tinkerbell preview

yes, the rumors are true. i was unable to convince the girls that they want to put on dresses from the dress-up bin in the basement and wear them for halloween. perhaps this is what happens when you have a mom that makes things... maybe i should be really happy about this. maybe it means that my children think i have super powers, like i'm a sewing super-hero. yes, let's go with that. and with great sewing power apparently comes halloween responsibilities. ok, kinda lame, but Nick is watching Captain America at the moment so we'll just let that one go.

to be fair, B has insisted for months now that she wants to be tinkerbell. (which, btw, she also was last year. and K was when she was 2. and 3.) so maybe it's just a weird thing they have... anyway, i didn't really think i'd get "out of" making B something, but i hadn't planned on putting together an entire outfit. but then you go to the store, and you have all of these grand ideas, and here we are.

the thing that drives me a little batty about halloween costumes is what a waste they seem to be most of the time, so i wanted to make something that could get use after the candy is all eaten. and thus was born the tinkerbell pj/costume idea.  

first, my very professional sketch (colored in with doodle buddy on my iphone, that's right):

first i cut out a raglan long-sleeved t-shirt in off-white jersey (because skin-colored seemed creepy and we're not going for that kind of costume). i cut out pieces like those shown above out of green jersey and stitched them on to the t-shirt front and back with a knit satin stitch. so the shirt is all stitched together now, but i still need to finish the hem and band the arms and neck with knit ribbing.

the pants are based off of a simple leggings pattern, and then i stitched the green jersey to them to look like the leaves of tinkerbell's skirt. they still need hemming and a waistband, so there's a little work to do there as well.

my thought is that post-halloween, these will be fun tinkerbell jammies for B to wear. they're simple, comfy, and were really cheap to make (thank you, joann's halloween sale). still on the agenda is to make up a little tutu/skirt type thing out of tulle and costume satin. haven't exactly figured that all out yet, but there's plenty of time, right? in the interest of preserving my sanity, we did pick up a pair of green fairy wings at target so i don't have to make those ;)

here she is trying it on the pieces so far (which she was not all too happy about, btw):

tomorrow's mission: finish tinkerbell and make a ladybug cape for K which should be fairly simple. i'm just glad that she has finally decided on what she wants to be. tough decision, apparently.

stay tuned....