Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Rapunzel: Dresses & Tresses


We interrupt the sewing of Halloween costumes
to show you er... more costumes.

Jenna's birthday party on Saturday will be a sort of
dress-up party. Or - to be more precise - it will be
the result of fleece and crushed panne
being on sale at Joann's.


Rapunzel dresses


that are incredibly easy to make.
And very soft and comfortable.

I made my first one last year, using
Rowena's magistrate's dress tutorial.

You need about 2 yards of crushed panne
(or some other drapey fabric),folded in half
so the fold becomes the shoulder seam line.


Then you cut this shape out:

Then you add a keyhole-shaped facing in fleece

and
face-hem the sleeves.




I tried doing a ribbing sort of neckline at first, and it
was so hideous and Tshirtish that I yanked it off
and did the fleece neckline facings, sewn on the
wrong side of the dress and turned out to the
right side, zig-zag-stitching the edge down.


Then you sew a sash that looks like my
camera strap,
and cinch the waist, cross behind and tie in front.
Instant embellishment without trim.


Then you make more dresses, because the panne was
$2.50 a yard and you could get two size 4T
dresses side-by-side out of each 2-yard-cut
(that's $2.50 a dress!)



and size them up and down to fit different kids

and sew more coordinating sashes

and you don't even need to finish the hems
(although I must remember to trim them to
the right length before the party).


Then there is the Hair:


4 yards of fleece for 8 wigs - working out to $2 a wig.

Cut six panels - two short and four long,
sew them into a cap

braid them down the back
(I left ours loose so they would fit most of the heads)

snip bangs in front (if I had more time, I would have
added another fringy cap on top of this one so it
looks more tousled-hair-like and less turban-like)

and let them go tell their own stories.




So $4.50 an outfit, plus scraps.

Not a bad deal for a party takeaway, and maybe
someone will wear theirs on Halloween, too!



27 comments:

  1. That is awesome! Maybe I can get one of my girls to have that kind of princess costume.

    You guys are going to have a great time!

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  2. Ficou tão linda esta princesa! Vou tentar fazer um para minha princesa!
    Parabéns!

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  3. Wonderful, L! Have I told you you're a bit crazy?

    Love u.

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  4. Dang, I want my kids to go to a party at your house!

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  5. seriously? 100% fabulous. I am so glad my girls cannot read yet because they would want these NOW!

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  6. Oh my, you are so talented and prolific!

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  7. Wow! Love the braid!
    And how on earth can you sew so many dresses with three kids around ... I need some of that miracle potion! Or is it really possible without any miracle stuff?

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  8. Brilliant! And what a fun party Jenna will have on Saturday!

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  9. Fantástica a Rapunzel... Vou fazer para os meus meninos.
    Beijinhos e milsorrisoscoloridos

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  10. That is the best birthday party favor ever! I'm sure her friends will be thrilled!

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  11. OK, I think you've really gone crazy on this one! For some reason a child size outfit seems more crazy then a stuffed Kitty for each guest. That doesn't even make sense since the Kittys were probably more work! I think the party will be great - hope you all have fun!

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  12. Great ! Thanks for all the links. I love your wigs, they are really nice.

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  13. Awesome! Hannah's your kids are lucky to have a mum who can sew so well!

    Sharon
    (Fung Jen's wife)

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  14. I made one! (Well, LoLo style...since I'm AWFUL at following directions. haha)

    Thanks for the tute!!! (It will go up at www.Lolo-craft.blogspot.com soon. *Grin*)

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  15. I love it!!! Great dresses for dress-up and great hair, adapted for "my snow white". Have a great party! TKs.
    maomaocrafts.blogspot.com

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  16. That is adorable! Great job and thanks for sharing.

    Danna

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  17. you are a genius. Watch out that some local school doesn't sniff you out to do their costuming :)

    I really hope you're collecting all these plans and magic for a book.

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  18. I love your party ideas! The dresses are brilliant, the wigs are hilariuos! Love them!

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  19. I did a witch red outfit.... with this pattern... really in time for halloween
    maomaocrafts.blogspot.com

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  20. Did I ever tell you that you're my hero? Seriously...half the projects I do are inspired by you...just ask Hubby!

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  21. I made this today! It took about 5 minutes, total. However, I used 2 short and only 3 long. It fit her perfectly.
    Here is a picture. http://www.flickr.com/photos/7530204@N06/6372709067/

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  22. ohhhhhhhhhhhhh i love it i wish i had stumbled on your site 2 years agao... we are so going to use these awesom ideas for my daughter's 5th princess tea party

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  23. THANK YOU for these! 5 happy princesses are having a great princess party, all dressed up!

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