A Chicken Story

 

I really want to share my little bit of weekend excitement with everyone.  On Friday night, our grand daughter phoned to ask if I could make her a costume for school.  Apparently it's book character day tomorrow, and she was hoping to have something special to wear.  Her chosen character was Chicken Little.  I immediately began to panic.  How on earth could we come up with a chicken costume, over the weekend, and not get away to buy anything!!  Okay..........., out came the step ladder, and hey presto, the stash cupboard came to the rescue.  Lots of fabric, bits and pieces landed on the bed, ready for 'something'.  

They arrived for lunch on Saturday, and after that we began with some A4 paper and a pair of scissors.  We tackled the feet first.  I knew the red/black quilted nylon I bought years ago would come in handy one day!!  I attached some elastic underneath these shapes, so she could slip her shoes through in order to stop 'the feet' flapping around.  A little band with velcro holds them in place around her ankles.  Thankfully, red childrens' tights were available in our small town.

We then moved on to the head - comb and beak.  Again, a little bit of trial and error with A4 paper, and thankfully, a knitted beanie still sitting in the cupboard, plus the quilted nylon would see the comb done.  I stitched a length of velcro [hook side] to the bottom of the 'comb'.  I did the same with the little arms on the beak.  Both bits grab onto the beanie and will stay in place for the day.

I didn't have a lot of time to make a really neat job of a 'body tunic', so the yellow fabric I had was fashioned into a poncho.  I cut a hole and slit, in order for her to pop it over her head, and again, attached a neckband with velcro closing.  A little line of machine stitching created a sleeve and part- body.  We thought it would work for the day.

Finally, the feathers had to go on.  Again, cheap yellow acrylic yarn from the stash helped create some feathered wings.  We did actually trim the feathers a little after this photograph was taken.  She told me she had to have a tail too, but as it was 'the last part', my brain was getting quite tired.  The yellow tail is a little sad, so I'm thinking Chicken Little probably could be having a bad hair day tomorrow.  

I still have enough to make Chicken Little again and again, and I really have to get a grip on this stash, it's just ridiculous.  After we'd finished the costume, it was time to sit quietly and have a glass or two of medicine [cleverly disguised as Sauvignon Blanc..........LOL].  It was a fun afternoon, and I thoroughly enjoyed creating something from nothing with a little girl so full of enthusiasm.