Lila’s tree costume is coming together. It’s a simple little costume, but I managed to make it a lot of work anyway. I’ve heard people say it’s silly to put a lot of time and effort into a Halloween costume that’s going to be worn once, and that makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to do it any other way – maybe I’ll feel more comfortable throwing things together once I become a better sewer, or maybe I’ll never be a corner-cutter, who knows. So yeah, all my seams are finished and the oak leaves have veins. And I didn’t get anything else done all week.
The wood grain dress is Leila & Ben’s Sweet Little Dress pattern with lengthened sleeves. And a knothole.
The blue leaves were Lila’s idea, by the way. She really, really wanted blue leaves. I got a blank stare when I tried to explain photosynthesis, and besides, who am I to deny my daughter a couple blue leaves on her tree?
I’m pretty sure the squirrel is what sold her on the costume. It’s attached with velcro (a la Sophie’s super cool interactive stuffie shirt) so it can scamper around in the branches and collect acorns. Lila’s into it!
There are a couple details still in the works, but it’s almost done, and I’m pretty excited for this thing to get its couple hours of wear. And maybe we can throw it into the dress-up bin (which we don’t yet have, but hope to someday) after Halloween…
I put a lot of effort into Kate’s costume too and told myself over and over again that she would barely wear it but she wore it to a playgroup Halloween party today and while all the polyester costumes were being stapled together hers was still looking damned cute.
ha! i love it. built to last! what’s her costume, any photos? π
I love it! We have a box of well crafted costumes that has been passed down in the family. It’s so much fun seeing my kids dressed in a costume made my my grandmother or mom. It’s even worth giving up the fun of making a Halloween costume every year, just for the nostalgia!
Love it. I am classically lazy when it comes to sewing anything for Halloween, but wish I had thought of this idea….that fabric, that dress, those leaves (blue and other) AND that squirrel = awesome. Can totally wear that around later! Why not?
… oh, and the really great costumes have second lives as dress ups! π
hahahaha, photosynthesis! that girl has a blatant disregard for science. and you’d better be ready for lila to demand that dress for everyday wear, gail. WITH mismatched shoes. it’s gonna happen.
That’s an awesome costume! And I totally echo the others, a well made costume just keeps giving. My daughter one year wore a costume my mom made for me. That was the year I screwed up her costume at the last minute, all the kids costumes are still in use as dress up clothes. My daughter even wore the fancy dress that was party of a witch costume out for parties that Christmas. She was more of a pretty witch then a scary one!
I love all the details in your costume, it’s so well thought out.
I love the squirrel! Very fun idea. I’m sewing some basic Halloween costumes too, though my husband wants to buy them from a store! The horror! I blame his British upbringing. They just don’t do (or didn’t do) Halloween and so he doesn’t understand.
Wowie this is so creative and fun! I want to play with that squirrel. I’m so thrilled to see you’ve made a stuffie and that whole outfit is adorbs Gail!
love the squirrel. any chance we’ll see it on friday?
fantastic! i’ve spent way more time, effort, and money π on my girls’ costumes than intended, but i have managed to work in some ways they could be used post trick-or-treat, so at least i’ll get to see them live on! and i love the blue leaves, science be darned!
AWESOME!! I love the little acorns!
super cute!
It is absolutely stunning! The details are just beautiful and yes – I imagine this will get lots of wear, even after Halloween.
Wowee, I love it! Heck, I’d wear it (though that’d be a bit frightening to the little ones). It looks to me like a great excuse to use Woodgrain fabric. BTW, the blue leaves are so cool. She’s got taste.
Oh, it’s looking so cute! And photosynthesis be damned!
i. love. this. seriously!! Such a perfect use for the woodgrain fabric… and that little squirrel??!??!? ahh!
I love this! Where did you find the fabric?
thanks! i bought mine locally but it’s available at fabric.com (http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=6F0CD4D7-0583-4FCD-B724-20EB402F2A1B&cm_mmc=Google-_-Prodcuts-_-Products+Listings-_-Ads&gclid=CM63jfX2ybICFUjhQgod4TMApA) and other places online!