Dunkin Donuts Munchkins Costume (pic heavy)

This took me 4 weeks to make. My son loves Munchkins and this fit him perfectly. The only experience I have with a sewing machine is in 2009 I decided to make my son a costume for Halloween so, I went to Walmart and bought a sewing machine. I figured how hard could it be to sew...lol well....lets just say I've learned quite a lot since that first costume. This is my second costume. My wife found a pic online of a munchkins costume made with one of the actual boxes and styrofoam balls. Well I figured I could improve on the costume and make something that would hold up to a 4 y/o wearing it.

I got my thoughts together and decided that I would cut the Dunkin Donuts logo out of felt and sew it on the costume. It didn't take long to figure out that wasn't going to be a decent looking option. So, I researched embroidery machines and bought one after I found out about the software options with them. In two days I had a new embroidery machine waiting at work for me when I got there. You should have seen the looks I got when my co-workers asked what did I get and I told them an embroidery machine..lol! It was bad enough when I walked in before with a sewing machine.

Anyway....enough of that lets get started on this costume I embarked on this year. I taught myself the software during the day and started embroidering late that afternoon.

Well that went well, Then I started on the munchkins. I searched the internet till I found a pattern for a juggling ball. I messed with sizing till I figured out the right size for the costume. This was also the first time i had ever sewed a ball together. It was interesting.

Now came the time to sew the box together. Up till this point the felt was held to the firm sew in interfacing only by the embroidery. This wasn't going to work and look good. Off to Joann's I went, asked about this fusible stuff and immediately got sent to the sewing instructor because I believe the lady thought I was crazy for some of the ideas I had to construct this thing. Well I was then introduced to the firm double sided fusible interfacing. I also went on my own and got the thin fusible interfacing to glue the felt to the other interfacing around the embroidery. Anyway, I got the felt secured to the sew in stuff. then Stiffened things up with a double sided fusible interfacing with another layer of felt on the back. This was also the point where I found out that I didn't leave enough room to sew everything together....oops!!! Back to the embroidering again. An hour later I had another front piece with enough seam allowance. Got it sewn together and progressed a pretty good bit.

It was then time to add handles to the box. I cut it out of double sided fusible interfacing and ironed the felt onto the handles and cut the center part out. I forgot to take a pic of the handle after fusing the felt on it but I have one of it on the box itself. Handles are on the front and back.

Next I had to make a bucket for him to collect his candy in. I used an older Easter basket of his for a pattern. I cut it out of paper and over-lapped it a little more till it was more in the size of a large cup than a bucket. I cut out a double sided fusible interfacing piece and sliced it with a rotary cutter where it looked like a cup. slapped a piece of felt on top and hooped it up in the embroidery machine. Re-sized my logos and added "America Runs On Dunkin" under the logo and set the embroidery machine on go. When it was done I fused the felt to both sides. (In case anyone is wondering I did use a damp press cloth for all the fusing.

) Then an idea struck me. I went to the closet and grabbed a white wire hanger. Got my pliers out and cut a piece just short of the length of the top and bottom of the cup. I bent it and placed it next to the interfacing and then folded the excess felt over to the inside and hot glued it down top and bottom with the wire inside. This gave me the ability to shape the cup exactly as I wanted it. Enough talk....here's the pics.

Next I decided to make him a hat to complete the outfit. I had never made one before and decided, How hard could it be? I measured his head and started cutting. Of course my son wanted to help so, I let him press the start button to embroider his hat. As you can see in the pics. It was an adventure. lol! First I sewed it with the seam on the outside, then I got it right but the top was on the bottom. The third time was the charm and I managed to get the seam on the inside and the top of the hat on the top. I made a bill out of double sided firm fusible interfacing and sewed it on.

It all ended up right in the end and I'm happy with the costume. Everyone that saw it loved it. I'm much prouder of my accomplishment this time around, as it has a much better finished appearance. Here's the finished trio. He loves his costume! I had a lot of fun making this costume and can't wait till the next one. Who knows what it might be.......

I forgot to add the part in about the straps but it's nothing to hard to figure out. Sorry for it being so long and so picture intensive but I felt it needed this many to show everything. Thanks for sticking with me through all of it!

Murphy