Now That's Domestic!

For some unknown reason I decided to make Jac and Mia's Halloween costumes this year.  This project was supposed to be completed sometime in July so that I wouldn't be worrying about costumes in October, so much for that.  Maybe, if I were to be completely honest, I would admit that there are certain Mommy duties that I am not 100% comfortable with (like making Halloween costumes).  In order to be the best Mommy I can be, I do feel that at some point I should be able to make a Halloween costume or put together some random costume for the school play. 

Regardless, I have already spent a ton of time and money creating these costumes for the kids.  Jac's was completed with my mom's help in July.  Batman.  Felt cape, felt hood, throw on some black pants and a Batman t-shirt, voila.  Mia's pumpkin costume, however, is not complete.

As crunch time nears, I realize I need to get this done. Sooooooo, today I tackled it.  I say that like I just went to the store and bought stuff today.  Oh, no.  I have been cutting and pinning and reading directions over and over again for a good two weeks.  It was the sewing part that I tacked today.  I was nervous and downright scared to bust out the sewing machine that my mom gave me for my birthday.  I am familiar with this machine, it was my mom's for probably 30 years or more.  I used it to sew random projects when I was a kid and other random things as an adult.  I never liked sewing, requires too much patience.

I say that I have sewed things.  The problem with this statement is that I literally would sit down at the machine after my mom had threaded it and gotten it ready with the required stitch, needle, bobbin, etc.  Then I would take the material that she helped me cut, maybe even cut herself, pinned together herself, ironed and whatnot and I would sew a seam.  Needless to say, I am less than an expert.

But I did it!  Mia and I went downstairs today armed with new sewing scissors and a spool of orange thread.  I got the machine turned on and pulled out the thread that was in it.  I unwound a bobbin and read the directions on how to load thread on it.  I followed the directions and watched as magically the thread went up and down on the bobbin.  I threaded the needle successfully the first time.  All was good until I actually started to sew.  Not a lot of drama though, I just got a knot underneath by the bobbin that I had to pull out and get rid of.  A rethread of the needle and I was off and running.

Mia asked, why is it taking so long?  Indeed. 

I completed two seams that were neither crooked nor curvy.  I successfully laid out the other pieces and have them pinned and ready to go.  I also used Stich Witchery to applique the Jack O'Lantern face on the front of the costume.  Yay me!  I still have to put the rest of it together and also there is some sort of gathering, elastic, hem thing at the bottom that has me in a twist.  But one step at a time. 

Will I do it again?  I don't know. Maybe if I can't find what I want at the store.  The problem is Pottery Barn has this adorable pumpkin costume that looks suspiciously like the one I am making only with a straighter more evenly placed face, for $30 (my fabric and pattern were definitely more than $30).  Hmm. 

What I do like about this is having the kids help me make it, learn the process and watch their Mommy struggle with something.   They also enjoy (at least for now) knowing that I made it just for them.