Halloween 2014

So like I said before my little man wanted to be a modern day robin hood. I know I already have shown you how to make his rocking boot covers. For the main part of his costume I have made another Zander's hoodie.

I love the Zander pattern from Everything Your Mama Made. I have made him one before that I loved in the vest version and I knew it could be awesome as a modern day robin hood.

I used a pre-quilted suede for the lining of the jacket and the sleeves and a green houndstooth suiting material for the outer fabric. They both came from JoAnn Fabrics and were pretty reasonably priced.

I decided that if I was making him a costume again it would have to be wearable after Halloween and the Zander definitely fit the bill and all the pattern pieces were already cut out from the last one so it was a breeze to sew up this version.

For the required Robin Hood accessories--I bought a toy bow and arrow set from the Toys R Us and spray painted it brown. Also used some leftover scraps from the boot covers to wrap around the handle of the bow. To make the quiver more realistic I sewed up a straight pocket to slip over the plastic one (see the original red peeking out?) attaching the strap to the top and bottom of the side seam.

Also not shown a small pouch made with the quilted suede and a leather lace draw string for keeping Robin Hood's money in. However, son like mother he spends it(meaning-lost it) faster than a blink of an eye. HaHaHaa!

New and Improved Boot Cover Tutorial

As promised I am back today

 to show you the new boot covers!

Supplies needed: 

Faux leather, eyelet grommets,

 eyelet tool and small hammer, leather lacing.

To make these boot covers for yourself you will need to take a few measurements.

You will need your measurements WEARING  the shoes you intend to cover.

You will need the height, from ankle to just below the knee.

The circumference of the leg just below the knee as well as at the ankle over the shoe.

Add 1 inch to all measurements and then cut in half the

 knee and ankle measurements so that you can cut the cover out on the fold.

Then you must decide how long you want the cuff to come down.

Add your inch to that measurement as well. 

The top of the cuff pattern piece should be identical to the top/knee

measurement. For the bottom of the cuff add an inch or two depending 

on how dramatic you want it to be.

Your two pattern pieces should look similar to the image at the right.

Cut your faux leather cutting the fabric on the fold. I have used some clearanced black upholstery fabric with a soft white backing.

Make small notches a couple of inches up from the bottom.

Fold over the raw edge above the notch and stitch.

Then hem the shortest and the longest side of the cuff.

 Then you must stitch the cuff onto the top of the boot cover. 

Next with right sides together, stitch un-hemmed ankle tabs.

For the next steps you will need 

Follow the instructions on the eyelet tool and put the eyelets on the back 

of the covers taking care to evenly space them. 

Use the leather cord and lace up the back of the boot. 

Voila! You are done!

Is this not exactly what you had in mind?

Check out my 15 minute boot covers here.

Who's ready for Halloween??

I know I am not done yet!

This year my son has decided that he would like to be Robin Hood. I think really he just wanted to carry bow and arrows of course.

 I decided to go with Russel Crow's more modern and rugged Robin Hood

 rather than the cartoon fox version of Robin Hood. 

It would have been easier to make the cartoon version with some green felt. 

However, my little guy would not have something functional to wear later.

I have the Robin Hood jacket done and the boot covers. 

I'll be sharing the new an improved faux leather boot cover tutorial tomorrow. 

until then you can check out my previous felt vesion version HERE.