Oct
24
“…12, Ladybugs came to the ladybugs picnic…..” I used to love that little song on Sesame Street, it’s from years ago though when my kids were small. I won’t post the youtube video I found of it but here’s a link to it if you want to watch it. I showed it to Katelyn quite a few times while I was there. And as I mentioned in a previous post, I sewed a Halloween costume for her while I was there to help out with the new baby. Kathryn had seen a picture in a parents magazine for a ladybug costume, with a little girl wearing a red tutu…..I looked at it closer and the tutu cost $50! WHY on earth would anyone pay that much money for a tutu they might wear one time, I certainly wouldn’t do that. It might be easier for me to say that because I sew but this really was pretty easy to do. I was really pleased with how it turned out………
Kathryn bought about 1-1 1/4 yards of red net or tulle from the store, a black felt square, some red ribbon…..we used satin ribbon but I think it would work just as well with grosgrain, we used about 1 1/4 yards for it.
Unfolded the tulle and laid it out flat, ours was 60″ wide and we decided to cut strips of 12″ so we ended up with 5 strips.
Then just lay all the strips on top of each other and line them up even at the top…. machine baste them together with a long stitch. I pulled it up to gather it until we had it the size we thought we needed to fit it around her little waist. Once I was sure it was gathered as much as it needed to be I sewed all the layers together with a regular running stitch to secure the gathers in place.
This was also a “figure it out as you go” kind of project! I don’t usually do well unless I have a pattern so some of this I just kind of hit upon as I went along. We thought about using elastic in the waist until I decided to baste it and gather it all up. Kathryn thought we’d just sew the ribbon on the top and tie it around her, until I figured out to put velcro on it! So I sewed velcro to the back, used a long enough strip so that it can sort of be adjustable on her in case she wants to keep playing in it later on as she grows up.
I sewed the ribbon on the top front side after the velcro to cover up the edge with all the gathers and I left several inches on either end so that when the long piece is wrapped around her and velcroed, it can be tied in the back with a bow.
Oh but wait! The cutest part was what I did with the black felt…..Kathryn knew she wanted black circles on the skirt so I cut them from the felt and sewed them onto the skirt. We played with it and decided that it looked best to lift up one layer and sew the circles to the 2nd layer. So when the top layer lays back down you see the spots fine but it looks a bit subtle with a little dimension to it. Here’s the front of the skirt velcroed together in the back and finished
Tied together in the back with a bow
Kathryn bought a black turtleneck from Target for 3 dollars and she had black tights to use. She might get Katelyn a headband, put on pipe cleaners with black pompoms on the end for her head but she’s not sure Katelyn will keep it on. I can’t wait to see it on her! We made the mistake once of trying the skirt on as I was sewing it and she kept saying “ouch”….it was a bit scratchy but we put it over her diaper and she’ll be covered up that night. This is the closest I got to having the whole costume together.
I was pretty proud of it, thought it turned out really cute! And it didn’t cost anywhere near 50 dollars…..Kathryn probably paid 4 dollars max for the stuff for the skirt; the turtleneck and tights will be worn again so even though they cost a bit the whole thing is probably under 10 dollars. As cute as it is, I hope she sends me a picture of Katelyn wearing it! Jeremy kept telling Katelyn she was going to get them lots of candy! I told him it might be easier to just go buy it but he thought that wasn’t nearly as much fun. We tried to practice with her saying trick or treat but who knows if she’ll do it. Now the other 2 little ones, in Texas, they are very excited and know exactly what to do on Halloween! I hope they send me pics too…..they’ll be Spiderman and a cheerleader!
If you need a last minute easy thing for a little girl, try this skirt…..it only took an hour or 2 tops to make. Cheap and looks really cute!
“And they all played games at the ladybugs picnic”
October 24th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Okay, I’m going to forgive you for getting that song stuck in my head (sorry, but I really hate that one!), because that costume is just the cutest thing ever! What a lucky little girl to have you for a grandma!!! Gosh, but you’re talented, girl!
By the way, Gray had seizures as a baby and toddler. They started around 4-months. He was on Tegretol for a few years. Then his neurologist weaned him off and he’s been seizure-free ever since. He told us there’s a 2 in 3 chance he’ll never have another. And that if they do return, it will most likely happen around the time he reaches puberty. I had no idea about Kathryn. It seems you so seldom hear about seizures.
October 24th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
I am so impressed! That is absolutely adorable! My son wanted a $50 costume this year, and we said no. We won’t pay that much for a one time wear either. I might have been more willing for my daughter because she has at least one costume on EVERY SINGLE DAY, but I still think $50 is pricey. I hope you will have a picture to share of your little ladybug!
October 24th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
You did a great job!
It is adorable.
October 24th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
That is absolutely adorable! What a great idea — and so frugal, too! I hope Kathryn sends you a photo, too, ’cause I’m dying to see that little cutie as a lady bug. 🙂
October 24th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
That’s cute! You did a wonderful job and I can’t wait to see her photo.
October 24th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
That is the cutest little costume I have ever seen. Sweet … sweet … sweet. I think Katelyn will herself be edible in that cutie pie skirt.
When my boys were small I did amazing things with sweat suits. Gold sweatpants and sweatshirts became dinosaur costumes with a huge felt tail and big green polka dots. A red sweat suit got colored dots and pompon ‘buttons’ and with a big red nose became a clown.
I remember that sweatsuits and shirts were $3 each and a little felt and some imagination and we were all set.
I so love the homemade costumes.
You did a great job.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
This is SOOOO cute! I can’t wait for picture. you’re so creative.
October 25th, 2007 at 8:06 am
The skirt turned out great! I like the bow in the front. I’m sure she’ll be adorable and they will send pics. They’re not going to dress Sam up are they?
October 25th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Oh, I love the skirt you made!! Too cute! What a great costume!
October 25th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Gosh, I wish I had gotten the creative gene that you have! I can’t sew on a button, so I’m terribly impressed that you and Kat can do this kind of stuff. It’s SOO cute and I bet she’s going to look adorable in it. They’ll take pictures and send, so be sure to post them. And of G & AC too, bet they’ll look cute as Superman and a cheerleader. The parents are going to rack up on good candy, huh?! 🙂
October 25th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
That is adorable! You are really creative…you go girl! I’m jealous! Can’t wait to see pics 🙂
October 25th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
The costume is adorable! You did a great job. She’s going to look so cute.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:51 am
That’s the cutest ladybug costume I’ve ever seen, Gail. $50?? That’s nuts! How clever of you to come up with a costume that’s probably a lot cuter than the one they wanted a fortune for.
October 27th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Wow, really impressive. Interesting these parents let their children trick or treat,didn’t you boycott your kids from doing that?? Send photos quick!