No, I don't like zombies.
Period.
However, when Thing 2 wanted to be one for Halloween, I needed to make a peace with them (kind of). I figured that if he wanted to be a Zombie that 1) he wouldn't be a contender for the fake prosthetics and corn syrup blood and 2) he was going to be cute, darn it!
A cute Zombie, how does one accomplish that?!?!?
Plants vs Zombies! That's how!
I started idea shopping and found this:
I knew I had my model and inspiration!
Now I got to do some retail shopping! Off to the thrift store!
I was able to find a white shirt, a red striped tie and sports coat that fit the bill. Ironically, the cost of the clothing was minimal compared to that of the fabric and notions from the fabric store!
I bought black pipping, white netting, the stiffest interfacing material for shape and support and lastly grey and orange polar fleece. This stuff is amazing. It is perfect to wear when it is cold out, which our Minnesota Halloween's tend to be, it is easy to cut, easy to sew and it doesn't fray! Just don't put it in the dryer, let it hang dry. My dryer has a tendency to 'burn' polar fleece and that wonderful softness is now all scratchy!
Now was the tough part. I needed to make my own pattern. I started with head measurements of Thing 2, since it was going to be his head. :)
Next I made a rough-to-scale-sketch of the face. I used small bowls to trace the big round eyes and folded it in half to make it symmetrical (except the mouth). I used the face pattern to make the back of the head and then decided how to make the 3-D concept as I contemplated how it was going to actually be put on his head.
Since the Zombie head is rectangular in shape, the pattern was designed with that in mind with a circular opening for the human head to enter on the bottom.
Here is my sketchbook page and my original printed picture that I used.
My Sketchbook plans (chicken scratch to some, Foreign language to others)
Original picture found
Picture next to back of original pattern piece I made
Here is my final, final Zombie head (many months later). It has gone through some abuse and use from 3 little Things since October. The stiff interfacing did it's job well back then but today, the edges are getting a little soft. Since my dress form has no head, I used an ice cream bucket to help prop it up.
When I find the rest of my pattern pieces, I will post them. Today, I happened upon the back piece when I was cleaning a section of my sewing room. I might need to rename it to "The Studio". A relation of mine gave me the idea and it sounds more upscale than just "room". Perhaps by changing the name it will give the room and I illusions of grandeur... (cue dreamy music).
In the mean time, here is some older pictures taken when it was originally made.
Finished head...now off to make a traffic cone!
Zombie Thing at computer
Thing 2 is much cutter than my dress form!
Oddly, I can't remember some of the specifics as to how I pieced it together, but I do know I made it in an afternoon!
~Me
I I love that costume head. Crazy cool.
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