Clown Jacket Simplicity 2525

For days I've been visualizing the kind of jacket I want to make for my clown costume. It had to have long tails. It had to be non-restricting enough to juggle in. Buttons would be nice. But I haven't had a chance to go pattern shopping or to dig through my pattern collection. I also wanted the pattern to work for a Steampunk Jacket.

I believe in the Law of Attraction. Yesterday I had a crazy urge to drive to Barstow. I'd been wanting to check it out since we moved here a year and a half ago. So yesterday I drive out there not knowing what to expect; just being a tourist. Eventually I found my way to Walmart. And I eventually meandered into the craft section. Now as you may or may not know it, but most Walmart's got rid of their craft section or downsized it considerably. So I didn't even know there would be a sewing section. And there in the corner was a pattern book flipped open to exactly the clown jacket I had visualized in my mind. And they had exactly one in my size. They also had some more starry fabric so I got that too. It's Simplicity 2525 as shown in this listing: Clown Jacket. Or here. I'm not sure why it costs so much on the Walmart website. I bought it in the store for about $6.

The jacket will be the hardest piece so I'm glad I'm on my way to getting it done.

Fabric Ready to Sew

Sometimes the hardest thing about sewing is making a spot to sew in. But I really needed to get busy on my new clown costume so I cleared off the dining room table. I zigzagged all the edges of about 12 pieces of fabric, and now they are in the washing machine getting all the sizing out. They should dry quickly today. It's like summer out there. I'm glad the five day windstorm is over so I can hang stuff on the line again. Holding all that colorful fabric is stripes, stars, checks and polka dots just makes me happy.

I still can't decide if I want to go with a dress or pants, jacket, vest and blouse. The latter would be more modular and easier to swap out if a piece of it gets stained. It's pretty hard to get through a party with children without getting either food or paint on me somewhere.

Since there are surely many other clowns out there with the name Starry, I'm going to go with Starry Starry Night the Clown.

Sewing a Clown Costume

We took a trip to Orange County last week so I got to go to my favorite discount fabric store called M & L Fabric. I was on a quest for star fabric for a new clown costume. I'm going to be Starry the Clown. I didn't find that many stars though, so then I had the idea of making a patchwork star either for the back of a jacket or vest from assorted happy fabric. So I got stripes,  polka dots, and stars and even some gingham. Can't wait to see how it all comes together. I have a 6 hour clown gig in July and I want to look fabulous. But so much sewing is daunting. At this point I don't even know where my serger is. I need to go through storage and find the sewing machine we just inherited. I planned to keep a sharp eye out for it, but then I wasn't the one that ended up putting it in the moving van. Oh well. The hunt is on.

Clown Show 101

Clown Confessions:  When I did my first kid's party, I charged $50. After the show the Dad came out, told me his job at a store was to fire people, told me I wasn't good enough, and only paid me $25.  I was so hurt and angry I didn't know whether to quit or what. So I doubled my price, figuring if a future mean-spirited client were to do the same, I'd still take home the same amount of money I'd asked for to begin with. Then the funniest thing happened.  For a higher price, I got a better clientele. They appreciated me and never squabbled about the price or my show. #psychology

New Clown Costume

Now that I've moved I feel like a whole new clown look is in order. I'm busy crocheting a clown wig with long spirals.  Then I think I'll make a mini-top hat to go with it for one look and a elf hood for another look. I usually make my clown costumes from scratch. A clown costume needs to be durable and easy to clean from all those sticky cotton candy fingers and cake and ice cream.  I also have to be able to juggle in it.

It's cold where I live now, so I can add a jacket to my outfit without getting too hot. I never would have done that when I lived in Anaheim. The make-up would have melted right off of my face.

So far I only got on call from Craig's List and it seemed like a marketing spam, so I didn't click on the link. I still have my fingers crossed that I'll get some gigs in 2012.