No Sew Go, Dog, Go! Costume

I sew a lot.  In fact, I find it easier to stitch something shut than to bother with glue, staples, or that awful stitch-witchery stuff.  This may be because I’m a costume designer, or that I can operate a sewing machine better than some can operate a stove top.  But, in this case, I’ve feelin’ the stretch of the weekday with y’all and opted to craft a costume for Red for Read Across America Day.  The hardest part of this lovely school holiday was that we had less than a week’s notice to whip up “bring a book to school and dress as your favorite character.”  Eeesh.  But nevertheless, we persevere.  Red chose Go, Dog, Go! for his favorite book, I created a Go, Dog, Go! costume in only 30 minutes with a little bit of fabric and some hot glue.  

First, I looked to the book for some inspiration. A green scarf, an orange (plaid?) hat and some black goggles.  It’s go time.  I bought a remnant of green fleece from the fabric store because A: I don’t have to hem or sew it and B: It was cheap and I didn’t have to wait in line!  We cut one length of doubled (folded) fabric to create our scarf.  

Clip the ends about 3″ inwards and you have easy scarf fringe without making a single stitch.  Note to self: Make sure you actually go downstairs and get those awesome fabric scissors you own instead of copping out and snagging the paper scissors from the drawer…….

Now on to the goggles! I had an extra pair of black youth sunglasses that I traced onto a piece of black funfoam.  The lines you see are the exterior edge of the frames.  

Then, I traced OUTSIDE of the frame lines to create more of a goggle shape. 

I finished my tracing and mirrored it to have a double lensed/ goggle shape.  After cutting them out, I then cut holes for the lenses using the original tracing line.  

See? Instant goggles! 🙂  Make sure you have a proper fit by holding them to the frames, make adjustments as necessary.  

Using my hot glue gun, I glued the funfoam goggles to the sunglasses.  If you squeeze the glue out as it heats up, it won’t scorch your glasses, and you may be able to remove the funfoam later to save the sunglasses for yet another craft! Easy peasy goggles! 

I purchased the orange visor at the store for only $1, and it was MILES easier than bothering to create a drivers cap or cover a baseball hat.  Red was THRILLED nonetheless and proceeded to “drive” around the house with Go Dog and ask for a “Red Light and Green Light” to stop and go by.  We grabbed a tan/brown t-shirt we had for dog’s body as the finishing touch.  

What favorite book are you reading with your family? Are you creating an outfit inspired by your favorite character?