Mellow: a starry (and gentle) witch

October 20, 2015

We are beginning to make our Halloween costumes and we love to go shopping in our own homes and backyards when we can. The classic witch is Mellow's choice. With a homemade newspaper hat from Cardboard Collective, a broomstick made with a small branch and leaves or grass like this or try this easy lightweight broom made from a paper towel tube and re-usable dress and cape, this costume is very gentle on the environment.

For Mellow's dress, we used a star patterned canvas, but our dream fabric was the beautiful starry Adelajda print from Liberty of London. You can still find it on etsy and at some quilting and fabric shops, but may need to be sourced online. Other ideas: a lovely star patterned lightweight corduroy or a starry jersey fabric would be cozy and appealing to wear after halloween is over. It's often easiest to see what's in stock locally, isn't it?

The super-simple Tip Top Pattern from Petit à Petit is a good pattern for whipping up a quick dress or tunic. Layer over warmer clothes, then all you need is a black cardigan, cape or poncho to complete the costume. We're seeing lots of ponchos and capes in the shops right now, it's a good time to be a witch!.

Happy sewing... and remember that our Halloween costume ideas can also be found on our Pinterest Halloween board.

Windy: A Rainy Day Bird

October 18, 2015

This is the second in our series of DIY costume ideas, inspired by our Halloween story!

With your socks of yellow, you won't mind the weather, especially if you happen to have some nice yellow or red gumboots. Since it usually dry in Windy's paper Orchard, she's wearing her usual buckle shoes, but if you live somewhere rainy (like we do) why not wear some bright yellow tights with your wellies. If you like, you can even wear the wings over your raincoat! You will stand out on a drizzly day with your beautiful bright wings (use light fabrics that won't soak up too much water). If you want to keep your wings dry, perhaps a sky blue umbrella will do the trick.

The wings are easy to make, see this great roundup by Handmade Charlotte and the original post with template by Llevo el invierno .

All our costume ideas are on our Halloween pinboard, too.

Licorice allsort costume

October 10, 2015

Inspired by Spring's rollerskates in our first story, "Windy's Lost Kite", with their licorice allsorts wheels (yes, they are real ... and yes, many of our supplies "disappeared" from the art department work tables, heh heh), we present: the licorice allsort costume. Cheap, cheerful, no mess and materials under $10 ... if you make one please send us a photo!

Materials: black clothing, white cardboard box, duck tape from the hardware store in black + and one bright colour (we like flamingo pink, too). Make yourself some duck tape suspenders and tape some stripes around the box. Done!

halloween costume countdown: pierrot

October 4, 2014

Do you know what you'd like to be for halloween? Spring wanted to be Pierrot for Halloween. Here are some tutorials and pattern if you'd like to be Pierrot, too. A ruffly tunic, some black tights, a collar and some pom poms, you are all set :)

By the way, the collar tutorial looks daunting, (and is in French) but it is surprisingly easy and the nicest part is that it looks prettier with the raw edge of the fabric sewing, so you just rip a strip of white fabric, fold and stitch as you go. There is no hemming.