Plague Doctor, Health Screener Edition 2020

https://www.etsy.com/listing/236325647/plague-doctor-mask-pattern-pdf-download

Cartoonist/illustrator Erica Henderson prompted this project, after her Toucan Sam Plague Doctor, 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_8DBpgh16Q/

I figured I could make a fabric one for my job as a health screener.

I sewed the paper pattern together to test it

It just seems like the right costume at the right time at the right job.

This style has the added ridge down the nose which gives it more structure. I had considered adding a wire in that ridge if necessary, but on trying it on I realized it wasn't necessary.  The proportion of the width of the face portion vs the length of the nose, plus keeping this in as light a fabric as possible (I used muslin) keeps it from being too heavy. 

I took off the forehead piece and eyepieces, and contoured the upper seam to fit my face with my glasses on. The glasses definitely do the work here, I didn't need to duplicate 'eye coverings'.

Adding a second layer (one of the light poly cotton pieces from my regular face mask) makes it feel more like a real mask and reinforces the structure around the face. And adding the straps to hold it in place keeps the shape open and stabilizes it.

And it would be nicer if I had planned on adding it when I was sewing this together.

I could make it washable and finish it more nicely, but I'm hoping not to get a lot of use out of this one.

Getting a Snuffalupagus vibe here

This took less than an hour. Which shows, and you'll be more careful.

I modeled it with various hats. It needs the broadbrimmed original.

Frankly, I like it better out of paper. You could make this out of oaktag or craft foam and do fine.

The only sad thing is that the day before Halloween is going to be a very quiet day at work with hardly anyone to see the costume. And after polling the neighbors, we're not going to get any trick or treaters. This is my favorite holiday, I can't deny how sad this makes me.

To cheer myself up, I'm going to plan a sewing project for an outdoor decoration that is appropriate for every holiday. I mean, these things are SEWN.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Warner-9-5-ft-Pre-Lit-Beetlejuice-Sandworm-Animated-Airblown-Inflatable-224336/308475547

One last minute costume suggestion:

https://wintercroft.com/

You can cut them out of paper and decorate them and wear them and hang them on the wall.

They make splendid things.

The Inevitable Halloween Costume Post 2020 edition

Umbrella Academy, photo Netflix

Not everyone in the Umbrella Academy wears a regatta blazer.

Simplicity 9094, an Academic lewk

https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2020/10/01/pattern-roundup-halloween-2020?

I really appreciate how they have mentioned some current pop culture references; Umbrella Academy is not that well known, and Ratched (also mentioned, it's the Ryan Murphy prequel story with Sarah Paulson) may have slid past some folks' radar.

https://www.simplicity.com/simplicity-storefront-catalog/patterns/brands/simplicity-sewing-pattern-s9094-misses-mens--teens-cosplay/

Number Six wears a regatta jacket too.

https://static.onecms.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/09/tcdpris_ec025-2000.jpg

Because there really aren't a lot of new and weird costume patterns out this year (and if I missed them, please comment), I'm going to share the purchased kind.

https://www.amazon.com/ZMJ-Hellboy-Right-Halloween-Costume/dp/B07PQLT9BW/

Right Hand of Doom, screen accurate

I am never going to finish the Left Hand of Doom

What I love are the 'NonLicensed But You Know What They Are' selections.

Smiffy Costumes on Amazon (search 'Smiffy women costumes' for best entry selection)

has solved for Mamma Mia! costumes...

Microphone not included

Remember the time in Joann's I met the kids who were going to go trick or treating as the twins from the Shining? I hope they are doing great.

They could get their mom to make them a couple of these sweaters

Hat included

https://www.cosdaddy.com/Cosdaddy-Gone-with-the-Wind-Scarlett-O-Hara-Cosplay-Green-Dress-Costume.html

This website has a lot of costumes on it. Animal Crossing, too.

It's hard to gin up a lot of enthusiasm for costuming this pandemic year. I didn't have a local con to finish the latest Dalek costume for, so the new hat/helmet is frozen in time. I had promised myself to keep working on it, doing a very gradual layering up of paint over a week or two, for the time when I would need it, but you know how life intervenes?  I'm still sketching that Elric Bro hoodie as well.

for more of this absurd goodness:

https://www.thedad.com/knockoff-halloween-costumes-are-so-funny-its-spooky/

It's links to Twitter responses to a call for weirdest knock off costumes, so everyone who took a photo gets their own linky credit.

And  speaking  of  Spirit  Halloween .....

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/12/style/spirit-halloween-costume-store-undead-forever.html

 is an ode to the pop up Halloween store

which I would appreciate if they hadn't opened right around the corner (literally the other side of the same building) from Display and Costume, my favorite holiday decoration store. A store that was going to be closing this year, instead saved by a last minute lease reprieve.

And which closed storefront did Spirit open in?

Pacific Fabrics Northgate.

(weeps openly)

I have to go finish my homework.