What's Christmas without a few costumes?

I know that I mentioned before that I began all of my family's gift making after sundown on December 22 this year, and the majority of my Christmas crafting involved costumes for Elisabeth.

Elisabeth is one of those children who changes her clothes at least 17 times every day (17 is her own estimate). All of her play requires an appropriate costume, and it's relatively rare to find her in "regular" clothes. Christmas brings all sorts of costuming opportunities -- both in the form of pageants to be in and gifts to receive.

Dressed as an angel at church on Christmas Eve

She really prefers costumes of her own fashioning, but I thought that I could add a few nice pieces to her repertoire. The one thing she was really hoping Santa Claus would bring was a very fancy ballet costume. It was so cute, because she'd be in the backseat of the car, or under the dining room table, or some other somewhat private place, eyes squeezed shut, hands clasped imploringly, and murmuring, "I know you can hear me, Santa Claus. Please bring me fancy ballerina outfit. That's all I really, really need."

So, with a solo trip to the ballet shop to look for costumes out of the question given my over-full plate of doll making, I decided to fashion a fancy ballet costume for her.

I picked up the leotard on the clearance rack at a discount retailer (ugh), and used about 5 yards of tulle and an elastic headband (using Coronita's technique) to make a very full tutu. I added tulle, ribbon "streamers" and glittery buttons at the shoulders, and all in all, there was one very satisfied ballerina on Christmas morning.

Santa Claus also brought a "Heidi" costume for Elisabeth this year. Heidi was a favorite read-aloud last year, and it really captured both of our imaginations.

I really couldn't get the idea of a little Swiss girl costume out of my head, so I came up with a simple blue elastic-waist skirt, a red apron with the trim that really "makes" the costume in my opinion, a gingham kerchief (which Elisabeth prefers tied under the chin), and then just a white t-shirt and a thrifted-by-a-friend green wool cardigan. This costume came together really easily, and the individual pieces are really useful for all sorts of play.

There was one other costume, the most involved sewing project of the three, which came from Daddy and me, but it'll have to wait to be seen here until Monday because we don't have any good pictures of it yet.

Comments

[molly]

i just look at this and marvel. she is going to cherish this when she is older. i can imagine her own children putting on their mommy's Heidi costume or tutu.
It's beautiful.

You have no idea how many times I say in a day:"Emma can you just put on some NORMAL clothes, so we can go the store??" peas in a pod, they'd be.

[molly]

PS. I'll email you soon with some pottery possibilities...

[Nicole]

Oh my! I *LOVE* the Heidi costume! Heidi is a well loved story at my house too! Ahh, I see you have a fireplace, my son noticed a lovely and comforting (very slight) smell of woodsmoke on his dolly :)

[Suzanne]

Love the Heidi costume, I showed my girls who now want me to just go whip one up:-)

[Alicia A.]

You are one lucky mama, and she is one lucky kiddo.

Btw- I've put your dates on the calendar. :)

[Ram in the Thicket]

Those are such great costumes and they look so cute on her. Of course, you could put her in a big brown sack and she would still look cute ;o)

[Ram in the Thicket]

Those are so cute on her, great job!

[Ram in the Thicket]

Okay, now I look senile by commenting twice, but honestly the first one disappeared like 'poof' so I thought it was gone ;o)

[cloth.paper.string]

such fun!

[Dawn]

The costumes are beautiful. What a lot of fun for your sweet girl. Costumes are one of the most played with items around my house.

[Mama Urchin]

I really want to spruce up our dress up. We have a lot of junk in there and they love to get dressed up.

[hillary]

oh! they're so cute! dress up is such fun.

[Amber]

Oh, I am swooning over this post and the costume results! A couple years ago, my daughter would have been your daughter, too.

I just know that these gifts that Santa so thoughtfully presented Elle with this year will be loved for years to come and will fill your own heart for many, many years.:-)

Thank you, Grace, for sharing these heartfelt memories with us all!

[kristin]

wow, grace it all looks amazing! i think my favorite is the heidi get-up. i love all the details. man - the skirt, wooly sweater, etc... so much fun! cool creations as always and great photos too!

[Bluebirdbaby]

Ah! Amazing Grace. Wow!!! You rock. I love the Heidi costume. Could you make me one?? I always wanted one as a kid. I swear I would wear it too :)

[lera]

Fabulous! She's one lucky girl.

[martha]

The Heidi costume is so amazingly sweet! My parents went to Switzerland when I was little and brought home a true Swiss girl outfit that was very well loved, but honestly looked a lot like what you made. What a lucky little girl she is.

[Mom Unplugged]

Even I want that ballerina costume and I won't say how old I am!!! (Hint: MUCH older Elle, and probably older than you too.)

Gorgeous! She'll love those costumes for many years to come. Happy New Year!

[Melissa]

oh so beautiful and fun!

[Lorien]

I'm in awe that you were able to make these along with all the beautiful dolls. What a perfect match you and your daughter are. She certainly picked the right Mama!

[Stacey]

Who wouldn't feel like a prima ballerina with all those layers of tulle.

[heather]

incredible little swiss girl! i can just see her in those quiet places, wishing so hard for santas magic. how sweet.

[bigbucketgirl]

The Heidi costume is ADORABLE. So simple and so wonderful! My daughter would scream with delight if she saw it. WoW! I love it.

[Morgan]

The Swiss Girl is my favorite!! Totally adorable : )

xoxo

[cloth.paper.string]

ah, the costumes! and the cutie! i love the ribbon details on the apron and the tutu!!

[erin]

that swiss girl ensemble is so cute, grace!

[Angela]

I just found your site and think it is lovely. Good writing and beautiful pictures. As a mommy of two, I find it inspiring to read the blogs of others. Blessings, Angela

[Theresa]

I love the Heidi costume. I have some of that same braid trim that was from when my Mom made me clothes in the late 60s/early 70s and have been wanting to use it on something for my twins. I have a Burda pattern for girls dirndl dresses and want to make them for my girls. I better do it soon while they are still so young and will enjoy having something unique like that! LOL

[melody]

How wonderful! Lucky girl!

Oh, and I was on a bit of a computer break when you posted all of the dolls you made. They're all so, so lovely. Very beautiful work.

[kirsten]

beautiful! dress up clothes are the best - just posted about our new ones! the heidi outfit is PERFECT and the tutu is just the right amount of fluffy! :)

[Melissa]

I have the young boy that loves to dress up often during the day as well. I wrote up a huge post on my blog for those moms with boys that love to dress up so they could have frugal ideas and great costumes for boys as girls are pretty easy to come up with ideas. I love the costumes you made, she looks beautiful and sweet as an angel.

[hannah]

I love your fancy dress costumes, especially the heidi costume. Such a good idea, and not so run-of-the-mill as the usual fairys and princesses ideas for girls. great!

[thelongthread]

I love both of these costumes. Last year I made something from "Santa" and my daughter found the leftover fabric and was very curious about how I had the same fabric as Santa!

I have a ton of that heart and flowers trim because I love the Heidi look for everyday. Working on a ribbon-trimmed jumper right now and I'm adding knit trim to the underside.

And thanks for linking my blog!