THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 29, 1996 TAG: 9610290045
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KIM WADSWORTH, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 85 lines
THOUGHTS ON Halloween costumes, both easy and elaborate.
Caroline Huber of Norfolk spotted hers in a magazine.
A sandwich. She wanted to be a sandwich.
And according to her mother, Nancy, once an 8-year-old has her heart set on an idea, that's it. And a sandwich is right in character for Caroline.
``She never wants me to make anything scary. She's attracted to funny ideas.''
The homemade project became a family affair. The Hubers layered fabric to represent lettuce, tomato and cheese over a foam board. They used fiberfill stuffing in the bread, gave Caroline a life-size toothpick to carry and even a fashioned a plastic potato chip headband using children's play food.
``With two Halloween parties beforethe big day,'' Huber says, ``she'll get a lot of use out of this sandwich.''
Susan Ziller of Norfolk has a waiting line for her homemade costumes. A line of three, made up of her children.
Gregory, 10, wants Mom to make a Ninja costume for him. Geoffrey, 5, has his heart set on being a ``Mortal Kombat'' character. Shelley, 2, wants to be a bunny.
As Ziller sits at the sewing machine adding the last swatch of blue fabric to Geoffrey's hooded mask, Shelley sits watching, suited up in her finished costume.
``I'm a bunny,'' she says proudly, holding up a Simplicity pattern showing the exact costume.
Ziller has always made her children's costumes.
``They'll wear them on a daily basis around the house until Halloween,'' she says. Then the costumes will become pajamas.
Elise Pitts of Norfolk has had a year to consider a costume for her 3-year-old daughter C.C.
``About a week before Halloween last year, C.C. decided she wanted to be a bumblebee the following year. She has talked about it ever since and here we are.''
Pitts decided to buy the complete costume for $16. ``I realized I couldn't make it for less,'' she said.
She did add some embellishments - sequins, netting and cording.
C.C.'s 8-year-old sister, Lexie, was content to be a clown for the second year in a row. Using a pattern and fabric remnants, Elise customized the clown suit and the accessories according to Lexie's tastes.
``They're right in there cutting trims and then trying it on constantly until it is finished,'' she said of the costume-customizing process.
According to Pitts, the girls will get several wears out of the costumes between parties and Halloween itself. But the memory of making them together is the best part.
According to New York University stress expert Dr. Robert Reiner, sewing is a terrific way to bring family and friends together.
``Sewing Halloween costumes involves planning, creating and the joy of showing your work in a public setting. These are all activities which promote a sense of accomplishment and involvement.''
But not everyone has time or the expertise for a really elaborate project. There are lots of costume options that don't require either.
Susan Ziller suggests using the most basic foundation, the sweatsuit, to create a costume. Kids stay warm, and it's easy to add any embellishments, such as feathers, felt, fake fur trim, tails, puff paint or appliques. With no clumsy masks or long gowns to trip over, sweatsuit-based costumes are safe too.
Wear glow-in-the-dark face paint and reflective tape on front and back of costume for safety. These items are available at such stores as Michaels Arts & Crafts, Novelties Unlimited, Wal-Mart, Kmart and Paul's Arts & Crafts. Fabric stores like Piece Goods and Fabric Market are well-stocked with animal and Halloween-themed prints. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by D/ Kevin Elliott
[C.C. Pitts, and her sister, Lexie, show off their costumes...]
Caroline Huber, models the costume...]
D. KEVIN ELLIOT/The Virginian-Pilot
Susan Ziller sews a costume for her son Geoffrey, 5, as daughter
Shelley, 2, wears her bunny costume.
[SIDE BAR]
The Sewing Fashion Council offers these last-minute costume tips:
[For complete copy, see microfilm] by CNB