Narwhal, Unicorn of the Sea: costume tutorial (horn headband)

This is part 3 of 5 in a series.

So, the elf decided to be Super Narwhal from the Narwhal and Jelly book # 2. 

Being the crafty mom I am, I couldn't just buy something already made. I had to design and make it myself. (I don't think I did enough dressing up as a kid.)

Part 3 of my series walks you through making a headband.  Note: I did watch a YouTube video to help me with this.

Also, a trip to Hobby Lobby is in order. Or since unicorns are really popular right now, you could try to remove the ears on a pre existing one, then doctor it up.

I used a baby photo prop unicorn horn (sorry no before pic) and tore off the elastic and hot glue. I bought a flat jewelry piece to glue on to the head band, as well as a narwhal charm (it was just too cute) that I found. I also had to buy a few spacers so that you could see the narwhal under the fluff of the tulle. 

The color scheme is a silver color that goes with the gray of the pants and shirt.

I already attached the charms to the flat jewelry piece. I had to attach extra jump rings so that the charm would face forward. 

Next I hot glued the horn to the flat piece, taking care to make the horn point up.

After that cooled down, I attatched the flat piece to the head band with the felt over it to stabilize. I used hot glue for this, too.

Headband, done.

Narwhal, Unicorn of the Sea: costume tutorial (cape)

This is part 2 in a 5 part series.

The elf decided to be Super Narwhal of the Narwhal and Jelly books for the school dress up occasion. 

Today's tutorial will cover the cape.

I found a piece of yellow fabric for the cape at my local Savers for $2 during the Labor Day sale. Win! I also just happened to have an old cape laying around from the monkey's old Lightning McQueen costume... hand painted, by the way.

 I laid it out and added about 4 inches to make it longer.

Using a 24" hip curve ruler and a (broken 😥) 12" curve  ruler I connected the extension measurements. 

Then I cut out the half circle. Next I stitched the seams and pressed them.

Then Iadded a piece of double fold bias tape made from the yellow fabric around the neck to finish the edges. I also added the ribbon. By the way, I don't claim to have mad sewing skills, as evident from my seam line, just that I am doing this for fun and to upcycle.

 

Lastly, I used a zig zag stitch to add a ribbon to tie it on.

Aaaand, cape, done!

Narwhal, Unicorn of the Sea: costume tutorial (pants)

This is part 1 of a 5 part series on costumes for the monkey and elf based on the graphic novel Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt. 

For Halloween at school, kids have to dress as a literary character.  Enter Narwhal, Unicorn of the Sea, a children's graphic novel about a narwhal. The second book in the series is Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt, from which we take our characters.

The elf decided to dress as Super Narwhal and the monkey, as Jelly Jolt. Today's tutorial explains how I'm adapting a pre-fabricated pair of adult exercise pants into a pair that fit my 5 year old. Also, I'm making them into bell bottoms to look more like a fin.

I chose a pair of the elf's leggings and used them as the pattern. I traced the top half of the leggings along her pair then measured out to the sides to create the bell shape.

Trace the leggings onto the adult's pair and add shape for bell.

I folded the adult's leggings in half, lining up the seams, so that I could use the existing seams as much as possible.  Then I pinned the legs along the pattern.

Next, I ripped out the seam for the waistband, to avoid uncomfortable side seams.

 I also pinned and marked the cut line and seam line on the pant legs.

Next, I cut out the pattern pieces. 

I pinned the legs to sew the side seams.

The basic look of the pattern.

At this point I tried them on her for size. The fit was pretty good so I took them back off.

On a different day...

I sewed together the leg seams.

 Then I tried them on the elf again to make sure they fit. Since I use a vintage machine and not a serger, I checked for places my stitches missed catching both edges. I mended those holes by going over the seam again.

Once I knew they fit, I sewed together the waist band.

Then I pinned it to the pants, and stitched it to the pants.

Next, I cut off all the excess fabric from the inside of the pants.

Then, I finished the bottom edge with an over edge stitch.

I turned them right side out, and pants are done!

Stay tuned for part 2!