Active Solution has a tradition of themed Christmas parties, and this year’s theme is Men In Black, like in the movie. I expect the vast majority to turn up as agents in black suits and sunglasses, but it’s a lot more fun to be an alien.

I made an alien costume for Ingrid for Halloween, oh, maybe ten years ago? I can’t remember which one of us came up with the idea of a four-armed alien, but it was an awesome one, so I’m reusing it. Apparently I took no photos of it at the time, or at least none that ended up on the blog.

Two simple long-sleeved tops that (almost) match in colour and material, and a pair of gloves. Stuff it all and attach the one to the other, and when you wear it, bam, four-armed alien. Pieces of elastic at the wrists looselyl attach the fake arms to my real ones, so when I move mine, the extra two also move.

This time I think I’ve managed to do it with almost zero waste. Both tops are from Skyddsvärnet second hand, and the bottom one has a buttoned neckline so it fits around my waist without any cutting. I’m attaching them to each other with safety pins, which will make fewer holes than machine sewing would.

The sleeves are stuffed with rolled-up wool felt that I had in the basement; the gloves are my mitten liners; the stuffing inside them is a few sheets of newspaper and some squares of kitchen towels for the fingers. I hope to be able to dismantle it all when I’m done, donate the tops back to Skyddsvärnet, and put the gloves back in the glove box.

What I haven’t managed so well is getting it done in time. I bought the tops two weekends ago, and had the arms all done this weekend. I totally forgot to take into account all the evening activities this week – two concerts and a major after-hours release at work – so here I am, putting in safety pins a half-hour to midnight. I’m sure the lighting at the party will hide all shortcuts and mistakes.