The middle end of January is obviously the very best time to share a Halloween costume, right? The truth is, with all the school cancellations we’ve been having, I haven’t had much time for sewing. I really can’t complain though because the kids have been doing awesome playing together. It’s a nice perk of having so very many little kids – built-in playmates, and I would be free to sew like woah if it weren’t for a certain 11 month old boy.
Matthias asked for a “dragon costume” for Halloween last fall, and even though I reeeeallly do not like sewing costumes, I somehow ended up sewing 4 of them last year. (what?! Darn children, and their sweet enthusiasm. How do I say no to them?!) This Fleece (and interlock lined) jacket, based on Kitschy Coo’s “Zippy Hoodie” pattern, was the most fun of them for me to make. (disclosure: I received this pattern as contributing designer in the last Sew Fab pattern bundle sale.)
I commend Amanda on her fabulous directions. It was no small feat to explain how to line a jacket like this one, and yet she managed it. With the contortion of the sleeves, it looks like it isn’t possibly going to work, but then.. like magic it does. crazy! It really is an education in clothing construction.
Adding the spikes was a simple mater of adding a seam to the center back, and inserting the spikes in the seams, but I also had the crazy idea of making the wings that hide away in the sleeves.
To do that, I added zippers into the arm seams.
Matthias chose the color of his wings and I sewed them out of two layers of interlock, and attached them inside the sleeves against the zipper.
To put them away, the wings tuck inside the opening between the exterior and the lining and the zipper shut.
Matthias, aka Dragon Boy, wears this costume for nearly every imaginary play game these days. So, despite my protestations about costume sewing, I can call this one well worth the effort.
Do you sew kids costumes? What costume is the favorite in your home?
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Stop. It. Those wings!! Genius!
How fun! I want one! (Remy wears his pants backwards often as well. When I ask if he wants help turning them around, he tells me they are more comfortable that way!)
Seriously? Hide-away wings? AH-mazing. (And personally, I love the backward pants thing. Pretty cute!)
Love the wing addition, very clever. When my daughters were little they loves wearing costumes for play. I had few basic pullover long-sleeved dresses I made for an angel, a devil, a witch and a shepherd over the years and they became the most wonderful basics for just about anything. Dressing up and then acting the parts of musicals, plays, and movies was a really favorite activity for them. You and your wonderful children are making such good memories.
I love the wings! I also love the socks and backward pants. Isn’t it wonderful when they can dress themselves!
That is so awesome. So well engineered!
Those wings are really cool! I love the idea of hiding them away in the sleeves. =)
Ah! Those wings! Awesome!
Wow, those wings are something else; especially the hide-away part!
Sweatshirt costumes are quite popular with the Beadboys. I made a dragon one from a green hoodie, no wings but with a tail, and a lion one from a gold hoodie (that was fun — loops of felt sewn in rows along the hood for mane). They’ve both outgrown them, but have received another hoodie each, so I’m looking for new costume ideas.
That is incredible!!! We need to have a sewing date!!! There are not words to describe how incredible that is 🙂