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In my last post before I went AWOL, I told you about the children’s play that my youngest daughter was in. You know, the one where I found out AFTER she was cast in the role of her dreams that the PARENTS were responsible for the costumes.
Go on, laugh, you children’s theater veterans. Of course, the parents make the costumes. They also make the sets, the programs, the props and basically, everything else. But I did not know this, stage-mom-rookie that I was, so I was just a teensy bit surprised. (For the record–no complaints here–our children’s theater group and its parent team are Incredible!)
Anyway, as I pointed out in my earlier post, my mom was called upon to save the day. I really enjoyed watching her fly out of retirement and into action in her role of Costume Maker and Creative Genius Extraordinaire.
Anyway, months later, but as promised, here are some photos of the (in)famous Lion Cub costume:
Lion Cub Costume
Even the tail had a cute little hot pink bow on it!
M: "ROAR!"
This was certainly one of those masterpieces that you would never want to examine from the inside. For all you costume makers, the bare materials were two gold sweaters from the Good Will and some fringe from the local fabric store. We also took a headband with cat ears and sewed the matching fabric around the ears and band. Hot pink accents, because, after all, she is a girl lion cub. And a tail long enough for her to swing around and be a ham on stage (made of extra sweater fabric).
Also, this play called for LOTS of sick monkeys. The costumes were simple, but these little guys needed tails. Now, I’m no expert knitter, but I did know how to make an I-cord, and in my world, a long enough I-cord was a monkey tail just waiting to be pinned on the behind of a monkey costume.
These looked very complicated to the non-knitters, but ooh, so easy, and gave me a great reason to use some of my stash. Here are the super-simple monkey tails:
I-cord detail of the monkey tail
Our monkey tail model
Tip: if you know of a community theater where they need costumes, but don’t have a resident knitter, a few night’s worth of effort and the added benefit of de-stashing will make you a hero as you make simple things that are really appreciated!
One thing I’ve appreciated more and more this year is the value of being still and making things with my hands–especially with my children. I think back to the times I sat with my grandmother while she knitted and with my mother while she made amazingly creative things for our home. These are some of the best memories I share with these great ladies.
It’s made me even more determined to be a memory-maker this year with my daughters.
Last year I penned a list of observations and life lessons I learned through knitting–but they apply to sewing, crochet, and probably just about any other endeavor where you get to create something with raw supplies, some basic tools, your love, and your hands:
Sometimes more is gained from slowing down than from running harder.
Every big project starts with that first stitch.
Take time to spend with your parents and grandparents and children in a quiet, “agenda-free” setting. Those are the times you’ll remember most when they’re not with you.
Things worth having are worth working for.
A teensy slip-up, ignored and not fixed, can turn into a great big hole and a nasty mess down the road.
It’s easier to fix a problem right away than to wait until later.
If something’s a real mess, sometimes it’s best to rip it out and start over from the beginning.
Enjoy both your results and every stitch of the journey to get there.
Finish well.
Homemade really is better.
Read the instructions.
Don’t panic when you realize you’ve messed up. Stay calm and think it through and you’re on the way to fixing the problem.
Listen to advice from those that know more than you.
When Grandma says, “I can fix it, honey,” chances are she really can.
When God said He knit you together in your mother’s womb, He didn’t use a knitting machine. He did it stitch by stitch, purposefully and full of love. And He didn’t make a single mistake. (Here’s where He said that.)
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Happy 2009!
What the Craft?! 