right on schedule, ella figured out what she wanted to be for halloween. she wanted to be a character from one of her favorite shows, because she found a pink wig.
this was going to be great for me, because it meant that i could just run out and buy the costume and be done with it. we could then spend our time making halloween treats, which we’ve never done before.
then ella discovered that you could just run out and buy the costume, and she was having none of it. she decided instead that she wanted to be a shooting star. she gave me a sketch: her body would be the night sky, her head would be the star, and her cape would be the star’s tail.
the fabric she wanted for the body didn’t have much stretch, so i made a pattern that was more like a jumpsuit and made a muslin. which didn’t fit.
so i adjusted the pattern and made another muslin. which didn’t fit.
so i adjusted the pattern again and made another muslin. which didn’t fit.
so i adjusted the pattern again and made another muslin. and it fit. and there was much rejoicing.
the jumpsuit pattern was created using wild ginger software’s child’s play patternmaking program. the reason the first three patterns didn’t fit is because i had not allowed enough ease for the fabric—three times. it needed much more than i expected because she needed to be able to wear something warm underneath for trick-or-treating. the pattern is the raglan jumpsuit, back zip, turtleneck (neckline lowered 1/2” all around), 10” ease allowed in chest and hips.
the headpiece is made of what ella calls “foam cord board”, with shimmery organdy spray glued to the front and back. we left a margin of organdy all around the star to give it some extra dimension. the lights are a set of battery-operated christmas lights, with the battery pack tucked into a pocket on the back of the jumpsuit. i just poked holes into the foam cord and stuck the lights in—sure, the cord shows in the back but she can’t see it, so it doesn’t bother her. :)
the tail is more organdy, attached to a pony tail behind the star.
there was absolutely no stash reduction whatsoever on this project, and i couldn’t care less. after all, halloween comes but once a year.
*tomorrow starts my series on middle TN crafters and artists! i’m also highlight online crafters and artists too, so if there is someone you want to make sure gets included in the series, let me know! the more the merrier.
