[aprilshowers]

I find this happens when I’m sort of floundering for what to make next. Do you have a specific event or charity you can sew for? Or a Craftsy class you’ve been meaning to take? Actually, an in-person class would be even better since seeing what others are working on might provide some inspiration. And if all else fails, focus on something else for a little while (reading, knitting, cooking, etc) and it will come back eventually!

[aprilshowers]

Thank you @lightningmcstitch!! The freezer paper stenciling came out great. I found a fabric spray paint which made it very easy to use. She loves her Totoro dress!

[aprilshowers]

Just to follow up, I found this tutorial that makes this look doable.

http://www.madeeveryday.com/2008/07/tutorial-freezer-paper-stencil-makenna-loves-goldfish.html/

Thanks again for the suggestion, Lightning!

[aprilshowers]

Yes, it is cotton. Perhaps a little more substantial than typical quilter’s cotton. Thank you for the suggestion – I will look into it!

[aprilshowers]

Halloween 2015 is in the books! I hope you all had a fun night!

Attaching the drape to Demeter’s dress ended up being way easier than I had thought. Clearly I was overthinking. I took a scarf she found at the thrift store, gathered it at the center and stitched a straight line through it to the back of the dress. Then I happened to have some elastic that was the exact same color and I made wrist bands for the ends. I sometimes have to remind myself that these costumes are exactly that, costumes, and not heirloom pieces! Thanks for indulging me though. And thanks for posting your own costume ideas too – so fun!

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/742/22721012756_b45c2bf4a8.jpg

[aprilshowers]

Okay, okay, this is getting the creative juices flowing. Thank you! I’m off to the fabric store today to see what I can find. Thank goodness my other daughter decided to be Hermione so we can use last year’s Harry Potter costume 🙂

For the record, here is her vision

• This reply was modified 8 years ago by aprilshowers.

[aprilshowers]

I know this thread is old but I just ordered magnetic snaps from etsy to make my second School Days raincoat. I just have to share that my daughter’s coat is still going strong 2 years later and she absolutely LOVES the magnetic snaps. Our back door is metal and she thinks it’s hilarious that she can stick her coat to the door 🙂

[aprilshowers]

Funny that I just ran across this thread since I had the same question (in my head, not actually posted) about a month ago! I had some thick inexpensive Joann’s fleece leftover from a Halloween costume so I made up some Playtime Leggings for my cozy-loving 5yo. They came out great and she absolutely loves them but they are pilling like the dickens. Fine for under other clothing or casual playtime but I won’t use this particular fleece for an “outfit” in the future. But since my daughter spends 90% of her time in a dress and tights/leggings and we live somewhere where it gets cold cold cold for over 1/3 of the year I’ll definitely be tracking down some higher-quality fleece and making more for her. This pattern was perfect with the fleece, though since the fabric is thick they fit a little more snuggly than I find most oliver + s patterns do on my kid.

It’s hard to get a good photo of leggings but this should give you an idea and you can already see some of the pilling (this was the third time she wore them):

[aprilshowers]

Okay, cool. Thanks for all the ideas! Nicole, I love the photo of your niece and she looks very grown up in the dress. I laughed when I clicked on the link to your sheep dress because I became completely obsessed with it a few weeks ago! I couldn’t find the fabric in the dark grey but did in pink which my 5yo loved. Too bad the Playtime I already made for her was a pink polka-dot!

Liesl, I may try dropping the waist. I assume I just add some length to the bodice pattern pieces?

Thanks everyone!

[aprilshowers]

Another vote for #2. At the size my girls are now, most of your patterns call for more than a yard (though I know those are generous estimates and sometimes I can still squeeze the pieces out of less). I’d rather buy more of a fabric I know I like and possibly get more than one garment out of the extra than have a surprise which I might not like as much. And with only a yard there is more pressure to make an item NOW before the kids grow any more so that is less useful for stashing.

[aprilshowers]

Awesome, thanks to both of you! I absolutely LOVED this pattern. I’ve never made a lined dress before and it was kind of mind-blowing to see how it was done. Even though the pattern is only 2 scissors (and I agree it was very simple to make) I still learned so much!

[aprilshowers]

I can’t compare the two for you because I’ve only made the Sleepovers but I have completed that pattern 5 times and am currently working on # 6, 7 and 8. So, clearly, I love the pattern! With these current 3 sets, I’ll have made the entire range of sizes from 12mo – 8. My kids love that they can assist in picking out the buttons and can button them themselves. And I suspect that an older child might balk at the kimono style (at least my daughter would). I’ve done them all in flannel with quilting cotton for the facings.

[aprilshowers]

I know what a Mummer is! You must be from near Philly?

I’m making a giant orange M&M out of felt. I got the logo on last night – it looks so cute! But I do have a question regarding construction. I’ve got a big brown felt circle for the inside layer and a slightly larger orange one for the outside layer. I was going to sew them together and stuff with poly-fil so that the brown stays flat and the orange puffs out. Identical pieces for the other half, shoulder straps and she can wear it like a sandwich board. My question is, though, that if the circumference of the circles is different, how should I ease in the orange felt? I am not at all an expert so would love some advice from those of you more experienced than I am!

My other daughter is going to be a dragon with a tutu. The skirt and tail have been made but I need to figure out the wings. She wants them out of this shiny silky fabric which is going to be a challenge. Thankfully there is still plenty of time!

[aprilshowers]

I used the same ones that Maggie linked to above, only I got them at Jo-ann. But part of the reason I did that is I was making a raincoat and wanted to be able to sandwich the snaps between the two layers of fabric. If you’re making a wool coat, I’d probably go with Lightning’s suggestion. The tabbed snaps are meant to be seen, while I feel like the sew-in kind are meant to be hidden between fabric layers.

[aprilshowers]

I bought the required 1 1/2 yards of 44″ cotton for the size 7 Popover Dress and was able cut get a size 4 Popover out of the same piece of fabric since they’re relatively narrow pieces.