Cheapest Elsa Costume Ever

 

Once my four year old niece became obsessed with Frozen, inspiration struck thanks to discolored blue sheets and sheer white curtains from My Parents' Attic. Could I make the cheapest, most hideous Elsa costume ever?

Yes.

Instead of the tunic pattern used previously for her Pastel Costumes, I pulled a thrifted McCall's 6154 kid's pattern from my costume drawer. The blue sheets would be this tube dress with a boat neck perfect for attaching the sheer curtain cape – although I wouldn't need the pattern's extra cowl collar or ruffled hem. The pattern called for a front on the fold, however the blue sheets had already been partially cut for other mock ups where I didn't care that they were faded and bleached. Now working around the bad spots, I had to cut two so the best blue coloring was the front of the dress. Briefly I wondered if any extra triangle gore panels would be needed for maximum swish, but upon looking at more Elsa pictures, I decided to use the center front seam as a slit instead. This pattern is actually my niece's current size and I may have cut it a little long, but any bigger and there would not have been enough sheets! One can likewise see the back two pieces and the sleeves don't quite color match the front, but who's going to be looking under the cape amirite?

What should have been a quick weekend project with cutting, pressing, and basting in a day took a little longer because my sewing machine was being difficult. I don't know if it was the thin sheets, the older blue grab bag thread, lack of use the past few months, dust, or a tension issue – maybe a bit of everything – but I ended up going back and reinforcing some loose seams by hand before hand stitching the sleeves. The shoulder corners with the boat neck style seemed awkward in the child size but the under arm wrap around cape attachment would hide that! Despite being her size, this seemed big for my niece so I also pleated the back for additional flounce. Of course, this could always be undone if she begins to outgrow it. A blue sequin panel from the Dollar Store was a perfectly cheap way to glitz up the front a la Elsa. It was cumbersome to stitch with my handy invisible thread, too; perhaps the most time consuming part of this monstrosity other than the sewing machine jams. Some blue Dollar Store gem stickers trail along the front seam as well, but a few have already fallen off, lol.

I debated folding the curtain for layered flounce, but it wasn't as sheer. It was also much too long so I cut the rod pocket and large hem before redoing them in smaller, less bulky half inch widths. The entire curtain width was then pleated from the center front and under the arms with larger pleats in the back for full dramatic effect. It's still longer than the dress but it's free to sash shay! Although my running back stitch along the cape top was neat, I trimmed the entire boat neck with a silver metallic ribbon also originally from the Dollar Store. It's just a fun bit of sparkle that ties it all together! Although I found blue bias tape from a grab bag in my ribbon drawer that I could use on the slit and the hem, a simple turn up with hem tape will suffice as her height changes. It's sheets, so why waste quality trim? As I suspected, the off the shoulder boat neck also meant the cuffs were too long, so they were turned under with the remaining silver ribbon for a final panache.

This was great sewing practice, and this sound construction can be done in a larger size with better materials and real shiny fabric. Is this Elsa costume perfect? Heck no! The seams are ridiculous, the fabric free. My niece will probably lose interest in Frozen before she grows out of it! However for $4 bling and two days of what if and can do, this isn't that bad at all. Certainly you can tell it's sheets. This is much more a nightgown or dress up rather than a wear to an event costume. Fortunately, it's blue and it swishes. If we put on our toddler thinking caps, that's all that really matters.

Follow Kbatz Krafts on Facebook and Instagram for more project photos or join me on Blue Sky! Persuse more Sewing and Thrifting in our YouTube playlist or browse our complete Kbatz Krafts Archive including:

Christmas Princess Costume

Cardboard Castle

Holiday Handprints

Joann's Fabric Haul Round 3! 🛒

 

Kristin Battestella aka Kbatz scores fabrics and jewelry findings on another excursion to a third Joann's Liquidation sale with discounts now between 40 and 70%! Because you can never have enough black or orange fabric, amirite?

Thank you for watching!

For more sewing project photos, jewelry making, and thrift haul videos, follow Kbatz Krafts on Facebook, Instagram, and Blue Sky! Browse our Kbatz Krafts Archive or peruse more including: Sewing on a Budget for Search Magazine Glam to Drab Lampshades Halloween T-Shirt Pillows Damask Blanket

A Magical Black and Orange Polka Dot Apron!

 

After my successful Medieval-esque Black and Orange Polka Skirt, it's time to fix the mistake on my First Black and Orange PolkaDot Skirt attempt. This shortchanged thrift fabric will now become a whimsical apron!

It should seem simple enough to take apart the mismatched skirt panel to reuse as the bib portion. However despite the pattern pinching limited fabric that led to the distorted skirt, my construction methods were sound and even meticulous. It took a day to seam rip the running back stitches! Although the fun tulle hem ruffle was going, the waistband would remain the same. I trimmed the two remaining skirt panels into a more rectangular rather than a-line shape before re-gathering them as the apron skirt. Again needing to reuse every inch of this autumnity material, that cut sliver was folded and stitched down to became the apron neck strap. Keeping the same liner also from the original thrift grab bag with this precious black and orange polka dot likewise meant there was room for two interior skirt pockets and two more pockets hidden at the bib top.

My top piece was very scientifically measured with a scrap piece of paper to get the shape needed. Finishing all my seams and attaching the two pieces together by hand took another night. Not only did I want a tight running back stitch, but in all my black stitching, I went around every orange polka dot. It just looked neater and cleaner than having stitch lines going thru the dots and calling attention to themselves. After reinforcing the waistband with top stitching on the bib, voila my little apron is complete! Obviously the possibilities for embellishment on a black and orange polka apron are pretty endless – from bat trim and black lace to Halloween gingham ribbon or bold orange rick rack. It's certainly tempting, however, making this apron too elaborate reinforces why I've never actually made aprons previously. I've always been baffled at the mid-century patterns that call for such elegant and fancy aprons because there entire purpose is to get dirty! This will not be used in the kitchen and I have old clothes for paint splatter. This apron will probably only be used during sewing time or as a fun pinafore accent to a family friendly October occasion like watching the kids bob for apples. It's practical, but too darn cute!

Though a practical item, this apron has inspired me to do more fun sewing projects. There's only a small patch of this material remaining, but it would be perfect for a cuff or collar on a black or orange blouse. Had I more of this black and orange polka fabric, I may have done the waistband as a tie instead of the skirt's original hook and eye closure. The bib top probably would have been completely fitted and more flattering, too. If you look closely at this whimsical weekend make, I'm sure it might be a little wonky or fudged in some places. However, I also would not change a thing about this apron. Not only is this the best use of such delightful but dead stock fabric, but this is a simple, anyone can do sewing accomplishment.

Visit Kbatz Krafts on Facebook for more project photos. Though still on Instagram, we're mostly posting on Blue Sky! Browse our Kbatz Krafts Archive for more sewing projects including:

Purple and Pastel Costumes

5 Skirts from 1 Pattern

Sewing on a Budget for Search Magazine

Bling Binge!

 

2024 was a busy year of writing, podcast, and video commitments and not a lot of sewing or crafts until the holidays. However, there's always time for some handmade bling!

The best of part of jewelry making is being able to fill a gap in my wardrobe or accessories with new earrings, necklaces, or bracelets – a dangle or pop of color to suit any neckline, sleeve length, or mood. I wear certain accent colors per season, so it's easy to see a purple gap in the winter, a red gap in the fall, or the need for festive holiday green and make something accordingly. I know what I want, make it, and wear it immediately! It feels good, I get compliments in public, so it's all win/win, right?

This January however, my jewelry-making process changed drastically when I began bling binging non-stop. This one bead at a time catharsis is something I can control now that the world has become so out of control. Instead of doom scrolling I've made dozens of new jewelry sets in a variety of combinations and colors. Upon realizing that some of these pieces were very similar to each other and some past me-made bling, I also created a spreadsheet chart coordinating which colors and metals had been done in each earring, necklace, or bracelet. Because I put a cross somewhere on most sets, I also made a checklist for what color sets have a cross where. It sounds silly as well as complicated, but apparently my prior handwritten list of what combinations I needed was not enough to avoid duplicates! There were more sideways cross charms then pendant styles in my bead stash, so I continued to make a cross bracelet in every combination possible. I wear a cross solely for me, yet thanks to the current administration, I also don't want to wear a more prominent cross necklace anymore lest people think I am one of these fake “Christians” who doesn't understand compassion for the suffering and marginalized as Jesus intended. Thankfully, a bracelet with a small cross facing inside the wrist is a creative comfort in such trying times. I give my bracelets a touch when encountering such ignorant people in the wild. It keeps my mouth shut!

Instead of seeing the need for something I wanted to wear right now, the goal of this binge became filling in all the color and style gaps in my handy chart regardless of my accessory season. Making my summer blues during the March gray? Gasp! Rather than going to buy specific beads, this forced me to use up the supplies in hand – including thrifted glass beads, broken vintage pieces in need of repair, and findings that have toiled around in the plastic sorting boxes for years. I did end up using a holiday Amazon gift card for some new wire and elastic supplies or lacking bead colors. Strangely however, this pattern meant that there are some me made pieces that I kind of don't really like. The sets that are too similar to one another frustrate me, and by time I get to wear the autumn orange, I suspect I may end up re-doing the items I dislike. February is my purple month yet one fireball purple set I made right on time to wear actually looks kind of pink, and I hate pink.

This did give me brief pause on my bling binge, hesitant to make a no good disappointment despite my current need for more silver and crystal style beadwork. Creativity is such a give and take these days! I work on something pleasing yet question it's worth. Fortunately, after the pink lackluster lull, I got my groove back recently with two sets made from Dollar Tree beads. Wood bead orange Easter garland was transformed into a fun autumnity set with a fifties vibe, and a bag of assorted tear drop plastic beads combined with leftover vintage glass beads and beaded Christmas garland form a dramatic necklace. Obviously iridescent rainbow plastic looks are not a replacement for a high end occasion, but it's a fabulous feeling to take it up a notch by wearing something totally unique. Further scoring some Joann liquidation jewelry findings has also replenished my stash, revitalizing my need to bling it every time political events make me want to scream. Slowly but surely I can check an item off my list and give myself a new elan inside and out.

You can still find my Kbatz Krafts Facebook Photo Albums and Instagram page, however I'd like to post more project photos here on the blog and move craft updates to Blue Sky. Peruse our Kbatz Kraft Archive for more bling including:

Joannand Thrift Finds 2.0

Going Green Holiday Jewelry

Jewelry Making Basics

Fashion and Jewelry YouTube Playlist