As per usual my book worm Birdie had her Bookweek costume picked out far in advance this year. Her favourite book series is Millie Mak the Maker by Alice Pung, which is about a little girl who discovers the super power of sewing, and all three books are full of projects that kids can complete themselves along with being really fantastic stories. Birdie was so keen to be Millie Mak she even decided she need a new haircut – the obsession runs deep! This was her last Bookweek (cry!) so of course i had to make sure that she had all the details she wanted.
Let’s start with the top as that is the first item I made. Birdie was super keen that everything be exactly like the book, and the more i stared at Millie Mak’s top the more it started to look like a Sudley top. So of course you know what i did – i started developing a Mini Sudley pattern – i have no self control when it comes to sewing for my kids. My sample maker Krystal has been telling me for years I need to make a Mini Sudley pattern, and turns out she is 100% right and everyone should listen to Krystal all the time. I adore how this top turned out, and Birdie loves it too which is great because you know how much I love being able to make costumes that get used a lot.
The fabric is an antique wash linen from Potter & Co textiles, and i just managed to squeeze it out of the scraps of a pattern sample for my next pattern, which was honestly just super satisfying. Who doesn’t love getting a new garment out of scraps?!
The DIY chatelaine belt is Birdie’s favourite part of the whole costume. In Millie Mak Maker a chatelaine is introduced as a craft belt, so she followed the instructions for making one from an existing belt using paperclips and has loved hanging different sewing accessories off of it.
For the fabric we were so blessed that Spotlight had literally the exact fabric design that Millie uses for her DIY skirt in the book. I have never ordered fabric so quickly! Birdie made the skirt herself and is quite proud of it – and i’m so proud of her for making such an important piece in her final Bookweek costume. It’s a very simple rectangle with an elastic waist, and only used 1m of fabric. If you’d like to try something similar we have a tutorial here.
And of course no post with Birdie would be complete these days without some photobombs from her beloved chooks! Getting themselves in trouble trying to peck her favourite shoes haha.
I hope you enjoyed reading all about Birdie’s costume! We had so much fun making it together and I’m so glad that she could finish her last Bookweek on such a fun high note.
I’m going to miss Bookweek so much! It’s been an absolute joy to bring my kids favourite characters to life with them and celebrate all the books they love.
If you’d like to see any of her past Bookweek costumes i’m going to link them all below!
BIRDIE'S PAST BOOKWEEK COSTUMES
Elizabeth Bennet Costume
Bookweek has come again and as per usual Birdie did not disappoint! Birdie is…
August 19, 2024
Anne of Green Gables Costume
As we have come to expect from our little ray of sunshine Birdie –…
September 1, 2023
Fern from Charlotte’s Web costume
As per usual, Birdie decided what she wanted to be for Book Week almost…
February 2, 2023
Paddington Bear Costume
As you may have noticed, I love Book Week. Making my kids Book Week…
October 22, 2021
The Paw Book Week costume
Birdie decided what she wanted to be for Book Week over a year ago,…
October 29, 2020
