I have a new motto: Don’t do today what you can get done much faster if you wait until the last minute.

There are certain things that are best left until the last minute. Like packing for a vacation. Start few days ahead and yet you will find yourself packing things at the last minute and using three times as much time on it as otherwise. I found out that costumes are another such thing. Wait until the last minute and you are forced to cut corners and make it simple.

My daughter had her first gymnastic performance this weekend. Home came a cryptic note that she was supposed to dress up in typical worn Oliver Twist clothes. I really didn’t feel like making anything and just put it off until the last moment. I was secretly hoping the dad would step up and magically produce something. I guess I have been a bit delusional lately…

So on Saturday I dug up some fabric (white cotton from Ikea and some brown viscose? fabric piece I think I bought at Stoff and Stil long time ago). I printed out a pattern for the Nora dress and got to work. I made up the apron pattern as I went along looking at a photo online.

I pretended I was participating in the Sewing Bee and needed to get everything done at record speed. If the makers of that show ever feel the need to throw in an extra challenge they should just give the contestants and infant to take care of. He was very cute though while still happy and “helping” me.

Everything was a one big hack. The dress I didn’t hem at all under the pretense that it made it look more worn. The apron is hemmed but just quickly with an overlock and one fold. Driving to the store that day was risky business. I had been hitting the sewing machine pedal so hard that I had problems not doing the same with the car.

It got done Saturday night and on Sunday we rubbed some ashes on the apron and the little orphan girl went to the show and made her parents proud.

The photo shoot was done in the same quick and at the last moment spirit. The model even threw in little acting without me asking. This is how she says you look when you are a poor orphan.

Poor orphan act

My daughter was a bit surprised when I made this and said: Mom, I thought you weren’t gonna make any more costumes? I really had no good answer for her but at least I would like to believe I have cracked the costume making code now. It might not be completely stressless but at least you stress for a shorter amount of time. Maybe I will start applying my new motto to more things in life.

Practicing

Apron (I am sure orphans didn’t have an iron…)