Introducing... Clara Barton.

Today is book report day! Michaela has a five-notecard presentation all set to deliver to her class today about the life of Clara Barton, Angel of the Battlefield. She was a really remarkable woman, waaaay ahead of her time, who was a teacher, founded a free public school, tended to Civil War soldiers, connected missing soldiers with their worried families, and went on the bring the Red Cross to America.

I, of course, was mostly giddy about making a costume, any kind of costume, and was planning on winging the whole thing. When I went to buy the black fabric and lace to replicate the outfit Ms. Barton is wearing on the cover of the book,
I had the idea to peruse through a pattern book to get some ideas about how to construct it. I found a perfect pattern and then happened to glance up and see the patterns were on sale for 99 cents each. 99 cents!!! It was divine intervention. Though you can't see it, I even made a petticoat for her to wear underneath it, and thank goodness for the Internet, who makes it possible that at 9pm on a Tuesday night you can google "how to make a petticoat" and three sets of easy to follow instructions pop up. I had so much fun working on it and I think Michaela looks awesome in the outfit.

And the best part? The same pattern makes PILGRIM COSTUMES.