Kitten, Fangs and Halloween

First of all, apologies for no post last week. Storm Ophelia (was hurricane downgraded to tropical storm) followed by Storm Brian meant there was no internet - landline or mobile - for most of the week.
This week I decided that as halloween is approaching I would make a couple of pet costumes, one for our cat and one for the dog next door.  In true halloween fashion I decided that as they both have sharp fangs a vampire outfit would be perfect. I purchased a yard each of 44" wide cotton poplin. While this is an outfit you can adapt and make for any pet you do need to measure the recipient to ensure you purchase the right amount of fabric. I buy mine from Vibes and Scribes in Cork, Republic of Ireland, and they sell cotton poplin by the 1/4 meter.

The measurements you need are A) from the nape of the neck to where the tail begins at the base of the spine, B) their waist measurement, C) the measurement from the nape of their neck to the mid-point on their chest, half way from side to side and also from their throat to the shoulder as the  front fastening is shaped instead of going straight round like a collar. The measurements I used for the cat were A = 11", B = 24" divided by 2 = 12" - this measurement was loose around her midsection to allow for the straps to fasten, C = 18 " divided by 2 = 9" and D = 6" divided by 2 = 3". I then got a piece of paper and drew a line along one straight edge of 11" with a 90 degree line at either end, one measuring 3" and the other roughly 10". This last measurement allows the cape to fall halfway down her hind legs. I then marked the center of the long line and measured a quarter of her waist measurement at right angles, in this case I used 6". I then joined all the short lines using a curve and also slightly curved the hem line to make it flow better. I then drew the waist strap which is 6.5" to allow for seaming allowances and a joining overlap. I then taped the pieces to my pet 'mannequin' who is the right size neck to hip and from nape to mid-chest, and also stands still. I then roughly cut a shape with a slight curve and taped it down before refining the shape to get the final design for the neck band. Finally I made a collar which fans outwards from the top of the cape to allow it to stand upright behind her head.  I also cut a piece of stiff interfacing the same size as the collar piece. All pieces were then named, marked with notches and lines showing where they are to be cut on the fold of the fabric and with a 0.5" seaming allowance.

I then laid the 2 pieces of fabric one on top of the other (one black, one red), folded them with the top piece being 12" from fold to selve edge and pinned the pattern onto the fabric and cut it out making sure to show all the notches where the straps join (I transferred these to the right side of the red fabric using tailors chalk for sewing purposes). The remainder of the fabric will then be used to make a matching outfit for the neighbour's dog who is slightly larger than the cat.
I then pinned the pieces together and sewed them along the marked seam lines making sure to leave the neck part of the cape open to allow it to be turned the right way out after clipping the curves, the same with a narrow end on each of the 4 straps. I then ironed the fabric to ensure a crisp seam. I ironed the interfacing onto the black collar piece then sewed along 3 sides leaving the neck edge open and turned it inside out as well. I then made sure to turn in a half inch seam allowance and iron it ready for assembly.

 Below you will see the finished article being modeled for you by Princess Kitty Bisley, to give her her full name. The bling on the back and front was put there by my daughter just to pretty things up for her. This was an easy outfit to make and, will modifications, I will use the pattern again in the future for more clothing items. I hasten to add that apar  t from modeling for the camera I don't dress Kitten up on a daily basis like some do, she will tolerate clothing for a short while but when the camera goes away the clothing comes off.           

 

    

Take care, happy halloween and keep all pets inside on Tuesday.

Introduction and Explanation

As this is my first post it will be mainly to describe who I am and what I do.

My name is Ivlia Vespasia and I paint using acrylics and oils, weave wall hangings, bed and floor coverings, sew clothing and do sundry other crafts, example illumination for my daughters calligraphy, painting Christmas and birthday cards for my daughter to finish off, and am always willing to try a craft even if I don't turn out to be any good at it.
I am 55, and currently living in Ireland (Dublin) with husband and daughter and 2 rabbits plus cat (and the neighbour's dog). I learned to sew from my mother aided by needlework classes in school when I was 11 and again at 14. I grew up in New Zealand (based in Auckland but also lived in Paihia, - the Bay of Islands - and Turangi at the base of Lake Taupo) where I attended school and I later  attended a secretarial college and later worked in banking and insurance. I moved to England with my husband and returned to working in insurance before leaving when my daughter was born. I then ran a small smallholding while making curtains and clothes for others as extra money. We moved to Ireland when my daughter was old enough for school and have lived here ever since, some 24 years now. I have always sewed for my daughter and myself, and occasionally for friends, but was encouraged more recently to show my items to others and maybe show how I designed and made some of them.
I have recently been asked to make clothing for friends, and I have always given away some of my successful experiments in weaving, so I am currently designing an outfit for someone to wear at Christmas. I also recently returned to painting - I started about 8 years old when oil painting by numbers was all that was around and spent my teenage years painting copies from Egyptian tomb walls - and have found that there is a demand for my artwork among friends. In fact, they give me lists of suitable themes (sometimes even photos) for birthday and Christmas presents and a number of people have suggested I sell my work. I prefer landscapes and have a waiting list of canvases to finish but finding time to both sew and paint can lead to creative time keeping, but luckily oil painting means that I can leave a painting and come back to it again without problems. In fact, some of my best dress designs come to me when I am painting, it must be the artistic pursuit.
This blog will showcase some of my art and also my clothing and weaving designs. I will show how I make clothing, from basic (and simple) underwear and trousers through to skirts, tops and dresses - both comfortable house dresses and dressy dresses.
There will also be a couple of other occasional contributors, my daughter who does calligraphy, embroidery and cross stitch, and the cat who will model some of the pet wear I have sewn/will be sewing for cat and neighbour's dog. This blog will hopefully be written up at the weekends when I try to take a break from painting and sewing while spending time with family and friends, a time to go over what I have achieved in the previous week and what I hope to achieve in the coming week.
Equally I hope that it will at least by read by a couple of people and that it will be both enjoyable, and helpful. If you have a problem that you would like assistance with - sewing - leave a comment or email me and I will try to help. If there is something you would like to see being made - and I will try to post photographs of my work as I go along although coming into winter means constant rain outside is causing problems with light and photography at the moment, but we will overcome somehow - I will also try to help. I use a mix of ready made patterns, home made patterns and designs and ideas from a number of YouTube channels that I subscribe to. I will list these in my next post, hopefully on Saturday 22 October, when with luck I shall also have pictures showing a halloween outfit and a 'review' from the recipient.
If you read this, please enjoy and read next weeks as well, if only to see how it develops.
Good luck to all, and in the words of a famous Irishman ''may your God go with you''.
A last note, the pictures below show some of the things I've made/painted/crocheted/sewn/designed over the years, mainly for friends. A number of them are now on permanent display to those of the public who are interested. The crocheted dress was quickly made for a cold snap, I have designed several more, some finshed some still to be finished. The Roman clothing was made quickly for a photo shoot, and the jewellery is something I do mainly as a hobby for myself or anyone wanting something I am able to create. Hope you like them, I enjoyed  making them and will showcase a few more pictures next week.