Joe is SIX! Plus, the best thing I ever made him.

Well, it happened: Joe turned six this past Monday. Remember when he was just a little baby? Yeah, me too. We had a little party for him on Sunday - just a small get together with family and Joe best friend from school. A fun time was had by all. Joe is announcing "I am six now." Yes, you are. Sniffle. Love ya so much, kiddo. 

My stepmom, known as Mimi to the kids, gave Joe the Imaginext Battle Castle for Christmas, and Joe has been castle-obsessed ever since. A couple weeks before his birthday, Joe announced that he would like a knight costume. Me being me, I decided that I would make him the costume for his birthday. Nothing like a self-imposed deadline, right? Let's just say I was kind of stressed about whether I was going to finish this in time.

I gave it to him on his birthday with a toy (foam) shield and sword.

Yeah, I think he loves it!!! This might be one of the best things I've ever made for Joe. I mean  ... Sir Joseph of Roscoe, that is. He looks intimidating, but he's really a softie at heart.

There's not a ton to say about construction here. I took my inspiration from this fleece knight costume made by an amazing Etsy seller, Tree House Kid. I feel a little bad copying an Etsy seller - her work is totally amazing, a lot more nicely done than mine, and totally worth every penny. I should have just bought the dang costume! But it was the eleventh hour and I just loved it so much! With the idea in my mind, I pretty much winged it.

I traced a heraldic lion from some internet clip art and cut it out in yellow felt, which I hand embroidered to a red oval using running stitch, just to give the costume a little something special. Then I layered the pieces onto the breastplate/tunic, and rigged some straps to velcro in the back.

To make the helmet, I traced the hood from one of Joe's hoodies, adding a "neck flap" to the bottom of the hood piece. I out an outer and inner hood in gray fleece. The red plume pieces are just red felt cut into rectangles and topstitched, then sewn into the top seam of the hood. The visor has black felt pieces sewn on it and I affixed it to the hood with fancy heraldic buttons. Initially I had imagined a visor that could move up and down, but that didn't quite work out, so I just tacked the middle of the visor to the top of the hood.

There was one rough moment. I made the helmet early on the morning of the day before Joe's party, while he was still asleep. I was worried it was too small, so I tried it on Maggie for size. It was way too small for Maggie. Ugh! So I re-cut and re-sewed the helmet after Joe woke up. Every time he walked by, I quickly shoved the helmet under a pile of fleece. Super stealth!

I finished the helmet and the breastplate and secreted them away in a closet, and congratulated myself on making something for Joe right under his nose! Yay me!

Then, the next morning, while I was drinking my coffee, Joe said nonchalantly, "Where is that knight hat you were working on?"

DRRRRAAAAAAT.

I was a little upset, but I just said, "I was making that for your birthday, so you can open it in a present later. I hope you like it!" He wasn't upset, I think it kind of blew his mind that I was actually working on his birthday presents before his birthday! Dang you, Joe, for being such an observant and smart kid!

So it wasn't a surprise. But it makes him feel like a badass, so all is well.

So, Joe is six now, and we have a big year ahead! Sir Joseph is ready for it!