I am definitely in the buy a Halloween costume camp. My sewing ability is pathetic, at best. And my attention span is very short.
This year my 10 yr old wanted to make a costume, which really means have me make a costume. I declined telling him I loved him too much to subject him to that. I know myself and I knew that I would end up stressed and yelling and, in my mind, ruining the day. And frankly I already have a lot on my plate. He kept pressing.
Eventually my husband said he would help him make a costume. Even though he has never used a sewing machine and has no idea how to sew anything other than a button, which to be honest puts him ahead of me in the sewing skills area.
My son designed his costume. I took him shopping for green fabric and shiny fabric that looked like scales. He drew elaborate costume designs that defied all laws of gravity. My son and my husband began the cutting and sewing. Last weekend they pieced it all together and my son tired the costume on.
They had spent all this time and energy making what looked like a set of hospital scrubs.
“Uh, is that what aliens look like?” I had asked. “Like they are about to go into surgery?”
“I haven’t sewn the scales on yet,” my son had said, like that was the obvious solution.
The past couple days he has been busily sewing on pieces of shiny fabric by hand. I have helped him here and there with pinning or cutting, but basically he has been doing it all himself. Right before dinner last night he declared that it was done.
He is thrilled with it. We haven’t been allowed to see the entire costume yet, but the pieces that we have seen have made his siblings ooooh and ahhhhh with delight. I even heard rumblings that other people want to make their own costumes next year. And looking at my 10 yr old son’s face how could I say no.
“Ask Daddy! He will help you!” I said. I still know my limits.
I find that all that’s really needed to make a great costume is a trip to the Goodwill store, a pair of scissors, and a hot-glue gun.
The thing only has to hold together for a single night so sewing can be overkill.
Just buy a bunch of clothes and other items from the Salvation Army clothing store (or similar), cut them up and use the glue gun to hold everything together.
This works especially well for pirate costumes.
Comment by Sukotto — October 31, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
But where are the pictures?????
Comment by Crisanne — November 2, 2007 @ 11:03 am
My 9yo son likes to make his own costumes. It started with the rocket made of curugated cardboard painted silver. He received so many compliments that year. This time he wanted to be a burglar/escape convict. He decided to make a black and white striped shirt by taping hockey tape onto a white turtle neck. I was sceptical but, it turned out pretty good. I paid a whole $1 for a set of fake mustaches, he still has 5 left!
Comment by T — November 2, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
I was in the same boat as you are. I can’t sew a button on a shirt but this year I convinced myself that making is cheaper than buying. And is more fun to do. I decided to let the kids make thier own. I have an 11 (bucket of slime), an 9 (dog), and a 7(popcorn box) yr old. I did no sweing whatsoever. I used alot of hot glue and even carpet tape (for the dog costume). I think the most stressful thing was finding lime green spray paint. The kids had a blast and I must say they turned out so cute. It cost just as much to make as to buy but the kids had a blast. And every house they went to they said” My mom and I made this” with a proud smile on their face. That made it all worth it. I learned how to lower my cost so next year will be much cheaper.
Comment by Erika — November 2, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
I’m with Crisanne, I would of loved to see the picture of the end result of your son’s hard labor.
Comment by Mrs.M — January 10, 2008 @ 4:50 am