Need a FAST & Fun to kids Halloween Costume to make? Then why not go for a Dino-Mite Hood!?

Image source and Copyright: Pink Penguin http://ayumills.blogspot.com

I've been wanting to sew without having a huge project. Halloween is coming up and I have a stash to downsize.  I needed me some quick satisfaction, some instant gratification to balance out all the physical and energetic cleaning and de-cluttering I've been doing. I've been pouring over Zakka Along 2.0 photos and the book Patchwork Please! by Ayumi Takahashi, known to many as the famous and lovely blogger, Pink Penguin. 

Seriously, I want to make every single project in her book. That, my darlings, is so rare for a book. My buying rule is minimum of 3 projects that you cannot live without, be it a sewing, knitting, or even a crafting book.  That helps me feel like I'm spending money wisely and like I have only a shelf full of books I love and use. Yay!

Because Halloween is coming up I'm thinking of costumes and fast ways to have even a mini-costume or hat that makes you feel like you're already dressed up but can be comfortable. Enter, the Dino-mite hood in Patchwork Please!

Because I had done all my prep work, the sewing took hardly any time at all.  

Prep Work: 

1. 10 min one night copying and enlarging the patterns in the book
2. 10 - 30 min pre-planning and selecting the colors several days ago (I like to take my time on this step and usually allow several days for my color and fabric choices to settle with me. 
3. Thanks to the new Jaybird Quilts Sidekick Ruler I bought at Fabric Depot while on the Tacoma Sewing & Design Bus Tour to Portland, I was able to quickly and easily cut out all the triangles in 10-20 min before my dear friend arrived at my house for our dinner date. 

Sewing Time: 

1. 20 min Layout triangles next to the sewing machine, then chain-stitch them together 
2. 45 min to Stitch & Press the lining, main hat, ties, triangles
3. 10 min final touches

Wow! That was fast!  Over 4-5 days, I put in only 2-3 hours of work for the resulting awesomeness!  I even had help from my sweet little kitty. She offered her keen eye to observe and provide meows for Quality Control. Or maybe that was so I would pay attention to and pet her. Hmm... 

The result is an adorable hat for some adorable kid. Or.... maybe a puppet!!!  If I don't give it away, I'll put it in my trousseau for my future children.  I cut enough triangles my first time round that I can either make 2 more hats or make up a pillow and use those as a "fringe" or edging. I'm in LOVE with this pattern.