Halloween Costumes

Today’s post combines two of my favorite things—sewing and costume parties. I’ve never been fond of the pagan rites of Halloween like trick or treating. Costume parties for kids are much preferable, with dressing up, lots of games, and candy. Oh, another thing I like about Halloween—chocolate. But that’s another topic.

I prefer character costumes to the scary stuff. Here’s the Raggedy Ann and Andy costumes I made for my grandchildren some years ago.

Where did this costume custom come from? Costume parties go back to the masquerade balls of the 15th century. These balls dominated the carnival season, especially in Italy. The custom spread throughout mainland Europe in the 17th and 18th century. In London, characters in masks and fancy dress mingled with the crowds at Haymarket and Vauxhall Gardens.

Masquerade dances became popular in colonial America, so popular that an anti-masquerade movement grew, claiming the events encouraged immorality and foreign influence. Party poopers.

Of course the style of costumes varied widely depending on class. Peasants attending carnivals made do with what they could throw together, whereas the nobility hid behind elaborate jeweled masks. How about this?

Character themed parties for teens and adults are all the rage now. Movie and book characters are most popular. Star Wars themed parties are big this year for obvious reasons.

Dressing up isn’t restricted to Halloween. I follow a historical costume blog, and serious costumers and historians get together throughout the year for teas, parties and reenactments. I’m not nearly as serious, but I enjoy sewing historical and character costumes, though I’ve never made a costume for myself. It’s enough for me to watch from the sidelines.

My granddaughter and her friend are going to a Disney themed Halloween party this year so I volunteered to make their dresses. Belle and Cinderella. 

I got myself in a time crunch, but finally finished. Here they are ready for the princesses to go to the ball.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Did you ever go to a costume party either as a child or adult? Be sure to enter a comment to get into the drawing for our weekly giveaway, Land of My Dreams by Norma Gail

Confessions of a Tenacious Tailor

I love dressing up. Not in evening gowns and formal attire. No. I’m talking little girl dress-up. I think that’s why I got involved in drama in high school. It gave me an excuse for wearing costumes.

When American Christian Fiction Writers announced a genre dinner at this year’s conference, I got excited. Since I write historical fiction, I have a perfect excuse to make a costume.

Let’s get one thing straight. I hate to sew. When I pull out the pin cushion and scissors, take the cover off the sewing machine, and clear the dining room table, my family goes into hiding. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a pretty good seamstress. I’ve been sewing since grade school. But I’ve done it because I had to—not because I wanted to.

I found a pattern for a bustle dress. (Yes, I write late nineteenth century romantic suspense.) The jacket looked a little tricky, so I asked a friend if she’d make it for me. She demurred. Should’ve been my first clue, but I forged ahead without her assistance.

I started with the skirt.

Easy. No problem. It gave me courage to continue. The jacket came next. Fitted. Fourteen pieces in the bodice alone. At least half the seams had to be ripped out and sewn again. <sigh> Determined to finish this if it killed me, I worked and worked.

Then came the overskirt. I made the size the pattern said matched my dimensions, but it was huge. Alter. Try on. Alter some more.

Finally. Finished. If you want to see the finished product, visit my Facebook page facebook.com/lorayoungwriter.

I learned several lessons through this project. (Probably the reason God forced me to make this silly dress. =op Kidding. Just kidding.)

•  #1 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

•  #2 Never trust pattern manufacturers.

•  #3 Don’t assume you have the right sides together. Check.

•  #4 And last, but not least, the next book I write will be Amish. (Just kidding.)

Have you ever taken on something (not necessarily a craft) that was clearly beyond your abilities? How’d it turn out?