Tag: Pebbles

The Pebbles costume was easy to make and didn’t take a lot of time. Most of the items listed below were purchased from Jo-Ann Fabrics or I already owned them. To figure out how much felt is needed, get one of your toddler’s dresses to use as an outline.  You will need to measure the width and length then multiply it by two.  I purchased half a yard to account for error because sometimes I don’t get it right on the first try. 

[For reference, my little is 19 months old. Also, for directions on how to DIY a Bam Bam costume as shown above…click here.]

 

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• Green Felt
• Brown Felt Sheet
• Sharp Scissors
• Fabric Glue
• Needle and thread
• Pen or Pencil
• Measuring tape or ruler
• T-shirt or dress [from your child]
• Blue Leggings
• Plastic bones [Party City]

STEP ONE: Trace Outline

First, I laid the felt down folded in half. This way I would have a front and back outline after cutting. I then took one of my toddler’s dresses and laid it on top off the felt. You can pick whatever style you like but I prefer something that is A-line. You can go with sleeves or sleeveless. I chose to fold the sleeves in and make it sleeveless because it’s much easier to sew that way.

Using a black pen, I traced an outline of the dress onto the felt.

Tip – Place a dot at the bottom of the sleeve so you know where the arm opening should be.

STEP TWO: Cut

Using sharp scissors, cut the traced outline. Make sure you are holding both sides together to ensure two same sized pieces.

STEP THREE: Glue or Sew

I initially glued the seams together, leaving holes for the arm opening.  What I later discovered after letting it dry for about two hours is that it wasn’t a great hold. Since felt is pretty stiff, there was a little bit of stretching when trying to put the dress on. My advice is to stitch the sides or try a different glue than the one shown in the photo below.

I grabbed a needle and black thread to stitch the seams. You honestly don’t have to worry about the color because when you turn it right side in, the thread won’t show.

Since I started by gluing the seams I had a guide for where the arm opening should be.

STEP FOUR: Cut Bottom of Dress

This step is quite easy. All you have to do is cut triangles on the bottom of the dress.

STEP FIVE: Dress Decals

Cutting the Decals

I used one sheet of brown felt to make the decals. I cut about 20 triangles to place on the front and back of the dress. I started off by using a two-inch strip and folding it in half. I then cut out as many triangles as possible. After I was done with that strip, I laid them down on the remaining brown felt and cut some more.

Applying the Decals

Beginning with one side, I arranged the felt decals on the dress. I spaced them out randomly until it had my desired look. This is the part where the glue came in handy versus sewing.

I tried my best not to lift the entire decal when gluing because I didn’t want to mess up placement. So I flipped one side up to apply glue (I forgot to take a picture but it would look like you are folding the triangle in half.) Then I did the same thing to the other half.  It’s probably a little hard to imagine without a photo so do what works best for you.

Lastly, you flip the dress over and repeat these steps.

FINAL STEP: Enjoy Your Masterpiece

I love how everything turned out and the best part was it cost me less than $10!!! Luckily, my daughter already owned a pair of blue leggings but I am sure a cheap pair can be found anywhere.

My hubby and I won’t be dressing up as a family this year but I am hoping to get him in on the fun next time. See pics of my little one below and don’t forget to put a couple of bones in her ponytail.