Halloween Kid Costumes Sew Much More : Episode SMM-161 -- More Projects »
It comes around every year and no discriminating child would dream of wearing last year's costume! Store-bought is inexpensive but often falls apart so why not make something that can serve double time in the dress-up trunk later? Lynne Farris joins host Susan Khalje with ideas for creating unique costumes and accessories to go with them including masks, headpieces, wings and more.
Bird costume Materials: fabric
batting
felt
hat with a yellow bill
kraft paper
stretchy velour
garden gloves - yellow or orange with dark cuff
straight pins
air- soluble marker
scissors
sneakers or swim shoes Steps: 1. To make the bird body pattern, measure the length of a T-shirt from front to back and make a pattern from that, adding curved triangle shapes at the front and back bottom of the pattern (figure A). The featured bird body measured 47 inches from front to back.
  Figure B |
Don't forget to add the neck hole placement--just use the T-shirt as a guide--it should be fairly centered in the body. Cut two pieces of fabric from the pattern. Sandwich batting in between the two fabric layers, baste and serge around the edges and quilt across the body (figure B). For a comfortable collar and neckline, use stretchy velour (figure C).
2. To make wings, cut a pattern from kraft paper and position it on top of two layers of stretchy fabric and a layer of batting, then pin it into place (figure D). The featured pattern was cut in a freeform, scalloped shape to serve as a sleeve with enough room for an armhole and to cover the length of a child's arm. Trace the pattern onto the fabric using an air-soluble marker (figure E).
3. Stitch along the traced wing design on the fabric, through both fabric layers and the batting (figure F), leaving a two- to three-inch opening to flip the batting to the inside. Trim the batting and fabric down around the stitching and turn the batting in, sandwiching it between the two layers of fabric. Sew the opening closed and topstitch one inch around the perimeter of the wings (figure G).
Add more texture by topstitching inside the one-inch perimeter, making a quilted design on the wings--the featured wings had a simple scallop motif (figure H). Repeat steps 2 and 3 for a second set of wings for the other arm. 4. To make the feathers that go around the neck (figure I), measure around the neck and cut two lengths of felt and a length of batting (approximately six inches wide) to this measurement.
Cut the pieces slightly concave so they'll fit nicely against the neck. Layer the pieces of felt on top of the batting then draw a large sawtooth pattern with seven points on the top piece of felt (figure J). 5. Stitch the felt and batting layers along this line, leaving a two- to three -inch opening for turning. Turn so the felt sandwiches the batting, then stitch the opening closed. Topstitch the center of each point (figure K) to create texture.
6. To make tail feathers, position two large triangles of felt and batting underneath the body then use the air-soluble pen to draw a large sawtooth design onto the top piece of felt using the bottom of the bird body as a pattern frame of reference ( figure L). The featured costume had seven sawtooth points (figure M). Stitch along the edge of felt and batting layers, leaving a two- to three-inch opening for turning. Turn so the batting is sandwiched between the felt layers, then stitch the opening closed. Topstitch to add texture to the feathers. 7. Stitch the tail feathers onto the back bottom of the bird body using the sewing machine.
8. To attach the wings, center one wing over the neck hole, aligning the edge of the wing with the edge of the body. Join the wing to the body by stitching it in place (figure N). 9. Once stitched, fold the wing up, matching the edges and tack in place to fashion a sleeve (figure O). Repeat steps 8 and 9 for the second wing/sleeve.
10. To make feet, use garden gloves from the hardware store (figure P). Modify them by cutting out the thumb as show in figure Q. Serge around the cutout area to create a space for shoe sole to fit through.
Add a couple of strips of elastic across the cutout area so the bird foot stays on the sole of the shoe (figure R). Stuff the fingers of the glove with rolled -up batting. Stuff firmly to give the "claws" shape. Slip the modified glove over shoes, adjusting the elastic so it helps hold the "foot" to the sole of the shoe (figure S). Swim shoes or slip-on sneakers work best this costume.
11. To make the head (figure T), cover the head portion of yellow-billed baseball cap with a black felt hood (figure U). Make the hood by tracing a sweatshirt pattern and serging it together.
Make five additional feathers using the method in steps 4 and 5. Roll them up and hot glue them to hold, then attach them to the felt hood at the top of the cap (figure V). Fashion eyes by stitching buttons and trim to the felt hood at the front of the cap.
 This adorable spider costume modeled by Sidney is made of velour (over a red sweatshirt and black pants). Foam pipe insulation is used as extra legs (tied with elastic thread fastened to elastic bands on the wrists to get the dangle effect). The eyes are fashioned using plastic eggs, googly eyes and yellow fringe. |
Resources fabric
The Fabric Club
PO Box 767670
Roswell, GA 30076
US
Toll Free Phone: 800-322-2582
E-mail: CustomerService@fabricclub.com
Website: www.fabricclub.com
felt--Kunin
Available at Jo-Ann Etc. and Wal-Mart.
Kunin Felt / Foss Manufacturing Co.
Hampton, NH
US
Phone: 603-929-6100
Toll Free Phone: 800-292-7900
E-mail: kuninfelt@fossmfg.com
Website: www.kuninfelt.com
Sewing Fun Stuff! Soft Sculpture Shortcuts
by Lynne Farris
Sterling, 1996
Click here to order this title.
Lynne Farris Designs
Website: www.lynnefarrisdesigns.com
Guests Lynne Farris
Craft designer, author and owner of Lynne Farris Designs
Website: www.lynnefarrisdesigns.com
Also in this Episode
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