Monday, September 21, 2009

Captain Underpants



Background: This coming weekend is Homecoming at DS's school, which means that this week is Spirit Week. Each day has a "theme" and today's is Dress Like a Superhero. DS chose Captain Underpants.

While I thought I would be sewing this weekend, I had no idea I would be sewing a "naked suit" and cape.

The "real" Captain Underpants is bare except for underwear and cape but DS knew he'd already be stretching the dress code with the underwear-as-outerwear and wanted a "naked suit" to cover himself. We were in the mall on Friday buying him dress shoes when he declared all of this, and he went looking for such a suit at the costume store. Even if he had found one, it was going to cost at least $50, and for crappy hot polyester at that. There was no such costume to be had. I think I was relieved, even though I knew it meant I would volunteer to make one. Still, it would cost nothing but time since I already had all the materials and DS would buy the huge tighty-whities.

I started with KS 3277, women's plus yoga pants, and KS 3299, men's fitted tees and a thin white cotton jersey knit. I cut out the smallest size pants (after removing the flare in the leg and omitting the waistband), sewed them up and had DS try them on. The legs were loose so I "pinched" about 4 inches total, dividing between inseam and outseam, to make them form-fitting, and then serged some 1/2" elastic to the waist to hold them up. For the shirt, I raised the neckline to almost straight across so none of his chest would show.

I already had the red satin from another costume and fashioned a yoke-with-tie-thing to attach to a big rectangle. Easy-peasy for that one.

Next, I heated up a huge lobster pot of water, and added teabags, with a pinch of pink and yellow dyes to make a flesh color. I fished out the teabags and tossed in the white suit, stirred for about 2 minutes and pulled it out. One run through the washer and dryer and we had the naked suit.

Voila! Captain Underpants!





Speaking of Homecoming, DS is sort of letting us off the hook for the dance. Instead of renting a whole tux, he's wearing my grandfather's tux from the 1950s. Yes, *my* grandfather — who gave DH the tux (plus a white dinner jacket) many years back. DH has never worn it and so all the pieces (jackets, pants, cummerbund, bowties, braces) have hung in a garment bag in my closet for years because I knew it would come in handy one day. Who can throw out a good wool tux? DS tried it on a couple of weeks ago on a whim and it fits. I had to let out the pants waist, but the length is perfect. Pretty cool that he's wearing his great-grandfather's 50-year old tux.

I decided to take the rental "savings" and buy him a pair of black dress shoes (which is why we were at the mall in the first place), which he'll wear for his Homecoming, his girlfriend's Homecoming (different school), Senior Prom, and then Graduation. We're still renting the shirt, vest, tie, cuff links/studs — some things are just easier/cheaper to rent!

20 comments:

  1. Debbie, that is BRILLIANT! My younger son is a huge fan of Cpt Underpants. I can't wait to show him your son's picture.

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  2. You are a costume GENIUS - and now you have a perfect costume ready for Halloween!

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  3. I love this. Your son is funny to think of this and you're a great mom for making it for him!

    (also, I love Captain Underpants and anything else by Dav Pilkey!)

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  4. Too funny! I have a Captain U fan at my house too, but I think he's going to be a store bought Star Wars character for Halloween. Awesome costume!

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  5. You know he is going to remember that suit for the rest of his life! And woe to any future woman who wants to wife him because his mother has made it damn near impossible to follow her! *LOL* You did an amazing job and it's an awesome costume. You will tell us how it goes over won't you?

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  6. That is hilarious and genius! You're such a awesome sewing mom!!! Very cool about the tux too.

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  7. I love the costume!

    CarlaF-in rainy Atlanta

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  8. LOL! Costume making must be in the air. :) Captain Underpants was DS's favourite book last year. I wonder if he'll want to do something similar in future years. :)

    And I know exactly what you mean about costumes at the costume shop. Why would you bother when you sew?

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  9. Now that is one cool costume! You and your son are a hoot! And how wonderful is it that he's discovered his great granddad's tux?

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  10. That has Yearbook Picture written all over it!! What a hoot...great job!

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  11. Oh that is absolutely hilarious! Brilliant idea of pushing the edge and not breaking the rules! Your son sounds like he's a bundle of laughter!

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  12. Everyone with boys knows Captain Underpants! Great costume!!

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  14. I showed my 17 year old Senior Fullback/Tight End the Capt Underpants pic. He thought it was so funny and pretty cool that he wore it. He said your son has a lot of...shall we say huevos? for wearing that to school. But he also said that your son looked like he could "take care of any beef thrown his way--you don't eff with the Center." (I am assuming that means he could kick someone's behind but good if they made fun of him?)
    What's up for the rest of the week's outfits?

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  15. I LOVE the Captain Underpants costume. Both my boys loved this character in grade school and I just couldn't figure out why. Seems like they were not alone. It' must be a boy thing. Your son knows he's the man, it takes a real man to go to school in those undies:-)

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  16. Fantastic costumes... can't wait to see the what rest of the week brings!

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  17. Haaa! I've always enjoyed Capt. Underpants and Diaper man. They are soo funny and I'm over 50 yrs.
    Diary of a Wimpy Kid is good too.

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