The Terrible Tutus!

Christmas 2013.  The girls both wanted the same outfit (oh how I wished they hadn't).  They'd been watching 'Barbie in the Pink Shoes'.

How tasteful?  All pink and sparkly.  And tutu-like.  I wasn't even sure I could get a pattern for a tutu.  Because I was certain I wouldn't be able to make anything up for this!  Turns out you can get tutu patterns.  Mainly made to measure ones.  But I did find a commercial tutu pattern.

Jalie 2915.  The leotard and skirt are separate.  The leotard has a flap running all the way around to hide the waistband of the skirt.  While I was looking for a pattern I started reading all kinds of advice on making tutus.  It all seemed very complicated.  But the girls had faith in me.  Bless them!  It was then that I came across the website for Valorose Tutus.  I don't think these tutus would have been made without the help and advice from the wonderful Suzanne who runs the site.  In fact I know they wouldn't have been made, and they certainly wouldn't have looked half so impressive.  You see, Katie wanted hers to stick out a lot, and I had no idea how much net I would need.  I plagued the life out of poor Suzanne for about two months with questions and updates.  It turns out that you need A LOT of net for a tutu.

I started with the leotards.  I was amazed at how much easier they were than I thought they would be to make.  The only thing was there was a lot of panels in each one and I got a bit sick making two at a time.  The centre panel I made from shiny lycra, and the rest was made from a velvety lycra.

  

The straps were made from white elastic that were dyed with teabags.  Again following advice from Suzanne.  I also added lots of sparkles to the front of each leotard.  It's Barbie.  Apparently things can't be too pink or sparkly.

When I took photos of these I kept making sure I had both in the shot at the same time!  I wanted to make sure everyone knew I was making two tutus!  I do apologise to everyone I know about how much I went on about that fact.

On to the skirts.  When doing research I found conflicting advice about how much net I should use in each layer.  It varied from two widths to four widths, each width being 150cm (approx 5' wide).  When I asked Suzanne her advice was 6 widths for the top layer and 5 for the other layers.  That's an awful lot of net.  It basically meant for the top layer I had to gather a rectangle that was 1'x30'!!  This then had to be attached to what was basically a pair of pants with a waist of about 20".  It was a complete nightmare.  When I was trying to gather, my machine kept having a hissy fit and snapping thread.  Then sewing the gathered layers to the pants was even worse.  A low point was the day I snapped 3 needles in ones afternoon.  It's amazing my sewing machine still speaks to me!  We didn't get on well for quite some time after that.  I also needed regular hugs when it wasn't going well.  My usual threat when a project isn't going well is that I'm going to throw it out of the window, I can't tell you how many times I threatened that.

I added yet more sparkles.  I'd like to say that the wide band of sequins was for decoration, but it was more to hide some very dodgy sewing!

With the skirts upside down it's easier to see the different layers and colours.

Both tutus were completed before Christmas.  They did take a roll of wrapping paper each to wrap though!

The girls were definitely pleased.  Here they are doing some 'ballet'.  I know, I know, but they think they look really good.

You just can't beat the combination of tutus and socks can you?  Unless it's Katie's tutu, socks and red ballet shoes comination!  I think you'll agree that Suzanne's advice made much more impressive (and more sticky out) skirts!  Thank you again Suzanne.

Now I suppose I should go and work on this year's Christmas presents...

More on Gran's 90th birthday

As well as Gran's picture quilt I also made a matching cushion.  The picture quality is terrible, I'm sorry, but, I was literally walking out of the door with it when I remembered I needed to take a photo.  I perhaps shouldn't have bothered!

It does match the quilt, honest!

We also had a surprise birthday party for her.  Normally my cousin Jayne makes and decorates cakes for family occasions.  This time she had the excuse of having just had a baby.  Some people, the things they do to get out of cake decorating!  Anyway, when this was mentioned a few months ago, I foolishly stepped forward to volunteer. Full of confidence.  I mean how hard could it be?  I should point out at this juncture that my usual decorating method is to put chocolate (or chocolate fudge) on top of the cake and if I'm feeling really fancy (i.e. it's a birthday cake) I add Smarties.

I had a vision in my head of doing something with fondant or sugar paste roses.  I've made roses out of paper before, it can't be too much different, can it?  Turns out it can.  We were going for a purple and silver theme for the party, so I used food colouring to dye some sugarpaste.  I spent days looking like I'd committed some kind of terrible crime.  The red just would not wash off.  It was very Lady MacBeth.

We got a topper printed onto icing by the lovely Gill to go into the centre of the cake.  We wanted to go with understated elegance.  I know.  This is the person who usually makes princess dresses and pirate quilts.

Mam made the spice cake and put the marzipan on.  Then we started to decorate.  You've seen nothing like it.  Poor Mam's kitchen looked like a bomb site by the time we'd finished.  I've never covered a cake (or cake board for that matter) in fondant.  It took several attempts and lots (and lots) of patching and smoothing.  After putting the topper on, it was time for the piping.  Can I have a dramatic drum roll please?  I'd practised piping once and it went ok.  I then ran out of time to do any more practising.  You can see how well this is going to go, can't you?  Mam left the kitchen at that point.  She was then unsure whether she was supposed to come in everytime there was an exclamation.  On the whole she thought it wise to stay out of the way.  I can't say I blame her!

Cake complete.  We did debate whether or not to put some silver balls on.  Mainly to try to distract the eye from the piping.  But it was decided that less was more.

It wasn't too bad in the end.  Jayne's job is definitely safe though!  I'm not sure I can handle the stress levels for one thing.

For around the cake table at the party I made some personalised bunting.  The idea was that Gran could keep it afterwards as a memento.   No prizes for guessing Gran's name.

In the picture the bunting isn't quite finished.  I also stuck some purple bows onto the pegs.  Just because I could!

Now where are those Smarties?!