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Film Petit: Napoleon Dynamite

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“Whatcha going to do today Napoleon?”

“Film Petit with Kristin and Jessica! Gosh!”

Skirt As Top, A Little Gray, …I, and Film Petit, proudly present…

If you aren’t familiar with Film Petit, it’s an ongoing movie centric, kids sewing series put on by the awesomely talented duo聽Skirt As Top and A Little Gray. They sew creative interpretations of their favorite movies and ask one blogger to join them each time. Ever since seeing their interpretation of The Fantastic Mr. Fox, I wanted IN.

** Click聽HERE聽to see all the other fun movies they have done so far.**
I’m super excited to be joining in the fun this month with probably the most quoted movie in our house, Napoleon Dynamite!

The most notable quote we use from the movie is, “Eat your FOOD Tina!” which we would tell Owen almost daily when he was going through his picky palette toddler phase. (It wasn’t quite as effective as you would hope – ha (really?), but it made us all laugh ;)).

If only we could have found a llama to pose with.
Oh, but I totally harp on my husband for staying home and eating all the freakin’ chips (Kip!)…So, he is actually not home that often, but he is a nacho chip eating machine.
GOSH!
Oh and hey, how about my Liger… Don’t laugh! Okay…laugh…
Deb: “What’s a Liger?”
Napoleon: “It’s pretty much my favorite animal. It’s like a lion and a tiger mixed… bred for its skills in magic.”
And crazy enough, I actually sewed the white shirt before doodling all over it with a fabric sharpie. Why sew a plain white tee? Well, like Napoleon, I live in a small town. I knew there was a good chance that by the time I got to the only store who would sell them in my son’s size, they would probably be out (yeah, you know what store I’m talking about).
So, to save time and frustration, I just took a large white men’s tee and whipped one up for Owen. I kept the existing hem, which means I also had to sew straight lines about an inch long at the sides to prevent unraveling of the serged seams.
Before I made that shirt though, I made this chicken one out of an old tee I thrifted. It reminded me of the scene where he goes to work for some chicken farmers who set out a lunch of nasty sandwiches and raw eggs to drink.
Napoleon: “Do chickens have large talons?”
Farmer: “I don’t understand a word you said.”
I was so excited about it, and then as I started cutting it, I found it was way off grain. Then my scissors slipped as I cut the neck which made it too wide. Ay ay ay, that shirt was annoying.
But it served its purpose for the first photo shoot. See, part of the reason we were doing this movie for Film Petit is that I lived pretty close to Preston (before our recent move), where Napoleon Dynamite was filmed. I had awesome photoshoot ideas dancing in my head as I packed all the kids in the car and headed up, only to have those ideas foiled by a four year old who would under no circumstances get out of the car.
Not wanting the trip to go to waste, I snapped a few pics of Owen in front of the high school.
And then of bits of the rest of the town.
I just briefly peeked in but the DI looks like the one they used in the movie for sure and there were shag carpeted display windows in the hardware/general store next door. I couldn’t have asked for more.
Yessssss…
Preston did not disappoint in that aspect.

The Pop’n Pins bowling alley Kip and Uncle Rico go to to discuss business plans is still there in all its glory.

And nearby there were lots and lots of cows.

Napoleon: “This tastes like the cow got into an onion patch.”
FFA Judge: “Correct.”
Napoleon: “Yesssssssss.”

To complete Owen’s outfit, I made him a little boon doggle.

Napoleon: “Pedro offers you his protection”…

I also made him some Figgy Banyan pants聽out of some bottom weight denim from Joann. I felt like the pleats added enough bagginess to give a nod to the dojo pants he wears after visiting Rex-Kwan-do, as well as to the high waisted jeans he wore everyday.

And of course I had to include a tater tot pocket!!

The聽Banyan pant pattern聽gives a sweet (!) polished and professional 聽finished garment and includes installing a zip fly in way I have not used before. It is not for a beginner though, the construction is a little more complicated than other patterns, and it runs a bit short in length, so keep that in mind if you decide to sew it up. I sewed a size 7 with an 8/9 length and I will have to go back in and add maybe 4-5 inches in length to that for this Fall when he is wearing pants again. He is also all legs, that kid.

Let’s not forget Pedro!

Napoleon: “How long did it take you to grow that mustache?”
Pedro: “A couple days.”

(and wrestling to get it on there, because the eye liner pencil was ‘tickling too much’)

For Reid I kept it simpler and made just one item. I made him his shirt using the Blank Slate Tuxedo Shirt pattern聽(sponsor but I love, love her patterns). I omitted the pleats (and modified the pattern) and instead added a Pedro-esque shoulder detail and flap pockets.
I sewed it up using an old thrift-ed shirt, so I had to get creative with how I cut it out. I barely eeked out enough fabric, but it worked!

This was my first time sewing a button up shirt. It was fun to do and the pattern was very straightforward and easy to follow. It sure was time consuming but when I was done I felt amazeballs that I had just made a button up shirt! Definitely a worth while sew. The fit is loose and similar to some of his other 4T button up shirts. I think I might make a 3T width with a 4T length next time to achieve a better fit,

Once the shirt was made, I slapped on some store bought jeans, drew on a mustache, and he was ready to go in his (over-sized) cowboy boots! 馃檪

He tried to channel Pedro’s half baked stare for me, but I kept having to remind him not to smile…

Which was a big turn around from my first and second photo shoot attempt.

He must have been still been hung up on the rejection from Summer. 馃槈
Thank goodness he didn’t shave off all his hair!

Seeing Owen’s Napoleon droopy face, makes me wish soooo badly that I did Kip! Kip is probably my favorite character.

Kip: “You’re mom goes to college!”
Kip: 聽“Napoleon, don’t be jealous that I’ve been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I’m training to be a cage fighter.”

I did however get to take a quick crack at Uncle Rico.

I thought his priest looking shirt was just too hilarious not to copy.

Rico: “How much you wanna make a bet I can throw a football over them mountains?… Yeah… Coach woulda put me in fourth quarter, we would’ve been state champions. No doubt. No doubt in my mind.”

I sewed it up with a mock turtleneck and a reverse appliqued white strip down the middle. I don’t love to hem baby rib knit, so I left the sleeve and bottom as is.

And there you have it, my version of Napoleon, Uncle Rico and Pedro. 馃檪

Go check out Skirt As Top for her aweeeeesome Deb and Uncle Rico too! A Little Gray’s is rocking another Napoleon and Rex Kwando – yesssss.

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Comments

  2. I don't think I've ever laughed out loud while reading a sewing post. I kept showing pictures to my husband (the dead pan Napoleon? Awesome. Hats off to your awesome models.)

    Oh, the joys of living in Logan when it was released. The dance-off competitions before a screening is still seared into my brain.

    Reply

  5. oh my!!! this is too hilarious for words! i cannot stop laughing! and as i was reading your post it just kept going and going! i am super impressed you did so much! uncle rico's priest shirt had me laughing out loud!!! excellent work!

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  15. YESSSS! This is friggin’ amazing 馃榾 I’m seriously dying right now, this is the coolest, most hilarious thing I’ve seen in a long time!

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  19. Delia you were SUCH a friggin awesome guest! From the titles to the tot pocket to the Preston photos…you KILLED it! Just incredible. Thanks so much for joining us!!! Man I want your kids and my kids to have a Jamiroquai dance off SO BAD…!!

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  26. I really hope these outfits still fit by the time it’s Halloween. Because that would be awesome. I would die to see your little lady with a side ponytail wig too, lol. Great work!

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  31. Love THIS!!! My husband worked in Preston occasionally this last year. Did you try the burger place where Kip & Rico ate the shakes and talked about LaFawnda? Also, the tot pocket is amazing. This is so great Delia!!!

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  36. Agh! Your children need to end up in a movie. I think I would sit and watch two hours of you guys doing this photo shoot. Mustache tickles, haha, that's the cutest kid thing ever.

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  37. YAY! I'm finally getting around to leaving a comment! THIS IS FANTASTIC. Well done Delia. The mustache is killing me! And so funny about Kip. He and was in our stake in Calif and on the High Council and it was hilarious when he'd come to speak because it was nothing like his character. I worked with his wife too. They're a fun couple/family.
    Anyway. Cool stuff!! Love Film

    Reply