Tag: jellyfish costumes

Improving the Jellyfish

Dear Liza,

After a week or so of stuffing and sewing on the jellyfish hat, I realized that, as a jellyfish, it was sort of a flop.
It was more like a sparkly, lavender plate of mashed potatoes.

I decided that the top poofy bit was a bit too poofy and needed some editing. I snipped a few threads, laid the fabric out, and took about six inches off all the way around. Notice all those ribbon tentacles tucked inside, out of mischief.

Once it was trimmed, I gathered it all up again and fit it back on the hat. This time, I sewed it right into the straw of the hat. The whole thing feels solid and more manageable.

The edging ruffle got doubled over, gathered up and sewn onto the hat. This was a very fiddly part of the project.

And here it is, for now. It will get a few more tentacles, a bit of a trim, some dangling lights, and some sort of under-dress, and then it will be ready for SOAK.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Jellyfish Progress

Dear Liza,

My jellyfish costume for SOAK is coming along! First, I had to make sure the battery packs for the electric tentacles would fit in my hat and work properly.

Then I made elastic straps so they would stay put inside the hat.

Once the mechanics were set, I needed to start making it look like a jellyfish! Sparkly fabric and tule got gathered and stuffed…

Then a ruffle for the brim got gathered.

None of the ruffled bits are glued or sewn on, just resting in place, so I can make adjustments as needed.

But I am sewing the tentacles on!

And here’s what I have so far.

Next, I give the hat-skirt thing a gather and add lots more tentacles, then see how the lights look with everything.

Love,

Grandma Judy