Harry Potter Wands and Robe

This is actually from last year's Halloween, when Pockets wanted to make her Hufflepuff outfit.  But since we are using them for our Comicon outfits this week, I felt it a good idea to post this as well!

The wands:

Pockets found this tutorial on Pinterest, and we followed it.

Materials:

Paintbrushes

Clay

More paintbrushes

Paint

First, decide on a paintbrush to fit your needs.  Pockets used a medium sized one, but since my wand is "slightly springy" I used a smaller, more dainty paintbrush.

Start by covering the bristle in clay; this will be the wand's handle.

(this is the clay we used)

Next, use the clay as you desire to shape your wand.  I wanted mine (made of hawthorne) to be woody and knotty.  Pockets went with a smooth, but decorative style.

Next bake it.  The directions we used said 10 minutes for every 1/4 inch thickness.  Ours were about 1/2 an inch, so we cooked them for 20 minutes.

Then we painted them.  We had three shades of brown, and a white to mix them with.  Pockets did hers lighter than mine.  I decided to paint my handle a darker color too.

Pockets added a darker wood grain onto her wand, and then painted the swirl that went up from the handle.

Since her's looked so awesome, I added wood grain onto mine as well.

The robes:

For the robes, we used Simplicity pattern 5840.  For fabric, Pockets chose a beautiful black poplin.  It was so easy to work with, and super heavy, for that robe-like look and feel.  She used a light yellow poplin for a faux lining.

The first attempt, just doing as the pattern said, turned out HUGE.

It fit her boyfriend better.

So he got those robes (he's a Gryffindor), and Pockets made a new set for herself, shrinking the pattern an inch in every dimension.

She paired it with a gray skirt, white button up blouse, gray cardigan, a Hufflepuff tie, and a House badge.  It turned out SO CUTE!!

(A Hufflepuff wearing an Aes Sedai ring???)

And for the whole effect (but through a mirror):

Now we're all set for Comicon!

~Buttons

DIY Ravenclaw Uniform

Or, how to make a long sleeved shirt into a sleeveless shirt.

Or, how to make a shirt smaller.

I had many reasons for altering this shirt, as the various titles of the thread suggest.  For the Phoenix Comicon this week, Pockets and I are dressing up in various costumes.  Pockets already had a Hufflepuff outfit from Halloween last year, so I had to come up with making a Ravenclaw one for myself.

First I ordered a Ravenclaw iron on patch from Amazon.  I was very happy to find one in bronze and blue (which is the book canon) rather than the silver and blue (which is the movie canon).  I wanted to be book canon.

With that in mind, I had to find a tie.  Any online are from the movie, so that wouldn't work.  I had to look the old fashioned way and buy one at a department store.  I searched online and found one that looked good at JC Penneys.  I went to the store--with my patch--and it looked pretty good together.  I got it on clearance, $15!

Now I just needed a white button up shirt and a gray cardigan.  Urged by my husband to save some money, I went to Goodwill to see what they had.  First off, I was impressed that everything was grouped by color; that made looking so much easier!  I found a white shirt for $5, but it was an XL--way too big.  I got it anyway.  And I found dark gray (almost charcoal) cardigan for $10.  Lucky!

So, for the shirt, it's ginormous!

And it's really hot here, so I figured it might be best to cut down on the materials I'd be wearing.  So I decided to make it sleeveless.

I cut off the sleeves, right below the seam.  This shirt is a very fancy material and it cut beautifully and has no need for heming the cut.

Next, I put it on inside out and pinned how much I needed to take in the sides.  It's about a inch and a half on either side.

There was still too much fabric in my chest area, so I decided to try a dart.  I've never done darts before and it looked easy enough.  I put the shirt on inside out again, and pinned how much fabric I wanted to take away.

It turned out decent.  Not the best ever, but definitely an improvement!

Now, for my cardigan, all I had to do was iron on my patch!

And here's the whole outfit!

This will be our outfits for Friday.  I'm so excited!


~Buttons

Apron Skirt

Posted Today, 04:16 PM

I found a tutorial on Pinterest for this skirt.  I loved it the moment I saw it.  And it's pretty simple to complete.  I had a couple of hiccups, but that was due to my backwards thinking--or maybe lack of backwards thinking. 

First, I found two fabrics that looked okay together.

I had bought the pink polka dot fabric from the remnants bin at Hobby Lobby last week.  I didn't have anything in mind for it; I just liked it.  Plus, it was only about $2.50.  How could I pass that up?  The blue buttons fabric Pockets bought for me quite a while ago.  I had planned on turning it into pajamas, because it's flannel.  

First, measure your waist.  The top of each piece of fabric will be this length.  I added 1 inch to mine, just to ensure it would fit.

For the bottom length, my fabric was only about 50 inches because it was a remnant.  But you can make it as wide as you want.  I believe the original tutorial just doubled the waist measurement.  It's totally up to you!

I cut out my polka dot fabric, then placed it on top of my button fabric and traced, giving me two equal-sized pieces.

After that, I sewed bias tape on the TOP hem of the button fabric.

Then, I sewed the bias tape to the TOP hem of the polka dot fabric, including about 8 inches extra bias tape on each side to use as strings.

Since the pink fabric was a bit see-through, I added in a small white cotton panel for modesty.

With both fabrics on top of each other, right side to right side, sew up the angled side seams.

Note: Do not sew all the way up to the bias tape because the skirt will be flipped inside out, and you need the strings on the outside.  So, stop at the top bias tape; it will be finished later.

Some of the readers of the original tutorial pointed out that the skirt will slip open and suggested extra reinforcement.  I decided to sew the top seam, leaving just enough room open for my waist.  I used pins to mark the sides of my waist.

Before sewing, flip the skirt so it's wrong side to wrong side.  I accidentally sewed it right side to right side, and trapped my strings inside.  Also, once it's wrong side to wrong side, you can complete the side hem, tucking the other fabric under the fabric with strings.

But this is what it will look like if you leave the opening.

I also added a small strip of Velcro (and I may have to change it to a snap or a button and button hole) to keep the skirt secure around my waist.  

Then, sew your bias tape to the bottom hem.  And you're all done!  Here it is after I fixed all the mistakes on the top seam.

I love that it's reversible!  It's so adorably cute!

I think I like the buttons on the outside best.  

And just for fun... my doggie thinks fabrics are his bed...

~Buttons