I saw this post on Prudent Baby last year and I’ve been daydreaming about making bird wings ever since.
Luckily Lila made no specific requests for a Halloween costume, so I was able to steer her in the direction of “bird” pretty easily.
I had a hard time getting motivated and came close to ditching the idea of a handmade costume, but once I got started, it was a totally pleasant project – time consuming with all that feather cutting, but straightforward and easy. And choosing the fabrics was the most fun…per usual.
I used this tutorial from Llevo el Invierno for the wings, and just made a few changes.
After measuring Lila’s “wingspan” I decided to add a few inches to each wing (the directions say they’ll fit 18 months to age 3, but it doesn’t hurt to measure and cut accordingly). So my wings are 15 x 15 inches, rather than 13 x 13. I added 1/4 inch elastic loops instead of finger ties, and instead of tying at the neck, I attached elastic shoulder straps under the top binding so that she can get into them herself.
I also bound the side edges along with the top, just to clean things up a bit.
And a felt bird mask to finish things off.
That is just too cute! 🙂
Love this – so clever!
Beautiful!
I love everything you make! I always want to make it all myself!
Good heavens! What a lucky little girlie!
How cute! I love the wings, and I like your adaptations to the fit. I’m not a fan of any dress up clothes that tie around the neck… (and I love a bound edge on just about anything!)
I may have to make these for a Christmas gift!
Oh, and I’m a bit jealous that Lila had no costume requests. For Addy’s third Halloween when she was just 28 months old I asked her what she wanted to be, expecting her to not understand the question, and I was given the response, “A pink princess!!” It’s been downhill since then!
ha, thanks! i do feel pretty lucky that i’ve been able to choose her costume for the third year in a row now! i’m positive that she’ll request something ridiculous next year 🙂
absolutely stunning! lucky girl.
Beautiful! I love the fabrics you chose and Happy Almost Halloween to you!
wow, gail, that is crazy impressive! huge wow factor. sometimes time consuming projects don’t always *look* time consuming when they are done, you know? but this looks time consuming. and super awesome. i love it.
The cutest little girls costume ever. Scraps could easily make this costume. So nice…
best costume ever! and love the matching print in the skirt to the feathers . . . do you think Lila will notice and appreciate that detail?:) I’m envious of your mild Halloween climate that Lila can wear this outfit as is – those beautiful wings would be covered by a winter jacket here in Michigan!
oh no, she didn’t notice – but i’m glad you did!! 🙂 and i must say, we got a VERY brief break in the rain to take these photos. it’s been warm here this week, but pouring non-stop, so those wings may be covered in a raincoat for trick-or-treating!
So cool. My daughter had a very specific request this year. And exact type of butterfly that had me sewing a tan sweatsuit last week. It’s not my first choice to make an outfit out of camel colored fleece…
Lovely! I bet she’ll get lots of play out of these after Halloween.
This is really lovely. 🙂
oh they’re glorious, gail!! love so much. great idea to add elastic instead of the ties, too – you’re a smart mama.
I’m totally stealing this idea for next year! I just love the warm colors you chose, and your thoughtful adaptations. Thanks for the inspiration!
it’s just lovely ~ I bet she loves it 🙂
they’re totally beautiful!!! worth all the effort. ;)))) Hope you guys have fun trick-or-treating!
Ack! So cute 🙂
what a great costume! I’d choose beautiful over scary any day…this is just gorgeous.
Gorgeous! Love the colors.
this is SO cute! my favorite halloween costume for kids i’ve seen yet 🙂
That´s awesome! It looks so sweet on her!!!
So beautiful. She’ll be able to use these well beyond Halloween.
Oh my gosh, no way! This is so adorable! Great job. 🙂
love them! i’ve been wanting to make those too… maybe next year.
Beautiful!!!! Really beautiful!
So nice and original! I am sure I’ll do something like this when I have kids. Or maybe for myself… Just last Carnival I made my own Little Red Riding Hood Cape… But no so little…!!
Where do you buy your felt?? I’m looking for good felt, not the junk they have at Michaels 🙂
Mine is from Magic Cabin (http://www.magiccabin.com/Craft-Kits/Deluxe-Wool-Felt-Craft-Fabric-Packet-56-Pieces.htm) – it’s really nice wool felt, spendy but worth it!
Hi, I’ve been following your blog for a while now and really enjoy seeing what you make! I must try an Oliver + S pattern one day (beyond the hat) because from what I see they turn out great. I’m knee depth in Japanese patterns at the moment! Anyway, I’ve just made my daughter a pair of these wings after seeing yours and they turned out gorgeous. I made a link from my blog to yours about the wings, I hope that’s ok and you don’t mind 🙂
Just the thing for my 3yr old grandaughters for xmas!
Gail…did you finish the edges on scalloped wings at all. My 4 year old has requested a pink owl for halloween and I remembered this post. I came back searching for it and it would be perfect! I may just knit a hat with the big owl eyes to go with the wings.
I left all the scallops unfinished. It’a still in good shape four years later! Have fun with it! 😊