This is Halloween

I had big plans. I was going to make the Wee Baby O her first Halloween costume! I bought a simple pattern (and I mean simple) and some inexpensive fabric, and I developed a plan. And then time slipped away from me ... I knitted her a hat. I knitted her some mittens. I didn't make her a costume.

And then Brett says, "You know, Halloween is Monday." And I went, OH NO. But, I thought, "No Problem! This is a simple pattern. I can make it in a couple of hours."

So I cut it out. All 4 pieces. (I told you - simple.) I sewed it together, including the zipper. It was looking weird, but I thought it would straighten itself out once I started on the finishing. And then I realized: I was sewing it upside down. I put the sleeves on the legs. The zipper was from the bottom up. What a mess! And not a seam ripper in site. Gah.

So I put it aside. I made the costume head. I didn't have a pattern for it, I just cut out some pieces and sewed them together. It turned out just fine. In the meantime, I procured a seam ripper (thanks, Mom!), and made a tutu.

Took the costume apart. Re-sewed it, reinforcing the zipper this time because I had sewn it correctly, after all. But ... it wasn't going together like it should. What the heck? Turns out, I had sewed the wrong pieces together and put the zipper in the wrong place. At least it wasn't upside down. Halloween was the next day. I decided I was done. Lost cause. Couldn't bring myself to do it one more time. A hippo in a tutu was not in our future.

So she wore a monster romper that was not intended to be a costume. Cute, isn't she? Next year, I will not be in such a hurry. I will allow myself more than a couple of days to make the costume. All will be fine, I am sure!

Next project: Make a Christmas dress. Surely it will go better ... Right??



Windy auditions for the role of O's understudy, wearing her monster hat in the car seat.

I am a bad bad blogger. Plus, baby things!

So I see I haven't blogged since ... 2008. That's a mighty long time! Maybe with the baby coming I will be a better blogger so I can post pictures. Or a worse blogger because I am trying to survive with a newborn ... we shall see!

I am really excited today - the fabric I ordered for the baby's room just arrived. I am going to make a baby blanket with it - the dandelions on the front, and the damask on the back. I am so happy with this fabric - I was worried about buying it online and not seeing the colors as they are in real life, but I love it. It's like a strawberry pink and white. I am going to attempt to make a quilt with a self facing. Fingers crossed it turns out as fabulous as it looks in my head.



I currently am in the process of making myself a dress for my baby shower. I am using Butterick pattern B454, and hopefully modifying it enough to accommodate my perfectly round basketball sized bump.



Cute, right? It's in a solid dark aubergine knit - I think it should turn out well, especially since it's a wrap dress - very forgiving. Pair it with black tights and I really think I need these booties to go with it, don't you? Smashing! I might have to make myself a polyvore set for future reference... stay tuned.

Arrr, Matey

So, this year I am going to be a pirate for Halloween! Usually, I try to keep my costume a secret, but I'm not as excited this year, so I thought I'd post as I go along.

I'm making a vest, pantaloons, blouse, and overcoat. Here is the pattern I'm using:









The first thing I made was the vest. I was pessimistic about it, not at all sure it would turn out like I hoped. Boy, was I wrong, it's even better than I imagined! Obviously, the exterior is a lovely russet and gold brocade, it's lined with muslin, and has a broadcloth interfacing. It's boned, and has 12 grommets for lacing. I was supposed to use single fold bias tape at the bottom to finish it off, but that would totally have cheapened the look of the vest, so I made my own bias tape out of leftover fabric, which I think really sets it off. However, I think I need better ribbon for the lacing ...


So, as I mentioned, I am also making a peasant blouse to wear underneath (it would be extremely risque otherwise!). Brett was concerned that the garment didn't lace completely together in the middle. It can be laced that tight (don't breathe!), but based on the pattern cover image, it's not intended to be worn that way, and thank goodness, because at first I thought I had made it too small.

Currently I am working on the pantaloons. They are not too exciting; I am constructing them from a soft brown suiting fabric that was on clearance. I will post photos of them when the are complete. They seem to be the simplest item of all to make, so hopefully I will be able to complete them tonight ... assuming my sewing machine cooperates with me. It's skipping stitches and bunching the thread again. So frustrating!