novamade: have gnome, will travel; and, eat pie

October 31, 2008

have gnome, will travel; and, eat pie

So it's Halloween. Boo. Special K and I aren't usually celebrators of said day of ghoulish extravagance; but, when you have a kid who actually "gets" it, you really don't have much of a choice, do you?

My kid wanted to be the Travelocity Roaming Gnome for Halloween (thank you Travelocity and your incessant advertising during the Amazing Race--what, you don't consider The Amazing Race "educational TV?!" Hello? Travel and culture! And the snarky banter of dysfuntional couples, I mean there is so much to learn!). So because I decided to be Supermom this week, that's what he dressed up has for Halloween. Sort of, he had no interest in wearing the belt (the belt that took an hour of my precious crafting time, but there you are). I will put the details for the costumery in the gallery, but most of my trials and tribulations are going to be covered in this post, for those who are interested in such things.

The gnome hat was the easiest thing. 1) Measure head circumference (in this case, 21 inches--yes, he's got a big noggin). Take red (or any color you like, but I needed to use red) felt sew a 2 inch hem for the base of the hat (it gives it that "finished" look), 3) measure off the head circumference at that base and add whatever you like for a seam allowance (I did an inch extra for a half inch seam allowance, do whatever makes you happy). 4) Decide how tall you want the hat (I opted to use the head circumference as my guide, it came out pretty tall, again do what makes you happy). 5) Center your height measurement from the base and draw a triangle. 6) Cut and sew, 7) turn hat inside out. 8) Smile, with tons of self-satisfaction because you just made an uber cute gnome hat.

The jacket, was not as easy. Granted, this jacket was the first article of clothing I have ever sewn. Clearly, I was not thinking rationally when I decided that this would be a good project to cut my teeth on garment sewing. I mean really, collars, facings, buttonholes? Oh, and pattern modification because the pattern was for a short-sleeved shirt and not a jacket...right.

I modified a child's camouflage shirt pattern for the jacket because it had the length and basic look (style, not the fabric itself) that I was going for (I liked the collars...before I started sewing the jacket). I figured the sleeves could just be lengthened. And really a jacket is just a collared shirt made of heavier fabric with a lot more ease.....right? It seemed to work out okay, but don't look to closely at the collar, it is, as the kids like to say these days, jacked up. I had no idea what I was doing, the step-by-step directions may have skipped a few steps so I just sort of made things up as I went along. And seriously, I need a foot attachment to make buttonholes, because the three buttonholes in this jacket almost made me gouge my own eyes out (thank you Christina for helping me decipher the directions in the big book of sewing).

The boots were some funny green rain boots purchased at the local target that I covered with black electrical tape. Little Sir thought the eyes were weird, so he wouldn't wear them before.

There was a belt too. A cardboard buckle painted metallic silver with black felt cut to size. Little Sir had very strong feelings about the belt. Namely, he wasn't having it. Take a look for yourself. This look of mortification is the same look I sometimes get when asking for a hug now (usually accompanying the statment, "no mommy, you are too big." Lovely).

In the midst of the Halloween madness I made a pie, because, you know, Pushing Daisies was on on Wednesday night...and that is what I do...make pie while watching said show. Chocolate Mousse Pie.

This chocolate awesomeness was a really easy recipe (a lot of dirty dishes though). I didn't feel like messing about with a spring foam pan (who is lazy and pregnant?!) and just used a large tart pan with a removable bottom (a method I would recommend to you, should you decide to make this easy and tasty pie/tart treat). The side benefit is a few ramekins of chocolate mousse to enjoy later.

And then I made festive cupcakes. I guess my anti-Halloween days are over. Maybe next year I will make myself a costume. Because, you know, I am all about the garment sewing now.

Posted at 03:42 PM in baking, clothes for kids, diy, finished object, Food and Drink, hats, little sir, pie hole wednesday, sewing, sundry, Television | Permalink

Comments

OMG, that is the best costume ever! And I can't believe that is your first garment. Right before Halloween and being pregnant!? What are you crazy?! It came out great.

I might have to steal that idea for Melody when she gets older.

Glad to know that my baby is not the only one with a huge head. She measures small for everything else except her big noggin.

Posted by: Oiyi | October 31, 2008 at 04:35 PM

Really, costumes are like the best thing to practice sewing.. why? Because, really, they don't have to look all that perfect! So what if the collar's jacked up.. I wouldn't say anything or notice because you know, your travelocity gnome is just too darned cute, it's almost distracting! ;)

Posted by: yaiAnn | October 31, 2008 at 04:42 PM

LOVE the costume! I love amazing race!! If the exposure of Little Sir to so many adventures and wonderful places comes with this as a side effect... well, there are far worse things. He's such a cute gnome!

Posted by: ann | October 31, 2008 at 04:45 PM

Awesome first-time garment! You are supermom to do that for your boy. And pie, too? Mmm... Pie...

Posted by: June | October 31, 2008 at 05:10 PM

Awwww... Too bad he wouldn't wear the belt. It's so cute!

I just saw a baby at the store with a gnome outfit on, too, but instead of a blue jacket, he had a blue shirt and his mom had sewn a semi-circle of fake sheepskin to the top of the front for a white beard.

Posted by: Emily | October 31, 2008 at 08:28 PM

oh my goodness, that is just too cute for words. i'm totally stashing that idea away for when we have a kid.

Posted by: sixoneseven | October 31, 2008 at 09:38 PM

OK, I'm digging out my gnome picture and sending it to you just as a contrast to show happy and angry Halloween gnomes!

Posted by: Heather | November 01, 2008 at 07:45 AM

That costume is the best. Could you be a more awesome mom? Umm, no.

Posted by: diana | November 01, 2008 at 08:47 AM

So Cute!! And that pie looks delicious!

Posted by: An Abundance of Lisa | November 01, 2008 at 11:35 AM

Too cute !!! You did a super job on everything.

Posted by: Carolyn | November 01, 2008 at 11:42 AM

Wait one second, you MADE that jacket! It is so cute! You are amazing. It is the perfect gnome-y touch.

Posted by: Kara | November 01, 2008 at 12:43 PM

Such a cute costume! I'm very impressed.

The cupcakes look delicious, as does the chocolate mousse pie.

Posted by: Jodi | November 01, 2008 at 03:51 PM

Collars, facings, buttonholes, figuring out how to pick and read a pattern...a buttondown, collared shirt is the project they use in beginning sewing classes because once you can do that, you can do ANYTHING.
All hard enough stuff when you only do a few steps at a time each week between classes, and have an expert at your side helping you through and giving you all kinds of helpful hints.
And YOU did it all by yourself!
AND it turned out so crazy cute, belt or no belt.

Posted by: Siri | November 01, 2008 at 11:55 PM