Home Girl Blog

DIY Thriller Werewolf Costume

Call this one a Thriller Werewolf or Pretween Wolf costume. Either way, isn't it terrifyingly adorable? I did it with duct tape and under $20! 

Here are a few tips to help anyone who might want to flex their crafty bones and give this costume a try. I freehand everything, so no stencils or measuring! I like to live my craft life on the edge! Keep reading for tips...

Decorate a Pumpkin Like A Storybook Character

One awesome thing that has occurred to me about being an ex homeschooler/current afterschooler, during this Halloween season, is all the crafting. So far this fall, thanks to my son's school, I have had not one, but two opportunities to make costumes for him to wear-- one for Superhero Day honoring neighborhood heroes, and one for an annual Halloween event. I shared the DIY Ben 10 Superhero costume I made with mostly duct tape already and will be sharing  my DIY Thriller Werewolf or Pre-tween Wolf costume tutorial(ish) and pics tomorrow. Anyway, I thought all the fun making was over, then Zack brought home an assignment to decorate a pumpkin as a character from a book he has read and bring the pumpkin and book to school to display all week long. I become drunk with crafty power whenever I have a reason to create things that my son will explode with excitement over, and that my friends and internet peeps will be at least marginally impressed by. 

Zack chose to decorate his pumpkin like one of the pandas from the cutest book we've run across in a while, Mr. Chas and Lisa Sue Meet The Pandas, by Fran Lebowitz. I decided I would not take over his project, much as I wanted to, but that I would be a proper parent and simply exist to be his gentle guide. Happy to say, I succeeded in that. His pumpkin was perfect panda imperfection. And I wanted to do one SO bad! Then I remembered the book a friend of mine wrote, Curilocks and the Three Pink Pandas, which features a panda family...that is pink...and the little panda's name IS PUMPKIN! This project was clearly meant to be. I planned to make it just to share on the blog, but then I asked Zack's teacher if I could send in my own creation to display alongside the kids' (and promote my friend's awesome book). I wasn't surprised when she was happy to let me play.  

I like making things, but they never turn out perfect. I'm not Martha Stewart, nowhere close, but I am an artsy mom and I freehand most things because I'm too impatient for stencils, and measuring tapes and things of that nature. I like the handmade look and feel of handmade things, so I become one with the paint strokes and asymmetry. 

Following are a bunch of pictures of my pumpkin creation coming together. Super easy and super cute! 

DIY Ben 10 Halloween Costume

My son needed a costume for superhero day at his school. I required it to be something he could wear all day and not melt at recess, and he required a cool accessory excluding a mask. I suspect he chose Ben 10 because he has been asking me to buy the Omnitrix (alien transforming wrist gadget) forever, and thought this was a good opportunity to ask again. What he didn't know was that he was getting a homemade knock-off. And he loves it! I was so happy when he kept saying how cool it was after my dramatic reveal. 

Making the shirt was so easy. I had to cut the collar after lining it with squares of duct tape and cutting the bottom edge, so my son's head could fit through the opening. I cut the number ten out freehand from white duct tape. 

For the Omnitrix, I just cut the tube part off a basketball sock, cut two slits to thread black duct tape to to secure the pumpkin light to the band. I taped triangles on top of the light for effect. The pumpkin light flashes different colors, which is perfect for trick or treating. 

I'm a brand new fan of duct tape. It's seriously the best thing ever. 

DIY No Sew Costume: Movie Popcorn

I would be remiss to not share a pic of Zack in his Halloween costume. I give you, Gangsta Movie Popcorn reppin' for the extra hard kernels.  Handywork of Yolanda at Tangled Again --also owner of Tangled Tots. She's my good friend and totally made this for a local news spot. I was all, um...can I have that? 

What I'm Making Monday: Baby Cocoon Sack and Hat

This is what my version looks like now...

 

This is what the finished set will look like...

 

 

I found the free pattern on Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-cocoon-sack-and-cap) and knew right away I wanted to make it in pink. 

I'm knitting this set for my neice who has yet to be born. I have knit for babies before, but this is the first one that is my family! I'm knitting with love, yo! 

What I'm Making Monday (on Wednesday): Seed Stitch Neck Tie

I'm making this for my husband. I hope it comes out as cool-looking as it does on the Ravelry page I found the pattern on. It's way too simple to make. Fortunately, my husband thinks it's a cool look and is happy to proudly wear my creations. Trust me, this one is the first on many.

Here's the finished on from the Ravelry patters: 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seed-stitch-neck-tie

Would your guy wear a knit tie? 

What I'm Making Monday (on Tuesday): Hat and Cowl

Using a combination of patterns I found on Ravelry.com, I created this super-warm hat and cowl for my sister, who lives in West Virginia. I think it's still pretty warm there, as it is everywhere else this winter, but this should do the trick on her coolest night out. 

These items were both knit on size 11, 16" circular needles using Lion Brand Wool Ease Quick & Thick yarn in Lemongrass. I made the hat in the morning and the cowl in the afternoon. The pattern is a basic rib trim  and stockinette stitch body. The lace pattern on the hat is as follows: Row 1: K2, YO, KKS Row 2: YO, KKS, K2. Repeat as many times as you like to achieve the look you want. 

What I'm Making Monday: Chunky Baby Beanies!

I totally didn't use a specific pattern and winged it on the decreases, based off practice and estimated measurements, which I hope were correct. They're for a new, 2 month old baby. The multi-colored one on the left is made with a beautiful thick and thin yarn, which is why the texture s so funky. The pink and brown one on the right is my favorite of the two. I'm learning how to make pom poms on Youtube, the same way I learned to knit in the first place. I could still use some practice, but I am too excited about how easily these two projects came together. I knitted them in 1 (left) and 2(right) hours! *pops collar* 

I still haven't figured out the linky thing, but I'd love to see what projects you're working on right now. Share them in the comments section? Thanks! 

What I'm Making Monday: A Blue Scarf

So I've decided to start this series to keep me knitting (so selfish, I know) and to encourage my fellow e-knitters to do the same. Each Er...On any given crafty Monday, I'll share a project--completed or in progress. A good bit of my projects will be knitting, but I flex my other craft bones from time to time. Please feel free to share links to any crafty project you're into as well! Whenever I figure out how to work a linky, I'll add that feature so we can see thumbnails of your projects too!

Based on several patterns I've seen online, I'm making this super-long, super-stretchy scarf using a size 13 needle with bulky yarn that is meant for a size 9. By increasing the size of the needle, this beautiful pattern is stretched out a bit and takes on a more textured look. Roughly, the pattern goes something like this...

CO 27 stitches

First End:
Rows 1-3: K3, P3 rib pattern 
Rows 4-6: P3, K3 rib pattern
Repeat alternating pattern until you reach the desired length for your end. 

Scarf Knit Pattern:
Row 1: K3, P3 *repeat
Row 2: K1, P1  *repeat
Repeat scarf knit pattern until you reach the desired length.  

Second End:
Repeat First End pattern.

The end. 

I hope that made since. I'm a year into teaching myself to knit. One day, I will read a proper manual and learn all the proper jargon. Maybe. Do you knit? What are you making today?