Feline Fatale Costume

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Simplicity 8670 View C and View A
• 1 1/2yds trim for waist & cuffs
• 1 1/4" Velcro®
• 22" invisible zipper
• Follow yardage and instructions on pattern envelope for View A
• Basic sewing supplies

• Cardstock for printer
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Pencil
• X-Acto® Knife, #11 blades
• Sandpaper, 100 grit
• Heat gun
• Black thread
• Needle
• Pins
• Mod Podge, Matte
• 2oz Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Black Paint
• Contact Cement
• Quick Grip adhesive, to attach elastic band to foam
• 17" L of black soft waistband elastic, 1 1/2" W x 14"
• Brushes: glue brush & small flat disposable brush for Contact Cement, 1" foam brushes, 2
• Palette
• EVA foam sheet, 24" x 40", 5mm
• Compass or other sharp point tool (to mark stitching locations)
• Head form (to hold the mask during coatings) (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Use View A for bodysuit and view C for neckline. Follow all instructions on the pattern.
2. Use 22" invisible zipper down the center back.
3. Attach velcro to close the collar at center back, and attach the trim at the center back waistline.
4. Sew trim onto cuff with a zipper Teflon foot.

1. Print pattern on cardstock. Cut out pattern pieces using an x-Acto knife. Transfer patterns to EVA foam sheet with a pencil. Use and X-Acto knife or bandsaw to cut foam. Keep the blade as vertical as possible when cutting the ears. This will ensure a clean strong bond between the foam parts.
2. Heat all edges and surfaces of foam with a heat gun. This will close the foam pores and allow the foam to accept finishes. Keep the heat gun approximately 2" from the foam and direct the heat in a circular fashion. The foam will change from a matte finish to a slightly gloss finish when enough heat is applied. While the surfaces are warm, pull from the center to the outer edges or from the bend line to the sides on the ears, to start to shape the parts. Bend the center panel with darts into a bowl shape until the sides of the darts match. Curve the eyes to a similar curve as the center panel front edge. Reverse the ears and curve at the bend line.
3. Apply Contact Cement to the inside edges of the darts one or two at a time. Coat all edges completely and wipe off any excess glue immediately. Let dry until the adhesive is slightly tacky, not glossy. Start pulling darts together at the points of the cuts. Line up the outer flat surfaces. Make sure that the outer corners match. The foam may be slightly stretched to ensure that the corners meet. Press joints together. The foam may be curved the opposite direction from the final curve to help press the outer surface edges together.
4. Place the eye panel centered behind the center panel. See the pattern for placement. Locate the overlap space between the center panel and eyes. Draw around the top edge of the eyes on the back of the center panel. Draw around the bottom edge of the center panel on the front of the eyes. Apply Contact Cement to both sides of the overlap area. Press parts together starting at the center.
5. Locate ears onto the center panel. Place a pin through the bottom corners of each ear into the center panel to hold while dry fitting. Start the outside corner of ear at the bottom edge of the center panel lining up the back edge of ear with the edge of the center panel. Bend the ear so the inside corner touches the upper dart on the center panel. Draw around the bottom edges of the ears onto the center panel. Remove the ears. Apply Contact Cement within the lines on the center panel and to the lower edge of the ears. Let dry and press together.
6. Add stitching lines. Mark lines on the center panel that continue the upper dart curves. Mark stitching locations on the bottom edge of the center panel and the eye panel. See patterns for stitching locations. Use a pencil or compass point to mark into the foam 1/8" away from either side of the seam or faux seam at 1/4" intervals for stitches. Use a double threaded needle starting from the back of the mask on the thinnest foam. Loop the thread through the mark directly across the seam line and feed through the original knot to secure the first stitch. Continue down the seam pulling each stitch tight. Knot the end of the thread through the previous stitch on the back of the mask then bury the tail into the foam.
7. Attach elastic to the back sides of the eye panel. Overlap the ends of elastic onto the foam by 1". Cut the elastic to the desired length. Dry fit the mask to determine the best length. Angle pins into the elastic at severe angles to hold the elastic in place when dry fitting the elastic. Draw around the ends of elastic onto the back of the eye panel. See pattern. Apply Quick Grip adhesive to completely cover the area of foam to be covered by elastic. Immediately press the elastic in place. Let dry.
8. Use a foam brush to apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to all edges and surfaces of the mask. Tap into the stitching areas to completely cover. Pull out any thick areas of coating. Let dry overnight.
9. Use a small piece of sandpaper to soften any rough edges. Blow away any debris.
10. Use a foam brush to apply black paint to all areas coated with Mod Podge. Slight directional lines may be visible after the paint has dried. Gently brush paint: from the center out on the eyes, from the base of the ears to the tips and from the front to the back on the center panel. Let dry eight hours. Gently sand edges to soften. Apply a second coat of black paint. Let dry.

JOANN HACKS:

• For bodysuit: Use #14 sewing needle and Teflon foot while sewing vinyl fabric, overcasting seams together treating as one.