Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Pillsbury Doughboy Costume

My daughter is obsessed with the Pillsbury Doughboy. She has to visit his cardboard cutout in the grocery store every week. She can spot a tiny Doughboy logo on a box in the baking aisle from a mile away. So when my husband suggested that she should be Doughboy for Halloween, it was pretty much a done deal.

I wasn't sure how to make this costume happen. They haven't sold a Doughboy costume in years, and I wasn't able to find a Doughboy pattern. I had to put on my crafting cap and come up with something because I made the mistake of telling my daughter about the costume before making sure it was possible. This is what I came up with...



I went to Jo-Ann to see if I could find a pattern that I could modify or take pieces from in order to make the costume. I ended up buying this Simplicity pattern...


I figured I could make the jumpsuit and belly suit like the pumpkin and then make the head covering like the lamb, just without the ears. I eventually ended up scrapping the one piece jumpsuit idea because let's face it, she's three... she's going to have to pee. I decided to try to buy a white sweatshirt and sweatpants to use instead. I found a white sweatshirt at Walmart (the last one they had), but I could not find white sweatpants anywhere. I searched high and low. So I decided to just use the jumpsuit pattern and cut it off at the waistline to make pants. I also saved time by purchasing a fully adjustable kid's chef hat at Jo-Ann.

The pants, belly suit, head covering, and scarf are all made out of fleece. If I ever see white fleece again, it will be too soon. I had never sewn fleece before. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. In fact, it was pretty forgiving. Your stitches kind of disappear into it, and you can hardly see them. But I was sewing layers and layers together. At one point I was sewing 6 layers together at once. I went through 3 needles on this project!

Here's a rundown of each piece of the costume...


1.  I cut the jumpsuit pattern off at the waistline in order to make the pants. After I sewed the legs together, I folded the waist down about an inch and sewed around the bottom to create a sleeve so I could insert a piece of elastic into the waistband. The pattern also called for elastic at the ankles, but I left that out and just hemmed them so they would cover her shoes a little bit.

2.  The sweatshirt came from Walmart.

3.  For the belly suit I followed the pattern exactly as it was written. It is made with three layers of fleece. It has a 3/4" elastic band around the bottom to help it poof out, and it has Velcro at the shoulders. This was by far the most time-consuming piece to make. I probably could have gotten by with two layers of fleece. 


4.  For the head covering I followed the pattern exactly as it was written, but I left off the ears. It has Velcro under the chin to hold it on. This was the first time I ever sewed darts on a garment. This was probably the most satisfying piece to make because it looks complicated, but it really was pretty easy and quick to put together.

5.  For the scarf I cut a triangle out of fleece and tied a knot in the front. I didn't even hem it.

6.  The chef hat was purchased. I added the Pillsbury logo myself. I did a Google Images search for "Pillsbury logo", copied and pasted the image into a Word document, resized it, and printed a mirror image of it onto iron-on transfer ink jet paper. Then it was just as simple as cutting it out and ironing it onto the hat.


In an earlier post I told you that I had trouble getting psyched up for this project. Well, it was worth all the work, needles, and late nights... It was a pretty fantastic feeling to see this little face light up when she stepped in front of the full-length mirror in her costume.


Thanks for stopping by today! Hopefully this costume makes it through her Halloween shindig at preschool on Thursday (i.e. Please don't drop food or spill juice on it!!!) so she can wear it on Sunday without looking like a total mess!

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35 comments:

Heather{Our Life In a Click} said...

That is just ADORABLE!! She looks so cute in it. What a crafty mommy you are!

Elizabeth Dackson said...

This is adorable! What a sweet costume!!

Katie from Sew Woodsy said...

OMG! This is sewwwww cute! :) Please make sure you link this up to my Halloween Edition link party on SewWoodsy.blogspot.com

Fowl Single File said...

I love this creative, unique idea. It's a far cry from the dreaded Disney princess that so many little girls request. It's adorable and I can't believe you sewed through 6 layers of fleece! You did a great job!

Jess@craftiness is not optional said...

she looks so cute and happy! and what a unique different costume-love that she thought of it herself! and nice execution on your part. :D

Amy at Ameroonie Designs said...

What a sweet costume! You can tell she's delighted. Way to go mama!

staci @ lizard n ladybug said...

omg..how cute is she?!?!
You did a super job - it's a costume to save for sure!

Kristin @ Yellow Bliss Road said...

I'm so impressed - that's amazing!!!

Santa's Gift Shoppe and Ideas said...

Hi
I absolutely think your a genius!! What a fantastic costume & pattern you put together. You did a GREAT job..Would love to have you put it up to our viewers @ http://santasgiftshoppe.blogspot.com
on our Wed. Blog Hop today..it's open for about a week. We have a different Blog Hop on Mondays too. We'd love to have you & show off your talent to the world! You might just end up on our Favorites "Walk of Fame" & be featured!!Nice to meet ya new friend! Take care...Barb

Andi said...

Oh. My. Goodness. First, I LOVE that your daughter is in love with the Pillsbury Dough Boy. How cute! Second, this is the coolest costume. You did an awesome job!

Anonymous said...

Cute! My daughter is a chef this Halloween, so great minds think alike!

April said...

Oh my gosh! Cutest costume ever!!

LeAnne said...

Gwen, this is the cutest thing ever....I can sew, but to adapt a pattern, well, that's just not my thing! Good thinkin' on the Pillsbury logo--that just makes the whole costume perfect! Of course, the fact that your daughter is as cute as a button doesn't hurt a bit! TFS!

Libby said...

She is so cute! You did an amazing job! Hopefully preschool won't have anything red! She could always go as a working Pillsbury Doughgirl...

Janet said...

She is so Adorable. I have already been having baby envy since my son is 10 but this just did me in. How cute that she loves the pillsbury dough boy.

Stopping by from It's so very Cheri.

Janet

Anonymous said...

what an adorable, adorable costume! come link up @ Ladybug Blessings Handmade Tuesdays next week! www.ladybug-blessings.com

Anna said...

so cute gwen, love that you adapted it from another pattern, very clever!

Susan @ Oh My! Creative said...

Oh...this is so cute!

Submit it in my Handmade Halloween Contest - starts now!

Susan,
http://entertainexchange.blogspot.com/
Party and Entertaining Inspiration

Jen @ EmbellishingLifeEveryday said...

Aww! What an adorable costume! I have never seen this one before...cute!

Unknown said...

Oh my word, I LOVE it. So cute that she loves the doughboy! I can practically hear her cute little oh-hoo laugh when you poke her belly. :)

Ashley said...

She is so adorable in her costume! I love it! You did a great job making it!

Glenys said...

So cute! Hi, I gave you an One Lovely Blog Award. Do come to my blog to take the Award Button.

Naturally Carol said...

That is a georgeous little girl in a very clever WHITE (what were you thinking?)costume, love it, but WHITE? You can always dust her down with flour if she gets it dirty! LOL Thanks for dropping by to see Stu the Kangaroo!

Unknown said...

Awww, she looks sooo cute! You did a great job, Mama!

Pam Kessler said...

That is so cute. Cute too that she adores the Pillsbury Doughboy.

kate said...

Thanks for your sweet comments Gwen! This is a great costume! Love your blog header too!

Kitty Deschanel said...

LOL! This costume is ridiculously cute :)

Unknown said...

Don't you feel so good when you make there day like that! I love the costume. I made my kid's costumes too. I just don't have a post up yet.

Sawdust Girl said...

Adorable!

Unknown said...

that is so cute! come on over and link up to MMM :)

KJ@letsgoflyakite said...

This is the cutest costume I have ever seen.

Emilie said...

Ridiculously CUTE!!!! You did a great job and I think the smile in that last picture says it all!

malia said...

Possibly the cutest costume ever! Does your little one like baking? She must be a creative genius like her Mommy!

Santa's Gift Shoppe and Ideas said...

Hi
Just wanted to let you know that I “ Featured” you on Santa’s Gift Shoppe Blog Hop today for your great project & inspiration! Be sure to grab the “I was featured” on Santa’s Gift Shoppe Button/Code for your sidebar! You deserve it! Thanks so much..If you’re not a follower already we’d love for you to join us...
Barb

MJ said...

So cute!!

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