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She Had to Be a Baboon

October 26, 2011 By crafterhours 31 Comments

While we were visiting family and friends earlier this month, we went to the zoo that will always feel like home, Riverbanks. The best part of going there as a child was that they had polar bears that swam in a pool, and steps that took you underneath so that you could press your nose to the thick glass and pretend to be one of them. The polar bears aren’t part of the experience anymore, but plenty of other fun things remain– the monkeys that swing around their islands, the flamingos that huddle together, the bird house where it thunders and rains, kangaroos that you can walk freely around with. If you’re traveling through with kids, it’s definitely worth a stop.

At the zoo, K was particularly impressed with the baboons. She looked at their red bottoms and decided that they must work like some sort of giant red-inked stamp– they’d leave red butt prints anywhere and everywhere. Despite the fact that we’d already thrifted a perfectly cool pteradactyl costume a few days before and I’d already purchased pleathery fabric to attempt to fashion pteradactyl feet… she’d found a new love. She had to be a baboon. Specifically, a “baboon with a red butt, Mom.”

I took some creative license with every bit of this, of course. There are a lot of source images out there. Some that are slightly disturbing. And fun reading. There’s research and then there’s just knowing too much about baboons.

She. is. delighted. Easiest photo shoot ever. I didn’t have to bribe her to put it on or pretend to be a baboon. Friend Kyra says, however, that I need to make a video to prove later on that she asked to be a baboon and that this was not parental mistreatment.
She looks harmless, right?
Don’t let that fool you. She’s intense and she can gallop on all fours.

She’s got her baboon faces and moves all worked out.

This face is pretty fierce.

And the requisite red booty, which didn’t feel awkward to make or photograph at all.

But how could I say no to that face? That’s the best sewing I do. Not necessarily anything that’s all that blog-popular. But the stuff that keeps me creating. And laughing. And wondering what’s next.

 

Some notes on construction, since there’s most definitely not going to be a tutorial:
  • I used an existing raglan-sleeved hoodie of K’s to copy the shape and use as a base.
  • The tail is made from a piece of boning that I cut and switched the pieces around, overlapped and re-sewed to make an “S” shape so that the tail would go up, down and then curl back up again. K was insistent that her tail could not touch the ground.
  • Fur is so very forgiving. I used white thread for all of this. You’d have to look for at least five minutes to find a thread. It just melts right in. Despite the piles of fuzz all over my house from cutting the stuff (way worse than minky) I’d use it again because it’s so easy to sew and not worry about the stitches being obvious.
  • Speaking of the fur, the hairy-er looking fur is from a chain fabric store. It’s super itchy. But it’s use is limited. The base fabric for the costume came from a super soft and comfy blanket. I actually went shopping for a sweatsuit kind of thing to use as a base for the costume. I didn’t get that lucky. But when I found the blanket, I thought it’d make a costume that she’d like and not go crazy after 5 minutes to wrangle out of.

  • Her baboon booty (previewed here) is acrylic paint on felt that I stuffed and reverse appliqued into the back of the hoodie. I added a gloss finish. ‘Cause a baboon booty should be super red and shiny.

And that’s K’s costume. All ready for the parade at school. She’s been warned that she can’t pull it apart, spill anything on it or otherwise damage it– I’m not sure whether I’ll be feeling up to fixing it for a while. The wisdom teeth come out in the AM.

 

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: costumes, Halloween

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Comments

  1. Bless by Tone says

    October 26, 2011 at 5:32 pm

    that’s one cool costume (and I don’t do Halloween) and one gorgeous little girl

    Reply
  2. Chantal says

    October 26, 2011 at 5:33 pm

    Ooh wooow! I really really like it! She’s ossom! You made it fantastic. My boyfriend loves the outfit also..

    Reply
  3. Kris @ everywhereorange.com says

    October 26, 2011 at 5:34 pm

    That looks so awesome!!!! fantastic job!!!

    Reply
  4. Jennifer says

    October 26, 2011 at 5:43 pm

    That is hilarious! I wish my kids would be more creative than wanting to be fairies.

    Reply
  5. Kyra says

    October 26, 2011 at 5:44 pm

    You are the best!!! Best. costume. this. year. Showed Alexa… she smiled with the look of fear on her face. “I can still be a princess, right? Because, I don’t really want to be a monkey. K can be a monkey if she wants, but I think I like the purple dress from Grandma. ” Sigh! I envy K’s out-of-the-box creativity on this. Good luck tomorrow!

    Reply
  6. deepfriedyankee says

    October 26, 2011 at 5:47 pm

    Fanastastalic! My mom would have passed out if I’d asked to be something more complicated than an indian.

    Reply
  7. Nicki Rocky says

    October 26, 2011 at 5:48 pm

    Fantastic costume, so creative. And you are right, you can know too much about Baboons!

    Reply
  8. chris says

    October 26, 2011 at 5:56 pm

    You win mom of the year in costume design. I am impressed both with your daughter’s desire, and your willingness to come up with an amazing costume.

    Reply
  9. Amy says

    October 26, 2011 at 6:06 pm

    GREAT job on that costume!!

    Reply
  10. Jennifer says

    October 26, 2011 at 6:07 pm

    I really think that is awesome and hats off to you for raising a girl who can think outside the box!

    Reply
  11. Katy Cameron says

    October 26, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    ROFL at the red booty

    Reply
  12. Firstmute says

    October 26, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    Hey, that’s our zoo! LOVE the costume–creative and unique.

    Reply
  13. kristin says

    October 26, 2011 at 7:33 pm

    Haha, this is great! What a cutie. So funny what they pick – you are a great mama for making her wish come true. The costume is perfect.

    Reply
  14. Emily says

    October 26, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    Oh my gosh I can’t stop laughing. That’s a hilarious costume request and awesome fulfillment.

    Reply
  15. Emily says

    October 26, 2011 at 7:52 pm

    PS This recipe only takes a cup of pumpkin and it’s SO good. http://replicatethendeviate.blogspot.com/2011/10/sour-cream-pumpkin-bars.html

    Reply
  16. Zombie Leah says

    October 26, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    That. Is. Awesome. You are such a cool mom! And she is such a cool, creative and imaginative kid! Now I wanna be a baboon for Halloween! lol

    Reply
  17. Andrea @ TheTrainToCrazy.com says

    October 27, 2011 at 1:51 am

    adorable. absolutely adorable. love the back!!

    Reply
  18. Anonymous says

    October 27, 2011 at 3:25 am

    That is the cutest baboon I have ever seen! – Kim Rahi

    Reply
  19. JM says

    October 27, 2011 at 9:03 am

    That is super cute. And I LOVE Riverbanks Zoo. I grew up about an hour away from Columbia, SC and to this day, that is still my favorite place. I compare all other zoos I visit to Riverbanks. Now I really want to get back there and go to the zoo for their Christmas lights. Thank you for bringing back great memories.

    Reply
  20. Melissa (Punkin Threads) says

    October 27, 2011 at 9:34 am

    This is by far the cutest costume i’ve seen out there. good work!!

    Reply
  21. Anonymous says

    October 27, 2011 at 10:13 am

    That’s a shear awesome costume!!!! Love it.
    Beatrix from Kindershop

    Reply
  22. Anna O says

    October 27, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    Fantastic!! Looks wonderful!

    Reply
  23. Kelly's Korner says

    October 27, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    Aw you’re such a good mom! She’s so cute!

    Reply
  24. AnnaPK says

    October 27, 2011 at 1:05 pm

    Everything about this post is awesome!!!! I love it!!! Good luck with your teeth!

    Reply
  25. Deedra says

    October 28, 2011 at 7:38 am

    That’s our favorite zoo, too. Even though we have moved to Florida, we always go when we visit our family there. It’s definitely worth the trip!

    Reply
  26. Mallory says

    October 28, 2011 at 10:59 am

    She’s quite a cute baboon!

    I love Riverbanks Zoo–we lived in Columbia for quite a few years.

    Reply
  27. Angela Lee says

    October 28, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Oh my gosh, that is too cute! Your little one sounds a lot like mine. :) Great job!

    Reply
  28. Isisjem says

    October 29, 2011 at 3:30 pm

    such a cute costume!

    Reply
  29. Kathryn says

    October 29, 2011 at 8:34 pm

    Awesome costume! I hope my daughter (now 3) asks to be something that fun one year. I am working on her witch costume (nice and easy!), and I’m happy I didn’t have to make a princess outfit! I’d much rather sew a baboon or other animal!

    Reply
  30. Creating Bits of Envy says

    October 30, 2011 at 3:32 am

    Love the costume! And no self-respecting baboon would be out in public without a red butt ;)
    ***Jennifer
    http://creatingbitsofenvy.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  31. Allie says

    November 12, 2011 at 4:02 pm

    I am somehow just seeing this. It. is. so. awesome. Love love love. She is precious.

    Reply

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