Mickey Mouse Costume

Naturally, since we have a Daisy and Donald Duck, we needed a Mickey Mouse.

Duncan's costume should have been the most simple, and the basic pieces were. The shirt is a raglan tee from the 04/2010 issue of Ottobre, and the shorts are from the 03/2011 issue, but really any basic tee and shorts would do. For warmth, I made both pieces out of fleece. The tights are purchased.

But Mickey's ears gave me the most trouble! My initial plan was to add a hood (Ottobre conveniently provided one with this tee pattern), and put ears into the hood. Unfortunately, the fleece was too stretchy and soft and my poor ears were limp. I tried everything to make them stand up - hair canvas, fusibles, batting, even popsicle sticks - but nothing worked.

Finally, I gave up on the hood idea, and decided to see what knitting patterns were available on Ravelry for a Mickey Mouse hat. There weren't any knit patterns I liked, but this crochet pattern immediately caught my eye. Of course, I've never crocheted a hat, but there's no time like the present to learn!

Then we tried the hat on the boy. And this happened. Every time. The other two kids love the hat, so I know it isn't uncomfortable. Duncan is just ornery.

I added some elastic bands with a velcro closure under the chin. (Safety note: If you are adding a chin strap to a hat for a small child, you must be sure that the closure is easy to open in an emergency. This is a major strangulation hazard. Velcro or snaps are a good choice. Ties are not.)

Fortunately, the strap seems to keep it nicely on his head, and his ears are nice and perky. Come on, Halloween! We are ready!!

Ottobre 04/2010-2 & 06/2008-2

Now that I have given this little outfit to the recipient, I can show it to you.

I'm ridiculously please with how well this turned out, if the truth be known. The top is from the 04/2010 issue of Ottobre. I chose it for several factors - front closure, sleeves and easy fit, but I wasn't sure if I really LOVED the style, although I did like it pretty well. Now that it is done, I really do love it. I have never had a single item of clothing that went together quite this perfectly, which is a relief since I really don't like gifting items that aren't perfect.

The front button bands - oh, I just want to sing about them. I don't know about you, but when I attach bands (or collars, waistbands, cuffs, etc) like this, the top and bottom aren't generally perfectly balanced. I try to get the right side to look great, but sometimes the stitching slips off the band on the wrong side, or the stitching isn't quite right on the edge. These bands are perfect. Can you see the stitching in the photo. Seriously, I'd never have believed I sewed these myself.

And then, lightening struck twice, and the binding is just as even. I'm not sure if this should be my new go to baby girl dress or if I should retire it now for fear I will never again achieve this level of perfection.

The little pants are a basic leggings pattern (from 06/2008, but Ottobre has published several, I just happened to have this one traced already). I sewed them up in denim colored knit from Joann and topstitched the waist in denim gold topstitching thread to give them a bit of a "jeggings" look. The fabric had this cute ruffled selvedge, so I just used that as my hem. It is really soft and I thought it would be more comfortable for baby, not to mention cute.
I hope Mommy and baby like the new outfit!

burda style 04-2010-102

While square and boxy isn't my usual aesthetic, I wanted to make this blouse as soon as I saw it in this month's burda.  I'm not sure why, but I'm all about random whatever I want sewing right now, so I decided to just make it and see...

I had this navy rayon/poly "linen look" in the stash that wasn't too dear, so if I hated it, I could call it a muslin and get on with my life.  I actually really like it!  I'm not sure I love it untucked with jeans, but I actually like the simple shape.  I love the double breasted button placket and the sleeves with the tabs to hold them up.

From the back, not so great.  It pretty much looks like a scrub top.  You can see that there is truly NO shaping.  The side seams are straight lines.

Love that button tab!  Isn't it cute?!

Inside I made french seams.  The shoulder seams were supposed to be felled, but I forgot and didn't put on enough of a seam allowance, so I just frenched them and topstitched them down.
In the magazine it is styled tucked in.

I think it looks better this way, but Mitch disagreed.  He suggested that I wear it over a white below-knee a-line skirt, cinched with a red belt and with blue and white shoes.  No, he really did!  I do love my hubby.  I guess I need to make a white skirt...