Today I’m letting my geeky side out for a day or so! I signed up a few months ago to be a contestant in Crafting Con – a contest dedicated to fiber-related crafting & sewing all things geeky. Each month has a new theme and today is the last week of August’s Avengers themed posts. I’m competing for the glory of making the “best” every-day wearable clothing based on one or more of the Avengers. Specifically, something your kid could wear to the grocery store, and not look too out of place. (I may have gone a tad overboard on this part!)
Since my husband loves these comics, and I have enjoyed watching all of the Super Hero movies that have been released lately, I knew this was the month for me. My entry is posted over at Mae & K and I’d love for you to check it out! If you want to see they competition, you can go here and see what I’m up against. I’m fortunate to be the last entry for August, so I’ll only have to wait until next week to find out who is declared the winner!
There is so much more information over on the official site, but I thought I’d post a few more photos here, since it was “super” difficult (hee, hee) to decide which to post over there. You can also click over for a ton more photos and to read about about the construction and materials I used and why I chose certain details. If you want, you still have a few days to place an entry in to win a gift certificate to the Fat Quarter shop, or you can enter the giveaway to get some handmade Avengers t-shirts.
I spent way too much so much time last week making these outfits and the entire time I was met with pleas to wear clothing or use their bags – which of course, couldn’t be met because they had to stay clean for the photo shoot. But I’m so glad they were excited about it! It was so much fun and I really think I have the most fun sewing when I let my creative side go crazy and make a costume for the kids, or even clothing based on different characters like these. One of my most favorite projects each year are the Halloween costumes (last year’s here) I make for the girls, even if it is usually super last-minute and I stay up until all hours for a few days in a row to make it happen!
The other thing I liked about this project, and I write more about it in my official entry post, is that I could use this as an opportunity to make my girls something that isn’t “supposed” to be girly. I loved playing around with how best to make something more feminine, but still based on a male super hero. I live in a world surrounded by talk of pink and princesses and I really want my girls to climb trees, build things with power tools (in a few years!) and not be afraid of crawly things outside. It’s my way of pushing back the pink, even one outfit at a time! I know I’ll never get rid of it, and I do want them to be feminine and pretty – goodness, I would never take away their twirly dresses. (Besides, they are way to much fun to sew!) I’m thankful that they enjoy a variety of activities and we’ll keep offering them non-pink options, hoping they’ll take us up on it every once in a while!
What is your experience with all things girly? How do you deal with the barrage of princess gear?
I love the Captain America one, they are both great though. It is always such a delight when our children really really love the things we create for them.
At the moment it is all things Frozen in our house with lashings of Queen Elsa and an occasional reversion to Princess Rapunzel. In our house though my little miss just turned 4 is a Dinosaur lover. She knows the propper names, and will tell anyone who will listen what she is learning about them. Not your average Pink Princess girl interest & I am not even sure how it came to be but we go with it.
I also made her and her 2 cousins (1 boy about to turn 5 & 1 girl about to turn 3) matching Christmas gifts – super hero capes and dinosaur tales to wear.
I don’t think there is a way to avoid the boy girl stereotypes without potentially messing with your kids head but I also think there is letting them be themselves and then there is pushing them into being someone they don’t want to be. It is about finding a happy medium that allows them to express and explore themselves and their identity in a supportive and encouraging environment. Just one of the many challenges of parenthood.
I love that she loves dinosaurs Jodi! How great is that! I agree about the challenges of parenthood. I feel like I’m launching experiments at my children all of the time – I hope most of the experiments turn out ok! 🙂
I love your take on super heros. The girls look amazing!!
Thanks for letting me know Debbie! 🙂 I am so excited that they really enjoy wearing the outfits.
Great job! They both look great!
Thanks Laura 🙂 As usual I so appreciate your comments!
Love, love, love! What a fantastic job Sherri! Thanks so much for playing with us 🙂
Thanks for having me Amy, and so sorry for the late reply. My summer caught up with me!
These are amazing!! I love the round backpack!
Thanks Janette – I think there might be a pattern in the works… shhh… don’t tell! 😉
Oh my, they are A.DORA.BLE!! Both the girls and the costumes. Your talent never ceases to amaze me. If you don’t win, then I say it’s fixed!!! Speaking of girls, I have 2. One was an girly girl, loved unicorns and still does, always wore skirts. She’s 40 now, has 2 sons, and just had her first mammogram, and found out she has to wear bifocals. The other one is 30, in pre-med school, and not only doesn’t wear dresses and skirts, but looks terrible in them. (I didn’t say that out loud, did I?) She has always been into tools and cars and making things, is the mother of a black Lab. She and her boyfriend (yes, really!) talk about having children, but I don’t see that happening. I can only hope she becomes a doctor before I die, so she can take care of me in my old age, which is creeping, er, no, galloping up on me.
I think I’ve said before how much enjoy seeing your girly-girls in the outfits you make them.
xo Linda
Thank you Linda! I guess they will turn out how the turn out – despite our “best” efforts! 🙂
Those outfits are great! They look very professional, great job.
It sometimes is hard to not let our daughers wear something pink or very girly. I think she has to wear what she likes. One time, she wore pink jeans and a pink jacket and she asked me if I liked pink. (Actually I don’t like pink much, but what to say when she is all pink?) I said I did like it. ‘Well’, she said, ‘I don’t. I like blue.’ Leaving me stunned :D. A large part of her wardrobe is pink or girly. And, well, I don’t mind much, as long as she can be her self and is able to wear whatever makes her feel comfertable.
Thank you Mirjam! I think we do much the same thing. I try to let them wear what they like as well. I think it’s too bad that pink is so expected here – there is a lot of peer influence that says you “must” like pink.