Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Belle


Kate is Belle for Halloween this year.
Very over-the-top, all that ruching. I now know why people use elastic instead of a gathering thread - see how that front row has already snapped and sagged. Or maybe this only happens with children, who tend to roll around on the ground in their new dresses to see how puffy everything feels.

So I pulled out all the threads, and replaced them with elastic.

Coarse, and not as elegant, but resilient. And with children, resilient trumps elegant.

Here's the back - all I will say is that it was fun inserting an invisible zipper in the midst of all the ruching.

If you're wondering why there's so much fleece in this gown (it's fleece underneath all that satin), it's because we live in Minnesota. Halloween costume sewing is easy, but it does get challenging to have it be warm as well. So anywhere we can add an extra layer of fleece, or a couple of puffy air pockets, we will. Like this sleeve- ruched to be in sync with that crazy skirt:

Even with all this fleece, and an inner turtleneck shirt and jeans/fleece pants and mittens, we might still need a fleece-lined satin cape to wear on the day itself. Which I should probably make. More fabric shopping. Whee.


One down, two to go!


25 comments:

  1. what a fabulous costume! i have to admit, i have always wanted (and still want) to dress up as Belle for Halloween... or really for anything that requires a costume! (and yes, I am a "grown up" haha)

    I love that this costume is practical, too. It bothered me so much when I was little to have to wear a coat over my costumes!

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  2. That is so darn sweet! My four year old has told me that she wants to be Cyndi Lauper in the "Hey Now" video. That'll be interesting! I guess I have to wear a nun's costume and Paul can go in drag? Anyway, it'd be cool to have the red with white fur hooded cape that Belle wears in the movie if it's going to be really cold!

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  3. It looks great - I love the ruching! Can't wait to see the other 2.

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  4. Oh.My.Word!! What a gorgeous costume! She'd better have a grand party to go to, with an outfit like that to wear! ;)

    I can't imagine putting that much time and effort into costumes. It's a good thing you're having fun! :)

    AWESOME! Can't wait to see the others!

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  5. Beautiful - and so nice and warm! Emma is Tinkerbell this year, and we have been having LOTS of conversations about how Tinkerbell dresses warmly in the wintertime. I'm hoping those conversations pay off, come October 31st...

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  6. I like it with the elastic thread. It givesw it some extra poof!

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  7. You have captured pale yellow at its very best. I love your interpretation with the fleece.

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  8. Woooh! Very yummy, like wedding cake :) I love the silver piping detail on the neckline. Most elegant! It's things like that that make or break an outfit and that silver line has most certainly made it. Lurve!

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  9. What a lovely costume. A very cute "Belle", and now she doesn't have to wear a coat so that everyone can see her beautifull dress!

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  10. WOW! I want a costume made by you - for ME! *cry*

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  11. adorable, my daughter is also Belle and while in NJ it isn't quite as cold I LOVE the cape idea. Cannot wait to see the others.

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  12. I love it ! My daughter wants to be a princess, with a pink dress, I whould get to work soon. I miss needing the fleece layer in Minnesota..., well, I miss Minnesota, I should say.

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  13. I love it, too. She is a real beauty! The dress and the model!

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  14. Fan-freakin-tastic! You are amazing! I can't wait to see the other two!

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  15. You are just incredible. thats all i can say..... just incredible. WIll you be my mommy?! Never mind, my mother was JUST like you. The costumes and my prom dress... OMG. What a lady......

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  16. oooooh, I want a skirt like that! Forget Belle (but your wee girl is so adorable!). I want that skirt. Did you sew on the elastic itself or put it in a casing?

    I'm off to buy tulle to make my girl a ballerina. Sooooo unoriginal but fits my Halloween ideal: cheap, easy, fast.

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  17. A Minnesotian grandmother who just found your marvelous blog!!! I just completed my first request for a Halloween costume from my grandchild, Anna, age 3 . . . she's a glorious, silver, sparkly Statue of Liberty! Your incredibly beautiful Belle Costume is amazing!!! I better practice my sewing skills!!!! Thanks for your great ideas for children!

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  18. It looks great! Better than the store-bought Belle costume my niece had.

    Here in California the weather has fluctuated between 113 and 50 degrees in the past 2 weeks, so I'm just making long-sleeved costumes that they can put a few layers on underneath if needs be for the evening - otherwise they might melt during the school carnival...

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  19. Darling! I've never thought fleece so elegant. If I were her I would wear it daily until Christmas.

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  20. That is so pretty! Great job on incorporating the fleece in to make it warm. I made a fleece underdress, too (live in MN, too). I look at all those cute costumes people make in warmer climates and try to think how would I make it wearable here where there could be snow on the ground!

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  21. Hey!! I like so so so much your blogs!!!
    Kisses from Spain ;D

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  22. Wonderful as usual! Out here, the last two years, my problem is to make something suitable to be worn in the middle of summer for the school fancy dress competition. Apparently others don't think twice about burdening their kids in weather inappropriate rented costumes though!

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  23. So glad my daughter changed her mind! Dorothy was so much easier than a Belle dress! :) Yours looks great!!!
    ~Lindsay

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