Halloween Preview (Part 1)

Finally, a preview of the kiddos Halloween costumes.  I sure do hope that after all this work, Hurricane Sandy doesn't dampen our Halloween festivities.  According the The Weather Channel, we might be right in her path.  Let's hope she changes her mind and stays out to sea!

This year for Halloween Piper is going to be Little Red Riding Hood:

Several months back I got my hands on a copy of Oliver + S Little Things to Sew.  Such a cute book with some great kid friendly projects.  One of the first things I noticed while looking through the book was a pattern for this darling hooded cape.  I was sold then and knew what Piper was going to be for Halloween.

The cape is done in a red corduroy.  My first instinct was to make the cape very luxurious, but then reality set in and spending upwards of $15 or more a yard for some fancy fabric just didn't make sense. I'm not the least bit disappointed I went with a less expensive fabric, it's still darling.  

The lining is Aneela Hoey's A Walk in the Woods.  I just couldn't resist adding Little Red Riding Hood to the lining of a red riding hood. :)

The dress was so simple.  It is the Oliver + S Music Box jumper with a few modifications.  I used the bodice pattern and added an inch or so to lengthen it so it hit near Piper's natural waist.  For the skirt, I used the width of the gingham fabric, twice.  Yep, that's 80+ inches of fabric wrapped around a 20" waist.  I gathered, and gathered, and gathered.  I wanted a nice full skirt so I could put a full pettiskirt under it.  I didn't get a good picture of the pettiskirt, but I will try to on Halloween night.  I got the pettiskirt from this shop online.

I have had the costume sitting in the living room in various stages of finishing for a few weeks.  I wanted Piper to see it all come together and get excited about it.  She goes back and forth each day as to wether she will actually wear it or not.  So, there is a good chance that the photo's you see on Halloween night will be her walking around the neighborhood in something other than this.  I hope she does decide that she'd like to be Red Riding Hood for Halloween, because I know she will look ridiculously cute in this costume! :)

Oliver + S Little Things to Sew Bear Carrier

Piper has had a "thing" recently for babies.  She has a few small ones that she carries around and one larger one.  She likes to push them in her grocery cart or wrap them all in a blanket to carry them.  So, yesterday it dawned on me that she needed an easy, hands free way to carry her babies (particularly the larger one) and I had the perfect solution.

Oliver + S: Little Things to Sew Bear Carrier

I've had the Little Things to Sew book for a while.  I have looked through it often, thinking of all the things I wanted to make.  I just haven't taken the time to do it.  There are really a lot of cute projects in this book and I plan to make more.

Yesterday while Piper was walking around the house trying to carry her plethora of dolls and stuffies it dawned on me, I needed to make the bear carrier for her.  So, after dinner we all migrated down stairs.  I started to cut out the pieces for the carrier while Piper helped DH and Zachary take a computer apart (a frequent occurrence in our house). 

I love our space in the basement.  We all end up there together, working on projects and enjoying each others company.

So, after the kiddos went to bed I went to work.  It took me about 2 hours start to finish.  I had promised Piper I would have a surprise for her in the morning.  One thing I have learned in life is if you promise a toddler something, you better come through.  So, I did.

It wasn't a hard project to make.  There are a lot of curves to sew and those aren't my favorite things to sew, straight lines are easier (obviously). On curves I always mark out my seam line and go slow, sometimes using the hand wheel, so I can get the curve sewn as neatly as possible.

The big reveal this morning was less than impressive.  Piper refuses to wear the carrier.  I thought she would be thrilled, but she's 2.  I did leave the straps about 6 inches too long so she has room to grow into it.  Maybe someday she'll come around to it. :-/