Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Simplicity 8493: Morticia Addams


What's creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky and all together ooky?  My halloween costume!!  I took my inspiration this year from the glorious Carolyn Jones who played Morticia Addams in the 1960s television show:

photo source

I delved through my pattern stash and came up with Simplicity 8493 as a potential match for the dress:


I made the floor length version with long sleeves.  The pattern has a nice v-neck and fitted bodice that I thought would work well for the costume.  I sewed up the pattern as it was with the exception of adding about 6 inches to the length.  After sewing, I then had David pin the dress to make the 'hobble skirt' effect (i.e. tight to the knees and then a bit flared).  I then sewed out the excess and had to mimic Morticia's walk! too funny!


With the excess floor length, David also cut strips of the fabric and then I sewed them right sides together. I then turned the tubes of fabric inside out to create the tentacles at the bottom of Morticia's dress.

The fabric I chose is a polyester/viscose blend and has quite a bit of stretch.  This allowed me to sew the sleeves fairly tight.  I created a v-shape at the wrist and then just folded the hem under.  I also attached chiffon to the underarm and then tacked it to the middle of the dress--so that it only showed if I moved my arms.

I was literally sewing this right up to the last minute before our Halloween party.

Their house is a museum 
Where people come to see 'em 
They really are a scream 
The Addams Family. 

(Neat) 
(Sweet) 
(Petite) 
So get a witches shawl on 
A broomstick you can crawl on 
We're gonna pay a call on 
The Addams Family.



Of course, David dressed up as Gomez Addams with the perfect pinstriped suit and he had me in stitches with his portrayal of Gomez...so much fun:


It's been awhile since I've dressed up for Halloween and I had a blast creating this dress.  I'm already plotting and planning for next year!!

What about you? Did you dress up? Did you sew your own costume?

Update: I entered my costume in the Mandors Fabric store competition (my local fabric store).  The winner gets £50 worth of fabric.  Can I ask a big favour?  Will you vote for me?  You can vote on facebook here by just liking my photo.  I would use the winnings to get the fabric for my 1940 gown project!!!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
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17 comments

  1. BRILLIANT!!! I love this so much. You did an amazing job!

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  2. How much fun is this!?! I love your costume and you did a fantastic job adapting that Simplicity pattern. Now to get the Addam's Family theme song out of my head :) Oh, you got my vote!

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  3. That is brilliant! You two are a riot :-)

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  4. Did you speak French? ;) You two are the perfect couple. Fabulous show. It was always my favorite over the Munsters. Great job on the costume as well! Bravo.

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  5. So fun! I didn't get to dress up because I was working but I did wear sparkly false eyelashes.

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  6. Hahahaha! Awesome! This looks great! I never dress up for Halloween-- I'm a serious procrastinator, and every year I forget to get a costume together until it's way too late! I really like this, though-- you two look like you're having a great time!

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  7. That dress is perfect! You both look great. Happy (very belated) Halloween!

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  8. Love it!! You both look awesomE!

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  9. You make a great Morticia - va va va voom!

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  10. Looks like a lot of fun! Voted!

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  11. Great Job! Looks like it was really fun!

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  12. I love Morticia! So funny, at first glance, I didn't recognized you in my feeds reader!! I love dressing up for Halloween, I've been doing it for as long as I can remember... Like Morticia, the best costumes are always those with a strong personality!

    This year I made a swan dress, inspired by the singer Bjork. I knew not many person would get the Bjork reference, but that costume doubled up as a Swan too! I had fun!

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  13. This looks great. Seems you had a lot of fun at Halloween.

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  14. I was a black cat, the only one at the whole party! I made a simple skirt for that and put a bell on a ribbon; rest was normal clothes (I tend to wear my normal clothes when I dress up!), eye pencil whiskers and a bought mask

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  15. This is so brilliant, you look amazing!

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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