This will be my son's first ren fest. He will be a year old september 22. My question is this: Should I try and make him a costume or should I just wait and rent one for him seeing as he will be growing like a bad weed if he's anything like his cousins?
I think that young you'll be doing good to keep him in anything besides a kilt.
He'll probably outgrow anything fancier before you even finish cutting out the fabric.
You can make very basic baby/toddler garb for less than $5. I did it for several years! And you'll spend much more than that renting... Remnant bins and dollar tables are a wonderful thing! I made my son a pair of plain shorts, a vest, and used scrap fabric braided together for a belt. A more historically accurate way is a basic chemise.
A gown, cap (if he'll wear it), muckinder or bib, and leading strings if he's walking would be great for a child his age.
A basic t-tunic out of muslin (basically,a smock) and he should be good. You can make one of those for only couple of dollars when they are small. ;)
Gown-type styles are very forgiving of sudden growth spurts. I made my son a little sleeveless tunic and long-sleeved chemise for his first faire when he was about 18 months old. I made it a bit big on purpose, it was pretty loose and the tunic went down almost to his ankles. It still looked nice, though. Now he's almost four, the chemise is long outgrown (mostly because of the sleeves) but he can still wear the same tunic (it's hip-length now) with a pair of tights.
My daughter wore a long sleeved chemise with a simple sleeveless dress last year when she was 5 months old. I made everything a bit big on purpose and rolled the chemise sleeves up. It was very long on her, almost like a christening gown. This year she'll be seventeen months old and everything still fits. I rolled the sleeves back down and the dress comes to a couple inches above her ankles.
The smock and cap look is adorable on a little one. You'll never get so many compliments on such simple garb!
For my monster I got a romper and dyed it and put some apliques on. I have a dragon, a pirate duck, a pirate bear, rocking horse, and a boat. I went this route because I work at fair so he was there in the hotter than heck weather so he was cool! And i can not keep a pair of pants on him!
But I think that the tunics work very well, if you cut it big enough you can get more than one season out of it, I made a few for the monster using a 2T size tshirt for the sizing, they look adorable!
There were kids at Ohio a couple years ago, there mom just bought a couple fleece plaid blankets, cut them into kilts, cut a piece long and thin to be the sash that goes over the shoulder, put them in an off-white shirt (or onesy if they are that small) and you are all set for like $8!!
I would not go overly fancy or expensive for a toddler.
Many of the suggestions here are good ones. A simple shift like smock and a Biggins cap is plenty. The babies stay cooler too.
Quote from: tigerlilly on August 27, 2008, 02:11:10 PM
The smock and cap look is adorable on a little one. You'll never get so many compliments on such simple garb!
From personal experience, I'd have to agree. Had my daughter in a smock, with simple decorative stitching (machine done) at the hem just to spice it up a little. She was 4 months. I've never got so many comments on anything else I've made.
A light cotton or linen if you want the look (careful about linen and little ones as I've heardsome may have a reaction to flax), or even muslin. Takes less than a yard, and all of an hour to make (except arm holes that small are a real pain if you're not used to hand stitching). If its cool, a pair of baby tights/leggings.
A wee linen t-tunic with a simple tabard over it would work very nicely. The tabard can be used as he grows, and you can make the tunic a bit large with a generous hem at the base to let out as he gets taller.
Quote from: robert of armstrong on August 27, 2008, 08:35:54 PM
There were kids at Ohio a couple years ago, there mom just bought a couple fleece plaid blankets, cut them into kilts, cut a piece long and thin to be the sash that goes over the shoulder, put them in an off-white shirt (or onesy if they are that small) and you are all set for like $8!!
Thats nearly exactly what I did for my son for this year. At a yard sale there was 100% cotton plaid sheets. I bought them and used the pillow case for a kilt. I chopped it up, pleated it, and made a separate piece to go over the shoulder (my monster won't stay in it if it isn't able to come off somehow). I'm just putting a simple onesie under that. I was having a similar problem and decided this was my best route. Besides, his dad wears a kilt too... so he thought it would be cute for them to match.
These are good suggestions. Here is what I made for my grandaughter, when she was about 9 months old. It looks like several pieces, but it was all one garment, with a zipper in the back. Easy on and off and diaper changing was not a problem either. I used cotton, so it was cool and comfortable. Lots of positive comments on it.
(http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/Lady_L_MN/Mfairedress04.jpg)
Lady L, SO ADORABLE! Thank you for posting that picture!
A gown would work for your son. At one year old he would not have been breeched yet and still would have been wearing a gown. Here is what a friend of mine did for her two boys. Her oldest son is about 2.5 here. The blackwork on the infants gown is machined, but still adorable.
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a87/amandalady/baby/boyscompare6-14-08.jpg)
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a87/amandalady/baby/myboys6-14-08.jpg)
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a87/amandalady/baby/Tjsmile6-14-08.jpg)
Quote from: verymerryseamstress on September 03, 2008, 08:31:41 AM
Lady L, SO ADORABLE! Thank you for posting that picture!
Thank you, verrymerryseamstress! ;D
My little one in her first garb, at four months or so. Just a simple smock. I did cheat and use elastic for the cuffs
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c154/squisheez/AmaraBaby/Amara3-31-070112.jpg)
Thank you all! So many ideas! I love them all!