As I write this, there are only 8 more sleeps till Christmas, and only two more weekend days but as usual, I have only just begun the annual tradition of making a Christmas gift each for Miss Missy and the Young Lad.
Of course I left deciding what to make till the last minute. For the Young Lad, I finally settled on a Batman cape and cowl. And some gauntlets. And a utility belt too. But when I asked Uncle Google for patterns, I just wasn't happy with any of the suggestions. They seemed to be either waaaaay too complex (how to's for making a latex full-face Batman mask) or didn't really look like Batman (why do so many people think that a Zorro-style mask will do the trick?) or waaaay too simple (I'm talking something that looked like a pillowcase with a couple of eyeholes).
This simply wouldn't do.
What is a librarian to do? Why, look for a book, of course!
And this is what I found:
by Lane Huerta. Although there isn't an actual Batman costume, I felt like these ones could easily be adapted to what I had in mind. There are lots of really cool costumes and accessories, including pirates, butterfly wings, and cute animals. And what do you know? the other day I came home to see the Young Lad wearing a Batman-T-shirt-Superman-cape combo, and Miss Missy told me he had said "I wish Mum could make me a Batman cape!" That's the way to melt your mother's heart, Young Lad!
Super Hero SewingI also found How to Make a Onesie by Janelle Fischer. I briefly considered switching from cape and cowl to a superhero onesie, but I think the Young Lad would rather look like real Batman, than like Batman-in-his-PJs.
Now, if it wasn't enough to make all those costume items, I then decided that of course Batman would also need his sidekick, and that a Robin soft toy was going to be essential. Last year, right in time for handmade gift madness, I discovered Happy Quilts! by Antonie Alexander, and used the robot quilt applique blocks to make a cushion for the Young Lad. At the time, I was torn between that, and one of the co-ordinating toys.
So, naturally, this year a bedtime superhero toy is a must. Giving the pattern a Robin look has actually been quite easy, and it's coming along amazingly quickly! Just the cape and mask to go now! The book is really easy to follow, and all the patterns are included on a disc, so you can just print them out instead of having to trace them off a pattern sheet.
Of course, I also have a gift for Miss Missy to make... maybe she'd like a little bag...?
... How many days did I say there are till Christmas?
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