My favorite Owl-oween

I had the best Halloween costume that I've ever had.  Yes, it isn't quite Halloween yet, but I've debuted my owl costume and I think it was smashing.

Last year, I went as a green crayon from a costume that I wore in a musical production (Sing at Baylor).  I got asked more than once if I was an elf, which I can understand, but yet I was still offended.  This year I was determined to turn that around.

When I saw the Martha Stewart Owl that was created for a 6 month old, I fell in love and decided to make it life-size and add some spice.  Hence, the most fabulous Owl-oween costume ever.

I started with:

• 2 colors of felt
• Scrap-pack of fabric from Jo Ann's 
• Dress (which I made out of some old fabric I had left over)
• Fabric glue
• Pins
• Chalk

I sewed (ie, fabric glue because I don't have a sewing machine) the dress out of some old fabric I had laying around.  I think next time I will just steal a friend's sewing machine!

I cut out the wings from the felt and left the corresponding lines.  

Line up one color on top of the other color so that you can see what you want to cut out.  Then sew a small seam on those lines like you are taking in the fabric, and you get the feathered effect.

Then sew onto costume!  I tied a string to the end of the wings so that the feathers would move when I moved my arms.  Nice effect, if I do say so myself.

I added extra fabric to make a tail feather. Cute, right?  The real reason was that I measured incorrectly and my bum didn't quite fit when making the dress... sometimes mistakes make the cutest part of the outfit!

The goggles really made the costume.  I thought I was lacking something, so I took an extra scrap of the fabric from the small feathers, painted it orange, and fashioned a beak.  Super duper easy.

I posted a tutorial about the super-cool aviator cap, and I added ears (because owls have ears - to be honest I had to double check several times about the exact physiology of owls).

Voila!  You get one adorable costume that I will wear over and over.  And I might take off the feathers and wear the dress.

And this is me with my hubby, just hanging with my Gnom-ies.  Why yes! I do think I am hilarious.

Happy Owl-oween!

The Lewis Dots

Aviator / Pilot Hat Tutorial

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am making my own Halloween costume from scratch!  As I am going to be a cute owl that needs an aviator's hat (to which I will attach ears to complete the look), I needed an aviator cap. Here's my quick tutorial.

You'll need the following (more if you want to sew, but I was happy with my no-sew method):

• Fabric glue
• Pins
• Scissors
• Faux leather (I just got a 1/4 yard for width, but I have a bunch leftover)

All of the materials cost about $5, and that's including buying the glue (which I only used a little bit).  Compared to buying rather than making it yourself, you could pay $15-20 not including shipping.  

This is super easy: 

1. Create a pattern by following the basic instructions below:

Be sure to leave room for stitching!

2. This may look a little confusing, but make a paper template, tape it together, and see if it fits, as you can see that I did it with this piece.  

Not as pretty as the final product :-)

3. Cut out pattern from fabric.

4. Pin edges together with inside flipped out.



5. Place on head to make sure that it fits properly. If there is any gaping be sure to fix it now.

6. Glue or stitch together.

7. Remove pins and tuck edges under.

8. Connect bottom if necessary.  I haven't decided if I will connect it for the party, but it's cute enough without connecting it.


Yes, I look a little like a pilgrim, but the finished look is awesome.  Check out the other link to the final product (even though I'm not in it yet).

To modify the cap for the owl costume, you just sew or glue on ears, as shown to the right.  I know - adorable!

Thanks!
The Lewis Dots

The Owl Costume, Life Size

When I first saw Martha Stewart's Owl Costume for toddlers, I nearly fell out of my chair! I knew I could come up with the best adult owl costume.

I will be updating this blog as to each part, but I wanted to give a preview!  Thanks, friends!

Love, 

The Lewis Dots