tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27156859851100976592024-03-15T01:30:36.241-07:00The Casual CostumerI'm a cosplayer who recreates costumes from Doctor Who, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and pretty much anything that catches my eye. I try to provide as much information as possible so that you can adapt the techniques and resources that I use in your own costuming.casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-78373851013718773552016-01-02T00:00:00.000-08:002016-01-05T19:15:53.476-08:00Paw Patrol!For Halloween 2015, we made Paw Patrol costumes for our niece
and nephew. One was Super Spy Chase, and the other was Marshall.<br />
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It was actually hard to find a plain top and bottom for kids, so I ended up using <a href="http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m7214-products-50383.php?page_id=915&search_control=display&list=search">McCall's 7214</a> pattern, which is for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costume. I used fleece for the arms and legs, and twill for the shirts. They each have a collar, which I made out of foam and sewed to the neck. Marshall has a zipper down the front, which I made to look cartoonish by using black foam and sewing a zipzag down it with gray thread. Marshall's spots were all hand-sewn.<br />
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Chase has bright green stripes, so I used a lime green ribbon and hand-tacked that on (and apparently didn't take any photos ...)<br />
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My husband made the backpacks, helmets, and dog tags, which you can read all about <a href="http://www.matthewgilbert.net/paw-patrol-chase-and-marshall/">on his blog here</a>. I made ears for Chase out of fleece and pink felt and attached them to the completed helmet.<br />
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I attached the dog tags to the collars using the same foam as the collar, and made tails that attached with a safety pin. The final costumes look amazing!<br />
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The niece and nephew thought so, too!<br />
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One final note: I don't make costumes to sell, so please don't contact me about having me make these costumes for you. If you want advice on making your own Paw Patrol costume, you can email me at casualcostumer [at] gmail [dot] com<br />
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-65680412752273273782015-12-31T15:26:00.000-08:002016-01-01T14:26:38.122-08:00Eowyn's Green DressMy friend Katie asked me to make her a dress for Dragon Con. We decided to make Eowyn's green gown, though she wasn't concerned about being super accurate. I used <a href="http://www.costumersguide.com/eowyn_green.shtml">The Costumer's Guide to Movies</a> as my main resource.<br />
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For the pattern, I used <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/misses-costumes/4940.html">Simplicity 4940 </a>(surprise, surprise - the green dress is even on the packaging). The outer dress is made out of green crushed velvet from Jo-Ann's.<br />
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The under dress, which was used for the reverse of the outer dress as well as the lining, was a metallic paisley brocade, also from Jo-Ann's. I dyed all nine yards with apple green Rit dye.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqisX7TZEquJmF28FD84QxAYA2g8I4nENMiqA5MtEhg0ZJLmYCsGoDS_X5geBGC-_nzBLRmSN1ZbLDwHIKlu6BPucW9bGvg1I0zWcSJVpJYAHZZM5RellmtyJRimYMUOFsmBiG05YIMs/s1600/22087_470992453068110_341300039737861785_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqisX7TZEquJmF28FD84QxAYA2g8I4nENMiqA5MtEhg0ZJLmYCsGoDS_X5geBGC-_nzBLRmSN1ZbLDwHIKlu6BPucW9bGvg1I0zWcSJVpJYAHZZM5RellmtyJRimYMUOFsmBiG05YIMs/s320/22087_470992453068110_341300039737861785_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original fabric laid over the dyed fabric</td></tr>
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It turned out so well!<br />
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Attaching the reverse to the sleeves and skirt was a bit annoying, but it worked out. I ended up sewing down the seams of the outer fabric to tack it down nicely. The front panel is open, like Eowyn's.<br />
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I also added a collar.<br />
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The final touch was adding the embroidery along the collar. I couldn't find anything I liked, and even dyed some cotton trim before deciding it wouldn't work. I finally ended up using a gold lace. I tacked it down and hand-stitched it around the entire collar. I actually ended up straightening it a bit more from what you see in the photo, as I didn't like how uneven it turned out.<br />
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The final product ...</div>
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-71230105852395951312015-12-05T06:19:00.001-08:002015-12-05T06:19:42.324-08:00Fiber Etching Silk Velvet (Devore Technique)For <a href="http://casualcostumer.blogspot.com/2015/11/clara-oswald-robot-of-sherwood.html">Clara's <i>Robot of Sherwood</i> dress</a>, I had to burn off the pile of silk-backed velvet. I'm putting these instructions here because even though I followed the directions, they weren't good enough, and I ruined a LOT of fabric, and wasted a LOT of money. I don't want that to happen to you. Please note that I've only used the devore technique on silk velvet, so I have no idea if the following directions apply to other fabrics. As far as how much fiber etch you'll need, I used about 44 ounces for Clara's dress (not including the chemical that I wasted). There may be better ways to do this, but this is what I did, and it worked pretty well for me.<br />
<h4>
What You'll Need:</h4>
- Silk-backed velvet. I used the Moroccan Red velvet from <a href="http://www.syfabrics.com/View.aspx/search/Moroccan-Red-Silk-Velvet-54-Wide/5400/0">SyFabrics</a>.<br />
- Synthrapol, a chemical to prepare the fabric for etching, purchased from <a href="http://www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/synthrapol-detergent.html">Dharma Trading Company </a><br />
- Fiber Etch, a chemical which you can purchase from <a href="http://www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/fiber-etch.html">Dharma Trading Company.</a><br />
- Paint brush<br />
- Respirator<br />
- Gloves<br />
- A design or pattern<br />
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<b>Note: </b>Always wear a respirator during every step that involves the chemical.
It's nasty stuff. I also wore the respirator while scratching off the
pile, as you'll end up breathing it in if you don't. It's essentially
dust at that point, and it's also nasty. Also, PLEASE test a LARGE
piece of cloth on each step before you do this. Trust me. I practiced on a small piece because I didn't want to waste fabric or fiber etch,
and it turned out that my dryer dries unevenly. The small piece turned
out great, but the large panels were unevenly heated, and I tried
reheating them, and I ended up burning holes in the fabric. I had to
throw out FOUR of the six panels. I also had to buy four more yards of
fabric, and another 32 ounces of fiber etch. It was not pretty. There
were tantrums. But hey, it all worked out in the end.<br />
<br />
<b>Step 1: </b>Wash the velvet in HOT water using the Synthrapol, and then tumble dry. I know this seems
scary, but I did a test before I tossed all nine yards in, and it
actually works great and removed all of the wrinkles that had set in during shipping. This is a necessary step because the Synthrapol will remove any impurities that will keep the fiber etch from working properly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxYthmLwY_ODJeHRhZQMIjo6uNZx6aDJunRipxsoBoorbRpR9B2K0vRF8BKup63bUlLR2ZyPg2MEvLPOUumpV8AsiBLTTTSDu5rVs2pMN3TSOjKGL_rw6QzpuC2_JhyphenhyphenG7UotV7LefzwA/s1600/IMG_8669.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxYthmLwY_ODJeHRhZQMIjo6uNZx6aDJunRipxsoBoorbRpR9B2K0vRF8BKup63bUlLR2ZyPg2MEvLPOUumpV8AsiBLTTTSDu5rVs2pMN3TSOjKGL_rw6QzpuC2_JhyphenhyphenG7UotV7LefzwA/s320/IMG_8669.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<b>Step 2: </b> Draw your pattern on. You can use stencils or free-hand it. Matt made me a pattern that I drew around using a washable fabric marker (it disappears when you wet it - you don't have to actually wash it out).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY0LYabI9YvMrrBMtI5uO5s9_S2waFdkb3A0ky9mmGl_AjuehJ1sEn5EuXnb_x7twNaqpQPuvGQ3X1zSKKqjCBE7cQ0dLlICSUWbqukSqKhc505Ogik2IEKxA9BUEMDsInu8ybMyjn0I/s1600/IMG_8713.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY0LYabI9YvMrrBMtI5uO5s9_S2waFdkb3A0ky9mmGl_AjuehJ1sEn5EuXnb_x7twNaqpQPuvGQ3X1zSKKqjCBE7cQ0dLlICSUWbqukSqKhc505Ogik2IEKxA9BUEMDsInu8ybMyjn0I/s320/IMG_8713.jpg" width="240" /></a><b>Step 3:</b> Wearing a respirator, SOAK the parts of the velvet that you want to remove with the fiber
etch, and I mean SOAK. I had purchased the 4 oz bottle to test the technique before purchasing more. I found it was easiest to use the squeeze bottle to apply the fiber etch. Because I was doing such a large area, I cut a
larger hole in the tip. Using the paintbrush, really jam all of the fiber etch
in. Brush in all directions to make sure that it's covering all of the pile. If you think it's soaked enough, soak it some more. When you look at the wrong side of the fabric,
you should see that the chemical is completely soaked through. Please note that the respirator is really important here. The chemical is really strong, and it can damage your lungs and make you feel dizzy.<br />
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<b>Steps 4 and 5</b><span class="text_exposed_show"><b>:</b> Dry the fabric completely. I hung it
on the clothesline in the utility room overnight. When the chemical is
dry, the fabric will be stiff. Throw it in the dryer. I put it in with a
few towels to tumble it around better, as just the fabric wasn't
enough. I had it on high heat set for 30 minutes, but took it out around
15-20 minutes in. This took a lot of trial and error - every dryer will
be different. You'll know when it's done, because the pile will turn black and brittle. </span>If it has heated
unevenly, the directions say that you can put it back in the dryer or iron. DO NOT put it back in the dryer! DO NOT attempt to iron. These are MISTAKES. You will burn holes in the fabric. Instead, turn your hair dryer
on high and move it back and forth over the unprocessed parts. You will
see them turn black right before your eyes, and so can stop before you over-process.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7tpxwiXe771Ht2ycg5Q_fN_mpyAncpCb_EkH9auDLtm0tiVuMr6KXnN5wb9tud1jRUdi1HzCgB-K4qHbq-PJl9je7xGiofzNljas3RA15frPHRn1-er2Ar5ZnhdF1VErCUVeCv-QypA/s1600/IMG_8711.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7tpxwiXe771Ht2ycg5Q_fN_mpyAncpCb_EkH9auDLtm0tiVuMr6KXnN5wb9tud1jRUdi1HzCgB-K4qHbq-PJl9je7xGiofzNljas3RA15frPHRn1-er2Ar5ZnhdF1VErCUVeCv-QypA/s320/IMG_8711.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the right side has been scraped off.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Step 6:</b> Scrape off the pile using the edge of a credit card. Some of the pile will still probably not have processed correctly. If this happens, heat with the hair dryer again. If it still doesn't work, then you didn't soak the fabric enough, and you have a new piece to your design. <br />
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You can see in the left side of the photo that the chemical has processed. The right side of the photo shows what it looks like after being scraped off, leaving the design.<br />
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Beware: lots and lots of pile ends up in your house. It's
everywhere right now. It's like glitter, so try to contain it as much as possible. <br />
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<b> </b><br />
<b>Step 7:</b> Wearing gloves and a respirator, soak fabric under cold running water. Hand wash with liquid soap (I used Dawn dish detergent), lightly rubbing fabric between hands. Rinse thoroughly. This will remove the remaining chemical and any remnants of the pile that gets caught in the fabric. As long as you don't have any holes in the fabric, it's pretty tough. I didn't have any issues with it. However, I tested this part of the process on the fabric I'd ruined, and the tiny holes that I had in the fabric absolutely shredded. So please make sure that your fabric is intact; otherwise, you'll have a real problem.<br />
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<b>Step 8</b>: After washing the fabric, place it between two towels and pat dry, then hang to dry completely. If it gets wrinkly, you can steam it. You might be able to tumble dry it, but at this point, I wasn't taking any chances, so I didn't try it.<br />
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<b>The Finished Product:</b><br />
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When you've finished all of the steps, this is what you're left with. As you can see, there are a few mistakes where the velvet didn't process correctly, but for Clara's dress, this adds to the design. Obviously, if your design needs to be perfectly clean, then practice until you've mastered the technique.<b> </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjf6R-HgcUqJS8cdVmbJaEBUkEtyD-0j6DzDUx47zcLwCXx6aP2K87U9M-sITVsvIpmwmD4a4r21nIPXn_IY5h17PQJyGsno5Pe56tEEA_0sTjn5Bhyphenhyphendrb_ivGdwsFku64BdrhwMGAR8/s1600/final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjf6R-HgcUqJS8cdVmbJaEBUkEtyD-0j6DzDUx47zcLwCXx6aP2K87U9M-sITVsvIpmwmD4a4r21nIPXn_IY5h17PQJyGsno5Pe56tEEA_0sTjn5Bhyphenhyphendrb_ivGdwsFku64BdrhwMGAR8/s320/final.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>Over-Processing:</b><br /><br />
The following photo is what happens when you over-process. Don't
over-process. Learn from my mistakes! Even if you have a small hole,
it will shred and ruin your entire project. You can see on the lower right corner that I put some <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-674-Liquid-Sealant-0-75-Ounce/dp/B0019KBWA2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449324938&sr=8-1&keywords=fray+check+glue">fray check</a> to see what would happen. It discolored the fabric, making it even worse.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAlElWVsEJJM4aDMUslfcZqUf-kJ1fv1fOrer2h8lfw_qGwjWA0VdUArqrHGttuL8pAaqD0SZZIbE7Y_Dtz4xIg9yiMHH4ObqflIV2-i0-ysMvxMndAu4-JhnMWdB8wgR0SiDMvhzvbo/s1600/IMG_8684.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAlElWVsEJJM4aDMUslfcZqUf-kJ1fv1fOrer2h8lfw_qGwjWA0VdUArqrHGttuL8pAaqD0SZZIbE7Y_Dtz4xIg9yiMHH4ObqflIV2-i0-ysMvxMndAu4-JhnMWdB8wgR0SiDMvhzvbo/s320/IMG_8684.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />So I ruined four of the six skirt panels this way because I'd already
sewn the skirt together (to know where to put the design). I remade the
four panels separately. <br />
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That's how I fiber-etched Clara's skirt. I may try this technique again in the future, but on a much smaller scale.<br />
casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-11128695912816534572015-12-03T14:44:00.000-08:002015-12-05T05:20:07.348-08:00Chicago TARDIS 2015 Wrap-UpThankgiving weekend is always the highlight of a Chicago Whovian's year: Chicago TARDIS! Every year is better than the last, and this year was no different. We had the most amazing time, saw a bunch of old friends, and made lots of new ones. We also did a really bad job of taking photos this time around ...<br />
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We'd been planning since January to make <a href="http://casualcostumer.blogspot.com/2015/11/clara-oswald-robot-of-sherwood.html">Clara</a> and <a href="http://www.matthewgilbert.net/robin-hood-doctor-who/">Robin Hood </a>from <i>Robot of Sherwood</i>, but when Jenna Coleman was announced as a guest, we upgraded to Priority memberships and purchased a photo session with her. However, only a few weeks before the con, she had to cancel due to her filming schedule. While I was relieved (for some reason, I was ridiculously anxious at the thought of meeting her in our costumes), that meant that we had spent a whole lot of money on nothing. Even though we'll get a refund for the photo session, we hadn't gotten the upgrade for any other reason. So, we skipped going to my in-laws' Thanksgiving dinner on Friday night and attended the con together on Friday for the first time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALi17jh4xI5cyEVPECr8o-B1Q7iSgEahMk2G2rblAZFJfx5QlUfF9mWB0NFagQGToKXSC3zpIuY7xODyf_aIhKTkTcrEmKHFI0j6yiCF7MN-0kMtY1hE-weGZD6TKXvoddP7TyKDhLGg/s1600/dalek+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALi17jh4xI5cyEVPECr8o-B1Q7iSgEahMk2G2rblAZFJfx5QlUfF9mWB0NFagQGToKXSC3zpIuY7xODyf_aIhKTkTcrEmKHFI0j6yiCF7MN-0kMtY1hE-weGZD6TKXvoddP7TyKDhLGg/s320/dalek+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dalek Jo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrDrCe9atm7e1wlZOhrC_byanneaRPFYQoQYDzU-04pDgrbJbJK14pY0Qko-xJB5E3Hwn77eBGrptGWhkBPwE6JSG0QO2cUugK362RD0xl-Kj0c9ywjk-djkIGtlcRKWpX3mYLXkIo5I/s1600/dalek+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrDrCe9atm7e1wlZOhrC_byanneaRPFYQoQYDzU-04pDgrbJbJK14pY0Qko-xJB5E3Hwn77eBGrptGWhkBPwE6JSG0QO2cUugK362RD0xl-Kj0c9ywjk-djkIGtlcRKWpX3mYLXkIo5I/s320/dalek+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dalek Ten</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of the other guests was Katy Manning, who played Jo Grant during the Third Doctor's era. When we watched <i>The Curse of Peladon</i>, I fell in love with her Oh-So-Seventies dress. Because Katy was going to be a guest, I decided to make the dress. I also decided to wear it and take part in the Chronological Cavalcade, a costume "parade" of sorts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIDbDgkBfRoR7EFLWzCjpYQYUCvZiMroG4ZxXMhmEETma5B19Rd72J4jHflOCHeLoO5ClCC5eXMkD7buXFF0MSLyOQ6Uh4cGVEvaGMLBM9BMifN62dR32TjPbj3f3-eiwwU_HjXpK9_A/s1600/Jo+TARDIS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIDbDgkBfRoR7EFLWzCjpYQYUCvZiMroG4ZxXMhmEETma5B19Rd72J4jHflOCHeLoO5ClCC5eXMkD7buXFF0MSLyOQ6Uh4cGVEvaGMLBM9BMifN62dR32TjPbj3f3-eiwwU_HjXpK9_A/s320/Jo+TARDIS.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jo and the TARDIS together again ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJXHm2CvGTGjydBW2HeodgglfnmTzeCsgXsYpbr-E-Jy5HSawIeyvj_T4_TMGFXjuN-KqBur7D8oQk54qCtSLlxzmCU58Sei-Qj571SyjbZS-8EC2sAI_I2oRxSVFY-u-Tke1HdR9UUc/s1600/cavalcade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJXHm2CvGTGjydBW2HeodgglfnmTzeCsgXsYpbr-E-Jy5HSawIeyvj_T4_TMGFXjuN-KqBur7D8oQk54qCtSLlxzmCU58Sei-Qj571SyjbZS-8EC2sAI_I2oRxSVFY-u-Tke1HdR9UUc/s320/cavalcade.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After the Cavalcade was over, we stayed for Lobby Con, which is essentially just a big party out in the lobby, with everything from drinking to games going on. Matt and I played a round of <a href="http://io9.com/print-out-the-doctor-who-version-of-cards-against-human-1506183169">Cards Against Gallifrey</a>, hung out with a bunch of friends from past cons, and met a whole new group as well.<br />
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On Saturday, we arrived at 10am dressed as the Clockwork Droid and the Eleventh Doctor. I lurked for a while in the lobby, and several guests went past and checked me out, and a few complimented the costume. At one point, an older British gentleman kept trying to talk to me, telling me how great I looked, but I stayed in character and didn't reply. He then wandered over and struck up a conversation with Matt, who was holding an extra Clockwork mask (I wanted the people at my panel to be able to pick it up and look at it, and not have to touch the mask that had just been on my face. Yuck.) It turns out that he was Richard Franklin, also known as Captain Yates from UNIT. Honestly, I hadn't even realized he was there! He told Matt how amazing the Clockwork mask was and tried to buy it off of him. When Matt told me this later, I told him he should have just given it to him! <br />
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We then went to the panel that I was hosting with my friends Brandon and Amanda. It was really well-attended, but I think that next year we need to move past the "beginning" cosplay, as we had few true beginners in the audience, and so the things that we were talking about were a bit more complex than they were ready for. Apparently, not everyone dives right into sewing! A lot of the information from that panel can be <a href="http://casualcostumer.blogspot.com/2011/11/notes-from-chicagotardis-2011-costuming.html">found here</a>.<br />
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After the panel, I met up with my friend Valerie, who cosplays a female Clockwork Droid. She's an actress, and her movement and portrayal is absolutely brilliant, and I felt a bit intimidated by her. While I think I do a great job, she's leagues beyond me, and I found myself sometimes just standing and watching her, but not wanting to try it out for myself because I thought I'd look pretty silly. We wandered around for an hour scaring people. It was one of the best experiences I've had at any con so far. There was a large party staying at the hotel that had nothing to do with the con, and they were going around on Friday night and Saturday morning taking photos with people. There was one family with three or four boys, and the boys were getting their photos taken with me. A little girl was hiding behind her mother during that time, and when they suggested she also get in the photo, she started WAILING. I have to admit that it made me laugh.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhuTDf6Z9yaWWV3p8w7cFsuA_K0z97zSTnF13L6VSfN0vi-GoaVyEX5_mc02YK6wTyUe4qwmAYlFpsCNY7ur8O5WJErc4uXfp8r-aQ0sAkx9awypr0V9zPw-tfDtVodGkoSIbS0UH9dU/s1600/Clockworks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhuTDf6Z9yaWWV3p8w7cFsuA_K0z97zSTnF13L6VSfN0vi-GoaVyEX5_mc02YK6wTyUe4qwmAYlFpsCNY7ur8O5WJErc4uXfp8r-aQ0sAkx9awypr0V9zPw-tfDtVodGkoSIbS0UH9dU/s320/Clockworks.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Matt had entered us Friday morning for Saturday night's Masquerade, and turned in all of our reference and construction photos. We went to the Masquerade meeting at 3:00, and then went home to have lunch and change. We were supposed to be back for judging no later than 7:30, and we almost didn't make it. Apparently, even with giving ourselves more than three hours to get ready, it wasn't enough. When we got to the green room, the judges were nowhere to be found. We kept getting updates: they'll be here in 30 minutes! 20 minutes! And then the updates stopped, so finally I went over and asked where the judges were. One woman stood up and said she was a judge, and she'd already seen our documentation. But if there was anything else we wanted to add ... I was a bit confused. The other two times we've entered, the judges were very thorough, taking photos of our costumes and examining them. However, she didn't look at anyone else's costumes any more thoroughly than she did ours. Okay ...<br />
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One of the other contestants was a young Robot of Sherwood Clara. She made her entire costume herself. I was utterly impressed, and I'm glad that she won an award in the Young Fan category. I still can't get over what a great job she did.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80IRPk9U0IQwzh6_Hkx9t4D7tgXFM35w_Ygla6qio3Rg9B84Xj3tDDNpzyptnO9NUWO539nJSeJKOoBd6jCVPrFHJAk-kZPl6jO_m4ab88x_u3RpfaAwj8svTUguCum_pwjlpzLGhl3U/s1600/Two+Claras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80IRPk9U0IQwzh6_Hkx9t4D7tgXFM35w_Ygla6qio3Rg9B84Xj3tDDNpzyptnO9NUWO539nJSeJKOoBd6jCVPrFHJAk-kZPl6jO_m4ab88x_u3RpfaAwj8svTUguCum_pwjlpzLGhl3U/s320/Two+Claras.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Claras</td></tr>
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My friend Stacey was also in the Masquerade in her gorgeous Missy costume. In fact, one of the best parts of the weekend was that I spent a lot of time with her, and we were even next to each other in the lineup. Though we live only about 20 minutes from each other, we can't seem to get our acts together to meet up between cons.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missy loves the Master Minion.</td></tr>
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Back to the Masquerade! We had a great time, and we ended up winning Best in Show - Workmanship. That was pretty awesome. After the Masquerade, I changed out of Clara so that I wouldn't ruin the dress, and we joined Lobby Con. We couldn't stay too long, though, as we were both absolutely exhausted.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepEK1bphmb8SrcZUh3YXSByC-04b5-IxVB1Lpmj287DJhA-ZZoO8lFpY5PRs79FjmKgs25E9TgJoPQhd79d97rNqUcvMYDIn7QJiHo-gf1lf6Ekn77OES2lUN6Mru-hF7Lh_0EvnVYgU/s1600/lobby+con.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepEK1bphmb8SrcZUh3YXSByC-04b5-IxVB1Lpmj287DJhA-ZZoO8lFpY5PRs79FjmKgs25E9TgJoPQhd79d97rNqUcvMYDIn7QJiHo-gf1lf6Ekn77OES2lUN6Mru-hF7Lh_0EvnVYgU/s320/lobby+con.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobby Con, where Clara, Davros, and Leela hang out together.</td></tr>
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On Sunday, we suited up as Clara and Robin again in the morning. After lunch, Matt changed into civvies and I put Jo back on. We went to the UNIT and Torchwood panel, which consisted of Burn Gorman and the three guests from the Third Doctor era. As John Levene (Sergeant Benton) got on stage, he asked if anyone had filmed his cabaret panel Friday night. Well, our friend Alyssa from <a href="http://www.spacegypsies.com/">Space Gypsies</a> had, and so she raised her hand. He told her he'd like a copy, so after the panel she left her business card with the staff. That was pretty neat! I hope that he does contact her and get his copy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLx2wX0pxmt0r3e66Re_SXj4rvXOVQ3HuTgBJyA1l-FQ2ZfGdPsIG7UYFGQA9eSqzYUaUeZtpG8w-0qjTDTtUNNCbuWvmYrql49jL-0In8-HfE8AWxkEynsWwVbMyii9yICDQEKC1C2E/s1600/alyssa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLx2wX0pxmt0r3e66Re_SXj4rvXOVQ3HuTgBJyA1l-FQ2ZfGdPsIG7UYFGQA9eSqzYUaUeZtpG8w-0qjTDTtUNNCbuWvmYrql49jL-0In8-HfE8AWxkEynsWwVbMyii9yICDQEKC1C2E/s320/alyssa.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta love Alyssa's K-9 outfit!</td></tr>
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Overall, I think the person who enjoyed the con the most was Samual Anderson, who plays Danny Pink. Every time we saw him, he was having a blast. By Sunday, he was wearing a poncho and a pink paper crown from a Christmas cracker.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnco0Kvr5nIkwM9irykB0-69MBWH49BBzpmeDKh_UOyTKvOb8pQenek_lFMDsxNISUhPALZ9cOIbDHikzuV2LjJyAsaHE05Mg_TxrzjV6NC6rk_yzp7vgv-4FVRuGk9Sqr9_m9zqHKRk/s1600/IMG_8831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnco0Kvr5nIkwM9irykB0-69MBWH49BBzpmeDKh_UOyTKvOb8pQenek_lFMDsxNISUhPALZ9cOIbDHikzuV2LjJyAsaHE05Mg_TxrzjV6NC6rk_yzp7vgv-4FVRuGk9Sqr9_m9zqHKRk/s320/IMG_8831.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: Richard Franklin, John Levene, Dan Starkey, Sam Anderson</td></tr>
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I'm sure I left some stuff out, but we're still recovering from the weekend! We LOVED seeing everyone, and we can't wait until next year!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uAViaw77AvOPB5ZJCmWqYomY0z9TLTM0R39tBpl6ZPFFmoMLxBhu7tMYOVqpUDtuZInVoY-wjxVyh7hLC0df7vawkulneSt_18NQcjz3RJ_NqpSOHbgCtYD3yf6_zNyp3Dtj6CYAx3g/s1600/Spoon+and+Robin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uAViaw77AvOPB5ZJCmWqYomY0z9TLTM0R39tBpl6ZPFFmoMLxBhu7tMYOVqpUDtuZInVoY-wjxVyh7hLC0df7vawkulneSt_18NQcjz3RJ_NqpSOHbgCtYD3yf6_zNyp3Dtj6CYAx3g/s320/Spoon+and+Robin.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why a spoon, Doctor?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtnMXM_eJUkhQAgC6x9xsbm3LukaH937Ucx_hfDofut0O_ER4EVaKZVJON2Ctut4_OGN2Jdy0cE4Gg4G8uXktkf9aD6fX5so7srwVVqhlUgQHa4j5WPIGnL-_EdGte4g5csjYZKttC7E/s1600/1st+Doctor+era.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtnMXM_eJUkhQAgC6x9xsbm3LukaH937Ucx_hfDofut0O_ER4EVaKZVJON2Ctut4_OGN2Jdy0cE4Gg4G8uXktkf9aD6fX5so7srwVVqhlUgQHa4j5WPIGnL-_EdGte4g5csjYZKttC7E/s320/1st+Doctor+era.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Doctor Era</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-91353470251187497222015-11-26T23:28:00.003-08:002015-12-01T13:17:03.316-08:00Clara Oswald - Robot of SherwoodWhen the <i>Doctor Who </i>episode <i>Robot of Sherwood</i> aired last year, we immediately knew that we had to make the Clara and Robin Hood costumes.<br />
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Matt got to work on his Robin Hood, though I made the tunic and trousers. He's posted his build <a href="http://www.matthewgilbert.net/robin-hood-doctor-who/">over on his website</a>, so check it out.<br />
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Clara was a tough project to get started because it involved processes that I'd never done before, processes that involved pretty much one shot, or they'd be ruined. <br />
<h4>
Bodice and Skirt:</h4>
For the bodice I modified <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-2022-costumes.aspx">Simplicity 3809</a> so that the neck had a different shape. I used <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-2201-costumes.aspx">Simplicity 4940</a> (my favorite pattern) for the skirt, and modified it so that it had a seam in the front.<br />
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You can see in the photo of the original costume that the bottom of the skirt is see-through. This effect is achieved by using the devore (fiber etching) technique. Devore means "devour", and it burns away plant fibers like cotton. When using this technique with velvet, you must use silk-backed velvet, which means that when you apply the chemical, only the silk is left, which makes it look like chiffon.<br />
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Back in the spring, I ordered some swatches of Moroccan red silk-backed velvet from <a href="http://www.syfabrics.com/View.aspx/search/Moroccan-Red-Silk-Velvet-54-Wide/5400/0">Syfabrics.com </a>and a 4oz bottle of the fiber etch chemical from <a href="http://www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/fiber-etch.html">Dharma Trading Company</a>. I tried it out on a small swatch, and it looked great, so I ordered 9 yards. Those 9 yards then sat in my sewing room all year. I was so scared to touch it, because I knew that I literally had one shot at this, as you cannot reprocess the chemical. (Please note that the skirt and sleeves ended up using about 44 ounces of the fiber etch.)<br />
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I finally decided in October to get started. I've worked with a lot of velvet before - crushed, stretch, regular. I've never had a huge problem with it. The silk-backed velvet was a bitch. Even though I cut out each piece individually, the patterns wouldn't pin onto the fabric correctly, which meant that each piece was a distorted version of what it was supposed to be (and don't worry, I only tested this out on small pieces of the bodice). I ended up using temporary adhesive spray to literally glue the patterns onto the back of the velvet. That worked REALLY great!<br />
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I then used <a href="http://www.joann.com/dritz-washaway-wonder-tape-1-4inw-x-10yds/3496254.html#q=wonder%2Btape&start=5">Wonder Tape</a> to tape the edges of the seams together, which was WONDERful (har har). Seriously, this stuff is amazing. Go out and buy it now, even if you're not working with velvet.<br />
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Anyway, I assembled the bodice and skirt, and then I also made a lining out of the Casa Collection RB Matte Satin - Scarlet, which I found at Jo Ann's. I had no idea how I was going to attach the bodice to the skirt, but I knew I had to do all of the devore before I attached the bodice, so I put it off. I also used the devore technique on the sleeves.<br />
<h4>
Devore Technique</h4>
I'll do another blog post with more detail about the devore, but here's a quick overview. Note: Always wear a respirator during every step that involves the chemical. It's nasty stuff. I also wore the respirator while scratching off the pile, as you'll end up breathing it in if you don't. It's essentially dust at that point, and it's also nasty. Also, PLEASE test a LARGE piece of cloth on each step before you do this. Trust me. I did it with a small piece because I didn't want to waste fabric or fiber etch, and it turned out that my dryer dries unevenly. The small piece turned out great, but the large panels were unevenly heated, and I tried reheating them, and I ended up burning holes in the fabric. I had to throw out FOUR of the six panels. I had to buy four more yards of fabric, and another 32 ounces of fiber etch. It was not pretty. There were tantrums. But hey, I'm a flipping EXPERT at this now (although, if I ever decide to do it again, I think I'd rather just take out a couple hundred-dollar bills from the cash machine and light them in the fireplace).<br />
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1. Wash the velvet in HOT water using <a href="http://www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/synthrapol-detergent.html">Synthrapol,</a> which I got at Dharma Trading, and then tumble dry. I know this seems scary, but I did a test before I tossed all nine yards in, and it actually works great and removed all of the wrinkles that had set in. <br />
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2. SOAK the parts of the velvet that you want to remove with the fiber etch. I used a small paintbrush to really jam all of the fiber etch in. If you think it's soaked enough, soak it some more. Matt had made me a pattern, which I traced onto the fabric using a fabric marker that washes off with water. When you look at the wrong side of the fabric, you should see that the chemical is completely soaked through.<br />
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3. Let dry. I hung my panels up on the indoor clothesline.<br />
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4. Toss in a hot dryer for 10-20 minutes (check on it VERY often if you're not sure how hot your dryer is). When the chemical has been activated, it turns black and is very brittle. If it has heated unevenly, DO NOT put it back in the dryer! DO NOT attempt to iron, like the directions say. This is a MISTAKE. Instead, turn your hair dryer on high and move it back and forth over the unprocessed parts. You will see them turn black right before your eyes.<br />
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5. Scratch off all of the blackened chemical. I used the edge of a credit card. Beware: lots and lots of pile ends up in your house. It's everywhere right now. It's like glitter.<br />
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6. Wash under cold running water with liquid soap to remove any remaining chemical, then let dry. I used gloves during this process as well as the respirator.<br />
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The following photo is what happens when you over-process. Don't over-process. Learn from my mistakes! Even if you have a small hole, when you wash it, it will just shred. <br />
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So I ruined four of the six skirt panels this way because I'd already sewn the skirt together (to know where to put the design). I remade the four panels separately. However, because velvet is A BITCH, when I sewed them together, they were all wrong. The hem, which has a lovely scalloped design, is uneven all the way around (and in one spot, there's no scallop because it all got hemmed away). I think the only way I can fix it is to cut out the scallops from new pieces of velvet and sew it to the existing skirt, but I don't have time before Chicago TARDIS. I'll fix it at some point before we do our photo shoot next spring/summer.<br />
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<h4>
<u>More Details</u></h4>
In addition to the devore, the skirt and
sleeves required further details, including flowers and vines painted
on. My husband was kind enough to do this part for me, as he's an
artist and I'm a terrible painter. He did a beautiful job! Everything was painted prior to stitching it all together.<br />
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<h4 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Over Sleeves</h4>
The over sleeves are a modification of the pattern I drafted for <a href="http://casualcostumer.blogspot.com/2013/08/eowyn-victory-dress-part-2-jacket.html">Eowyn's jacket</a>
in 2013. Luckily, the seams match up the same way Eowyn's does, but the shoulder is shaped differently. I also had to modify the bottom of the sleeves, as Eowyn's sleeves
are much longer and squared off. The exterior is velvet, but the interior is silver. For the interior, I
used a silvery organza fabric that I found at <a href="http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/">Vogue Fabrics</a> in Evanston. I apologize, as I don't have the name of the fabric anymore. It was too sheer and you could see the red velvet underneath, so I attached a black lining to the silver and it made a nice effect. From L-R below, original fabric, fabric over lining, and lining.<br />
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The sleeves also have a lovely silver lace fringe. I <a href="https://www.etsy.com/transaction/1077846668">purchased some lace from Etsy</a>, but it had these long dangly bits. I cut them off and attached the lace to the sleeve.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTTKfNsGhWQ2Cz_Ie64LRZy1EeNcmPGBFM9ARqWyKgKxr3BafE-wTmsgPIvGLTDaYDFLV4txOBp4-N1nwkNlLHn_kdktjO6Ov-bKa7xCic2XCtNNJhNXcyZcIlimq5Y8zPRN6nTXnPsc/s1600/IMG_8652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTTKfNsGhWQ2Cz_Ie64LRZy1EeNcmPGBFM9ARqWyKgKxr3BafE-wTmsgPIvGLTDaYDFLV4txOBp4-N1nwkNlLHn_kdktjO6Ov-bKa7xCic2XCtNNJhNXcyZcIlimq5Y8zPRN6nTXnPsc/s200/IMG_8652.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
</h4>
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<h4>
Final Steps</h4>
After all the skirt panels were done, I attached them to each other. For the bodice, I attached the under sleeve to the lining and the over sleeve to the velvet. I attached the bodice neck to the lining neck, and stitched them together at the two fronts. The bodice seemed pretty flimsy, so I made 1/4" channels in the seams and inserted zip ties as boning to give it some shape and support. Zip ties are great if you don't need a ton of support, like you would for a strapless dress. Unlike plastic boning, they're already straight and super cheap. <br />
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After I turned the fabric to the right side, I ran a quick line at the bottom to keep the two together. I left a few inches of the front of the skirt open for the eyelets, and then attached the bodice to the skirt.<br />
I also made the cuffs for the sleeves. The last thing I did with both pieces was add eyelets and laces. This was surprisingly easy, as Matt had made an awl, which I pushed though the fabric (instead of cutting a small hole), then pulled the eyelet through.<br />
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I added trim around the neck. I used a silver trim
from Jo Ann's, which was similar to the trim I used for Elsa, just
slightly wider. <br />
The final step was adding 3mm crystal rhinestones that I found at <a href="http://blinggasm.com/">Blinggasm.com</a> I attached them using E6000. Again, wear your respirator for this step, as E6000 is nasty and will make you feel pretty sick if you're using it for more than about five minutes. It apparently also has really awful side effects if you're using it on a regular basis.<br />
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<u><b>Accessories</b></u><br />
Clara wears a lovely headpiece that's made by Topshop. They don't have them anymore, so I made my own by first making a mold, then cold casting in resin. I then braided several lengths of silver chain and attached them to the larger piece. My first version was a bit too large, so Matt sculpted me a new one. He added the detail into the sculpt. The earrings are feather charms that I found at <a href="http://www.michaels.com/">Michael's</a>. She also wears several rings from Topshop, but I simply pulled them from my own jewelry. I may eventually try to find something better, but right now, I don't care.<br />
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Clara wears peep-toe booties, and the originals are something like $300. I found the following shoes at <a href="http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/Lace-Up-Peep-Toe-Booties/304192.uts">Charlotte Russe</a> for significantly less.<br />
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The final step was ordering an <a href="http://www.flagcenter.com/silver-cord-tassel/">8-foot-long belt from FlagCenter.com</a>. I also bought a cord and tassle from Jo Ann's in case the belt didn't get here in time (it took almost a week for them to ship it, and the shipping was 3-5 business days). Those I just glued together, so they don't look fabulous, but they'll work if need be. I also purchased red tights from Amazon, as I could only find maroon tights in the stores.<br />
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And here are the completed costumes!<br />
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-79549266348033250662015-09-11T16:33:00.003-07:002015-09-11T17:59:14.863-07:00DragonCon 2015Last year we were unable to go to DragonCon due to the fact that we were taking a trip to the UK, so we were really looking forward to going this year. It didn't disappoint! We've been making friends in the con community for a few years, so we knew more people than just our roommates, and we were looking forward to seeing them. (We only ran into a few, which just shows how large DragonCon is!)<br />
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We started out Thursday night as Burt Macklin and Janet Snakehole from Parks and Rec. (Thanks to @tiarala for this awesome photo!)<br />
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We also met this fantastic Ron and Tammy 2 pair. They were spot on and stayed in character!<br />
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While we were out roaming the floor, we decided to get drinks, which we never do, as they're SO expensive. Also, we're not huge drinkers, so we barely drink at DragonCon anyway. However, I thought it would be appropriate for Janet Snakehole to have an old fashioned in her hand. Matt went off to order our drinks at the bar in the Marriott Atrium, and I lounged against the railing with my best Janet Snakehole expression on my face. A few minutes later, an older man walked away from the bar. He was wearing a hat, had a drink in his hand, and carried a cane over his arm. It was Sylvester McCoy! I gave him a small wave of acknowledgement, and he looked right at me and said, "You look very elegant, my dear." I replied loftily, "Thank you, Doctor."<br />
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So that was pretty amazing.<br />
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On Friday we went to several panels and met up with our friend Katie, who was at her first con ever. She is an enthusiastic person, and on an enthusiasm scale of 1 to 10, she's at about an 8 on a normal day. At DragonCon, she was peaking at about a 15. As an introvert, I can only exert so much energy to deal with that level of energy before I start to wear out like a wind-up toy at the end of its wind.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katie - Just looking at that smile makes me tired.</td></tr>
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We got into our LOTR costumes and went out on the floor for a while. We ran into Frank Ippolito and Bill Doran, who Matt follows on YouTube. He'd used some of their tutorials for his armor, so he talked to them for a bit. Then I turned around and saw Norm from <a href="http://www.tested.com/">Tested</a> with his camera. He was facing away from us, but I hoping that if he turned around and saw Matt, he'd snap a photo, and that's exactly what happened! Matt even made it into Norm's <a href="http://www.tested.com/art/540298-dragoncon-2015-cosplay-gallery-850-photos/item/dragoncon_2015_201/#comments">photo gallery</a>, which is pretty epic!<br />
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As Matt, Katie, and I were heading to Evening at Bree, we got into an elevator that was going up, as we'd been unsuccessful at catching the ones going down. A few floors up, Michael Trucco from Battlestar Galactica hopped on with a friend. It was all I could do to keep myself from elbowing Matt. For the last few floors, it was just us and Trucco and his friend. We chatted about elevators and people taking too slow to jump on or something I don't know he smelled so good and I was being so chill and not at all star struck and he smelled so good ...<br />
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Where was I? Oh yeah. When we got out, I waited for the appropriate amount of distance to elapse between us and Trucco's retreating back before I squealed. I've only seen the show briefly while Matt was watching it so I couldn't even tell you his character's name, but DAMN, he is one fine specimen.<br />
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Katie wore the Eowyn dress that I made her, and I'll blog about that soon. Three of the dwarves from The Hobbit were at Evening at Bree: Stephen Hunter, who was the emcee for the costume contest (and added his own bits of humor to the contestants' costume descriptions), Dean O'Gorman, and Peter Hambleton. I loved seeing all of the costumes in the contest. The creativity of Tolkien fans is inspiring, and I'm always impressed by the dwarf costumes. One of my favorite costumes this year was made by <a href="http://www.jedielfqueen.com/">JediElfQueen</a>: Galadriel's battle armor from The Hobbit, which is a costume that only ever existed as concept art. It is absolutely gorgeous. I'd been following her construction of the piece on Facebook, and was thrilled to see it in person!<br />
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On Saturday, we finally dressed up in our Narnia costumes. We've been working our butts off to finish Queen Susan's upgrades and Prince Caspian's costume before DragonCon. Matt's got some posts up about his <a href="http://www.matthewgilbert.net/prince-caspian/">Caspian costume</a> as well as <a href="http://www.matthewgilbert.net/susan-pevensies-bow/">Susan's bow</a>, so make sure you check those out. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A random Dustin/Starlord appears ...</td></tr>
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That night, we went to the Middle Earth 90's Dance Party. We'd been to the party in 2013, and it was a blast. This year, though, it was held in the Marriott Atrium, which is drunk asshole central. At one point I left, and had to wait in line almost 15 minutes to get back in. There were more random drunk people than Tolkien track people, but it was still fun. The best part was wearing our 90's costumes! Matt was Grunge Eomer, and I was Goth Eowyn. My friend Tiara was my fashion consultant, and I think I looked brilliant! I wish I could wear this outfit somewhere else, because it was phenomenal. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone knew I was supposed to be Eowyn.<br />
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On Sunday, we wore our Back to the Future costumes (Lorraine and Marty) in honor of 2015 (the year that Marty travels to in BTTF2). We ran into Disney Robin Hood and Maid Marian (and Skippy the Rabbit?) as well as the 12th Doctor and a terrifying Headless Horseman.<br />
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We later changed back into Prince Caspian and Queen Susan, and went to the Hobbit Drinking Songs event with Katie, which was great fun! Despite all of the empty chairs in the photo, it ended up being a packed room.<br />
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We didn't just walk around in costume, though. We both went to some amazing panels, including Hobbit/LOTR cast members, Historic Haunts Investigations, Ghost Hunters, and various prop and costume panels. At the Sleepy Hollow panel, a fan asked Tom Mison if he'd ever been called "Super Hot Jesus", and that became the theme for the rest of the panel. He seemed alternately bothered and pleased by the title. We also went to the Shawn Trpcic panel, which was fantastic, as I'd been hoping for years that she'd make it to DragonCon. She was the costume designer on Firefly, Dr. Horrible, and many other shows and films that we watch. Shawna is down-to-earth and encouraging, and a real inspiration.<br />
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One of my favorite moments this weekend was when someone asked at the Hobbit/LOTR panel if they were the Donner Party, who would they eat first? After some explanation concerning the Donner Party, Stephen Hunter slunk off stage while Sylvester McCoy staggered zombie-like after him. A few moments later, they both returned, Sylvester missing an arm and Stephen licking his fingers. Those two make a phenomenal physical comedy team, and I would love to see them perform together.<br />
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As we left on Monday, we were both starting to feel a bit of con crud creeping up on us. By the time we got home 13 hours later, we were both suffering from full-blown con crud, which struck us in the form of a severe head cold/flu. Four days later, I am finally feeling well enough to get off the couch and write this up. I might even start unpacking! It seems like almost everyone we knew at DragonCon got hit really hard this year, so something a bit more potent than usual must have been going around.<br />
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Make sure you're following us in the following places, and stay tuned for most posts:<br />
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www.facebook.com/casualcostumers<br />
www.matthewgilbert.net <br />
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-65752902683669171222015-07-19T10:39:00.000-07:002015-07-19T10:39:00.084-07:00New Facebook PageIf you haven't followed us by now, check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/casualcostumers">our new Facebook page</a>! It's Casual Costumers (with an s) because both my husband Matt and I are posting to it. We'll be updating it as we work on our projects, and you'll also be able to see some of the props and other projects that Matt works on, which generally don't end up here.<br />
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-44798329215900896112015-07-18T10:22:00.002-07:002015-07-18T10:27:23.106-07:00Caspian's TunicI've been gone a lot longer than I thought! Well, I'm starting to really kick into gear for DragonCon, so I've been working on a bunch of costumes. First up: Caspian's tunic!<br />
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I finally convinced my husband to be the Prince Caspian to my Queen Susan. He made the boots a few weeks ago (you can see that on his <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Cdiv%20class=%22tumblr-post%22%20data-href=%22https://embed.tumblr.com/embed/post/1sDof3zoAn00Bz8Uz4CqeQ/123148196554%22%20data-did=%2244fa20ef9707fbd3e463b99ae0cfe09fcea72b5d%22%3E%3Ca%20href=%22http://pitoftharkun.tumblr.com/post/123148196554/lil-bit7-simply-michi-pitoftharkun-this%22%3Ehttp://pitoftharkun.tumblr.com/post/123148196554/lil-bit7-simply-michi-pitoftharkun-this%3C/a%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cscript%20async%20src=%22https://secure.assets.tumblr.com/post.js%22%3E%3C/script%3E">Tumblr here</a>), and just finished the chain maile the other night. I've been working on his tunic and trousers.<br />
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Here's the finished product, but I'll go into more detail below.<br />
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I made the trousers by ripping a pair of his old jeans apart, tracing the fabric, and then making a new pattern. The fabric for the trousers was <a href="https://www.fabric.com/buy/0348386/soho-suede-green">Soho Suede Green</a> from Fabric.com. The fabric for the tunic is a brown suede from JoAnn Fabrics. It probably should be the same material from Fabric.com, but you literally see just his elbows and collar, so Matt was kind of meh about what fabric I used. I found the <a href="http://www.larp.com/midgard/tunic.htm">pattern for the tunic here</a> - it's the same one that I used for <a href="http://casualcostumer.blogspot.com/2013/09/eomer-fabrics.html">Eomer's tunic</a>.<br />
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Step-by-step instructions for constructing the tunic after you've made the pattern and cut out the fabric follows (the green fabric is for a Robin Hood costume):<br />
<br />
<b>Step 1:</b><br />
With right sides together, sew the front to the back at the shoulders.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnsTlLajRAJisKzTbjcVnyWKDS6JR8x7WrY8noVKGkJ52mB-Gue4QxOp01JMnv0Ws6XJ7-mVtLlnnW1dsYlbBccEvNovzeDeANCyGD3vmxa0DLgXlYrvs3CCbonv-9eWYRv5R4lZ4FJs/s1600/RobinHood+step+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnsTlLajRAJisKzTbjcVnyWKDS6JR8x7WrY8noVKGkJ52mB-Gue4QxOp01JMnv0Ws6XJ7-mVtLlnnW1dsYlbBccEvNovzeDeANCyGD3vmxa0DLgXlYrvs3CCbonv-9eWYRv5R4lZ4FJs/s320/RobinHood+step+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 2:</b><br />
Open the tunic up, and then attach the right side of the sleeves to the right side of the tunic. You'll want to put the middle of the sleeve on the shoulder seam. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ttUjstEDo39tPMiREaWIRfixn2kXxCDney9vQwVw452Mm5w5MMN4otkiVr7exCuzHnwsvgL3wM8FjepkHsxV68XfMfnlrffhlmPRk-3aKo-KPGhAvUORxci62ITQPAOWndufgHyl3uk/s1600/RobinHood+step+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ttUjstEDo39tPMiREaWIRfixn2kXxCDney9vQwVw452Mm5w5MMN4otkiVr7exCuzHnwsvgL3wM8FjepkHsxV68XfMfnlrffhlmPRk-3aKo-KPGhAvUORxci62ITQPAOWndufgHyl3uk/s320/RobinHood+step+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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So after you do that and open the whole tunic back up, it will be t-shaped.<br />
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<br />
<b>Step 3:</b><br />
Go to the edge of each piece of fabric and hem it up where you need it. This is much easier than trying to do it once it's all sewn together.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IXYEkTM2gvWAQbVQAqiG5Do86vN4LTCfl7cT_mARMbxw4wLPF8dSHyMsymaB4dUF1qkX9V3RuI0IP-CrxMa6PoJrPJFfzZhTNTSo5rUJxdvMPhNxo9CLXu4u3At8mRYShiUjMVkxZgU/s1600/RobinHood+step+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IXYEkTM2gvWAQbVQAqiG5Do86vN4LTCfl7cT_mARMbxw4wLPF8dSHyMsymaB4dUF1qkX9V3RuI0IP-CrxMa6PoJrPJFfzZhTNTSo5rUJxdvMPhNxo9CLXu4u3At8mRYShiUjMVkxZgU/s320/RobinHood+step+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Step 4:</b><br />
Fold the tunic at the shoulder seam, right sides together, then pin and sew the sides.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yV4BDre5jro7pPzzrANm-Hg8wEFS4xNJBotinnd-TzIvXkVX-WdvDPz3fymD-lOlNv2v5Sap_zGtKzAyJY8DonTjWcQFOPYfNBD8jEipebl8ByXN43pEWs3NGbru_24cQWDIbuOiOQ0/s1600/RobinHood+step+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yV4BDre5jro7pPzzrANm-Hg8wEFS4xNJBotinnd-TzIvXkVX-WdvDPz3fymD-lOlNv2v5Sap_zGtKzAyJY8DonTjWcQFOPYfNBD8jEipebl8ByXN43pEWs3NGbru_24cQWDIbuOiOQ0/s320/RobinHood+step+6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Step 5:</b><br />
With the right sides still together, sew the sleeves together.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj917wbRtaa8mbC_W4-8dsMuok_AYpRHDn3ABrRfkdRcioul5ESMvMt_kbqIyryfwmBqsoDJony3fgt0iohRWpobRkRY2rxoUlHn2_MaiN4xgeiRH5VAvchxhikPET0EN0R2Ki5G_JyJdE/s1600/RobinHood+step+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj917wbRtaa8mbC_W4-8dsMuok_AYpRHDn3ABrRfkdRcioul5ESMvMt_kbqIyryfwmBqsoDJony3fgt0iohRWpobRkRY2rxoUlHn2_MaiN4xgeiRH5VAvchxhikPET0EN0R2Ki5G_JyJdE/s320/RobinHood+step+7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Step 6:</b><br />
Find the middle of the front of the tunic, then make a straight cut about 2-3" long. Turn each side and stitch.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe8YsKdNgEFyTVqhYdgi-uIiVouwY_on4y9Y6f2nZUs3fOoBS2pyhTs19Vi_371AxwbwsUC1GdbkoRicBrHc7B8aFwkMdoJlcMFc_4P29jZ6lwm0_4m6uIMnt90jgUWHomubt9Zi5ZYQ/s1600/RobinHood+step+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe8YsKdNgEFyTVqhYdgi-uIiVouwY_on4y9Y6f2nZUs3fOoBS2pyhTs19Vi_371AxwbwsUC1GdbkoRicBrHc7B8aFwkMdoJlcMFc_4P29jZ6lwm0_4m6uIMnt90jgUWHomubt9Zi5ZYQ/s320/RobinHood+step+8.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of right side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK91N_L5HgUwNkovBqEn8-fGMDpADeuaqP-tvEaD0QOncdYP5CoelfZMFxitX6e0N5XPOwTkp62bNtCh_dBl1GePz4D2M9ljHtKzDyFsUE0FYf5CsYw6tUR_aWXbGG1o2TM3XcztleD88/s1600/RobinHood+step+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK91N_L5HgUwNkovBqEn8-fGMDpADeuaqP-tvEaD0QOncdYP5CoelfZMFxitX6e0N5XPOwTkp62bNtCh_dBl1GePz4D2M9ljHtKzDyFsUE0FYf5CsYw6tUR_aWXbGG1o2TM3XcztleD88/s320/RobinHood+step+9.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of wrong side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We go back to Caspian for ...<br />
<br />
<b>Step 7:</b><br />
The collar, if you need one. I had to make my own pattern for the collar. I cut out four pieces and then attached them to the neckline.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7K2U7fLv5PrAvEmrRWBohjhCdtmIyO4LpStGdO8bkqSsQFk7v1A1nSCncQxWPhJpSVKMe0XG1Zi6m4_SKzyqyBOyHQ2LBT98yIcdJuXeCkeJmtOzuZmauWW7uAWngDub1AX7GEV46OuM/s1600/Caspian+collar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7K2U7fLv5PrAvEmrRWBohjhCdtmIyO4LpStGdO8bkqSsQFk7v1A1nSCncQxWPhJpSVKMe0XG1Zi6m4_SKzyqyBOyHQ2LBT98yIcdJuXeCkeJmtOzuZmauWW7uAWngDub1AX7GEV46OuM/s320/Caspian+collar.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaRSiPio9RVGoGi06AbQR5EA4gwyIzApHdb-HKq-b4lu-2RN4pcfO2qv62uQDK8UctArUtUgxDrya-Z-bO_XZSZu9SgZnWLK8DcBMRiM3novjBGK0TWeT0qr78EpITJiv2HZWfCeNJVg/s1600/Caspian+collar+03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaRSiPio9RVGoGi06AbQR5EA4gwyIzApHdb-HKq-b4lu-2RN4pcfO2qv62uQDK8UctArUtUgxDrya-Z-bO_XZSZu9SgZnWLK8DcBMRiM3novjBGK0TWeT0qr78EpITJiv2HZWfCeNJVg/s320/Caspian+collar+03.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>Step 8:</b><br />
Time for the eyelets! I do these after I attach the collar to make sure that I have enough room to actually sew the collar on. Mark the fabric where you want them to go, cut a tiny, round hole, stick your eyelets in, and whack 'em with the hammer!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnxT-GbHmBANpsN4-5caTrWeeOGxG1RjyD0Z2UFmwKcPqovib3yfG53WZ8IdRGpAcMy8FeRma0Y_EuoeBcWbCfWUbi3s9EICnvOxaFNFmTOEURnAueyAAFrWsU8TTv7TPJbwOVEIND6A/s1600/marked+holes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnxT-GbHmBANpsN4-5caTrWeeOGxG1RjyD0Z2UFmwKcPqovib3yfG53WZ8IdRGpAcMy8FeRma0Y_EuoeBcWbCfWUbi3s9EICnvOxaFNFmTOEURnAueyAAFrWsU8TTv7TPJbwOVEIND6A/s320/marked+holes.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robin's Hood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHpIzgcBa5Ek1Z3XdpoHf1-xHCFerlAne1rUSTFkzSG8v827Gl-h8QoI2IevuJ7JrCWVlVxqlhKvYDYEyBhdwQk_bu43_nv-g1wo03UiTRc_IR6lnp-V6975gDJi3e5Tvbij6pneyKhU/s1600/finished+caspian+front.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHpIzgcBa5Ek1Z3XdpoHf1-xHCFerlAne1rUSTFkzSG8v827Gl-h8QoI2IevuJ7JrCWVlVxqlhKvYDYEyBhdwQk_bu43_nv-g1wo03UiTRc_IR6lnp-V6975gDJi3e5Tvbij6pneyKhU/s320/finished+caspian+front.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caspian's front. I swear I cannot get this suede to photograph at all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-75814406820243654422015-01-15T15:37:00.001-08:002015-01-15T15:37:18.890-08:00Elsa American Girl Doll DressesIn addition to making Elsa costumes for Halloween 2014, I also made three Elsa American Girl doll costumes as a commission. I purchased the Snow Queen pattern from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/186861545/winter-queen-sewing-pattern-for-american?ref=shop_home_feat_1">Dollhouse Designs on Etsy</a>, and I absolutely loved it. This was my first experience with making an outfit for an American Girl doll, and I was initially intimidated by the entire process. <br />
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However, putting the outfit together was MUCH easier than it seemed at first glance. I think the pattern printed out as almost 20 pages with even more for instructions, and so I felt a bit overwhelmed. There are two patterns for some of the pieces, depending on whether the fabric that you're using is woven or knit, so as long as you know what kind of material you're working with, you can ignore about five pieces. <br />
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There are also extensions for some of the pattern pieces, because the dolls that are currently being produced actually have smaller waists than the originals. (I'll spare you the rant, but let's just say that I wasn't pleased to learn that they had become more hourglass-shaped!) <br />
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In addition, because you're printing out a PDF file, several of the pieces actually get assembled together prior to cutting out the fabric, so that explains why there are SO many pages to the pattern. I found that once I had all of my patterns put together, the actual construction was super simple.<br />
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The best part is that this pattern is so well-constructed that there was no need for any modifications!<br />
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The dress is actually two pieces - the skirt and top (the organza part), and then the bodice and cape. The skirt/top has velcro in the back, and the bodice has velcro on the side, so the cape remains in one piece. I think these turned out beautifully, so if you want to make an Elsa <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/186861545/winter-queen-sewing-pattern-for-american?ref=shop_home_feat_1">Dollhouse Designs on Etsy</a> (or Anna - there is also a pattern for Anna's cape, and the Snow Queen pattern would work for Anna's dress as well), please go check out <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/186861545/winter-queen-sewing-pattern-for-american?ref=shop_home_feat_1">Dollhouse Designs.</a><br />
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casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-39894491318602763822015-01-11T16:17:00.000-08:002015-01-11T16:17:01.832-08:00Anna's Dress - FrozenIn addition to the Elsa dresses that I made for Halloween this year
(well, last year), I also made two Anna dresses. Like the Elsa dresses,
I used Simplicity 1233 as a basis.<br />
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For
the bodice, I used a black suede for the main body and a brown suede
for the trim. I used a turquoise satin for the sleeves and neck. I
also added a zig zig stitch to the collar and down the front of the neck
to add some embellishment. (Please note that I did not follow the pattern for the bodice, but modified it myself.)<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAVuHld6QcB5cGiVKOtOb1VhVHrugSPhH115JTqZa7nHqFtJfDRWsVaQ7_Grf6NaFzIRcf05ALcj2cJYf_nSg4zXdTZT8WEpuVY0_UM5O4ZLVn_0mobQef-G7_-jpclQH2Do762o1CfM/s1600/Anna_bodice01.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAVuHld6QcB5cGiVKOtOb1VhVHrugSPhH115JTqZa7nHqFtJfDRWsVaQ7_Grf6NaFzIRcf05ALcj2cJYf_nSg4zXdTZT8WEpuVY0_UM5O4ZLVn_0mobQef-G7_-jpclQH2Do762o1CfM/s1600/Anna_bodice01.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyLp6hkW1lYWQVq4CvaiMjILcPKI2JpTMY7V1tIy6l9PBNBhvVOLKaAT6aLYQF3qykfv4j7hE9gxmpCybjacRzrZwb9LHPKirUIV_fQlg5-MjRCkuK1dwXVRxt8Pab5qh-IdLba1ULuI/s1600/Anna_collar2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyLp6hkW1lYWQVq4CvaiMjILcPKI2JpTMY7V1tIy6l9PBNBhvVOLKaAT6aLYQF3qykfv4j7hE9gxmpCybjacRzrZwb9LHPKirUIV_fQlg5-MjRCkuK1dwXVRxt8Pab5qh-IdLba1ULuI/s1600/Anna_collar2.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The bodice attaches to the skirt, which was made with a royal blue
broadcloth. Overlaid on the broadcloth is a turquoise felt (purchased
off the bolt). All fabrics came from JoAnn's.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP9IEllwHwO9kIMuPh8awlGjdBh9hj4WVcRvrCBLGhz0hb0Enw-FOriM4MtVbmJSnzf9_ofoJYMe34kWXotSZnR1zO_GrM9Y8L_cVny25lvSx3IHz5rK1zf2bN7zYx1O1hLSUZS8dSxs/s1600/anna_skirt01.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP9IEllwHwO9kIMuPh8awlGjdBh9hj4WVcRvrCBLGhz0hb0Enw-FOriM4MtVbmJSnzf9_ofoJYMe34kWXotSZnR1zO_GrM9Y8L_cVny25lvSx3IHz5rK1zf2bN7zYx1O1hLSUZS8dSxs/s1600/anna_skirt01.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The
bodice and skirt have embroidery, but since I wasn't going to embroider
a bazillion flowers, my husband printed out some patterns based on the
actual costume. I then cut each piece out of various felts, which were
all purchased at Michael's. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99I_4GNFTMjc2zJqRLBOab5JcKt5I8WYvGNewVe6fHIL_7IPqBnOjooZv2egap1LmY4vMGboQJp9OMbfPThVORGnxGPqmKTTOEf8WngKIa_iSvVV2QB8RbChyphenhyphenrCcN0qI6-brfEquZEFo/s1600/Anna_embellishment.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99I_4GNFTMjc2zJqRLBOab5JcKt5I8WYvGNewVe6fHIL_7IPqBnOjooZv2egap1LmY4vMGboQJp9OMbfPThVORGnxGPqmKTTOEf8WngKIa_iSvVV2QB8RbChyphenhyphenrCcN0qI6-brfEquZEFo/s1600/Anna_embellishment.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeI_zYHh1n8thb-KNUosS-ABU2cpOrkUliMX3tkRydYHPYG7t28zzsCs0mW0j-tNqK0zuWtaI0dT3OLJiVji-OTJWkBGjE-JmwJkOa-G-HHeZYuITQt6flCoN31YkDFwJE9yT3ZbdqGY/s1600/anna_skirt02.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeI_zYHh1n8thb-KNUosS-ABU2cpOrkUliMX3tkRydYHPYG7t28zzsCs0mW0j-tNqK0zuWtaI0dT3OLJiVji-OTJWkBGjE-JmwJkOa-G-HHeZYuITQt6flCoN31YkDFwJE9yT3ZbdqGY/s1600/anna_skirt02.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
These
individual pieces were meticulously glued on with fabric glue. I would
have preferred to have sewed each one on, but that wasn't realistic
based on my time frame.<br />
<br />
The cape is my favorite piece of the entire costume. It's a fuchsia felt from JoAnn's. The pom pom trim on the top of the cape are 1 1/4" ball fringe with 1/2" pom poms from <a href="http://www.trimplace.com/product/44014-0017-16.html">trimplace.com</a>. The zig zag trim is 1/4" ric rac from <a href="http://www.northernthreads.net/p-21382-14-ric-rac-purple.aspx">NorthernThreads.net</a>. I also did a zig zag stitch around the top part of the cape, since that trim is much smaller than the 1/4" ric rac.
The clasp was from a filigree clasp from JoAnn's. Of course, now that I
don't need the heart-shaped clasp anymore, they have ones that look
JUST like Anna's!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfCOqGzxvRFmbb6Hjw6Z0vY9KnV-KBN2SS4eedABzD9RvaeuS3cVrB8uYcrLFMsZmubhDq-tH_tVFBMr_GMR87trUH4qW46A7I0TmwY8hp-NdaORU1dVmFj4OrbL2lFA21dndpgieqNE/s1600/Anna_cape2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfCOqGzxvRFmbb6Hjw6Z0vY9KnV-KBN2SS4eedABzD9RvaeuS3cVrB8uYcrLFMsZmubhDq-tH_tVFBMr_GMR87trUH4qW46A7I0TmwY8hp-NdaORU1dVmFj4OrbL2lFA21dndpgieqNE/s1600/Anna_cape2.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFgLsTzcWREfQBNzMe4N6uCHn-xBYdelS0oJc2CL7agNmucW9hH9ozsUFD5faTeOV7dxNb0cnAFG1WacP4Q0Mjxe5RBr66Qa8sxpvWk1Y1sDFed0Gg03fp74yneMwQnZUprVQR70I_UQ/s1600/Anna_cape4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFgLsTzcWREfQBNzMe4N6uCHn-xBYdelS0oJc2CL7agNmucW9hH9ozsUFD5faTeOV7dxNb0cnAFG1WacP4Q0Mjxe5RBr66Qa8sxpvWk1Y1sDFed0Gg03fp74yneMwQnZUprVQR70I_UQ/s1600/Anna_cape4.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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And here are the finished pieces!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1JGMsXRhL6r6xzqdVxFoXDQ99wi-ErI4MRhF2rLjD3jdj2m6RBR9pcEvfXXeKV-yYS4TX4LtopM8drzdZdvfLKUu_A5oB9WoMGw99HCLYM1HGE8BxXhzmZyRBnncxOB-nv5EdbHvTcE/s1600/Anna_done1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1JGMsXRhL6r6xzqdVxFoXDQ99wi-ErI4MRhF2rLjD3jdj2m6RBR9pcEvfXXeKV-yYS4TX4LtopM8drzdZdvfLKUu_A5oB9WoMGw99HCLYM1HGE8BxXhzmZyRBnncxOB-nv5EdbHvTcE/s1600/Anna_done1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKho-kFH0dIjzTz599cAUJkjDWxKbZDzcDz_sj9wwhYrr_WYjhLtogFqmv2c84xFwOlUrf2C2FXaxPRcBRe5xAGp-4SnALtWhqS1Ni8AtsLH2HVlqjV81_54QK8l-y32IRzzoON471WM/s1600/Anna_done2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKho-kFH0dIjzTz599cAUJkjDWxKbZDzcDz_sj9wwhYrr_WYjhLtogFqmv2c84xFwOlUrf2C2FXaxPRcBRe5xAGp-4SnALtWhqS1Ni8AtsLH2HVlqjV81_54QK8l-y32IRzzoON471WM/s1600/Anna_done2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-88635872563395836352014-11-30T16:46:00.001-08:002014-12-01T12:24:39.711-08:00Costuming for BeginnersIf you were at the costuming panel at Chicago TARDIS on Sunday, you'll remember that just about the only thing I could shoe-horn in was, "go to my blog!" I'm reposting my Costuming Basics information from my 2011 Chicago TARDIS panel with a few updates. Enjoy.<br />
<br />
Here are some of my notes from my Costuming Basics panel at ChicagoTARDIS.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Choosing Your Character</i></b></span><br />
<br />
Decide
which character you'd like to do, how much time and money it would take
to create that costume, and if you can actually create the costume.
Personally, I love to see specific, unique costumes, like Rory with
glasses and a magnifying glass from <i>The Girl Who Waited</i>. Put
time and effort into your research - learn the details of your
costumes. Details are what makes a costume go from, "oh, there's
another Doctor", to "HOLY CRAP, I need a photo with the Tenth Doctor
RIGHT NOW!" The same goes for a unique costume. You can do a basic Amy
with skirt, sweater, and scarf, or you can make her kick-ass
armor from <i>The Girl Who Waited</i>. Keep in mind, it is absolutely
fine for you to do a very basic costume, especially if you're new to
cosplay. However, if you want to enter a costume contest or even just
stand out, then definitely try to do something that no one's done
before, or no one's done as well as you'd like to see it.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Doctor Who Costuming Resources</b></i></span><br />
<br />
Look
at hi-res screen captures. Watch Doctor Who Confidential. Watch any
behind-the-scenes footage you can of anyone in any film making props and
costumes. Visit websites for photos, how-tos, props, etc. Follow
famous cosplayers like <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/anaaesthetic">Ana Aesthetic,</a> who often talk about their costumes.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.doctorwhoprops.com/">www.doctorwhoprops.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.therpf.com/">www.therpf.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.doctorwhostore.com/">http://doctorwhostore.com </a><br />
<br />
You can find a great Weeping Angel costume how-to <a href="http://www.therpf.com/f24/doctor-who-blink-weeping-angel-costume-49264/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Sewing Tips:</i></b></span><br />
<br />
- Find patterns on Ebay, or on sale at <strike>Hobby Lobby and* </strike>JoAnn Fabrics. Never, ever, ever pay full price for a pattern! *I don't support Hobby Lobby anymore. If you can find somewhere else to shop, please do so.<br />
<br />
-
When buying a pattern, measure your hips, waist, chest, and shoulders
(depending on what the pattern is for). Look at the back of the
pattern, and whichever size corresponds to your largest body part is the
size that you should purchase. It's much easier to reshape the rest of
it by cutting the pattern down rather than trying to make it larger. <br />
Keep
in mind that pattern sizes are the same as formal wear - if you wear an
8 or 10 off the rack, you'll probably end up buying a pattern size of
14 or 16.<br />
<br />
- Pattern companies like Simplicity or McCall's make patterns that fit a particular size, but no one is the exact dimensions of each size. For instance, a women's size 14 will be a 36" bust, a 28" waist, and a 38" hip. You'll probably end up matching the measurements for at least 2 different sizes, so you'll have to alter patterns so that they fit you correctly. Make sure you always buy the biggest size - it's easiest to make something smaller - and then draw new cutting lines.<br />
<br />
- If you want to make your own patterns, I recommend making your own master template. This will help you make patterns that fit you exactly. You can find <a href="http://www.fit-fashion.com/Pattern-Template-Packages_c_36.html">kits to make your own templates here. </a> For homemade patterns or major alterations, I recommend purchasing <a href="http://www.fit-fashion.com/Pattern-Tracing-Paper_p_35.html">pattern paper</a>, a <a href="http://www.joann.com/gingher-self-healing-rotary-mat-24inx36in/9816398.html#q=cutting+mat&start=15">large cutting mat</a>, and transparent plastic ruler or <a href="http://www.joann.com/styling-design-ruler/10688364.html">styling curve.</a> I put off purchasing these for years because they can be pricey, but now I can't believe I waited for so long. I use these tools with every single project.<br />
<br />
- If you want to try out altering/patterning before spending money on pattern-making tools, you can also buy a <a href="http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/360974/Post-it-Self-Stick-Easel-Pads/">large gridded presentation easel from Office Depot</a> or similar office supply store.<br />
<br />
- Get a good pair of shears, and ONLY use them for cutting material. Paper will dull the blade.<br />
<br />
- Use the correct sewing machine needles for the fabric you're using. Check the needle package to see if it's for lightweight or heavy weight fabrics. If you use the wrong needle, you could end up breaking or even shattering it (which I've done when I accidentally put the wrong one in). If a needle breaks, you could end up damaging your fabric, your machine, or yourself. <br />
<br />
- Plan on making the first version out of cheap material - learn what works and what doesn't. Old bed sheets work great as a stand-in for cotton. Sheer curtains from the thrift store work for chiffon.<br />
<br />
- New costumers should stay away from difficult fabrics like chiffon, velvet, and silks and satins until you're more comfortable working with material. <br />
<br />
-
Advanced sewers should invest in a serger to make beautifully-finished
seams. A serger also makes working with chiffon and other thin
materials much easier, as it will prevent the edges from unraveling. <br />
<br />
- The <a href="http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?pageName=search&flag=true&PRODID=prd10303">seam ripper</a>
is your friend. You will use it often. You will throw it across the
room. Buy two.<br />
<br />
- You will also throw your costume across the room, swear
at it, threaten to throw it out, etc. You will probably have to take
the entire thing apart at some point. Do not despair - everyone does it
at one point or another. Or every costume, in my case.<br />
<br />
-
You will probably have to make one piece of your costume over again. Make sure you have enough time before the con in case that happens.<br />
<br />
- Start a fabric book for every project. Cut a swatch from each fabric, glue it onto the page, and write down the store where you purchased it, the item name, color, and SKU. That way, if you want to remake part of it in the future, you have all of the information you need to buy new fabric.<br />
<br />
- If you can afford a <a href="http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?pageName=search&flag=true&PRODID=prd29699">dressmaker's form</a>,
buy an adjustable one. That way you can use it for you and a friend!
Check Ebay or JoAnn Fabrics. Again, never pay full-price for a form.<br />
<br />
- If you don't have the room or the funds for a form, you can make your own out of duct tape! <a href="http://diyfashion.about.com/od/diyfashiontoolkit/ss/Duct_Tape_Dummy.htm">You can find a tutorial here</a>.<br />
<br />
- If you want to learn how to do something new, search YouTube. There are thousands upon thousands of tutorials for making all kinds of things!<br />
<br />
-
Sign up for any mailing list your local fabric store offers. Chains
like JoAnn Fabrics offer weekly 40% off coupons that are good for
anything, and often have additional coupons for fabric, notions, etc.<br />
<br />
-
Take your time! If you read my blog, you'll see that I mess up from time to
time because I don't pay attention to simple things like
which way the velvet lies ... Everyone does it, so just be careful and make sure it doesn't happen too often.<br />
<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Selecting Fabrics</i></b></span><br />
<br />
-
Keep in mind that the color of the costume onscreen may not be the
color of the costume off-screen. This is because the DP might use a
filter, the editor might color correct. This means two things: one -
you can either make the costume reflect the on-screen version or the
off-screen version; two - you don't need to worry about matching your
fabric color exactly.<br />
<br />
- For the beginner, pick fabrics that look similar to the ones used in the costume, but are cheaper and easier to work with. <br />
<br />
-
Heavier fabrics = heavier and hotter costumes, so consider how hot (or
how breezy) your costume would be if you decided to make it out of wool
(or chiffon). For instance, my Clockwork Droid costume is made out of stretch velvet. If it was made out of wool, I'd sweat to death in about five minutes. (Also, I'm extremely sensitive to wool, which is another thing to keep in mind when making your costume.)<br />
<br />
- Drape is important, so keep in mind that heavier fabrics don't drape well, and lighter fabrics will show off every curve.<br />
<br />
-
Look for fabric in every department, even upholstery. You never know
where you'll find the perfect pattern or weight. Also look in
upholstery for trim.<br />
<br />
- Thrift stores are great for finding huge batches of fabric. Look for curtains, tablecloths, and bedspreads.<br />
<br />
-
In Chicagoland, there is a fantastic store called Vogue. There are two
locations, one in Evanston and one in Chicago. Each location consists
of room upon room of fabric bolts. I know other cities have a fabric
district as well, so do an online search and see what you find.<br />
<br />
There
are also some great online fabric stores. Make sure you order
swatches, because color might be different from the photo, and it's hard
to tell weight and texture from a photo.<br />
<br />
www.fabric.com<br />
www.syfabrics.com<br />
www.fashionfabricsclub.com<br />
www.voguefabricstore.com
(This is the online site for the store in Chicago/Evanston, and the
selection online is hit or miss. I recommend visiting one of the stores
if you can.)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Accuracy vs. Cost</i></b></span><br />
<br />
Your
costume can be accurate, or it can be cheap, but rarely can it be
both! Decide before you start if you're going to set a budget, or if
you're just going to go all out and screw the money (I usually
have the latter approach).<br />
<br />
However, keep in mind that
there are lots of ways you can cheat and make a really good costume
without spending tons of money. All of the "buttons" on my Clockwork
Droid costume are wood that I got from Hobby Lobby's wood aisle and are
just painted gold. If I'd purchased actual buttons, I'd have easily
spent over $100. And remember, you can always go back and remake parts
of your costume later when you have more skills or more money.
Basically, I go cheap where I can so that I can spend the money where
it's needed.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Props</i></b></span><br />
<br />
- Visit the <a href="http://www.therpf.com/">Replica Prop Forum</a>
to start learning how to use different techniques. Look at things you
won't even use for your own costume - often it will give you ideas
anyway.<br />
<br />
- When building props or non-fabric parts of
your costume, wander the aisles at Home Depot or other hardware stores.
The jewelry sections of craft stores are great for decorations and
wire. <br />
<br />
- A great substitute for leather and metal is craft foam. There are some great websites that teach you how to use craft foam, <a href="http://www.firelilycosplay.com/craftfoam.html">like this one.</a> You can shape it, paint it, carve it, you name it! I've used it for my Q<a href="http://casualcostumer.blogspot.com/2010/08/susans-accessories.html">ueen Susan vanbrace</a>. My husband made <a href="http://www.therpf.com/f24/eomer-lotr-build-wip-176167/?highlight=eomer">all of his Eomer armor</a> out of it.<br />
<br />
- Seriously - and I can't stress this enough - <i>learn how to cheat</i>.
Found items can be repurposed with a little paint and glue. Plastic
and wood can be painted to look like metal. Just please, please, please do not
make a sword out of aluminum foil! As you get more comfortable making props, you'll be able to start making them more and more accurate, and out of more expensive or difficult materials.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>The Cosplay Community</i></b></span><br />
<br />
- Join <a href="http://cosplay.com/">Cosplay.com</a>
to see if someone else has already made your costume. If so, you can
get an idea on how to go about creating yours, or see how you can
improve upon someone else's technique.<br />
<br />
- Google your costume to see what resources are out there. I used the <a href="http://www.lissierose.com/#!worn-pleated-ruffles/cjqp">tutorial on the Lissie Rose website</a> to learn how to do pleated ruffles. <br />
<br />
- As I said before, follow famous cosplayers on Twitter or Facebook.<br />
<br />
- Pay attention to what other costumers are doing. Ask questions. Most people would love to share how they made their costume.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>At the Convention</i></b></span><br />
<br />
-
Pockets are super important! If you can sew a pocket into your costume, please do so. I have a pocket on the inside of my Clockwork Droid costume in which to store my phone, keys, and business cards. If your costume is a dress or something where you can't sew a pocket in, get creative. I make a little bag for each of my dresses out of the same material using a <a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/Patterns/1626">drawstring bag pattern</a>. It blends right in, and if anyone even notices it, it looks like it belongs to the costume. I've known people to hide compartments in their armor or weapons in which to store their belongings as well.<br />
<br />
- Bring a quick-fix kit that consists of thread, needle, safety pins,
double-sided tape, velcro, a hot glue gun - anything you might need to
slap your costume back together. Remember, even in films they're
sometimes fixing costumes between each take, so don't be upset if things
start falling off of your costume in the middle of the day. Just run
back to your hotel room and remember to do a better fix when you get
home.<br />
<br />
- Even if you have a basic costume, chances are
someone is going to take a photo of you, so be prepared! Practice a
pose in your costume before you get into the halls - pick something your
character does.<br />
<br />
- Be confident! Putting on a costume
and walking around in public is scary, but remember - you're surrounded
by people who are huge geeks and who love the same show that you do.
Cosplayers are icing on the convention cake.<br />
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- Connect with other cosplayers!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Next Year</i></b></span><br />
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- Learn from your mistakes. If something didn't work before, why didn't it work?<br />
<br />
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Recognize your strengths and weaknesses - build on your talents, and
work on things you're having trouble with (it used to take me 8 hours to
put in a zipper, I've got it down to about a half an hour now!)<br />
<br />
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Think about what you liked best about your last costume and incorporate
that into your new costume. If you liked making props, then make a
costume that requires a lot of props. If you liked working with lots of
fabric, then make a costume that contains yards of fabric!<br />
<br />
- Challenge yourself. It will make your costuming experience more rewarding, and it will make your costume more interesting.<br />
<br />
-
Branch out into other areas like masks, leather, or metalwork. Even if
you want to try, but you think you can't do it, try anyway. Give
yourself months to work on learning how to make molds or shape leather.
The worst that can happen is that you hate it and you find a different
way to make that piece.<br />
<br />
Good luck, and please feel free to let me know if you have any questions!casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-64409374597925613292014-10-28T19:28:00.000-07:002015-02-25T16:46:59.262-08:00Elsa's Snow Queen Dress - FrozenA few months ago, my niece E asked me to make her <a href="http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Elsa_the_Snow_Queen">Elsa's gown from Frozen</a> for Halloween. I agreed, because I wanted to give the dress a shot, and so I started looking for fabric. I also was asked to make an Anna costume for my younger niece, K. By the end of September, I was making two more Elsas and another Anna for some of my friends' kids!<br />
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I used the Simplicity pattern 1233 as a basis, but I made several modifications of my own. I also had to make a larger size for my biggest Elsa, because the pattern I had only went up to an 8, and she was a 10.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2-byz5-TYh57PSTeH7rkvptCAV5Ev3jj8MnMYFLn8L4i6QkS2udcXajjF0pvJV-dLGAoWcHRtHUevxWPTLnnBE3Pk0qlX4_dwqSkKWsaMVDnzaRcXlPNvRVHlJKdcKX0ZxskSwJpISE/s1600/FrozenPattern.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2-byz5-TYh57PSTeH7rkvptCAV5Ev3jj8MnMYFLn8L4i6QkS2udcXajjF0pvJV-dLGAoWcHRtHUevxWPTLnnBE3Pk0qlX4_dwqSkKWsaMVDnzaRcXlPNvRVHlJKdcKX0ZxskSwJpISE/s1600/FrozenPattern.png" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
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For the bodice, I used the Turquoise Confetti Dot, the skirt was Turquoise Tissue Lame (only use this if you're a masochist!), and the yoke and sleeves were a light blue organza (all from JoAnn's). For the cape, I originally purchased two yards of fabric off of eBay, but when I got an additional two orders, that fabric was sold out, so I ended up getting a different fabric. They both are organza with silver snowflakes, and are super hard to work with, due to all of the glue holding the snowflakes on ... <br />
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I used the Simplicity pattern as a guide, but made a lot of adjustments. First, I made the neckline a bit more heart-shaped, and the bottom of the bodice deeper. I also cut a lot out of the skirt, as it was VERY full. The cape needed no adjustment.<br />
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I cut out the bodice and attached the lining, which was just a turquoise lining fabric. The bodice
fabric was difficult to work with due to the glue (which is just
annoying - make sure you clean off your needle frequently to prevent
pulling, puckering, and thread breaking). I then put the yoke together and serged the seams. I then simply laid the bodice on top of the yoke and sewed it on. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryaXWfKwGGtuugCz82WFQmwc5mT11bldUBKRMlzkYk3A0xK74XlU4fplYGNhD7RS_af09sTsSqlaI6ii7qSGnZeSuI2kCRoeYY5R356R47w7eoKGXZirBcTm0_QrMDV_mESPizXh_eVQ/s1600/Elsa_bodice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryaXWfKwGGtuugCz82WFQmwc5mT11bldUBKRMlzkYk3A0xK74XlU4fplYGNhD7RS_af09sTsSqlaI6ii7qSGnZeSuI2kCRoeYY5R356R47w7eoKGXZirBcTm0_QrMDV_mESPizXh_eVQ/s1600/Elsa_bodice.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4iqxYFxYroQJyd73EgBV3DxvFi-hpQl1m4glXHd-oiojAaVdNEUSDAd_kYjtcPJ76PS2HrLFH3NXHfAewIfLr0-CxWIYddr-Mi_G2RLt_4gCNfWvpRIKOmKcN6FpqRcxlD9NcWmYjQI/s1600/Elsa_yokebodicefront.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4iqxYFxYroQJyd73EgBV3DxvFi-hpQl1m4glXHd-oiojAaVdNEUSDAd_kYjtcPJ76PS2HrLFH3NXHfAewIfLr0-CxWIYddr-Mi_G2RLt_4gCNfWvpRIKOmKcN6FpqRcxlD9NcWmYjQI/s1600/Elsa_yokebodicefront.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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See, originally, I was going to attach the cape using velcro. I actually got as far as the first dress to do this (I was making them assembly-line style), but it turned out to not be as great as I thought it would be. The idea was to make it detachable so that I could leave the back of the cape in one piece, and the girls wouldn't have to contort to get into it.<br />
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That didn't work so well, so I did end up ripping the yoke and sleeves out of the other two and then inserting the cape, prior to reattaching the yoke and sleeves. I'll go into that a bit more later.<br />
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The skirt was a NIGHTMARE. I used the tissue lame as a lining because I'd
purchased the fabric before cutting the fullness down. It shredded if you so much as looked at it. Even when serged with a roll, it just shredded apart. It also puckered and pulled like crazy, even with the thinnest needle I could find. I ended up using a lot of seam stop glue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiO07Wk7jc5HaKvzv3mTqKhPenQJRp2wjwuM0_DlAkpswGqKH6FTUKg5c2HuyiCmwCQ0tGT6CBWPKO7r8L5JRE5JUYr4xuNdod8Zy6lvCnW9JiWULW_1thWKA6okzJ2QiFXrsnAJtcxo/s1600/Elsa_shred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiO07Wk7jc5HaKvzv3mTqKhPenQJRp2wjwuM0_DlAkpswGqKH6FTUKg5c2HuyiCmwCQ0tGT6CBWPKO7r8L5JRE5JUYr4xuNdod8Zy6lvCnW9JiWULW_1thWKA6okzJ2QiFXrsnAJtcxo/s1600/Elsa_shred.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I sewed the skirt to the bodice in the same way that I did the yoke.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYIqn13OFDdA7hyu2QGBvNasaNkKsSU2cORozbZ4RIVymmHqJ-UCQ0b85Aoo2U707O8VdXvhieUabLdsUVZVy1o8JKyH_DxZrsTt74L0FeXKi2XFieXiWsUXeB-7Ttq9PCw1Uj6p827M/s1600/Elsa_skirtattachment.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYIqn13OFDdA7hyu2QGBvNasaNkKsSU2cORozbZ4RIVymmHqJ-UCQ0b85Aoo2U707O8VdXvhieUabLdsUVZVy1o8JKyH_DxZrsTt74L0FeXKi2XFieXiWsUXeB-7Ttq9PCw1Uj6p827M/s1600/Elsa_skirtattachment.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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I ended up with the following (see photo). To neaten it all up, I then turned the yoke and top of the skirt over and sewed it to the bodice. It's not the best technique, but it worked.<br />
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I inserted a zipper and then added trim, which I didn't get the name of, but purchased at JoAnn's. I first turned the serged top of the yoke under and sewed it down, then hand-stitched the trim to it. It was really easy to do the trim - it was very forgiving to the needle, and it went pretty quickly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UlPDJbT9j43SnmT1LClOdEUXZjJ0b0FV8vOe0L-rGgGoZa_1n3etNspxTfIM5fqHKHm-kH3mRcVv48xMb1OCEGM_cSByD2gRz3Bj_iK5ihLlNORm9ZeB8JBwnVVPAljhRJW5Z_Z9fM8/s1600/Elsa_trim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UlPDJbT9j43SnmT1LClOdEUXZjJ0b0FV8vOe0L-rGgGoZa_1n3etNspxTfIM5fqHKHm-kH3mRcVv48xMb1OCEGM_cSByD2gRz3Bj_iK5ihLlNORm9ZeB8JBwnVVPAljhRJW5Z_Z9fM8/s1600/Elsa_trim.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The very last thing to do was to attach the cape to the back. I didn't want to go the velcro route again, so I attached two hooks and eyes, which are pretty hard to see. I have one on each side of the zipper, and so the cape just hooks onto the back there and has a nice flow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmBsCbrqHH0acJBD4JBzwJ7bDBZ7keq6ELMzBOXAbOfgpkWBMvID7lbcVTrMPRK9J0j0CRGeSZ3tqZ5pghAvDbDUGCP0Rstv4AzQTsd1aCfHRTRSBfPqT4sfK-wL9_2Uv9ZUQJl89Src/s1600/Elsa_hookandeye.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmBsCbrqHH0acJBD4JBzwJ7bDBZ7keq6ELMzBOXAbOfgpkWBMvID7lbcVTrMPRK9J0j0CRGeSZ3tqZ5pghAvDbDUGCP0Rstv4AzQTsd1aCfHRTRSBfPqT4sfK-wL9_2Uv9ZUQJl89Src/s1600/Elsa_hookandeye.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here's the finished product! This is the dress I made for my friend's daughter, and was the largest dress. The bottom photo is the two larger dresses. I'll have to get my niece's (the smallest, and with a different cape fabric) back after Halloween and attach the cape properly. To get in and out of the dress is a bit of a trick, but I don't think anyone's had a problem yet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqAZKtVV6kuO_R8QBVGJCtmfNZUkISZgCw5BLbT4-JkrkOrmuF638FEVMpWa3xKcbA-wxCd1QVAAXATieFnyD4AvWZkYmG7LW_PnCHXhGn6ri8WqigqX3JIAPoy1eK1iP9HeARClPE9o/s1600/Elsa_finished01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqAZKtVV6kuO_R8QBVGJCtmfNZUkISZgCw5BLbT4-JkrkOrmuF638FEVMpWa3xKcbA-wxCd1QVAAXATieFnyD4AvWZkYmG7LW_PnCHXhGn6ri8WqigqX3JIAPoy1eK1iP9HeARClPE9o/s1600/Elsa_finished01.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Stay tuned - the next entry will be the Anna costume construction! ETA: <a href="http://casualcostumer.blogspot.com/2015/01/annas-dress-frozen.html">You can view Anna's dress construction here.</a><br />
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-42855524872698987192014-08-24T18:40:00.002-07:002014-08-25T14:03:00.978-07:00Wizard World Chicago Comic ConYou may recall that for last year's DragonCon, my husband Matt made <a href="http://casualcostumer.blogspot.com/2013/09/eomer-fabrics.html">Eomer's costume.</a><br />
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This year, we can't make it to <a href="http://dragoncon.org/">DragonCon</a> because we're going to the UK for two weeks at the end of September and have no extra time off. We've been pretty bummed about missing our favorite con, especially after last year's epic Tolkien track programming, including Evening at Bree and 80's Dance Party.<br />
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While making his armor last year, Matt ran out of time to make the helmet. In June, he started casually working on it, thinking he'd have it done in time for DragonCon 2015.<br />
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Then we found out that Karl Urban (the actor who portrayed Eomer, for you non-Ringers) was going to be a guest at DragonCon this year, and we went from being bummed to throwing things and cursing.<br />
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Before I go on, I should explain something about Matt. We've now gone to almost a dozen cons together, and he has never shown any interest in meeting celebrities (although, he seems to run into them an awful lot in elevators). He's barely interested in celebrity panels, and usually just tags along to keep me company. But Karl Urban is a different story because of the costume.<br />
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And THEN, Karl Urban was announced as a guest at Wizard World Chicago Comic Con. I immediately purchased tickets and a photo op for Saturday. Matt immediately dropped everything and began working on his helmet during every spare moment - from the second we were done with dinner until past midnight. It was worth it - <a href="http://pitoftharkun.tumblr.com/post/95499960794/i-honestly-cant-believe-im-done-so-early-ive">check out these photos on his Tumblr! </a><br />
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We knew we didn't want to be at the con all day because we wouldn't have a hotel room to decompress in, and both of our costumes are quite hot. We arrived around 11:30, and before we'd even had a chance to register, we were bombarded with photo requests. That's how it went for the rest of the day, mostly accompanied by shouts of, "Horse Lord!" He was even approached by a few women who were fangirling over his gorgeous face. Costume. Whatever.<br />
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Even the guys from Tandy Leather thought he did a fantastic job!<br />
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Our photo op was scheduled for 3:15, and we could queue up at 2:45. Several people waiting in line came over to get photos with Matt (they weren't too interested in me, and one girl even asked me to take the photo!) I've never done a photo op before, so I don't know if they're always so rushed, but we were essentially herded like cattle through the photo op area, spending less than 20 seconds with Karl. However, as we entered, Karl said, "awesome costume!" As we left, he told Matt that the costume was phenomenal.<br />
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We also both went a bit nuts today after hearing from a friend that he'd mentioned Matt's costume to her during her autograph signing (not knowing that she knew us). It seems that he really was impressed! Does it get any better than that?<br />
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Our photo was snapped by so many people, like this one <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">(courtesy of Max/Gandalf on Flickr (<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/max-tim-tom/14827718039/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>photos/max-tim-tom/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>14827718039/</a>). Let us know if you see any floating around out there in the Interwebs, as we have very few photos of us together.</span></span><br />
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We had a great time, and left around 4:30. We're both still completely exhausted - my whole body hurts from wearing ballet slippers for seven hours, and Matt's totally worn out from wearing that helmet (which is quite heavy!) and not being able to sit down.<br />
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Even though we can't go to DragonCon, we had a blast Ringing it up at Wizard World! casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-87658987580660692812014-07-09T14:16:00.000-07:002014-07-09T14:16:00.397-07:00Well, I'm Still Boycotting Hobby LobbyI'm still pretty upset over the SCOTUS ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby. I'm not going to get all political here - the main thing is that I'm still boycotting Hobby Lobby, and this time, it's a total boycott.<br />
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I've been boycotting them for the past year, although I've had to go no more than a dozen times to get things there that I can't get anywhere else. I absolutely hate when that happens, but I always use a 40% off coupon (not that it makes THAT much difference, as I'm still giving them my money). However, it's a far cry from the kind of money I used to spend there. Between fabric, thread, jewelry materials, and candy-making supplies, I used to probably spend about $1000 per year at Hobby Lobby. Since deciding to boycott them, I've spent less than $100.<br />
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Now, they're not going to get even that.<br />
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Michael's has coupons. So does Joann Fabrics. In fact, I rarely purchase anything at full-price.<br />
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Are other stores further away? Yep. Will it cost more to order the hard-to-find things I need online instead of at Hobby Lobby? Yep. But I'm so infuriated by this entire situation that I'm just totally done with them.<br />
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I suggest that you are, too.<br />
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If you're still not convinced, <a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/news/a28069/hobby-lobby-lies/">here's a great article</a> that debunks the most common arguments as to why Hobby Lobby isn't as evil as they seem.<br />
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-66146044882587847872014-07-07T19:46:00.000-07:002014-07-07T19:47:36.582-07:00Crafter's ApronI've added two new items to <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CasualCostumer">my Etsy store -</a> Buttons and Shears crafter's aprons. It's available with or without a ruffle. Both styles have a deep pocket on the front left and a pocket for shears on the right hip.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/195087303/buttons-and-shears-with-ruffles-crafting?ref=ss_listing">Buttons and Shears with Ruffles</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/195077806/buttons-and-shears-crafting-apron?ref=listing-shop-header-0">Buttons and Shears</a></td></tr>
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-88231837332891991702014-04-06T13:34:00.001-07:002014-04-06T13:34:40.334-07:00Casual Costumer on Etsy!I've opened a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CasualCostumer">new shop on Etsy</a> where I'll be selling various items, but mostly a variety of aprons. Right now I've opened with matching mother/daughter apron sets, but will be adding more items over the next few weeks. Check it out! <br />
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Here are some of the items currently on sale:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/185299580/apples-and-pears-motherdaughter-matching?ref=shop_home_active_1">Apples and Pears</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUA6WZixlaTolBJuWbqSbVrDk5C1WbR33GakPmYGEYY6AivBsr0MLgow7_zjt6t2xhy_i93uAIhvvpMOfg3wCeFiqYOTwAbgtwMC17FvUctzDJgU4SvzKVSDfSWMNGaEbjCLtu3afObI/s1600/brown_flowers_hanging.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUA6WZixlaTolBJuWbqSbVrDk5C1WbR33GakPmYGEYY6AivBsr0MLgow7_zjt6t2xhy_i93uAIhvvpMOfg3wCeFiqYOTwAbgtwMC17FvUctzDJgU4SvzKVSDfSWMNGaEbjCLtu3afObI/s1600/brown_flowers_hanging.JPG" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/185307743/tiny-flowers-motherdaughter-matching?ref=listing-shop-header-4">Tiny Flowers</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/185299206/spring-flowers-flower-patterned?ref=shop_home_active_2">Spring Flowers</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aa0z2_d_DsFG-bPA0NYkwDLdzlgXt7hlb0yuEbqIXLU0KpX03KS-y4TOmPxI9FXn6K0KWAPifgrxSv348jo9mMAvRfjXCxQC4ECgo3ml0MZhWN1BWV63QpHp_v-xvbUXNF9cXJSX5rM/s1600/yellow_flowers_hanging.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aa0z2_d_DsFG-bPA0NYkwDLdzlgXt7hlb0yuEbqIXLU0KpX03KS-y4TOmPxI9FXn6K0KWAPifgrxSv348jo9mMAvRfjXCxQC4ECgo3ml0MZhWN1BWV63QpHp_v-xvbUXNF9cXJSX5rM/s1600/yellow_flowers_hanging.JPG" height="320" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/185298798/spring-has-sprung-flower-patterned?ref=listing-shop-header-2">Spring Has Sprung</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_887850120" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nbSXCdTI9frr_nY5ydDjPYtUn7FFKNg52JXJlJhnB0PuTwPLpHak5ceZExIR7qqwCwp8Z24JmOYqeiwv5Wng2OA3L1xOacBfrW1np0euNGZ7RP-KuCahvk3c9a3lS_8yBz_D-mE5H8Y/s1600/yellow_hanging.JPG" height="320" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/185297984/dreamsicle-motherdaughter-matching-apron?ref=listing-shop-header-3">Dreamsicle</a></td></tr>
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<span id="goog_887850122"></span><br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-33031197939626908862014-04-02T14:11:00.001-07:002014-04-02T14:12:31.428-07:00Projects for Nieces and NephewAs I mentioned before, I'm taking a break from costuming. There are a lot of other projects that I'm working on, though, and I've been at the sewing machine for a good portion of 2014! Below are the projects that I made for my nieces and nephew.<br />
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Dresses for A and E:<br />
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I made these dresses using <a href="http://butterick.mccall.com/b4718-products-5624.php?page_id=376">Butterick 4718</a>. The green one is a size 6, the pink is a size 5. I used cotton fabric from JoAnn's. I made the shoulder straps per the pattern on the green dress, but then altered them slightly on the pink dress to be straight.<br />
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Dress for K:<br />
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This is a dress that I made for K, who is 18 months old. I used <a href="http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6541-products-22732.php?page_id=96">McCall's 6541</a>. I think I put the button holes a bit too high. Also, I have so much trouble making button holes! I can do it perfectly four or five times on test fabric, and then when I do it on the actual fabric, it goes crooked, or the foot stops moving. It's so aggravating.<br />
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Another Dress for A:<br />
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What can I say - I spoil her! She loves my dresses, though, and because
her mother always shows gratitude, I like making things for her. This
one was made with <a href="http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6061-products-10872.php?page_id=712">McCall's 6061</a>. The yellow trim goes all the way around the dress. <br />
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Apron for P:<br />
<br />
Last, but not least, I had to make something for P since I'd made dresses for his two sisters. I decided to make him a Bears apron so that he could help his dad grill this summer. The pattern is my own, based off of several adult patterns. I put a double pocket on the front, since kids LOVE to carry things around in pockets!<br />
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-18445547126984328012013-12-26T09:58:00.002-08:002013-12-26T09:58:31.506-08:00Doctor Who Fan Orchestra #8: 50th Anniversary SuiteI participated in the Doctor Who Fan Orchestra's 8th collaboration, the 50th Anniversary Suite! Check it out here - I'm the Clara playing the viola! But the most exciting thing is that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Foster_%28orchestrator%29">Ben Foster</a>, the Doctor Who orchestrator, appears in the video!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/WTpXcYzKY58" width="560"></iframe>casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-21732699568825347702013-12-05T12:50:00.003-08:002013-12-05T12:51:08.580-08:00It's Time for a Break ...I've been making costumes for over ten years, but I've spent the past five years cosplaying. I try to make costumes that no one else makes, and I try to expand my skillset by trying more and more complicated costumes.<br />
<br />
Cosplaying is something I've always enjoyed. While cosplaying at a con is always the best part of making any costume, I've always also liked the challenge of altering a pattern and the thrill of finally getting something right. I've found it to be an incredibly rewarding hobby.<br />
<br />
I say that my motto is, "It's not a cosplay until there's blood and
tears" because it's true: I (accidentally) injure myself during almost every costume
construction, and I end up breaking down in tears once or twice per
project as well. There have always been days when I just get completely aggravated and throw the costume it across the room (or hit the serger in frustration and unintentionally put a hole in the wall), but I think that's all part of the creative process. Once I get that frustration out of my system, I can refocus with a new energy. This has always been a part of making costumes for me, but it's never been the dominant theme.<br />
<br />
This past year, though, something changed.<br />
<br />
I've had quite a difficult year, struggling with issues at work and feeling worthless and like I couldn't do anything right. I haven't felt so shitty since I was in junior high. And that transferred over into my cosplays. I went from feeling pretty confident in my skills to feeling like I'd never made a costume before.<br />
<br />
This year, I made three extremely difficult costumes: Shadow Weaver, which I had to draft most of myself; Eowyn, which required a lot of major alterations and drafting; and Clara, which shouldn't have been as difficult as it was, but ended up being a lot more work than expected because of the difficulties I had with the fabric. The fabric alone for Eowyn and Clara took almost as much work as making a costume, since I had to scour the Internet and every fabric store in the Chicago area, only to have to give up and dye fabric from JoAnn's.<br />
<br />
And those once-a-costume breakdowns turned into every-other-day breakdowns. With every costume I made this year, I said, "I can't do this anymore." I felt completely stupid every time I sat down to work on something. I made careless mistakes. The simplest things, like keeping a gorram machine threaded, turned into impossible tasks. Things that I thought were going really well ended up disasters. A hobby that used to be fulfilling and give me a lot of joy became a burden; instead of being eager to work on my costume at night, I began to dread it.<br />
<br />
Worst of all, I felt like a fraud.<br />
<br />
When I said that I didn't expect to win anything at the Chicago TARDIS Masquerade, I wasn't being humble, I meant it. The Clara costume kept me up at night, and when I did fall asleep, I had nightmares about it. I almost gave up on it entirely two or three times.<br />
<br />
So it's time to take a break, at least from new costumes. For a while now, I've wanted to remake parts of my Susan costume and remake my Liesl costume entirely. I'd like to work on embroidering Eowyn's bodice, and I want to learn to knit so I can make Clara's shawl (and remake the Gryffindor scarf that was stolen out of my office when I was in grad school).<br />
<br />
But none of these are projects that I HAVE to do. If I don't feel like working on them, I don't have to. We're not going to Dragon Con in 2014 because we're taking a trip to the UK in the fall, so there's no pressure to make anything new. I have plenty of clothing projects (skirts, tops, dresses) that I keep putting off in favor of costumes, so I'll still be sewing, but if something goes wrong, I can take my time, or forget about the piece entirely. <br />
<br />
I should probably fix that serger-shaped hole in the wall, too. <br />
<br />
I just think that if I take a break from cosplay, then I can relieve some of the pressure I put on myself. For as much as I tell new cosplayers not to worry about being perfect, I can't bring myself to settle for "okay". Now, that doesn't mean that I think all of my costumes are perfect, but that the final product is what I envisioned. A lot of that has to do with knowing that I made something to the best of my ability, and I just feel that the costumes I made this year could have been better. I had to settle for a lot, and I don't like putting out a final product that doesn't meet MY expectations. Being a perfectionist used to be a positive part of costuming for me, but now it's a burden. What's the point of having a hobby if you aren't getting any enjoyment from it? <br />
<br />
Matt says that because we won Best in Show, I shouldn't take a break. On the other hand, I think there couldn't be a more perfect time to stop.<br />
<br />
That being said, I still plan on posting about the projects I'm working on, and we will have some more photo shoots coming up, so the blog should still be updated on a fairly regular basis. So, don't go away, and remember - if there's something about one of my costumes you'd like me to go into more detail about, just leave me a comment and if I'm able (i.e. I remember how I made it), I'll write a post about it.casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-42404349631604205232013-12-03T12:00:00.000-08:002014-11-02T18:04:55.449-08:00Chicago TARDIS 2013This Thanksgiving weekend, as all Thanksgiving weekends, was Chicago TARDIS. This is my second-favorite convention, and this year was one of the best cons yet.<br />
<br />
Matt and I were cosplaying as the Doctor and Clara from the 2012 Christmas Special <i>The Snowmen</i>. We both spent months trying to find the correct fabric, so we both started construction on our costumes pretty late. This week we were both staying up way too late trying to get them done. We'd switched around our Thanksgiving plans so that we could participate in the Cavalcade on Friday night, but due to Matt catching a cold earlier in the week and being unable to work as quickly as he'd wanted to, he hadn't finished his coat, and hadn't even started his vest. Consequently, I ended up spending all day Friday making the vest, which ended up being a lot more complex than I'd originally thought! Since we weren't done yet, we were unable to go to the con on Friday night, but I did run in and grab our badges. (We live literally four miles from Chicago TARDIS, which is a FAR cry from Dragon Con!)<br />
<br />
On Saturday, we arrived at the Westin around noon, and managed to just sneak into the Masquerade signup. We met up with @booksavvy and @freckledcrafts and a few others and hung out for a while. Our group included a Jenny and a Vastra, and because they also appeared in <i>The Snowmen</i>, we were absolutely mobbed for photos!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Dg0uK9yxJXaV9I4jYUw2qikjMsWXxthiB_PJ-BJe0qs7KyARxdqsuridBpDO68vjyiXjZWEx232K6DQSPteKwno2XdcY4hfYXbv74BcQrKCjpi8LEIsi-wbtWaEbEQ2rV8jvZ6bfaIM/s1600/VJCD02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Dg0uK9yxJXaV9I4jYUw2qikjMsWXxthiB_PJ-BJe0qs7KyARxdqsuridBpDO68vjyiXjZWEx232K6DQSPteKwno2XdcY4hfYXbv74BcQrKCjpi8LEIsi-wbtWaEbEQ2rV8jvZ6bfaIM/s320/VJCD02.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vastra, Jenny, Clara, Doctor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I also met several mini-Claras! It was great to meet young cosplayers! And I just want to put this out here - I do NOT want to hear any of you saying how your costume isn't as good as someone else's! All cosplayers have different levels of skill, different amounts of time and money they can spend, different amounts of resources available to them, and different levels of insanity. As long as you put effort into your costume, then please realize that <i>there are no bad cosplays.</i> As long as you're having fun, that's all that matters. This is something that I myself forget quite often in regards to my own costumes. I'm obsessed, and I'm a perfectionist. It's not necessarily a good or healthy thing, and I sometimes get extremely upset with myself. Because of this, I admit that I used to sometimes think about other costumes, "oh, that's not the best cosplay." (And I doubt that there are any cosplayers who have never thought that about a costume.) THAT WAS WRONG, but the nice thing about being a human is that we're allowed to make mistakes and grow and become better people. That's what I hope young cosplayers can do - realize that they don't have to be perfect, that ALL cosplayers can find at least a dozen things wrong with every costume they make, and that the best part of cosplaying is to get into character and have a good time.<br />
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I give very good advice, but I very seldom follow it.<br />
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This is also a good time to mention that I don't want to hear ANYONE saying that this version of a costume is better than that version of a costume, for the same reasons as above.<br />
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Moving on!<br />
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I sat on the "So You Want to Cosplay" panel at 2pm on Saturday, and according to my friends in the audience, we did a pretty good job! (For more information on how to get started with cosplay, please view the post from my <a href="http://casualcostumer.blogspot.com/2011/11/notes-from-chicagotardis-2011-costuming.html">2011 costuming basics panel</a>.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-GlD1Mx0PLyZZXly6rBHKyakQNnsK0jUPNTVk-1nsfKOmc7HpdtXy1g4AENSerfnWnzRca7zqQhB2FSeA_vBdrGzotGIFkKojYp1X4Hh6zK68y7ZuwqpQZQafIrwTBLWwCQOJHUiiJ8/s1600/2013Panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-GlD1Mx0PLyZZXly6rBHKyakQNnsK0jUPNTVk-1nsfKOmc7HpdtXy1g4AENSerfnWnzRca7zqQhB2FSeA_vBdrGzotGIFkKojYp1X4Hh6zK68y7ZuwqpQZQafIrwTBLWwCQOJHUiiJ8/s320/2013Panel.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of www.facebook.com/chicagotardis</td></tr>
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After the panel, we went to the Masquerade meeting and then home for lunch. When we got back, the rest of our friends had found Strax! We were again mobbed ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxL4RiUadAPE9ppVl54RIUC2J4Z_m7I_-Va_ywi6NBbPf-G50wptRz7SEVqxBBHC45P3q0yCFX1siY__LGondivNjq4f3mmugBbIjMzG3A5hGkOttd60KHcGoDXgyo-KJbRwsCRB6S9U/s1600/gang01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxL4RiUadAPE9ppVl54RIUC2J4Z_m7I_-Va_ywi6NBbPf-G50wptRz7SEVqxBBHC45P3q0yCFX1siY__LGondivNjq4f3mmugBbIjMzG3A5hGkOttd60KHcGoDXgyo-KJbRwsCRB6S9U/s320/gang01.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny, Vastra, Strax, Clara, Doctor</td></tr>
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We also ran into a terrifying Snowman!<br />
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Soon after, it was time to meet in the green room for the Masquerade. We got to talk with a ton of super-talented cosplayers. Honestly, I had no idea how the judges were going to make a decision, because every costume represented in the Masquerade was fantastic. I didn't think we had a chance at winning anything in our Journeyman category.<br />
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And, oh look, the scary Snowman has an equally-terrifying sister, who was dressed as a Peg Doll from <i>Night Terrors. </i>They both absolutely delighted in standing and staring at me. Matt says, "now you know how everyone else feels when you're dressed like the Clockwork Droid."<br />
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We also met ANOTHER scary Snowman. Sheesh, kids these days.<br />
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We spent most of the evening chatting with a Seventh Doctor cosplayer, and I am absolutely kicking myself for not getting his photo, and because I was so sleep-deprived, I forgot his first name*. He had a lovely dog, too! So, if you're reading this, hope we see you next year!<br />
*His name is Daniel, and I found him on Facebook, so we're all good. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's his hat, though, next to Matt's!</td></tr>
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Then it was on to the stage where we were supposed to hit the orange "X", but I totally didn't see it and I felt like I didn't spend enough time onstage because the Master was still speaking as we left ... but oh well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRf9OP49GPzCzaEHKO1qY3Z2BAtvD2EmH7zWTyf4QErQg_B8vFebP7CNpc8UU8JYvA12h3HDF7COIqZ6NApf7FUe4AisBZxRMem0-CJOh9DZEtIZ4nrINzfcjvclcX7_c0zZ1L0A6o3A/s1600/Masquerade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRf9OP49GPzCzaEHKO1qY3Z2BAtvD2EmH7zWTyf4QErQg_B8vFebP7CNpc8UU8JYvA12h3HDF7COIqZ6NApf7FUe4AisBZxRMem0-CJOh9DZEtIZ4nrINzfcjvclcX7_c0zZ1L0A6o3A/s320/Masquerade.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of www.facebook.com/chicagotardis</td></tr>
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The Masquerade was set up a bit differently this year. Because the con attracted twice the crowd as last year, they had no seats in Main Programming for us to sit in after leaving the stage. Therefore, after our appearance, we went back to the green room. We waited in there while the judges deliberated, then all had to file back out into the hallway and wait for the results. We couldn't hear what categories were announced, so someone would come back and yell out the winning entry's number - "FIFTEEN! NUMBER FIFTEEN!" - and the appropriate entry would have to go running onstage.<br />
<br />
Well, entry after entry was called, but we weren't. We had no idea who was in what level (Novice, Journeyman, Master), so we couldn't even guess where they were in the announcements. Then we heard the crowd shouting, so we assumed that it was over, and all the winners were being cheered. There wasn't so much disappointment as there was confusion.<br />
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And then, the director came running back and shouted, "TWENTY-NINE!" That was us! We ran onstage and accepted our ribbon and a packet of ... something ... and moved over on the stage for the next winner. I was vaguely aware of the audience going mad. I nudged the person standing next to me and whispered, "Do you know what we won?" She said, "You won Best in Show!" Matt and I stared at her in shock, and suddenly my legs started shaking and I thought I was going to fall over. Since I'd thought it was too much to hope for a Workmanship award, I had never in a million years even considered winning Best in Show!<br />
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After the Masquerade, we ran into the most mini of Dalek Claras (she must have been about five), who seemed pretty nervous to have her photo taken with me. Her mother told me that mini-Clara was mad because she'd wanted to wear the Barmaid costume, but her mom thought it was too complex. Haha! She was a cutie, and I wish I had a photo with her, but Matt had run to the car.<br />
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We then attended the Brit Rock party for a bit. We didn't stay too long because Matt was starting to feel pretty tired, but we did manage to have fun with some glow sticks!<br />
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On Sunday, we got there around 10:30 so that I could get a Virtual Queue autograph ticket for Freema Agyeman. We sat in on some panels, wandered around and got some photos, and then we got to sit INSIDE A DALEK! AAAAHHHH! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTH7F6hDBDRYOntNzO6TsGmPwTJYfQZG6q1Qhb-Y_fpf_ECAQFvNH0o1nHYQrE7gByUVn1BRwhD9uIeM1qLahIXF1n2dt53Cn-GyHFl_VFZr78gwXohgWf5BqRRx8kSSMTtpjrh1Z9Y0/s1600/Doctor_Dalek05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTH7F6hDBDRYOntNzO6TsGmPwTJYfQZG6q1Qhb-Y_fpf_ECAQFvNH0o1nHYQrE7gByUVn1BRwhD9uIeM1qLahIXF1n2dt53Cn-GyHFl_VFZr78gwXohgWf5BqRRx8kSSMTtpjrh1Z9Y0/s320/Doctor_Dalek05.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt is looking at the video monitor so he knows how to steer!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am not a Dalek!</td></tr>
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Then I went to the autograph waiting area while Matt went to listen to the Bears game in the car.<br />
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When it was my turn to get an autograph, Freema said, "I love your costume! It must be difficult to go to the toilet in that!" I responded that I just try not to drink too much water. I didn't know what else to say! No celebrity has asked me about going to the bathroom before ... She was lovely!<br />
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As I left the autograph room, I got a text from Matt that he had drained the car battery. You've GOT to be kidding me, right? I went out to the parking garage, assessed the situation, and texted our friend PlayItGrand from <a href="http://www.spacegypsies.com/">Space Gypsies </a>to see if she'd be able to give us a jump. As I was texting, someone came up to us and asked for our photo. We said we'd do the photo if she gave us a jump! She very graciously agreed, and after figuring out how to jump a car with her Hybrid (the battery is in the trunk), our car came back to life! I'm sorry that I didn't get her name, but whomever you are, thank you for saving the Doctor and Clara!<br />
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After lunch, we went to the Freema panel, then separated again. I recorded the Typecasting the Doctor panel for the <a href="http://spacegypsies.com/archives/9608">Space Gypsies</a> website, and Matt stayed for the Main Programming. We then attended the Three Doctors panel, which was pretty cool, even though we haven't seen their episodes yet! Peter Davison and Colin Baker are hilarious and play off of each other. You can tell they really get along, that it's not just an act. Paul McGann was pretty quiet, but he could hold his own. However, I am so bloody tired of people asking for hugs or telling their life story before asking their question. That's what getting an autograph is for.<br />
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We left after that because we were both exhausted. It's perfect that Chicago TARDIS is held on Thanksgiving weekend, because I think all of us Doctor Who fans are extremely thankful that we have a great place to hang out with other people who share the same level of obsession. I'm so grateful for all the con friends that I have now. I'm sure that most of us were the kids in high school who were totally geeky and unpopular, and were even ostracized by others. We're the ones who never thought we'd fit in. And now, thanks to cons and even social media, we can connect in a way that we never thought possible. I know that we're having more fun now than the kids who DID fit in during high school. I am so hopeful for the next generation of fans, because they won't feel like they have to hide their enthusiasm for a fandom. <br />
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It was a fantastic con, and I can't wait for next year!<br />
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-7306590431557140072013-12-02T15:28:00.000-08:002014-11-02T18:05:47.192-08:00Clara Oswald Part 2: Skirt and ShawlClara's skirt was even more difficult than the bodice. It consists of a ruffled skirt, apron, and bustle.<br />
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I used the Simplicity 1819 pattern for the skirt, apron, and bustle, but ended up modifying it quite a bit. I was having a lot of issues figuring this all out, so I didn't take many photos. I relied heavily on screen shots and publicity shots, and I found a fantastic resource over at <a href="http://www.lissierose.com/#!clara-oswin-oswald/c1hgr">LissieRose.com</a>. If you're planning on making a Clara Barmaid costume, I highly recommend you check out her walkthrough.<br />
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I started out with the skirt base, which is constructed from Bordeaux Wine broadcloth from JoAnn Fabrics.<br />
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I then cut out 8" ruffles out of the same fabric. I finally broke down and purchased a cutting mat and rotary blade for this, and I was able to cut out the ruffles in about 15 minutes. I cut them out in about 1-yard lengths, and ended up cutting out about 24 of them (sorry, I lost count!) Check out the Lissie Rose website for a<a href="http://www.lissierose.com/#!worn-pleated-ruffles/cjqp"> tutorial</a> on how to do pleated ruffles. I more or less followed the tutorial, but I had to gather the ruffles by hand, as I don't have a ruffler foot.<br />
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I started running a straight stitch about 2" from the bottom of each ruffle to prevent it from fraying up too high, but I didn't like how it looked. I used <a href="http://www.joann.com/dritz-bonus-pack-fray-check-3-4-oz-each-2-pkg/5731120.html#q=fray+check&start=1">fray check</a> instead. However, in the future, I wouldn't do either. Clara's skirt is frayed quite badly, and while the fray check is effective, it did show up very dark after drying. After it dried, I gathered the ruffles at the top and pulled them until they were about one foot long.<br />
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I then pinned the ruffles to the skirt and stitched them on.<br />
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Voila!<br />
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The final step of the ruffled skirt was to add the decorative trim to the top ruffle. I tried making it out of the broadcloth, but it just didn't look right. I ended up using wired ribbon from JoAnn's (sorry, I can't find what it's called - just look for maroon that matches the Bordeaux Wine broadcloth).<br />
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I made the apron and bustle according to the pattern instructions, but I ended up leaving off the side cascade pieces.<br />
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Please note that for the apron, you will need to add another 8" or so. I didn't realize until after I'd sewn it all together that it wasn't as long as Clara's, so I'll be going back and adding some. Also, I did not pleat the apron according to the directions, because when I did, it didn't lay the same way that Clara's did. Instead I eyeballed it on one side, measured each fold and mirrored it on the other side, then hand-stitched it to lay flat.<br />
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The bustle was a nightmare. I worked on it for about four nights before I realized I had to simply cut out the entire bottom. There is literally one second in the entire episode where you can see the bustle, and I can't even figure out what it's supposed to be. It doesn't look like a normal bustle, that's for sure. I bustled the darn thing up almost a dozen times before I decided there was just too much. In the pattern, the bustle is comprised of four pieces. It's those two bottom pieces that had to go. I originally had the very bottom tied up, because that's how it looks in the photo, but I eventually decided to just let it hang loose.<br />
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Please note that the top of the bustle, where it attaches to the skirt, is heavily gathered. It is very difficult to work with, so I used a TON of pins.<br />
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Also, I'm not describing how I bustled it, because it was nowhere near the right way of doing it. If you want to know how to bustle, go find a YouTube tutorial!<br />
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The final thing to do was to add a waistband around the top of the skirt. I also put in four sets of hooks and eyes - two in the waistband, and two in the top of the bustle.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo doesn't do it justice ...</td></tr>
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Clara's skirt is heavily distressed. I mean, it is RIDICULOUSLY distressed. I don't know what on earth that girl was doing that would make her ruffles so darned distressed. To achieve the same look, I first pulled out all of the threads that had worked themselves loose just from handling the skirt. I did this until the ruffles were quite frayed. I should have done more in some areas, but it was about 1:00 in the morning the day before the con when I did it, so I had to settle. I then took my tiny thread snippers and made small cuts along each ruffle, then tore the fabric. The cuts and tears are varied for a more authentic feel. I also took the snippers and stabbed them into the fabric in various places to make holes. Some of them look like burns (I think I'll probably actually go back and burn it in a few places), as if she got too close to the fire, and some look more like she caught the ruffle on a nail or splinter. It was probably just because it was in the wee hours of the morning, but I did give origin stories to many of the more unique tears and rips.<br />
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The final step to the distressing was to take a black stick of artist's charcoal and rub it all over the skirt. I then took small sections of the fabric and rubbed it in my hands to make it look more worn. I then gave it a quick spritz with hairspray. NOTE: Do the hairspray thing before touching the fabric, or else you'll take most of the charcoal off. (I will be redoing that, too.) My only excuse is that by this time, it was 3am and I wasn't thinking very clearly ...<br />
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For Clara's shawl, I used a maroon Aspen Sweater knit, which I found in the Evanston location of <a href="http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/">Vogue Fabrics</a>. I made a pattern by laying out one of my own shawls. After cutting the shawl out, I ran a straight stitch about 5/8" from the edge because I wanted a small amount of fraying, but not too much. I then took maroon yarn (which isn't quite the same color), cut it into about 8" pieces, then pulled it through the shawl at regular intervals and tied it. I then used a knitting needle to pull the individual strands apart.<br />
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Oh - I almost forgot! I made a "petticoat" as well. I just made a basic skirt (you can use the Simplicity 1819 pattern again if you want) out of Turkey Red broadcloth from JoAnn's. I'm not pleased with it, so I'll be remaking it with one of their red linens, which I'd somehow missed the first time around. <br />
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And here's the final product, taken at <a href="http://www.chicagotardis.com/">Chicago TARDIS</a>, where Matt and I won Best in Show at the Masquerade! Stay tuned for a Chicago TARDIS report, which I'll be publishing at some point this week.<br />
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-48889015769862137822013-11-17T20:01:00.000-08:002014-11-02T18:05:23.207-08:00Clara Oswald Part 1: The BodiceI'll be making Clara Oswald's barmaid dress from <i>The Snowmen</i> for this year's <a href="http://chicagotardis.com/">Chicago TARDIS</a>. It was a pain in the butt to find the fabric for it, but I finally was able to start construction a few weeks ago. It's been slow going, so I haven't taken a lot of photos. Bear with me!<br />
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The problem is that there are two different sets of publicity shots, one where the dress has a more red hue, and one where it's more maroon. I am kind of doing something in between the two, as I couldn't find fabrics that went together for either one. <br />
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I started with the bodice, as I wanted to cosplay Clara for the latest <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DoctorWhoFanOrchestra">Doctor Who Fan Orchestra</a> piece that I participated in, and I only needed the costume from the waist up. I tacked it together very quickly, so I had to go back and fit it correctly.<br />
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I looked everywhere in stores and online for fabric that was suitable. The original fabric has a raised embroidery, and I just couldn't find anything similar. I ended up using an upholstery fabric from JoAnn's. I cannot find what the name is, but I'll update the page when I do. Anyway, I bought 7 yards. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIHiHBI1zm-CSNzqKW1qJetHk7fF0GLa7HUvnLqTW6n0jGduvc8H97EA66QvcF1j7vK6fZOep5joeANL6A6FqGOpvsq68A2xSzrveee00K3bayrui1GWmYvOOmst3HelmzSS-3LeQ2DE/s1600/originalfabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIHiHBI1zm-CSNzqKW1qJetHk7fF0GLa7HUvnLqTW6n0jGduvc8H97EA66QvcF1j7vK6fZOep5joeANL6A6FqGOpvsq68A2xSzrveee00K3bayrui1GWmYvOOmst3HelmzSS-3LeQ2DE/s320/originalfabric.jpg" height="320" width="239" /> </a></div>
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However, it was too maroon, so I put it in the washing machine and poured in bleach. Below is my sample - the original fabric is on the left, and the bleached fabric is on the right. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZAf146x8h4CwXdK4vAcV741VxxRCUABt_7U7mQCjJF49bED_inScDfD8jn0nvRl72QW7ZefONMtl2lGs8ItGOKT8nqBkgDTAt4uXgz6rwmvZT2mwE_JH7-nSIOCCsEC7W_pfJ1ztMwM/s1600/dye+test.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZAf146x8h4CwXdK4vAcV741VxxRCUABt_7U7mQCjJF49bED_inScDfD8jn0nvRl72QW7ZefONMtl2lGs8ItGOKT8nqBkgDTAt4uXgz6rwmvZT2mwE_JH7-nSIOCCsEC7W_pfJ1ztMwM/s320/dye+test.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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I dyed all 7 yards! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2c80Cbkx-oOvDIfv0wAQFgQkCIwbAw5cQHRth8Vq4eVmv3WALP8MWAHIA90iTeKDQjkuKAfWcWJChc6rd0fnbOyiddiLxShJMpQ0xInsiRvjrWVLl7_uZxO3mZFMKiEzJTo0WxDBm08/s1600/7yards.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2c80Cbkx-oOvDIfv0wAQFgQkCIwbAw5cQHRth8Vq4eVmv3WALP8MWAHIA90iTeKDQjkuKAfWcWJChc6rd0fnbOyiddiLxShJMpQ0xInsiRvjrWVLl7_uZxO3mZFMKiEzJTo0WxDBm08/s320/7yards.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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For the bodice, I used <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-9586-misses-steampunk-costume.aspx">Simplicity pattern 1558</a>. I had to modify the neckline a little bit, as well as the sleeve shape and length.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwHGwTo9pb4L8P0V3gtoTBYR8t6TWv8IHwFE78DhjLmW8V4RWfefDXEi5ZVxZrEiIETRpVCiq-5vKx9jRek1ftn0nXiFa_ey_y_myq578AiV5dVe_jNVB4mNcZUJpHCGuQGXiYmp-HpM/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-11-17+at+9.27.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwHGwTo9pb4L8P0V3gtoTBYR8t6TWv8IHwFE78DhjLmW8V4RWfefDXEi5ZVxZrEiIETRpVCiq-5vKx9jRek1ftn0nXiFa_ey_y_myq578AiV5dVe_jNVB4mNcZUJpHCGuQGXiYmp-HpM/s320/Screen+shot+2013-11-17+at+9.27.10+PM.png" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
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The buttons are LaMode genuine leather buttons. They are about 16mm, and really should be smaller. However, 16mm was the smallest size I could find.<br />
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There is lace around the neckline and, I think, the sleeves as well. I purchased a soft maroon lace at <a href="http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/">Vogue Fabrics.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtderUmm7YWlRs0p32LsOEU_8mIJ3q0wmgRqzqU5MO3j5i9wt94PZWxDRQo_p6y8cAfcICER-auOKrh245SqstgoMZ4BICgXGMQQR2iCbFdDfNHBx2y7o1nYR2cFLi_J4RA4CVnOeD-94/s1600/neckline.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtderUmm7YWlRs0p32LsOEU_8mIJ3q0wmgRqzqU5MO3j5i9wt94PZWxDRQo_p6y8cAfcICER-auOKrh245SqstgoMZ4BICgXGMQQR2iCbFdDfNHBx2y7o1nYR2cFLi_J4RA4CVnOeD-94/s320/neckline.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is the (mostly) completed bodice, front and back. I still need to turn the bottom under and attach it to the lining, add the final button to the bottom, figure out what to do with the zipper, and distress the trim at the top.<br />
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-5983354535730324992013-11-06T15:40:00.001-08:002013-11-06T16:15:54.055-08:00Eomer and Eowyn Photo ShootTwo weeks ago, my husband and I met up at a local forest preserve with Lulette Gehron to do a shoot of our Eomer and Eowyn costumes. She did a lovely job - we got some fantastic shots! These are some of the stills that Lulette edited for us. I'll post a separate post in a few days with some of our other favorites!<br />
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<br />casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-50942577440931854052013-10-30T16:58:00.001-07:002013-10-30T17:02:03.123-07:00Dashi from The OctonautsWhat are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Octonauts">The Octonauts</a>, you ask? Fantastic question! I'm still not exactly sure, but my 4-year-old niece is in love with them, and can recite an entire book to me (word-for-word, and with inflection and definitions). However, the simple fact that it's a British TV show gets my approval, so when I was asked to make an Octonauts Halloween costume for my niece, I readily agreed. Plus, when you're paid in <a href="http://www.bellotea.com/Default.asp">Bello Tea</a> gift cards, it's just a win-win situation for everyone.<br />
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Here's the costume that I had to create: Dashi Dog. She's pretty adorable!<br />
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I used Simplicity 1704 for the pattern, and it was nice and straightforward. Have I mentioned how much I love being able to just make a pattern without modifying it?<br />
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I found almost all of the materials at Hobby Lobby. I know, I know.
I'm boycotting them. Except, it's hard to boycott a store when no one
else in the area has the colors that you need! Yay for 40% off coupons!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsu8v-YC6KaAEnhTvQBaW1HRfg2DynQ4fBhq_UdB2Vtou9jX-yQVPJLwParpeU43qRgP1fiNniJv5rSoqe9xnM-nLBmKXfJ02R1ei_b6lsdIpa3lawzl4nXT2dmVVi53LTX-FpC1H3J88/s1600/skirt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsu8v-YC6KaAEnhTvQBaW1HRfg2DynQ4fBhq_UdB2Vtou9jX-yQVPJLwParpeU43qRgP1fiNniJv5rSoqe9xnM-nLBmKXfJ02R1ei_b6lsdIpa3lawzl4nXT2dmVVi53LTX-FpC1H3J88/s320/skirt.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skirt with interfacing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The skirt was a light pink broadcloth. I originally was going to put interfacing on the entire dress, but after doing that, it was like HELLO SUPER STIFF NOT AWESOME. I pulled it off of everything but the skirt, which definitely needed the extra structure.<br />
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For the top of the dress, I cut off the bottom of the tan fabric and added a pink strip. I figured it was easier than trying to lengthen the skirt.<br />
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I reshaped the collar a little to give it rectangular corners instead of rounded corners. I then penciled the design on and machine embroidered it. I did mess up a little, but it's not very noticeable unless you're super close (like this photo!) <br />
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For the details, I simply whip-stitched some white ribbon to the bottom and added a big, white button.<br />
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For the hat, I molded some craft foam around a measuring cup, then cut out a band from the same foam.<br />
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Those got glued together, and my husband paint a dark blue stripe around the band and the Octonauts logo on the top of the hat.<br />
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I insisted on making the hair for Dashi as well. I went through a lot of frustration over it, because it shouldn't be that hard! I made the <a href="http://casualcostumer.blogspot.com/2012/09/fruity-oaty-bar-girls.html">Fruity Oaty Bar Girl </a>heads completely out of the same fleece material! I finally ended up sewing two ears to a stretchy headband. Of course, I forgot to take any photos of it, but check it out in the final photo.<br />
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The final piece of the costume (which I almost forgot about, because I didn't know how to do it!) was the boots. My friend brought over a pair of winter boots, and I basically just covered them. Again, I used the craft foam, and I actually whipped these together in about 45 minutes.<br />
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Here are the materials that I used: one winter boot, one large piece to wrap around the top of the boot, and one piece for the toe. I figured out the shape by putting the foam around the boot and cutting until I had a basic shape, then trimming it up until it fit the way I wanted it to. The cut-out bit of the larger piece is off-center so that the ends can overlap. The pieces are designed to end right where the rubber sole starts. I was concerned about them becoming a trip hazard if they covered any more than that. The top of the covers also extend just a bit over the top of the boot.<br />
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I then put the toe piece on the boot, wrapped the large piece around, and tacked the corners of the toe piece with hot glue. I removed it from the boot and reinforced the seam a bit more.<br />
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Next, I added some elastic to the bottom of the cover. This is so that the boot can slip into the cover, but not move around once it's in place.<br />
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Finally, I added velcro so that the boots fasten on the inside of the ankles. I did this so that they looked nice and smooth when viewed from the side. Hopefully, they won't unfasten if she bumps one boot against the other. I used red velcro for that WOW effect. Okay, I used red velcro because that's all I had handy, and I didn't feel like running out to buy more when I needed a literal two inches.<br />
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Here are the finished boots!<br />
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Finally, here is a side-by-side of my niece with the original reference photo. She was quite excited to get the finished costume; there was a fair bit of jumping up and down and squeaking. I think she looks fantastic! casualcostumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05806705039148420659noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715685985110097659.post-53259541445600697172013-09-08T18:51:00.004-07:002013-09-08T18:51:44.492-07:00Clockwork Droid Photo ShootA few weeks ago, we did a photo shoot with some of our costumes at the <a href="http://www.mayslakepeabody.com/">Mayslake Peabody Estate</a>. The mansion was built in 1921, and is simply breathtaking! We've been there for many of the <a href="http://www.firstfolio.org/">First Folio </a>theatre productions, including <a href="http://firstfolio.org/plays/edgarallanpoe12.php"><i>The Madness of Edgar Allen Poe</i></a><i> </i>and <i><a href="http://firstfolio.org/plays/searching_for_peabodys_tomb.php">Searching for Peabody's Tomb</a>, </i>both of which take place in various rooms throughout the house, and <i>The Turn of the Screw,</i> which was performed in the indoor chapel. Due to the several performances we've attended, we've become pretty familiar with the interior of the house. Last October, we were attending <i>The Madness of Edgar Allen Poe</i> for the second time. The play begins in the library, and as we sat there waiting for it to start, I was staring at the enormous fireplace. And I realized ... hang on, why did I never think of this before? It's the perfect place to do a Clockwork Droid photo shoot!<br />
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The mansion is in the process of being restored, so there is almost no furniture in it. There will literally be a chair in one room and a folding table in another. There are a few pieces of period furniture on the landing of the main staircase, but that's about it. They store all of the furniture for the theatre productions and special events somewhere else, so with a few exceptions, the entire mansion is <i>completely empty</i>. <br />
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We scheduled a shoot for late July, and we literally had the entire mansion to ourselves. I stopped by one afternoon to drop off my paperwork and a quick tour of the house where they showed me which rooms I could use, and I decided to add a few more costumes to the shoot. (I'll post those later.) The entire shoot was an incredible experience. The only other people around during the shoot were a few office workers, and they just left us alone. The entire mansion was silent. As I dressed in the bathroom and made my way through the house to the library, my footsteps echoed ominously on the wooden floors ... Seriously, it was a bit unnerving to be in there alone after going to so many creepy plays! Not only is the mansion this grand, historic building with incredible architecture that makes you feel like you're in an English country house, it had also been a monastery (a reportedly <i>haunted </i>monastery), and now serves as a theatre (and everyone knows that theatres <i>are haunted), </i>and according to <i>Searching for Peabody's Tomb, </i>there have been multiple paranormal phenomena at the mansion.<br />
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Anyway, if you're in the Chicagoland area, go visit. It's part of the DuPage Forest Preserve system, so they hold art classes there and do tours. And if you want to <a href="http://www.mayslakepeabody.com/rental/">do your own photo shoot</a>, their package is very reasonable, and your rental is for a full two hours. (I don't believe they list the photo package on their rentals page, so contact them directly.) Considering that it's a one-of-a-kind location and the money goes towards supporting the forest preserve, it's definitely a worthwhile investment. I'd absolutely book with them again if a future costume fits the location.<br />
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Here are some of the photos of the Clockwork Droid that were taken by our photographer, Peg Tierney of <a href="http://www.pegtierney.com/">Brewster Street Studios</a>. Enjoy!<br />
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