Hufflepuff scarf DIY

Group costumes are fun to do. This most recent Halloween was no exception. However, for whatever reason, I really did not feel like going all out when making my costume. My coworkers and I decided to do Harry Potter themed costumes. We decided to go the easy route and be Hogwarts students. I was able to find a Gryffindor robe at my local Goodwill. I had the black skirt, white button down shirt, and grey sweater in my closet. I don’t really think of myself as possessing grand amounts of courage, so I chose to go with Hufflepuff as my house. I purchased a tie from Hot Topic, and printed out a sticker of the house crest to cover the Gryffindor crest on the thrifted robe. Since it is possible to have large amounts of snow during Halloween in Ohio, I wanted to make sure to have as many warm elements to my costume as possible. A scarf with my house colors seemed like a really good idea. I was able to find this tutorial here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=431081#axzz2sCK8PZ00

I decided that I wanted the colors to alternate for the front and back of the scarf, as well as from side to side. Obviously, I did not think it through completely, as this would result in a checkerboard type finish and not look at all like any of the Hogwarts merchandise already in existence, whether officially licensed or fan made. Plus, in my efforts to get the colors as close as possible to the tie that I had purchased, I ended up with a scarf that looks more like a sports ball fan item than a magical student fan item. So, I highly recommend that you follow the instructions as laid out by graverobbergirl if you are going to follow her tutorial. Don’t be like me and end up with a scarf that looks like it would be worn by someone who doesn’t even know what Quidditch is. Or do. I’m not your supervisor.

Anyway, I did most everything as instructed by graverobbergirl, changing only the number of pieces that I cut out to give me equal numbers of each color. I had a 4×6 card that I was able to use as a pattern guide to cut out the majority of my pattern pieces.

Once I had all my pieces cut out, all I had to do was sew them together in alternating colors. And, voila. A scarf that I didn’t even wear with my costume. Hey, they can’t all be wildly successful experiences. Sometimes things don’t turn out as planned. This has taught me that if I want my end result to look like someone else’s end result, then I probably shouldn’t change their pattern.

Happy sewing!

EDIT: Apparently this entry didn’t get posted after I wrote it. I was probably planning on adding a picture of how the scarf turned out, but I no longer have the scarf in my possession, so that is unlikely to happen. If I am able to find an image, I will add it in the future. Thanks for reading!

Free Comic Book Day 2017

I am looking forward to Free Comic Book Day. I love that so many people go out into the world to celebrate reading. Free Comic Book Day is a great way to get started in the world of comic books. I know that I always look forward to reading titles that I would not have picked up otherwise. It is also a great way to find new stores in your area. Many of them will have local artists and writers selling their wares. It is a great opportunity to get a one of a kind piece signed by the creator.

For those of you who don’t know, the first Saturday in May is Free Comic Book Day, or FCBD.  There is a collection of comics released specifically for FCBD. Each store has its own way of getting the free comics to the readers. Most stores have sales on the non FCBD items, so keep your eyes open for some good deals.  Here are a list of the stores in my area that participated in Free Comic Book Day in 2016.

2nd and Charles

Bell, Book, and Comic

Bookery Fantasy Comics and Collectibles

Epic Loot Games and Comics

Heroes For Sale

Main Street Comics & Games

Mavericks Cards and Comics

Need More Comics & Toys

Super-Fly Comics and Games

Uncanny Comic Shop

For stores in your area and more information about Free Comic Book Day, you can check out http://www.freecomicbookday.com/

Happy Reading!!

Sock creature – Slenderman inspired

I like to use socks and bits of fabric to make little creatures. Usually, I will try to make something cute, and it will end up a little creepy looking. It will be completely unintentional. I will fully intend to make an owl, or a dog, or a cat. But I make the eyes just a little bit too big. Or the legs don’t come out quite right. Or everything turned out like it was supposed to, but something is just a little bit off about the whole thing. Over time, I have begun to embrace the fact that my sock creations will end up being a little creepy whether I intend for them to or not. And there are times like now, when I decide that I will make something creepy, just to make something creepy. One of my friends showed me a picture of Slenderman. I had not heard of this creature before they showed me the picture that they found so creepy. I had been in the middle of creating a sock creature, and they were reminded of Slenderman by my creation. By the time that creature was finished, it no longer looked like Slenderman, but the idea had been planted in my brain.

First, I am starting with a sock:

This one has already been used for something, but there is plenty of sock left for what I need. I sewed up the top for the head. Then I cut the bottom to create the legs, and sewed them up as well.

Then I took the other sock and cut the really long arms. I also cut the heel of the second sock for the ears. I know part of what makes Slenderman so scary is the lack of face. However, I am making a Slenderman inspired creature, not a Slenderman sock creature. One day I may make a creature wearing a little black suit, with a black tie, and without a face. Today is not that day.

I sewed up the arms, stuffed them, and attached them to the body. Then I sewed up the ears and attached those as well. All that I have left is to create a face. Or not. I haven’t decided yet.

Happy Sewing!!

Pollo alla Cacciatora

Happy New Year!!

While I am staying warm and defining my specific goals for 2017, one of which includes creating something each week of the year and blogging about it, I thought I would share a recipe that is loved in my house. This recipe is Pollo alla Cacciatora (Hunter’s Wife’s Chicken). I got the recipe from a cooking pamphlet that my mom was getting rid of (but thankfully, it is also available online!)

Celebrating Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!

December 16, 2016 was Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. Did you participate? What was once a gift people dreaded receiving has now become a reason to celebrate during the holiday season. There are many places selling sweaters specifically designed to be ugly, as well as sweaters that someone thought was cute, but isn’t quite suited to everyone’s tastes.

My apologies

Greetings and salutations! My apologies for not posting more. Big things are in the works, and I would be able to share them with you if only I could remember to take pictures as things progress along. Fear not! For I plan on changing that in the near future.

Also, coming up towards the end of September will be an awesome show that I will be attending. There will be amazing performances, good food, and craft beers for those people who drink beer. I will provide a link in the future, after our internet is fixed.

I look forward to seeing all of you amazing people in the very near future!

ICE Expo or the Independent Creators Expo Expo

Greetings Internet people! How nice to see you again. I recently took a break from my winter hibernation in order to take part in the local Independent Creators Expo, for the first time in a new location.
Also new this year was the film screenings. Unfortunately,  I was unable to view the films since I was watching the
Uncommon Geek table while Mr. Uncommon Geek talked and interviewed with the independent creators. I really wish that I had more to report. The venue was nice. Everyone I talked to was super friendly.  There was a lot of original content for sale. A good time was had by all. If you didn’t go, then you definitely missed out, but you can come out to next year’s expo and see what you’re missing out on. You can also listen to the podcast to listen to interviews with some of the creators that you missed.

One week till Star Wars!

This post has very little to do with the new movie. I mean, sure I have seen the trailers and I am excited to see the movie, but I don’t want to kill the excitement by over analyzing everything that is coming out regarding the movie. That is why this post is about holiday hero stockings!

Mr. Uncommon Geek and I recently attended a local comic book convention that is held at a high school in an effort to raise money for the marching band. This was our third time attending, and I wanted to do more than just spread the word about our site. So I made some hero themed stockings to sell.

We were up against another holiday gift event in the area, and the fog that showed up in the morning lingered until noon. As a result, the turnout was smaller than expected. However, we all had a great time looking at the different tables, and talking to everybody.

week 45 – Aprons

The Facts

Fabric: mystery cotton

Pattern: McCall’s Easy Stitch & Save M5358

Year: recent, yet anachronistic

Notions: thread, snaps

Time to complete: a week

First worn: for Halloween party at work

Wear again? Hopefully

Total Cost: $25 for time and materials

As I have stated before, my coworkers told me that I would be Alice for our work Halloween party, because I have the hair for it. I knew that I had this pattern, and I knew that it would be perfect for an Alice in Wonderland apron. I was planning on using this pattern to make a pinafore for a long time. Now, I no longer had any reason to put off making it any longer. This is the first thing that I made for my Alice costume.

I was expecting a super quick, really easy, beginner level sewing pattern. This is not a super quick, really easy, beginner level sewing pattern. The other aprons featured in this sewing pattern might be beginner level, but this apron is more along the moderate level of sewing capabilities. It uses things like button holes, narrow seams, gathering and basting stitches, and ruffles. I know, I know, ruffles can be used in beginner sewing patterns. This pattern just did not feel like a beginner level pattern. I’m glad that I started with it, because I started on the apron about a month before Halloween. I gave myself plenty of time and I took things slow. One day, I cut out the pattern pieces. Then I put everything aside and started construction the next day. Whenever I got to a point that was too frustrating or confusing, I just laid everything to the side and walked away. Sometimes I would come back to it in the same day. Other times, I would come back the next day. It all ended up working out in the end.
The only modification that I made was that I did not add the ruffle along the bottom of the apron. This ended up making me miss a step where I was supposed to hem the side and bottom of the bottom of the apron. As I have already said, it all ended up working out in the end. I was able to finish all of the edges, hide all of the seams, and make both the front and the back of the apron look good. I knew that the apron would be the main part of the costume that everyone would be able to see, so it was very important for it to turn out well, and it did. There were several people who did not believe that I had made my costume, because it did not look homemade to them.

 

While I am very happy with how different pieces of the costume turned out, overall I think I could have done better. Maybe next year, my group will win first place instead of second! What do you recommend for four coworkers to dress up as for a work Halloween party?

Happy sewing!

week 35 – Book Inspired. Children’s book, novel, text, etc. TAG: Book

The Facts

Fabric: mystery cotton

Pattern: self drafted

Year: 2015

Notions: thread, elastic

Time to complete: frustratingly too long

First worn: for work Halloween party

Wear again? If I can figure out how to fix it, maybe

Total Cost: $30+, figuring time and materials

My coworkers told me that I would be Alice for our Halloween party at work, while they went as the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, and the Cheshire Cat. I was ok with the idea as I already had the shoes and a hairband that would work. I just needed to make the bloomers, dress, and apron. And a petticoat to give the dress that classic bell shape.

I was able to sew up the bloomers in an afternoon. They were super easy to make. The apron will have a post of its own. The dress gave me a bit of a headache.

I could not find a sewing pattern that combined all of the elements that make up Alice’s dress. I tried to draft my own pattern, but that ended in catastrophic failure. Ok, maybe I am exaggerating a bit, but I really am not happy with the results. Since it is for work, I was trying to make sure that the bodice was tasteful and fit well. The sewing patterns that I could find, included a deep neckline, or lots and lots of button holes. I still am learning how to make button holes with my sewing machine, so any pattern that calls for them is an instant “no.” I’m also still learning how to modify patterns to create a uniquely different garment, so any pattern that I have to change the neckline from plunging to work appropriate, is also an instant “no” at this stage.

I had a pattern that I thought might work, but the sleeves were wrong. I had another pattern that had the correct sleeves, but it was an untested pattern that seemed really weird. It required me to cut insanely large pieces of fabric, and then to sew elastic in parts to make it fit. I tried combining the two patterns together. It seemed to work at first, but when I sewed it together, I found that the back of the bodice was at least two inches too short. Running low on both fabric and time, I tried to make as simple of a bodice as possible, and add sleeves to it. When I put it on the dress form, it seemed to work all right. When I tried it on me, the sleeves were all wrong. I tried multiple ways of attaching the sleeves. Each time ended with the same failure. Eventually, I gave up as, at that point, I still needed a peter pan collar and a petticoat.

After I gave up on the dress as being, “good enough,” I turned my attention to making a petticoat. I have had this Simplicity pattern for ages, and I dream of one day making an outrageous, over the top outfit with ribbons, and lace, and bows everywhere. I figured I could make the petticoat for my Alice costume, and that would get me started in the right direction.

I read the instructions. Then I read them again. Then I reread the instructions. Then I looked for tutorials online, as well as pattern reviews. The main topic involving this pattern seems to revolve around whether or not it is a pattern for a lolita outfit. (In case you are wondering, for those serious about lolita, this is not a lolita pattern, but it can be if you modify it. For those who are not serious about lolita, it is a lolita pattern. )

After many times reading through the sewing instructions for the petticoat, I thought that I had it figured out. There is an upper ruffle, an under ruffle, and a tiered skirt. All three layers are gathered and sewn together, then sewn to the next layer. Then they are sewn to what will become an elastic waistband.  If you look up how to sew a tiered skirt on YouTube, you will get the idea of what this pattern is trying to convey. What is at once so great and horrifying about sewing this petticoat skirt, is the amount of fabric required for each tier. To make a long story short, I could not get my sewing machine or my serger to machine gather the fabric, and the hand gathering was not working well as my thread kept breaking. I eventually ended up purchasing a petticoat from the costume store because I could no longer stand to try sewing the same basting seam another time, just to not be able to get the fabric to cooperate. I hope to return to it someday. When I have forgotten how frustrating it is, or when I have ample time to work on it.

The next post will be a much shorter one about the apron. Happy sewing!