I couldn’t wait
Can you blame me?
Garden Gnome Costume
I used Simplicity pattern #2787- the Santa costume. The pattern is made for a stretchy knit kind of fabric, like velour, so I had to change it a little to make it fit right. I used quilters cotton for the top and hat. To make it fit right, I changed the top so it was open in the back and added velcro closures. I had to add a chin strap to the hat to keep H from pulling it off. I used matching red bias tape for that.
I knit the pants out of Cascade Lanas Grande. It’s a super bulky yarn. It’s not the best yarn for longies, as it’s kind of scratchy, but it gets the job done and knits up quickly. I did a lot of tinkering to make the pants fit right. I used the Picky Pants pattern and cast on for the medium size, but used a 10 1/2 needle and knit everything to the XL size measurements. I’ll take a better picture of them later.
The beard is what I’m most proud of. I have to thank Laurie from Wool Pets for sending me the gorgeous wool locks I used. When I told her what I was up to she sent them to me for free :). I needle felted the locks onto a piece of wool felt. It was super easy. Gotta love needle felting. I crocheted ties so we could tie the beard around H’s neck and I needle felted the ties to the beard. H loves grabbing the beard. I’m sure it’s very tickle-y right up against his neck like that.
We took him to Babies R Us on Sunday to get his picture taken. A small crowd gathered to see the baby gnome. They convinced me to enter H in the costume contest. I’m not sure what the prizes are- I think a free picture package or something. The girls at Babies R Us seem to think we’re a shoe-in.
When my sister and I were little my mom made all of our Halloween costumes. She entertained even the most bizarre requests. One year I was Snow White and my sister was Grumpy. There were very elaborate raccoon and bunny costumes. A finch. Once I was a giant Hershey’s Kiss and my sister was Mike Nesmith from the Monkees. It’s fun to be able to carry on the tradition with my own kiddo :).
And now I have some really sad news. Many of you have probably already heard that Colleen of Spiffy Knits passed away earlier this month. She was a very talented fiber artist and a wonderful, warm, loving person. Almost everything I know about cloth diapering I learned from Colleen. She gave me tons of support and advice with various breast feeding issues I’ve had. Colleen was a devoted, loving mother and she leaves behind two very young children. The Tiny Lady Cooperative is holding a fund raiser in her honor. All of the funds raised will be placed in a college fund for her children. The fund raiser is tomorrow, October 28th, at 2pm eastern. There have been many generous donations. Please check it out!
Lesley Neily wrote:
OMG!!!
The cuteness! It’s too much!
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 1:58 pm | Permalink
Zonda wrote:
Oh he’s adorable!! I love making my kids costumes!
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 2:04 pm | Permalink
Madge wrote:
You’ve outdone yourself. Really. H’s costume is awesome.
Happy Halloween!
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 3:01 pm | Permalink
Heather wrote:
OMG that is too cute! I’m feeling like such a slacker this year for buying a Robin costume (the other 2 are wearing homemade hand-me-downs from the first one). But I just didn’t have the time, or the inclination.
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 3:12 pm | Permalink
Kelly wrote:
So sweet! I have to say, the blue crocs complete the costume magnificently.
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 3:13 pm | Permalink
Corey wrote:
He is too-freakin’-cute! I absolutely love it!
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 3:15 pm | Permalink
Deb wrote:
H is sooo adorable. The costume is just perfect!! If you guys don’t win the contest, well…it’s got to be fixed! Well done!
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 3:16 pm | Permalink
Annika wrote:
The gnome is just delightful! I am in awe of the beard. Brilliant!
Colleen’s story is so sad. I didn’t know her at all but I am just heartbroken for her family.
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 3:41 pm | Permalink
jessie wrote:
His cuteness cannot be put into words!! He’ll win that contest for sure!
Thank you for posting about the fundraiser. I will definitely take a look.
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 3:53 pm | Permalink
OzKnitter wrote:
Awww he’s gorgeous! What a wonderful outfit.
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 4:20 pm | Permalink
Katie wrote:
I love that your adorable little gnome is now your Rav Pic!
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 4:22 pm | Permalink
knitopia wrote:
Cutest gnome ever!
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 4:48 pm | Permalink
Sally Villarreal wrote:
I just have to add that Mike Nesmith is dreamy.
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 5:36 pm | Permalink
Cathy-Cate wrote:
He is absolutely adorably gnomish!
And my ‘prize package’ arrived today for guessing first — ha! I’m viral right now, so not getting much done, but it will be up on my blog soon, if I can keep my daughters away form parts of it long enough to photograph it. Thanks!
: )
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 6:17 pm | Permalink
Melissa M wrote:
Mom also made me a really incredible bat costume one year. That one is still my favorite. The wings attached to the legs and the arms, just like a REAL BAT!!
Mom is quite the costume-seamstress, but you are definitely going to give her a run for the money with this gnome. I can’t wait to see what H will want to be for Halloween once he gets old enough to have opinions about this sort of thing! I’m going to use Auntie Influence to really get him to push your creative limits. “Hey, H…tell your mom you want to be a Black Hole for Halloween!”
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 7:06 pm | Permalink
Johanna wrote:
Super cute! For the non-Halloween days, check this out:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16269824
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 8:44 pm | Permalink
Michele wrote:
OK, I can’t resist commenting. That is the FUNNIEST costume I have ever seen. It is simply amazing-especially the toadstool. If you don’t win I am going to boycott Babies R Us forever.
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 8:50 pm | Permalink
Nell wrote:
Seriously the cutest costume ever!
Posted on 27-Oct-08 at 9:02 pm | Permalink
craftyminx wrote:
That is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!
Posted on 28-Oct-08 at 4:50 am | Permalink
Meg wrote:
Love it! So cute. And carrying on the made Halloween costume tradition is awesome.
Posted on 28-Oct-08 at 8:49 am | Permalink
Allegra wrote:
oh.my.god. unbelieveably freaking cute!!
Posted on 28-Oct-08 at 6:39 pm | Permalink
Debbie in KirklandWA wrote:
So sweet! I used to make my little kids costumes too, but I don’t think any of them were as cute as that! Isn’t fun to have a cute little one to dress up? And he is so cooperative!
Posted on 29-Oct-08 at 2:08 pm | Permalink
angie wrote:
he is just so cute!!
I love it.
Posted on 30-Oct-08 at 2:17 am | Permalink
Meredith wrote:
That is quite possible the cutest thing I have ever seen! He is so adorable! What a great costume idea! By the way, I made my 12 month old the pumpkin hat and it turned out great! Thanks for the info!
Posted on 31-Oct-08 at 8:37 am | Permalink
Mrs. Thallium wrote:
Oh that is beyond cute! I wish I would have planned a better costume for my little nooblet this year. H is just too, too cute!
Posted on 31-Oct-08 at 1:05 pm | Permalink
Judy wrote:
So cute!
Posted on 02-Nov-08 at 12:42 am | Permalink