the costume, etc, but it's the best scarecrow pattern I've seen out there.  Just keep in mind that if you're going to make it, give yourself some time.

I also made one change to the pattern.  I didn't use their pattern patch because I thought square ones of different fabrics would look better, and when I was done appliqueing them on with the sewing machine, I handstitched large sloppy stitches around each patch with some really thick thread for an added detail.

Don't forget to check out the other costumes from this year: Toto, Dorothy, and the Tin Man!

my little lamb (simplicity 2788)

This costume was from two years ago when Rora was 11 months old.  I used Simplicity #2788:

She made the sweetest little lamb ever.

I tried and tried to find a little bell to put on the front of her costume, but couldn't find anything satisfactory, so I went ahead and took her pictures without it.

On Halloween day, my sister called me to tell me she and my mom had found it while they were out and about!!  She brought it up to me that night and I put it on just before Trick-or-Treating.

I have to say that it totally completes the costume!

the monkey (simplicity 3594)

Time to show you another costume!!

This was from three years ago when Xavier was 2-1/2 years old.  It was super cold that Halloween, and I made him into a little monkey using Simplicity #3594.  The costume and the pattern themselves were not super complicated, but if you're going to use faux fur, just know that you're in for a challenge.

Overall, I love this costume, but it still kills me that I didn't realize until too late that the fur was definitely directional, and if you look close, this little monkey's fur is growing up his body, not down.

If you want something more simple, the vest could easily be made and put on top of brown clothes, but the hat (also easy) would have to be mounted on some sort of headband, or something.

next year's dress (simplicity 3943)

I made this Easter dress for Rora this year. During the sewing process, I realized it was going to be too big for her and got discouraged. I finally finished it today (1 month later.)

Could I have altered it to fit her . . . sure, but since it was going to be 2-3 inches too big around and roughly 4 inches too long for her, I just decided to make it true to size and let her grow into it.

The sizing was no fault of Simplicity's. The dress will fit the size girl it measures to on the back of the pattern. I guess I just hoped that Rora could fit into a size 3 because those patterns are so much cuter than the toddler patterns!

a disney miracle (simplicity 3543, new look 6131)

This past week, my family and I went on a trip to Disneyland with my husband's family! It was tons of fun, and as a little surprise, I told the kids I had written to Mickey to let him know that we were coming.

When we got to California and checked into the hotel, we left for a walk, during which time Tinkerbell stopped by and left each child a pair of pajama pants!

The kids were all so excited! I only took a quick picture of my daughter's, and one of my sons' pajamas, but there were five pair in all.

The infant pajama pants were made from Simplicity 3543:

And the bigger kids' pajama pants were made from New Look 6131:

shapelessly cute (simplicity 3790)

I thought this shirt was so cute, and it looked like something that would be super comfy in a stretch knit fabric, so I was excited to make it.

Unfortunately, I have this problem making clothing for myself . . . I never look as good in it as I think I'm going to, and it ends up being discarded. Well, this time I'm happy to say that I ended up liking this shirt, and I've worn it a few times since I finished it, but that wasn't without some opposition. The story is fairly entertaining, so if you scroll down past the picture, I've related it there!


I made one major alteration to the pattern. This pattern calls for you to make the insert and attach it to the shirt, but I wanted the freedom of being able to wear several different colors/styles of shirt underneath, so I opted to simply not make that part. Without that piece, this shirt was 5 pieces, and a breeze to make!

Enjoy!

(Admittedly, I need a new belt, so please don't hold that "design flaw" against Simplicity.)

After I finished making this shirt, I took it into the bathroom to try it on. I couldn't decide whether or not I like it, and my husband wasn't around to ask what he thought, so I decided to ask my kids, who are 6, 4, and 2 years old.

"What do you think?" I asked.

Without even looking up from his toys, or turning to face me, Samuel (6) said, "Looks good."

Rora (2) and Xavier (4) then followed his lead (despite the fact that he still had not looked at me,) "Yeah, looks good!" they said.

"You didn't even look at me!" I accused.

Samuel then turned and looked at me, "Oh." (Long pause,) "Is it for Dad?"

"No," I said defensively, "it's not."

"Is it done?" he asked.

I guess men learn these honest, yet tactless responses early!!

simply adorable (simplicity 3510)

This was my first time using a Project Runway pattern. It took me a few minutes to get over the fact that all the fabric measurements were broken up on the back of the pattern by part of the dress (ie: bodice, skirt, pockets, etc,) but eventually, I found that it left a lot of room for creativity on my part.

copy cat (simplicity 2461)

When Sarah from Sew Saucy showed me the pattern she bought for this little dress, I fell in love, and like any friend would, I totally stole it and made it for my daughter, Rora!


Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, though . . . right?