Post Halloween Projects

Post Halloween projects are generally geared towards Christmas. This past year was no exception.
I made doll clothes, a Santa Claus jacket and altered a wedding dress.

I made a collection of doll clothes for my niece's birthday  I bought a pattern and made most of of the outfits listed. I wasn't a big fan of the pattern but it gave me a good basis for later projects. 

 I made a Santa Claus jacket out of some very soft velour. It wasn't ideal because it didn't have much weight. Luckily, fusible interfacing gave it the needed heft.

 It was a tricky project overall because the pattern was incomplete and the client wanted several changes. I was very glad that it turned out as well as it did!

 Mina needed a new coat and I didn't want to spend a lot of money on one. An $8 cashmere sweater from the DI provided the "fabric" after I felted it in the washer and dryer. I based the design on an adorable Kate Spade coat.

Mina chose the buttons the previous year! I'm glad I was able to finish it by winter. I flatlined the lining with flannel for extra warmth. 

 The wedding dress alteration included lining the sleeves, lowering the neckline and altering the zipper.

 I removed the sleeves to make a pattern using the same fabric as the dress.

1. 

The

Costumes part 3

Last Halloween I made a bunch of costume pieces that went to Disneyland. I wrote about my niece's costume last year, because it happened last year. SIL's family went for a Star Wars theme: Han Solo, Leia and Yoda. The Yoda costume was the most time intensive. 

I sculpted the hat out of white felt, a needle and thread. 

The hat taking shape. 

The first coat of paint on the hat and gloves. 

I added acrylic paint highlights and shadows for dimension. I made shoe covers, gloves, under shirt, pants, robe and a belt. 

I was pretty pleased with the result!

Our nephew liked it too!

I made a Han Solo best for his Dad, complete with functioning pockets and lining. 

I was so proud of it! 

Then we had a fitting and it was too small. So, I made another one. 

I helped my SIL with her Leia costume, a repeat of one I made for myself in 2013! We made a poncho, pants and belt.

Their cute family!

Costumes (part two!)

I have a habit of keeping way too many pictures on my phone. Sometimes I keep the old project pictures as a reminder to document my work. Most of the time I'm too lazy to turn on the computer in the basement and download my pictures. 

I realized this morning that I never finished last year's post of Halloween costume work. My follow through has really been lacking lately. 

Mina!

Mina had initially decided that she wanted to be a mermaid for Halloween. I purchased some shiny fabric and stuff with lots of glitter and sequins. It was going to be beautiful. 

Then she changed her mind as 3 year olds often do. 

She wanted to be ELSA. This was a bit of a no brainier, she was obsessed with Frozen. 

This was her favorite part of her birthday. Holding hands with a floor display at Target. While wearing an Elsa shirt. Seriously. 

I put the base section of her costume together back in August. I gave myself a few months to bedazzle it. 

I should have purchased a heat setting tool. 

Instead, I altered round sequins and sewed them on, one by one. It was ridiculous. 

It was time consuming, to say the least. 

By the time I finished the back section it started to seem worth all the work. The way the sequins shimmered behind the organza was really beautiful!

It took a lot of buckling down but I managed to finish it. 

I added some silver paint to the hem to add some dimension and interest. 

I managed to finish Magnus' Kristoff costume too! He even had a tiny Sven!

Mina's hair is short (obviously) so an Elsa braid was out of the question. I consoled her with a sparkly headband, that seemed to do the trick.

I made myself a costume too, I'm obviously CRAZY. This was a challenge to say the least. 

Fun fact: the knit gold lamé doesn't like sewing machines, it's a serger lover. 

I used my Gramma's fabric stash for part of my costume and supplemented with clearance fabric and paint. I wasn't interested in spending a lot of money on my own costume. 

Anna's costume is based on traditional Scandinavian wear that is covered with beautiful embroidery. I did not have the time nor the patience for that. 

Fabric paint to the rescue!

Yep, crazy!

Mina's best friend was Anna so they made a cute pair!

Attempting a family picture. 

Phew. Halloween is exhausting. 

My sewing space

Ever since Magnus was born I've been sewing in the basement. I have a nice little corner for my machines and a good view of the TV. 

The desk was my Grandpa's and I inherited it after he died. It's a tank in every sense of the name!

James and a neighbor moved the desk to our basement from my grandparent's house. By that time I already had my pegboard and cork board installed. 

It's a work in progress but I really like the direction it is taking!