Monday, November 1, 2010

Halloween Jedi costume

So I finished up the boy's costume yesterday afternoon just in time for trick or treating. He's happy with it and that makes me glad.

Jedi

Jedi

I used natural muslin for the clothing and brown fleece for the robe/cloak. For a pattern, I winged it for the robe. I had him lay on the fold of the fleece and cut a loose robe shape with bell sleeves for the back piece. I used that to make the two front pieces. This gives a seam on the top of the sleeve; you could do it a different way if you really wanted to avoid that. For the hood, I just took about a 12 inch wide by 24 inch long piece of fleece folded in half. I sewed a seam up the back and attached it to the robe. All of the edges are finished with simple serging. Nothing fancy.

For the muslin, I used an uncut pattern I had in my stash, Butterick 5565. It's a children's scrubs pattern. The pants were used as is. I used the basic scrub top pattern, except I made the sleeves long and finished the neck diferrently. I made a faux wrap-around band that goes around the neck. Then you have the tabards and the obi (the shouder things and the wrap around the waist). The tabbards are simply long pieces of fabric sewed in half and turned and placed over the shoulders. The obi is a wider similar piece, but then I pressed the front into folds to make it appear to have layers. Wrap it around the waist over the tabards. Keep it closed with hook and loop tape, snaps, or a safety pin. Safety pins are also handy for keeping the tabards on the shoulders. Over the obi is a normal belt with the buckle placed in back that he could hang his lightsaber from. The funniest thing is that he is wearing my brown boots. They were a bit large, but they worked for our purpose. He had no shame in telling people they were mine. ;)

I'm glad he liked the final result, seeing as how I started on it the day before Halloween. There are many sites out there that can give you hints and close-up pictures of Jedis if you need them. Happy Halloween!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Halloween time again

I realize it's been a long time. Life has been happening at a faster pace than before, with changes happening all around. Can't neglect to sew for Halloween, though!

Here is the first costume I have done for the girl child. She wanted to be a bunny this year. I used McCall's M6106 for the pattern (99 cent sale at Hancock's, of course) and let her pick the color. It had to be fleece because she wanted to feel soft. Naturally, I had to shorten the pattern quite a bit. I thought about taking it in on the sides as well, but she liked the roominess of the outfit so I let that go. Also left out were the spats. They would get filthy in about 2.5 seconds. ;)

Halloween bunny

October 2010 013

I must warn those who use this pattern and fleece that sewing machines do not like going over so many layers on the hood -- the ears were sort of a pain. If I had any sense, I would have figured out a different way. Now I have 2 machines that I have to fiddle with because they are no longer working correctly, and I still have a Jedi costume to throw together. Time to break out the vintage foot-pedaled Singer for what I can't serge.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Just in time for Mother's Day

Sew4Home has a cute retro-style apron tutorial up today. I'm totally going to make this!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

One scrappy pillow...


April 2010 005, originally uploaded by pearljamfanatic.

I know I seem to use this fabric a lot, but I love it. I have lots left too!

I had to make a couple of more pillows for the living room because the one lonely pillow in there looked kind of silly. The others I had made got sold or given as gifts.

With these two pillows, I've finally finished up with my stash of pillow forms bought during a great sale long ago. ;)

Another scrappy pillow


April 2010 006, originally uploaded by pearljamfanatic.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

new dress for the rabbit


new dress for the rabbit, originally uploaded by pearljamfanatic.

The girl used some of her own money to buy this rabbit at Build-a-Bear over spring break. She didn't have enough for clothes and accessories, so I made her rabbit a little dress and hair bow out of some scraps. Just in time for Easter!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Ottobre 3-2007-33


Ottobre 3-2007-33, originally uploaded by pearljamfanatic.

Don't mind the stinkalicious photo. This one is going to be a redo. I accidentally cut a small hole right in the middle of the front of the shirt, near the top. She's going to use it as a PJ top now, so she's happy. The open shoulders are kind of cute, though.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Girl Scout Cookie time!


money pouch, originally uploaded by pearljamfanatic.

I made the girl a little pouch to hold all of her Girl Scout cookie selling stuff and money. Not thinking, I put the wrist strap on the wrong side. I doubt she'll notice but it will bug me forever. ;)

Monday, February 15, 2010

super soft pillow


super soft pillow, originally uploaded by pearljamfanatic.

I made a zippered pillow cover for the girl's bed out of some of the Chez Ami dimpled velour that they had on sale not too long ago. It's so soft! Even the husband said he wanted one.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

stuffed stegosaurus


stuffed stegosaurus, originally uploaded by pearljamfanatic.

I got the book One-Yard Wonders from my mom for Christmas (thanks, Mom!) and the boy went through it and requested that I make him this stuffed dinosaur. In the book, it actually velcroes onto a platform with wheels which has a ribbon in order to pull it along. That's a little young for him, so we just went with the stuffed toy portion. I went with some velvet-y houndstooth patterened fabric and wool felt for the spikes. The boy insisted that his dino have blue eyes (after I talked him out of white ones).

As much as I dislike sewing stuffed things, it was worth it when I see how much he loves it!

Monday, January 4, 2010

The Decpticon shirt


The Decpticon shirt, originally uploaded by pearljamfanatic.

Here is the finished Transformers shirt that I made the boy for Christmas. He's planning to wear it to his first day back to school tomorrow. I'm glad he likes it!