I want a cat-up dress!

Autumn 2012.  Katie announces that she knows what she wants for Halloween.  This was news to me.  I didn't even realise I was making outfits until that moment.
"I want a cat-up dress."
"A what now?"
"A cat-up dress."  As if it was perfectly clear what she meant by this.
 We eventually decided she must mean a cat dress-up.  She obviously had a very clear idea of what she wanted as well.  Clearly some thought had gone in here.  I assumed (foolishly, as it turns out) that she wanted something like this

Or this

You know, cute little tutu type skirt, tail and ears. Something quite girly. But no.  This is Katie we're talking about.  She wanted something like this

No princess dress pattern in the World was going to help here.  I found this Simplicity pattern to try to alter.

Simplicity 2855.  I think, although I couldn't swear to it, that I took the pattern in down the sides.  I know I shortened the legs and arms. Too much as it turned out. Apparently that's not how you're supposed to adjust raglan sleeves.  Never mind, she wanted white "fur" around the cuffs anyway.  I just had to add a bit extra.

I moved the zip from the centre front to the centre back.  I assume it was down the front for ease when dressing of yourself, but Katie would always have someone around to help.  I didn't fancy trying to insert a zip in fluffy material and thought it would get caught up when she was trying to open and close it.  I also thought it looked just plain daft.

I just cut an oval of fur for the front, rather than the slightly heart shape of the pattern.  I didn't make the hood or the shoe covers.  Katie was just going to wear black shoes or boots and I didn't think they'd survive too well in wet weather.  For the ears I covered a hairband in the black crushed velvet and made some ears to sew on.  It was a bit of trial and error to get them sewn on so they stood up and you couldn't see any raw edges.

And here she is.  Cat with attitude.

You can see that the arms and legs are a bit short for her.  But she still managed to wear it the next year as well.  When she went out 'Trick or Treating' she became a vampire cat.  No prizes for guessing what Charlotte's outfit was!