Way back in about September of 2010 it was decided I should make Halloween costumes for the two nieces. I can't remember how it came about. I've obviously blocked it out. Witches dresses were decided on. I found and ordered a pattern.
Sizing on the pattern goes from 4 to 8. Great, I thought, Charlotte was aged 6 1/2 and Katie was aged 3 1/2. I thought I would make Katie size 4 as it was the smallest and Charlotte somewhere in the middle of the pattern sizes. Seemed reasonable to me. Oh how innocent I was! I then measured the girls. Turns out the pattern was too big for either of them. It was one of my first "real" projects and I was scared about altering the pattern (I would soon learn!) so I think I made just the straight sizes. I might have made Charlotte's slightly bigger than Katie's but I can't remember. I think it says something about either the sizing of the pattern or the sizing of the children that they both still fit into them today! In fact, they're probably nearer the correct size now 3 1/2 years later.
Back to the pattern. I could just imagine them running around in two little versions of view D. I had visions of Charlotte in a green and black version and Katie in orange and black. Unfortunately they didn't agree. I don't know why I gave them the choice really, but I still use green and orange when colour coding patterns for them. Charlotte decided she wanted red and Katie wanted purple. I used crepe backed satin, tulle and crushed velvet. I couldn't get tulle the same colour as the satin for Katie's, but I quite like the two-toned effect. I also used some black ribbon and some trim which I only remembered about when I started looking through the old photos. I get completely lost when doing that. I can't believe how young they look. Anyway, here's some photos. Please bear in mind that I hadn't really sewn anything but quilts until this point.
I particularly like how the dresses are supposed to be knee length if you look at the pattern picture! I also like how the dresses hang off the poor bairns' shoulders. I promise, I have got better at making the dresses fit them. At least they were young enough not to be bothered by my mistakes. The extra length makes twirling much more fun though.
I think the photo above shows just how much too big Katie's dress is. It also shows the dresses were made pre me being brave enough to try sewing in invisible zips. Once I tried I don't know why I was so scared. They're awesome!
That's their proud faces. Bless them. Unfortunately for me this was just the beginning. Every birthday and Christmas since they've had dress up outfits made. I think this year we're due another Halloween outfit each too. Watch this space!
Those are fab dresses, can't believe this was the first attempt.
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen. I was on ages making them, following each instruction to the letter. Not my first time sewing though. I had made quilts and things before that. But they're dead easy, all straight lines!
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