Curtain dress part 2

The dress is done after a few minor disasters.

First I had put sleeves on it but when I tried it on it looked like a dodgy 80s bridesmaid dress. I then took the sleeves off and it then gaped round the bust line (seriously, boobs and vintage styling are a difficult pair). Finally I hemmed it way too short thankfully with a deep hem, so was able to let it down the 2 inches it needed. Though on the upside I remembered I had the perfect belt to go with it. Overall I'm pretty pressed with how it turned out.

Sorry I didn't take many progress pictures this time!

Curtain dress part 1

Yesterday afternoon I managed to squeeze in two hours of dress making. I've so far got the skirt part half done, should have the rest done today (well as soon as I stop lying on the sofa watching Dexter!)

For once I've taken some step by step pictures to go along. First I detached the lining fabric, then the curtain pleat tape. After that a good long session with the iron to flatten out the creases that have been in there since these were made (and I have no idea when that was).

Next up I pleated the skirt into even knife pleats 2 inches apart. There are four in each quarter, the front 8 face the centre line, and the back 8 face the zip, with a 4 inch box pleat on each hip. I did debate a gathered waist, but after a quick trial I preferred the pleated look. Finally I took off the bottom 30 inches, which is what the top will be made from.

Next time I'll go through the top and finishings.

Quick lunchtime update

I thought I'd just do a quick post with the 1920s outfit in the full. Will be back to posting progress shots this weekend when I start my 1950s full skirt number for the wedding next week, and a surprise black tie number!

Charity shop find!

I went charity shop shopping today for the Mr. He's off to the matching stag do to the 1920s hen do I'm going to this weekend, only the boys are doing a 70s anchorman theme. Today I bought him a fantastic navy blue double breasted jacket with the most amazing gold buttons, for a whopping £3.50.

While I was in there I found some great floral fully lined curtains for £6, they are apparently 50x90 inches, though I haven't checked yet, but I did hold them up and they looked like a decent size, and yay for bonus lining fabric!

I was thinking of going for a full skirted 50s style, more housewife than rockabilly, I've added some piccies below to give you an idea. This will be my next project, so excited!

1920s continued

So remember that 20s dress I made the other day for a hen do? Well I had a spare 30 mins. So I made a matching handbag!!

Need to reposition the Velcro on the flap, not happy with how it sits. Tbh I'm not all that happy using Velcro, but that's all I had lying around the flat. I tend not to have a stock pile of magnetic snaps.

Otherwise I'm pleased with the look, I decided to use contrasting side panels to give it a more modern twist. What do you think?

Vintage coat

If you remember I posted a while back about making this coat for winter:

For reference, that's Butterick  B5824 - Patterns by Gertie. Yesterday I went fabric shopping with Carrie from Sewing Pretty and we spotted this lovely fabric, in a black/pink design and a matching lining fabric in dusty pink.

I also treated myself to a few new sewing things, some carbon paper and pin wheel, and a tailors ham! The Mr. did look very confused last night when he found it in the kitchen (where I keep the ironing board) and even more so when I told him what it was called! He is quite good and just smiling and nodding at sewing terminology - though I think he will always still giggle when I talk about boning (actually that's a lie - we both giggle at that!!)

First step today is to cut the pattern, and start to cut up the muslin. I know I'll need to modify the pattern to fit, the joys of being 5'10", so I'm doing things the proper way and making a fitting muslin first to save the proper fabric.

Gertie did a sew-along with this pattern, with videos and photos, so fingers crossed this should go well!

Oh and if you haven't ever read Gertie's blog you're missing out! I've been a fan for about 5 years and have half of her patterns (as two more were released last week!) and her book, so please go and check her out!

Minamicon Cosplays

Back in March I attended MinamiCon and not surprisingly, cosplayed! This time as Regina The Evil Queen, from ABCs Once Upon a Time, and Seven of Nine from Star Trek Voyager.

First, Seven of Nine

For the full shoot, please visit my lovely photographer Pouncy's flicker set.

Next up - Regina. Again not going to go through the full step by step of making this costume, but I will leave you with 7500 beads, or 13meters of beading!!!

Borderlands 2 - Mad Moxxi Warning! Photo heavy post!!

Last weekend, some friends and I went to Ayacon and as an event that includes cosplay, we naturally obliged!

Myself and my friends Carrie and Liam decided to make costumes from 2kGames' Borderlands 2, Myself as Mad Moxxi, Carrie as Tiny Tina, and Liam and Mordecai

We entered the masquerade, and Carrie won a prize!!!! (Walked straight out of a video game award) We had some amazing shoots with these costumes that weekend, and I've added a few of my favs below.

Moxxi was a relatively simple costume to make, velvet base, with fabric paint stripes. The buttons had to be hand painted, as did the swirls on the black and white collar&cuffs.

Speaking of which, those had to be hand crafted to look right, so the pieces were cut from white fabric, traced onto paper, cut up to give the exact right shapes and colours, re-cut in the back and white fabrics and stitched back together again (then painted!) Sounds complicated, but really only took an afternoon to do the whole thing.

Right now onto the photos! All credits go to:

• Andrew Reid http://www.flickr.com/photos/redkun/
• Luke Caines https://www.facebook.com/PharaohShoots
• Jonathan Cullinane http://www.manylemons.co.uk/)