Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl

[Lothruin]

This year is the first year my daughter, age 4, has expressed a clear desire of exactly what she wanted to be for Halloween, without prompting from mom.  This was really perfect timing, because it's also the first year Mom's sewing machine has worked since Kit was born.   

She chose Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl from Toy Story 2.  She already had a red hat, because she's had a big thing for Jessie for a while now, so that part was easy.  I approach costumes from the perspective of a parent who takes her daughter to at least 3 outdoor events the week before Halloween, and can expect the outside temp to be anywhere between around 55 degrees and freezing.  I go for full-coverage, a sweatshirt if possible, and use as many re-constructed or re-purposed street clothes as possible.  (She is 4, after all.  Flouncy skirts are nice and everything, but not that practical for trick or treating.) 

So for Jessie, I bought a plain white sweatshirt (harder than you think, it took me 2 weeks to find one in my city) and decorated it with a western-style yoke, fringed cuffs and a fake button placket.  The collar is provided by a white polo worn under the sweatshirt.  Jessie wears jeans with cow-print chaps, so I let Kit wear her jeans, and made a pair of cow-print chaps with velcro straps.  A braid and a yellow bow, and voila!  It's Jessie!  Actually, between now and Halloween I'll be making her a pair of cowboy boot spats and a belt out of tooled-leather-look felt, but we had a Halloween party tonight, and I'm really pleased considering my limited sewing skills, so I couldn't wait to post.

[Mariaaa]

thats so cute!

[KarenLouiseM]

Completely, totally adorable! 

And I hear ya on the "wearable" aspect of it.  Kids have to feel comfortable in their costumes - just like their regular clothes.  I used to have an awful time with my kids and the weather.  It can be anything here at the end of October.  The year my daughter insisted on hula dancer it was SO cold.  The year my son was ET (felt outside, lined with a layer of batting in between and full face mask) it was almost 100 degrees.  Poor things!  (But after spending all that time anticipating they didn't ever want to change to something more practical.)

[pixing]

*great* costume

she looks awesome and, not to offend anyone, not another princess

(even though I do love tulle in excess)

fantastic crafting

[sweets4ever]

Wow... it turned out great!  How adorable she is!

[PinkMafia]

she is adorable and the costume came out so close to the original.  great job!

[craft-matic]

SHE'S SO CUTE!!!!!

Amazing job on the costume, it looks so great....

[alwaysinmyroom]

I love it when parents come up with a costume unique to their child!

I hope you took lots of pics because she is going to cherish these memories of Mom making her this very special outfit!

Your daughter's beautiful smile says it all...a great costume!

[KarenLouiseM]

Oooh yeah - I second that suggestion to take lots of pictures!  I just started a craft that requires photos and wanted to use Halloween photos.  I was shocked at how few I have.  My parents must have never taken pictures of us in our costumes!

[Lothruin]

Thanks, everyone! 

Top five reasons why making your child's costumes is better than buying them:

#5  Crafting is fun.
#4  When you make it yourself, you control how accurate it is, so it almost always looks better than a bought costume of the same character.
#3  Store bought costumes are crap.  They're flimsy, uncomfortable fabrics that aren't meant for regular wear.  My daughter is a real kid's kid.  She'll wear her costumes at least three times, for parties and such, and that's more than enough to send a store-bought costume to an early grave.  Costumes I make will last.
#2  If you do it right it's way cheaper.  This costume cost me just under $16, INCLUDING the polo shirt and jeans that she wears as real clothes anyway and ALL the fabric I bought, even though I have leftovers enough to make other things.
#1 reason why making costumes instead of buying them is the best way to go:  My daughter saying, "Thanks, mom, you're the best mom in the whole world, I'm so excited!"  You just can't get better than that.