Skip to main content

A Sweater for Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas

    I first watched Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas as an adult. It's so charming and sweet. I was inspired in 2019 by Sally's signature patchwork look. It's more of a Disneybound rather than a cosplay. A full cosplay will be coming someday, but for today, I present my Sally-inspired sweater. I decided to make a sweater to coordinate with my future costume. Most years in Oklahoma, October 31 is cool enough to at least require a light sweater. And I can't wear a mundane, everyday coat or sweater with my costumes. Oh no.


    I bought 4 sweaters at the thrift store. They were carefully chosen to have different textures in the knitting, and also to match a specific color palette of muted traditional “fall” colors. From the beginning, I knew I wanted a pumpkin orange, a mustard yellow, and a green. Funny enough, those are all also my least favorite colors. But the more I thought about this project, the more I convinced myself that no other colors would do. And in the end, I am so glad I stuck with my gut feeling and used these colors. Individually, I honestly hate these colors. But all together, I love the look I achieved.


 

   On to actual construction. I took a very simple ready-to-wear sweater from my closet, and traced out the front, back, and sleeves onto scrap fabric for a pattern. I then planned my placement and cut the sweaters, trying to maintain certain design elements (placing an interesting cable stitch pattern straight down the back, for example) while also keeping the illusion of randomness. Each piece of the pattern had to be patched together; no sweater piece was big enough on its own. I roughly cut out or traced the pattern piece on the sweater, then I used a zig-zag stitch all around. Since sweaters are knit, this was a necessary first step to keep it from falling apart.



    Each seam was sewn at least 3 times. Once, to keep it from unraveling. The second time, to actually seam the pieces together. And third, the seam allowance was stitched down on both sides, just for security. I did NOT want it to fall apart, after spending so much time on it. After each pattern piece was patched together, I assembled it. The shoulders, sides, and sleeves were also sewn multiple times so it wouldn't fall apart. I think construction took about 8 hours when all was said and done. The final step was to add Sally's trademark cross stitches. I used a black, smooth cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby. Every seam was stitched yet again with big, bold crosses. Also, I stitched a few patches the same way, just to add some color. I think this took me two movies to finish.


    I also made some accessories, using the remainder of the sweaters. since I love it so much. For the scarf, I just cut rectangles and sewed them in a strip, using the same steps as above. I also made fingerless mitts and an earwarmer headband. I wear this set all the time. Sometimes even twice a week. Some year, I plan to wear this set to attend Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in Walt Disney World. 


Yours in hard work, creativity, and a dash of Pixie Dust


Sarah





Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructing History RH017

This is review of RH017, 14th Century Kirtle or  Cotehardie. (Link to buy this patten at the end) I ordered it to make a new dress for the 2015 Medieval Fair of Norman. I had been playing a princess for many years, but decided on changing it up this year. I wanted to be a Bard, a poet/singer/general performer. Naturally, I could not wear the Princess gowns of years past.  It came in a timely fashion. I knew it had a booklet of historical notes, I didn't know it was going to come with a textbook! Seriously, this booklet is 15 pages long (including historical notes, bibliography, actual construction, and a section on period stiches) and is in an easy to digest format. The pattern is on regular paper, not the usual tissue paper, which I appreciated. I had trouble with setting the sleeves, but it was my own fault. I made it oversized purposefully to adjust down to my exact size, and didn't quite adjust the sleeves to match correctly the first time. My own fault. I will pos...
Post a Comment
Read more

1900's Set of Drawers-Unmentionables Through The Decades Project 4

Link to my associated YouTube video The first item I sewed for my 1900's project was a pair of drawers. To be precise, French Drawers. This is made from the Edwardian Undergarments pattern from Truly Victorian. I made the shaped hem version, and that worked well. Essentially, it is two wide, flared legs attached to a waistband. It swishes and flows quite nicely on the body, especially when made in a soft cotton. This year, I am trying to make due with what I have in my stash as much as possible. Since I have no experience in sewing for the Edwardian period and no event to wear such costumes, I didn't buy new fabric. White, very fine linen would have been more historically accurate, but I like colors! And I happened to have a soft green bed sheet set. Parts of it have seen better days, hence it being in the stash and not on the bed. But there was still plenty of good fabric left. There should be enough for the whole set of undergarments. As of this writing, I have fini...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bow-Tie Necklet

Are you, dear reader, in the mood for some winter accessories? Or, like me, are you already anxious for spring to arrive? The only good thing about winter is the cute accessories, I always say. I have a big canvas basket full of scarves, gloves, mittens, and hats. I have a black and also a purple peacoat. Plus my dramatic leopard print fleece cape, which I have previously discussed. Simply put, I don't like to be boring with my accessorizing. It is my only source of cheer and happiness when preparing for a cold winter's day. Ok, enough with the dramatics. On with the subject of today's blog. I knit this up several years ago. This is what the pattern calls a “Bow-Tie Necklet”. It is a scarf, but not in a traditional long rectangle shape. One end is pulled through a loop on the opposite side, forming a sort of bow tie. I have seen several examples in mid century photos of similar knit scarves that seem to have been made the same way. Of course, I forgot to save them/...
Post a Comment
Read more