A Happy Belated Halloween to You!

There was no time to make something new for Halloween this year.  Well, I suppose there was, but my Gala Project exhausted any sewing energy I may have had in the last few days!  And besides, there are plenty of costumes in my closet that could use the attention.

I Love Lucy is one of my favorite television shows, and who doesn’t love Lucille Ball?!  Supremely talented, hysterically funny, and incredibly gorgeous. 

A few years ago, I decided I needed an I Love Lucy costume.  But which dress to choose?!  Blue polka dots seemed the most iconic (there are a few different versions that were worn on the show) so that was where I started.    I stopped by Britex during their annual in-store sale, which happens in October, and is the perfect excuse to go Halloween fabric shopping; I came home with some polka-dot yardage along with some white eyelet.

Vogue 8433 is a vintage pattern from the 1950s, which seemed incredibly appropriate.  There was not quite enough fabric to cut the pattern out, so I improvised the skirt and pleated in the excess until it fit the bodice waist.  And, of course, it needed a matching belt and buckle!

But something was still missing.

An apron seemed like the perfect addition.  I started with Butterick 6567, added a ruffle to the bottom edge, and messed about with some rick-rack trim.  

The pattern is fabulous!  I have made quite a few versions – they make fabulous gifts and are the perfect excuse to use adorable quilting cottons.

And Mr. Valentino had to be included.  He loves all the attention/treats he receives when he is dressed up!  For his jacket, I started with Simplicity 3939 for a bit of help with armhole placement, etc.  It might look familiar because I also used it for his Mad Hatter costume last year.  The tie and collar were easy enough – just a quick neck measurement was needed along with some cotton scraps.

Another Halloween, another excuse to wear a silly costume! 

Lucy

Dress:  Made by me, Vogue 8433

Apron:  Made by me, Butterick 6567

Petticoat:  Made by me

Earrings:  Thrifted

Necklace:  Banana Republic

Shoes:  Franco Sarto

Ricky

Jacket:  Made by me, Simplicity 3939 (with significant alterations)

Collar and Tie:  Made by me

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow”

So, I was a bit lazy this year - I did not make my costume.  This is, in fact, my Dorothy costume from an eighth grade production of The Wizard of Oz, pulled out of retirement because I absolutely have to wear a costume on Halloween.

Image from The Wizard of Oz (1939)

My mom also wore the costume on Friday and Saturday evening for a couple of Halloween parties, so it has been making the rounds this year.

Aaahh, memories - children's theatre in a multi-purpose room.
Let's see how many children can be packed onto one "stage."

I clearly remember being horrified that the yellow gingham apron pulled out of the costume closet was going to be my Dorothy costume.  Evidently, I did enough whining and complaining, and my mom agreed to make my costume.  

This was before Simplicity had come out with an adult Dorothy Gale costume.  Mom did take home economics in high school (the fact that the class was not offered at my high school still irks me) and made a few garments - I have proof in the form of a very cute dress currently residing in my closet.  However, her Singer sewing machine had been gathering dust for many, many years, and drafting a pattern was a bit overwhelming.  My piano teacher came over and helped draft the bodice pieces on paper grocery bags.  Isn't it funny the things we remember?  

That's not Toto! - R.I.P. Buddy.

There were some stressful moments, as I recall, but the costume turned out beautifully.  And it is still getting some use, so I feel totally justified in my demands.  After all, if I was going to be Dorothy, I had to have my blue gingham and ruby slippers.

Turns out, this is one of two garments that my mom sewed for me.  The other was also a costume - a gypsy/harem girl for Halloween which won a prize at school.  So she many not have been prolific, but she did a great job when properly motivated!

And she relinquished that Singer sewing machine to me a few years later when I had the urge to start sewing my own clothing.  Eventually one of the plastic gears broke, and the machine was retired.  At that point, I could not live without, so I purchased a White 979, which is the machine I have been using for at least 10 years.  I wonder how many hours of use that translates to – quite a few, I expect!

And if I was going as Dorothy, I needed a Wizard of Oz themed costume for my little guy.  

Toto was way too obvious (and Valentino does not have dark or long fur), a flying monkey was too scary, he would have nothing to do with a Glinda costume, well, you get the idea.  

In the story, Scarecrow is Dorothy’s best friend – perfect!  

Protecting the fields of corn - look out for those crows!

And look how adorable he is!  He was extremely patient with the whole experience, and loved all the attention he received, not to mention the treats!

Time to go to the office to be admired!

"Can I take these silly clothes off yet?"

Pinafore:  Made by mom.

Blouse:  I don’t remember – it was probably thrifted.

Shoes:  Nine West “Vishnu” from 6pm.com

Scarecrow Costume:  Made by me. (Modified Simplicity 3939 and Simplicity 2740)

“Whistle While you Work . . .”

Today I am busy making Tino’s Halloween costume.

Tomorrow is fast approaching, but I need a break from tiny sleeves and armholes, so I though I would share a costume from a few years ago. 

This is Snow White with her trusty side-kick, Happy.

With the help of Simplicity 2813, I came up with a decent version of Disney’s Snow White. 

My research started with the 1937 animated film.  From there, I did a few internet searches to find still images. There are quite a few variations out there, but I wanted to take most of my ideas from the film.

The one thing I really did not like about the pattern was the cheap looking sleeve treatment. The pattern advises you to fuse sections of one fabric to another with raw edges - ick!  It took a bit more time, but I cut an inner and outer sleeve.  I created a template for my cutouts a bit more tear-drop shaped than the pattern, cut those templates with seam allowances, sewed right side to right side on my outersleeve, clipped the seams, and turned to the inside before invisibly stitching the facings down. The inside sleeve was then basted to the outer sleeve, right side to wrong side and treated as a single piece for gathering and setting in.

More information about the construction may be found over on Pattern Review.

For Happy,  I used Simplicity 3939 as a basic pattern base to help with sleeve placement.

His beard was a happy mistake.  I knew that a bit of elastic was going to be necessary to keep any kind of hat on his head, but I really did not want it to show.  Lucky me, most of the dwarfs have little beards, and a small chunk of fiberfill folded over the elastic and sewed down took care of disguising the elastic.  In the end, I think the beard really made the costume!

And now I really must get back to his costume, for tomorrow is Halloween!

Dress, Cape and Collar:  Made by Me.  (Simplicity 2813)
Petticoat:  Made by Me.  (Simplicity 5006)
Wig:  "Bettie Page" wig from Party City
Shoes:  from Lacis