Despicable Me costumes

This year my girls wanted to do a group costume and this is what they came up with.

Meet Gru's girls.


Edith, Agnes, and Margo from Despicable Me

Love how it all came together.



Margo
Plaid skirt--we made this.
Thrifted jacket and white shirt
Add a graphic tee over top--she already had this
Bought dollar store wire frame readers and popped the lenses out.
Tennis shoes and socks
Hair back in a low ponytail.



Edith
We went with the Ninja version for ease of costuming
Black t-shirt and pants.
Nunchucks ($1 at the dollar store)
Pink striped stocking cap--knitted this up, winging it as we went but turned out great. Based on this pattern.
If you didn't have long blonde hair like my daughter you could easily throw a blonde wig on under the hat.



Agnes
The unicorn is what makes it.
We found ours amazingly enough at the thrift store for $3.
Short overalls also thrift store purchase.
Yellow t-shirt w/ red stripes.  Made ours by painting the stripes onto a Michael's bought tee.
Ponytail on top of your head.  Later on we sprayed her hair black, but it wasn't for this picture.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Opposites Attract Costume for Couples

My husband and I haven't always done a couples costumes for Halloween.  Most times, in the past, we've just done our own thing.  Which usually translates into I have a costume of some sort and he just shows up in his hunting gear to the party, having just come straight from actually hunting.

Last year we did this and now it seems we have set a precedent for ourselves and an expectation from everyone else to come up with something again this year.  Our original plan A fell through, or at least we weren't able to get it all together in a timely manner, so we'll save it for next year.  (I'm already thinking through it some and will probably hit the thrift store post Halloween to round up the things we need).

Anyway, plan B came about in a long way.  I had the fabric for my dress in my Halloween stash.  I had bought it last year and was going to make some pillows or use it as a tablecloth or something.  I just never did anything with it.  So this year, when I found it again I decided I would see if there was enough to make a dress.  Then I could be a witch or a spider lady of some sort.

I started getting excited about my costume and then hubby was like "well, what am I going to be?"
Hmmm, not sure.  I hadn't really thought about it.
He decided he would be my pet spider at first and then he had a brainstorm.
Be very careful when someone else comes up with a "brilliant" idea that you then have to execute.

When we first met he was selling pest control door-to-door for the summer.
So the new plan B for him was to be an exterminator.
We'd be "opposites attract"--the Spider Lady and the Exterminator.

After all the drama surrounding the costume situation I couldn't say no.




Details:

• Dress based on pattern Butterick 5522.  Just cut the sleeves one piece instead of 2-tone.  Added a back zipper since the pattern is for stretch knits and this fabric is not.
• Glasses from this idea.  I am LOVING these!  They were a hit at the party (although really hard to see out of at night)
• Bought black leggings and gloves.
• You could also make your own and use pattern Butterick 5695
• Coveralls $7.99 thrift store purchase
• "No spiders" sign inspiration from here.  
• Used WonderUnder and fabric to assemble and then topstitched it onto the back of the coveralls.

Halloween Costume Ideas for couples or groups

Last weekend we attended our Church's Halloween party.

Always fun and always great to see creative costumes.

Here are some costumes that might spark your creativity.

Jenny and Patrick and their son.  

He was the firefighter that rescued them from a "house fire" in the middle of the night

Natalie with her son and his friend.

Medusa, Jason Grace and Percy Jackson


Cindy, Larry and kids
Minions from "Despicable Me."


One more minion for good measure.
Go B.!


Cutie siblings
Burglar and S.W.A.T. team members


Our cousin Nancy & hubby John
Lovely garden gnomes


Shelby, Kerry and kids plus one friend.
Eowyn and Aragon plus assorted other costumes

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Pride and Prejudice--Group Costumes

All 3 of my girls decided they wanted to dress up like the ladies from "Pride and Prejudice".  We found a good pattern and off we went doing some sewing.  We took advantage of our 3 days break earlier in October and got most of it done then.  Our Church party was over the weekend and then Halloween upcoming.  At least 2 times to wear it--that's what we like.

Details:

• Simplicity 4055 was the best choice for us.  Thanks to Jo-Ann's for their little 5 for $5 sale.
• You could also use Butterick 6630.  We just didn't like the lower cut neckline on this pattern, though the jacket/coat is gorgeous.
• Yellow twill-ish fabric 60 inches wide -- 5 1/2 yds. for $7.50.
• Peachy fabric 60 inches wide -- 4 yds. for $4.50.
• Bought drapery lining at $2/yd. for the overlay and found another piece at the thrift store for about $3
• We found our pretty braided hair ideas online, after watching the movie again...and maybe again.

Can you guess our costumes?

Saturday night was our church Halloween potluck and party.  It is usually a fun time and most everyone dresses up and we all get a kick out of the costumes.  This year one of the men from our congregation set up a photo booth and hubby and I took advantage of it.

Can you guess which movie we represent?

Need another clue?

Hubby's line of the evening:

"My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die."

Therefore, I am The Princess Bride.

Unofficially, because there wasn't actually a contest, we won for best costumes.

All night the adults kept telling us that.

Actually it was hubby who sealed the deal for us.

Spot on rendition of Inigo.

Next year maybe we'll go as Miracle Max and his wife.

That could be fun.

Robin Costume--as in Batman and...

So when all the kids were deciding what they wanted to be this year for Halloween, my middle daughter told me she wanted to be a superhero.  I wasn't really on board, because sometimes I just get tired of sewing all the things THEY want.  And we have lots of costumes that she could use, so I tried to persuade her into something else.  I even told her I would make her a cape out of this luscious dark green stretch velour and she could come up with something using that.

However, when little Mr. C. decided to be Batman I kind of decided that it would be fun if someone was Robin.  And daughter #2 (who is 13 and C. is 6) jumped all over that.  Really?!  O.K....  And then when I realized that I had all the colors and fabric I needed already in my stash that made me even more excited.  'Cuz I really am trying to reduce the amount of fabric I have.  Hubby isn't convinced, but really I am trying.  Trying being the operative word.

So here is what we came up with.
This is old school Robin--circa 1966.

Details for Robin:

• Basic t-shirt pattern--red body and green sleeves. Finish neckline with neckband.
• Copied Robin emblem from here and made from t-shirt fabric and WonderUnder.
• Black oval is about 3.75 inches wide and 2 inches wide. "R" is about 3 1/2 inches tall.
• Green leggings pattern combo of McCall's 6360 and 6173 (only because I didn't have the right size in one and did in the other).
• Black swim shorts that we already had for the bottoms.
• Cape pattern based off of Butterick 4319 (just added a collar). Closes with just a hook and eye.  You could use ribbon if you preferred.
• Mask template from here.

Linked up HERE

Batman Costume

Little Mr. C. decided he wants to be Batman for Halloween.  Lucky for me we already had a cape that would work--I think I made this cape for son #1 for him to be Batman just for fun--(because the Zorro cape we have, that he did wear for Halloween one year, is lined with red).

Pulled out the cape, he'll use the black sweat pants I already made and then he informed me I had to make a shirt (and socks, but we'll go buy those.)  I might have bought a black t-shirt and saved me some time, but I had a slew of black t-shirt fabric in the stash.

Made a basic black tee and then I used WonderUnder and a little topstitching to secure the batman badge.

I used t-shirt fabric instead of felt, mostly because that is what I had and I didn't want to go buy anything else.  And Mr. C. said that he wanted to wear the shirt afterwards, and I didn't think that felt would hold up well enough under multiple washings.  Hope this way does.

Scalloped edge on the Batman cape to resemble bat wings.

Nice hair!

Not sure what that is all about.

Details:

• Mask pattern here.  Super easy and 34 cent piece of felt and elastic from the stash.
• Pattern for the batman badge here.  Printed it out at 80% to fit a size 7 tee.
• T-shirt pattern is basic KwikSew.  You just need any basic black t-shirt or pattern.
• Belt made from t-shirt fabric--interfaced both sides.  Attached badge the same as the t-shirt and then velcro closure in back.
• Cape pattern McCall's 3746 (discontinued)--scalloped the edge on my own. Currently McCall's 2854 looks like it has a good variety of cape styles.

Robin costume on tomorrow's post.

C. suggested that I be Catwoman.  As much as I wish I looked totally awesome in a black catsuit, the reality is I don't.  Still thinking about whether or not I'll appease him and come up with something--more along the line of black sweats and a kitty ears headband, and not a little catsuit number.  We'll see....but really I don't think anything can compare to the "cat" costume I had in college.

Make-up courtesy of my roommate, Jenny, who was a theater major.

This was such a blast to sport all day long to my classes.

(this is probably 1990 or so)

Costume

I've been known to go all out for costumes in years past, but this year it's all I can do to keep myself afloat.  So I'm opting for a good t-shirt joke instead. 

I made a matching one for the hubs to wear with me to a Halloween party.  His response was simply, "Oh, look, we're going to Sadie Hawkins." 



Bats pattern here

Pirate Costume

Kwik Sew 3804



I made this pattern for my youngest son for Halloween--however, it first has to be displayed at my fabric store for a few weeks and then we'll get it just in the knick of time to wear for the big day.

I think that the coolest thing about this pattern is the hat. 

Mr. C. wore this around A LOT for the couple days I was working on the rest of the costume and before I took it to the fabric store.  He was thrilled and can't wait 'til Halloween.

Hubby has been requested to make a swashbuckling sword to complete the ensemble.  Last one he made for son #1 who was a pirate a number of years ago was lost within the first 5-10 houses of trick-or-treating.  Hope this one will survive the entire evening.

Ranger's Cloak

This summer Z. has been getting into the Ranger's Apprentice series of books by John Flanagan, thanks to a recommendation from our cousin Annette and her Book Barn.  He is currently on book #9.  There is at least a #10, but not sure if there are any others after that.  I'm so happy he is reading--these books all have about 300+ pages each.

Anyway, he has decided that this is what he wants to be for Halloween, along with his friend G. They've already made their weapons. Then it was time to move onto the cloak. Z. was very specific about the color, length, how it attaches, etc. So he helped me find the fabric and then let me know that he wanted to make it himself. Fine with me.

I set him up to cut it out, showed him how to pin it together and then got him sewing.  This is a very forgiving pattern for beginners.  No need for exact fittings, only 2 slight curves, etc. 

Little brother asked me during the process when he could learn to sew too.
Yes!
He was looking pretty intent there while Z. was sewing.

Originally Z. wanted it to button at the closure, per the book's description, but then we found these cool buckles.  That sealed the deal.

It turned out great and Z. is thrilled.  G. came over a couple days later and tried it on.  He is dying to get his too. 

Fleeing the scene.  It is an awesome cloak, if we do say so ourselves.

Details:

Fabric - 4 yds. panne velour for $8

Buckles - free in my stash (with 1 left for G. if he needs it for his cloak)

Pattern - Butterick 4319 view B

We interrupt this Christmas season to bring you....

....costumes for the musical "Annie".

My#2 daughter was in her middle school musical here this past weekend and the next. She is playing one of Daddy Warbuck's servants. Although she wanted a different part, she is just happy she didn't end up being a hobo. And as this is her first year of middle school and musicals, she has time to earn better parts down the road.

Anyway, I was asked to make aprons for the servant girls--all 14 of them!! I didn't use a specific pattern, which luckily did work out for me. I just winged it with the pieces, etc. as I went along, using my daughter as the model. I'm just so glad I had come across some "freebie" white fabric that was enough for most of the aprons. I think I ended up only buying 3 more yards once it was all said and done. Much cheaper than past musicals and renting costumes, or making all from scratch. I also made a quick elastic waist, straight black skirt for my daughter with fabric from "the stash". (It is times like these that I think I should never throw any chunks of fabric away because you just never know....)


My M. is on the far left--with a couple of her friends backstage.

So here are all my servant cuties during one of their scenes.

I only had 4 aprons done by the dress rehearsal day and so the rest of the girls were DYING to finally get their aprons. Too funny! They did a great job. You are the best looking servant girls around...if I do say so myself.

Leotards

For Christmas this year I made Miss B. some dance leotards with matching skirts. Mostly I did it because the leftover fabric I had from making Jester costumes was just enough to make little leotards, and not much else. (Yes, I admit it. It is hard for me to throw away fabric if there is enough to do something with it--albeit it a small something.) I also found some ballet slippers that looked like new at one of our thrift stores for $2.99. Gotta love it! She just loves to dance and although we really can't afford dance classes or lessons, if she has the attire, she really doesn't care. Just turn on the CD player and there she goes.

Don't those over-the-knee sock just make the outfit?

Twirl away!! The b/w/green leotard is leftover fabric from this project. B says this is her favorite one. And yes, I still have paint swatches on my wall. Didn't get it done before Christmas, so it'll have to happen that first week of school when the kiddos go back.
This one can double as a swimsuit next summer.

Patterns:

Simplicity 7351 (dance leotards and accessories)--which is now discontinued; however, Kwik Sew has a number of leotard patterns to choose from. And to be quite honest this Simplicity pattern needed some tweaking in the leg opening. I haven't had those same issues with Kwik Sew patterns.

Kwik Sew 2422 (swimsuit pattern)--basic tank swimsuit. I used this one on the star print leotard.

Jester Costumes

After last year's involvment with making costumes for my oldest daughter's middle school musical I swore I wouldn't volunteer or get involved again. (Never say never, right?!) With that being said, I wasn't involved.....until a week or so before Thanksgiving. I just can't deal with paying a $40 RENTAL fee for a costume. You want me to pay that much to borrow a costume? Really??!?! It makes me CRAZY!!! This is middle school for crying out loud.

Since my daughter only needed one costume this year I told them I would make it. O.K. actually I asked, but I think had the director said "no" I would've made it anyway and then gone on ahead with it. I actually made 2 jester costumes (one for the jester/girl in the other cast) for this year's musical, "Cinderella". They were so quick and so easy and if I do say so, so dang cute. I only spent $25 for the 2 costumes, too, thank you very much! My #2 daughter tried on the 2nd costume while in the process and now she wants me to keep the costume so that she can wear it next year for Halloween. She is dying over the star leggings (no pic right now). We'll see how badly they want to add it to their stash of costumes. I may just keep both of them for our personal costume stash.
Anyway, the patterns I used were:

Kwik Sew 1591 for the leggings, which I made out of swimsuit fabric. They are awesome!! This pattern is now discontinued or out of print, but Kwik Sew 3476 is the current leggings pattern that I found.

Simplicity 4860 for the tops. Out-of-print pattern Simplicity 3617.

The musical started on Wednesday night---"Break a leg, girls!!"

Sound of Music Musical Costumes

Well......they are finally completed and it is time to just sit back and enjoy the moment.

My oldest daughter's middle school musical production of "Sound of Music" has been an adventure for all involved. I originally only volunteered to make the pajamas for the scene in Maria's bedroom, knowing that I would probably end up with more to do down the road. That is exactly what happened. It turns out that many feel sewing is a "lost art" and therefore there aren't too many that do sew and those few that can, don't always know what they are doing either. But we all survived and the costumes do look good---if we do say so ourselves.

Here are a few pics of the costumes I worked on along with only a handful of other mothers.I made 11 of these peasant tops and 9 full circle skirts. Another mother made their cute aprons. This costume is for a dance number at the VonTrapp's party for the baroness.Some of these sailor outfits we had borrowed from our city's theater company and then had to make a few more to better fit our kids.My daughter is in the middle in the back. This is her cast--Maria and the children right before going onstage--these are the ugly curtain playclothes.Here she is again, onstage, 3rd from the left (tallest one). Aren't middleschoolers a funny group? They sure do come in all shapes and sizes. That made for some fun costuming as we went along. I made all of these pajama costumes.
Let's just say I am oh so happy that this project is completed!!