Giddy-Up Friday: Jessie The Cowgirl Halloween Costume

Maybe it's my love of Texas or our love of Toy Story and my own personal obsession (ok - not that bad!)...of sweet cowgirl Jessie...that made my oldest daughter want to be Jessie this year for Halloween! YeeHaw!!!

SO while one girls is a sweet little garden gnome, my other is a ride 'em cowgirl! I just couldn't say no and wasn't about to spend $20 or $30 on a cheaply made costume for my sweet Jessie! If you'd like to make a Jessie costume, here's how I made it even though Halloween is now past...Giddy-up!

The Shirt:

It started with a handed down white shirt and some bright yellow fabric! 

 

I added a 1/2" twill ribbon along the bottom edge, and a thin rope to create the loopy loops (those were hard to sew).

 

I loosely cut each panel and then pinned them to the shirt, and then sewed it right up against the seam. There is a back panel too, but you just can't see it and I didn't photograph it.

The Sleeve:

To make the sleeves, trace the sleeve of the white shirt to get the right size and curve. Then stitch with Red thread, a series of decorative loops. Open up the sleeve and lay it flat. Lay the yellow cuff face down along the edge. Line it up by finding your center folds. Stitch 1/4" all the way around the cuff. (it will make the sleeve look longer, because it is going to be folded up and over the white sleeve at the end)

 

Once the cuff is sewn all the way around, sew the raw edges, right sides together. 

After you have sewn the edge, you need to make some covered buttons (follow directions on packaging) and then sew it on the inside of center fold of the yellow sleeve cuff. 

Now all you have to do is simply turn it right side out.

The Chaps:

 

A pair of $5 jeans with cow print fabric! I cut 4 panels and sewed 2 panels, turned them right side out and top stitched them. Then I laid each leg down (flipped up over the waist) handstitched them to the jean leg, and then flipped it back down and top stitched it (by hand also).

 

I used brown flannel (that was the only brown solid material I had) and used a piece of scrap leather for the "buckle". I'll post another picture of the finished belt and buckle in the near future!

 

Here's my horrible attempt at a hat...I used a hat box top for the measurement and Pellon stablizer for the hat.

 

I think I used a 3 or 4" height for the hat top, that I added it by machine after cutting out the center. I later attached the top by hand (ugh!) and then used a red fabric spray paint (double ugh!) to the top and ran out by the time I was ready to paint the underneath. (triple ugh!).  So I attached red fleece to the bottom (another picture that will be added later).

 

Just an FYI...I bought the wig. It was the only thing I bought. It was called a "Rag Doll Wig" if you ever need to look for one. I took the ponytails out and put the braids in with yellow scrunchies (I didn't have yellow bows). As I'm sure you can tell from my captions above...I wish I had found a hat...but searched high and low and just couldn't find one! Such a bummer! I will add photos later of the shirt sleeves, the finished belt...and another finished picture of the hat - since that was a last minute finish...and still never got to put the white rope loop around the edge!

So that's it and I guess I'll be seeing ya'll on the next post! Giddy up!

Disclaimer...All of the pieces above were made without a pattern.  So technically these are Kid Giddy Original patterns and therefore cannot be created for resale purposes. I am sharing this tutorial out of the kindness of my heart to satisfy all the Jessie Cowgirl loving children out there. You can use this tutorial to make a costume for yourself or your child. So PLEASE do not copy this and sell it for your own use! Likewise, please do not copy the tutorial by retaking all of your own photos and posting it on your blog as your own. I've seen it happen - so please give credit where credit is due. Thanks!

Busy Monday: Gnome Costume

My youngest daughter is not "obsessed" with Gnomes, but really enjoys going to Grandma's house to search for a little kitchen Gnome that wakes up every night and travels around the kitchen getting into things and making messes. She loves finding him in the morning and tries to determine exactly what he was up to while she was sleeping!

After having our landscaping done by "Gnome Landscaping" we got a Gnome (named Forest) left on our doorstep for our garden! He doesn't travel at all because he's "too old" but does a great job watching the deer eat all of the tomatoes, peppers and everything else we planted this year! He's not much of a "guardian" garden gnome because those deer got away with everything!

 

Naturally amongst all this - she wanted to be a Gnome Girl for Halloween this year. She wanted to be a Gnome last year, but the thought of making it then was too daunting for me! This year I knew I couldn't get away with buying another princess costume, so I pretty much had no other option but to make it!

So here's the costume and brief descriptions how I made it....We'll start off first with the "vision" drawing...

Here's the Jacket:

 

Start with 3 pieces: 2 front sides that are the same, and one back piece that is the same size as the 2 fronts.

 

After sewing the side seams and the top shoulder seams, turn right side out.

 

Cut sleeves to desired length and sew to arm hole and then sew the length.

 

Attach Ruffle to edge (I rounded the corners as I went!) and to the sleeves (see the skirt).

 

Add the Fabric Covered buttons for decoration.

 

Cute fabric covered buttons of Gnome Girls is from Michael Miller Gnoming Around Yellow Fabric.

Here's the Skirt:

Cut out 2 pieces of a skirt. I used Pattern Ease for making a rough pattern. When in doubt add a few inches to sides and length! I also cut the fleece with the stretch going from side to side!

Turn down seam and stitch leaving a small opening for the elastic.

I used 4" width ruffles. Fold in half & hand or machine stitch a basting stitch and then pin your ends and center in place.

Keep finding the center points and pinning them, so it's easier to know the ruffle will be consistent!

Sew on the Ruffles and turn skirt right side out.

 

Here's the Hat:

Who doesn't want a cute pointy polka dot hat with a matching fleece flower. 

Here's the Apron:

I added ric-rac to the apron for cuteness factor!

Cut 4 straps for the neck and waist ties. The ties will be facing inway and wouldn't be seen technically - but I showed them so you know to make them! This is the Michael Miller "Gnomeville" Red Border fabric panel! Way cute!

After sewing all around the edge (leaving a couple inches open), turn right side out and top stitch all the way around! I'd use a more rounded inside corner up by the waist straps (where the top meets the bottom).

All of the pieces were made without use of a pattern. These are Kid Giddy Original patterns and therefore cannot be created for resale purposes. I am sharing this tutorial out of the kindness of my heart to satisfy all the Gnome loving children out there. You can use this tutorial to make a costume for yourself or your child. PLEASE do not copy this and sell it for your own use! Likewise, please do not copy the tutorial by retaking all of your own photos and posting it on your blog as your own. I've seen it happen - so please give credit where credit is due. Thanks!