3 days before Halloween, I came down with a fever and the chills. It was also the day Lana changed her mind about going as Spiderman for Halloween. She wanted to be a dragon, which was her first choice. I made her costume last year and love doing big projects but I hadn’t prepared anything and I was sick. I thought this year would be the year I’d buy her a costume of something that’s probably easily available everywhere.
Wrong. She changed her mind before I bought the Spiderman costume. With little Lana’s help, we found fabric and drafted a design. The first day I measured and cut everything out then hit the sewing machine that night. The next day I added spikes down the back and added the wings with kite sticks for ease of flying/flapping. The next day the hoodie was added and the costume was complete.
Since Lana had this idea in her mind, I had to change a couple of things (like the size of the spikes) as I went along. Sewing during her bedtime was a bad idea. She requested that I only work on it while she’s awake to keep an eye on the progress.
New spool of thread.
Spikes that I had to remove from the costume because they were not the right size. (Lana’s vision was better than mine, here.) :)
Fixed.
Working the night away..
Spikes! Done.
The tail wasn’t long enough so I did a little surgery and extended the little thing. This looks much better.
Worked through the night and into the next day. The first wing is attached.
Second wing is done. Time for a test run!
At Lana’s uncle’s home to show off The Dragon.
The Dragon explores the surroundings.
I think we’re ready for Halloween! “What about the headpiece?”
I finished the headpiece around 3am Halloween morning.
“acting” DragonGirl defends her loot!!
DragonGirl hunts for more goodies.
Even DragonGirl needs a break. (actually, I think she spotted her next target)
This is how we keep her from running around in the street while we unload our gear into the car. Hahah! It’s actually my “Maybe I can get the whole costume in the shot if I stand her on the car” idea.
Bad idea because she is a dragon and dragons fly. I quickly got her down. :)
After the mall trip, we hit up our old neighborhood where competition was invented and enjoyed the end of our night.
I had to use a flashlight so people wouldn’t step on the tail. However, keeping dogs away was another story.
We had a great time and hope you did, too :)
Happy Halloween from my family to yours!!
P.S. The sewing machine jammed halfway through making this costume. I hand sewed the rest. After I finished the last hand stitch, I found that the sewing machine wasn’t jammed, I just didn’t know the foot pedal had disconnected.
Oh my word — you’re amazing! I cannot believe you made that costume. It’s incredible!!! :) I am definitely in awe. And to think of all the lessons you are teaching your little girl — she’s going to grow up with a love of sewing and designing and creating, all because of you. Priceless. She’s lucky to have a mom who is so willing to do these things, even when sick!
Thank you! The work it took to make it her way was almost draining but realizing that this was her design and not mine kept me pushing forward. She draws potato people with long legs and big happy faces. To design her dragon, she painted the potato “dragon” black to represent a dragon of course. The rest was done by cutting paper wings that I was supposed to know were wings and not horns or spikes. A lot of trial and error but this was her first time asking for something (and so specific, too!) so I had to give it my all. Your comment just makes my day! She’s already talking about designing dolls, which (if we make) will be donated to Santa :) I think the sewing bug bit her.