Sewing Fantasy Threads: Patterns and Progress on Medieval/Renaissance Fantasy Designs

Thank you soooooooo much! I'm a little crazy about fantasy armors, too many ideas for too little time

 

And a little bit for girls (sorry, my Ashleigh is bald on some of the pics, she was just a model and wanted to show the outfit the best way)

 

Fabulous!

Teddy

 

Dalila your armour is breathtaking.

 

Thank you very much!

 

Dalila, extremely cool armours! What materials are you using?

 

Thank you so much! I'm using veg tanned leather.

 

@Dalila, the ladies' armor is even better! What weight of leather are you using?

 

Thank you! 1.5-2.5 oz, 3-3.5 oz shield.

 

Thanks for the beautiful big pictures, @Dalila, I can see how you've put the corselet together. This is good, I think my old machine can easily handle 1.5-2 oz leather....I might have some good options for Vickie's armor now.

 

@Dalila these are amazing!! So inspiring!

 

Everyone's handiwork is so inspiring, I made a thing:


A prototype King's Landing/Cersei-style silk dupioni dress for SID Elf Aurora. I can see all the problems with it, but the next one will be better now that I have data to refine my pattern.
(edit for working pic)

 

It's looking pretty damned good - and exceptionally so for a prototype.

Teddy

 

Thanks so much! Hoping to get the pattern uploaded once I'm pleased with it.

 

Whoah, these are amazing! All of them, really, but especially the first one in silver. The filigree embossed (is it embossed?) on the leather puts me in mind of the stylistic choices for the elves in the LotR movie. Or maybe, with that colouring, of Thranduil. Hmmm... Either way, it's lovely!

 

Thank you so much! Actually this is 3D paint in multi layers

 

mb lilac your earth dress is beautiful. i wanna find patterns for these now and try to make them

 

Absolutely amazing armor, Dalila!
I love the idea of using sequins to create that plated look. It gives it a touch of glamour.

 

Oh my! I love the whole look you are really talented. I actually want to try your renaissance dress tutorial for my dolls once I get all the right fabrics.
About those swords.. is that Orcrist? Because I've been trying to find LoTR miniature swords for quite a while. Did you make it too?

 

No, the sword was made by Mason Leggee, who is a blacksmith. He sent me some of his swords in exchange for me taking some promo photos for him. I'm not sure if he is still making them. He has a page on Facebook - Itty Bitty Sword Shoppe | Facebook

 

Thanks!

 

Miss Aibell wanted a silk dress too so she is now a pretty elf princess.

 

Today I have started my first ever doll outfit on Nînan.
He is a human but adopted by my elf boy Luriel, hence why I wanted to make him an elvish outfit.

He still needs a long sleeve shirt to wear it under the vest and he will of course also need pants but I am pretty happy with the result of my first selfmade mini vest ever x3

 

@Zomboi That vest is amazing! I love the fabrics you've used. ^_^ And I'd never realised how much ordinary hooks & eyes could resemble in-scale frog clasps just by facing the hook inwards! Can't wait to see the rest of the outfit.

 

Haha, the only reason I used them was because my buttons were all empty to be honest. I am glad it looks good now, though Thank you! I will try to finish the outfit this weekend

 

I love that vest! Great use of fabric !

 

Thank you

 

Hi! Here's my Virgin Queen (Limhwa Half Elf)

 

@Siamcat what lovely color combinations!

 

She's gorgeous!

 

Thank you very much! (Her crown is the Christmas toy. I did not make it.)

 

gorgeous color combo, and what a lucky find in the crown

 

Here's Vespertine, my Raccoondoll Laetitia, in a Renaissance style dress I made:


I figured I'd post it here rather than the Noble Threads one, as it's not all THAT historically accurate, and besides, she has wings.

 

She looks lovely

Teddy

 

@morganatron she looks fantastic. Lovely colors

 

She's gorgeous! I love her wings.

 

Been working on some pieces lately!
A simple shirt

And some one-seam boots!

I made a video tutorial on the boots on my youtube channel but am not quite sure how to post it here :/

 

Wow the shirt is wonderful, I love the neckline!

 

Thank you! I've been thinking of making an another similar one and a tutorial to go along with it. It's super simple to do once you get the hang of it and can be made in several different kinds of necklines.

 

Those boots are adorable!

Teddy

 

Cool! The fit is so great, it would be neat to see other versions.

 

Tryimg to make a Queen Margo. Well, I think it's fine enough.


IMG_2035 by Elena Samoylova, on Flickr

 

And a gorgeous choice of brocade too.

Teddy

 

im looking into getting/ making a Tudor inspired piece (probably edging into Elizabethan-- not entirely historically accurate lol)for my newest doll (Sio2 Aoandon) but i don't see to many people making these style pieces for YoSDs or tinies.. anyone have any smaller dolls they like to get dressed up in these fancy frocks?

 

My Tinies wear fantasy stuff all the time! Sometimes I make it, this one is bought.

 

Mine aren't Tudorbethan, they're more Medieval (I dressed 2 of my girls as the 12 Dancing princesses for a fairy-tale-themed doll-meet a few years back, these are the youngest princesses)
Raphael (Petite Ai) is well pleased with her "princess" gown. by guyelfkin, on Flickr

Claudia (Petite Ai Gabriel) shows off her "princess" gown. by guyelfkin, on Flickr

I made more 16th Century styles for my Chibi Unoa girls (the next princesses up) however

Teddy

 

I have one common girl dress set for my customhouse/ai doll
tudorgrl2 by Silje Chie, on Flickr

And a higher born set and for my iplehouse KID
Child blue gown4 by Silje Chie, on Flickr

 

They are adorable!!

Teddy

 

2 fabulous sources for historical sewing patterns are:

"Patterns for Theatrical Costumes" by K.S. Holkeboer, 1998 - clean-lined, simple pattern pieces

"The Wish Booklet" by Susan Sirkis - 1980, etc., historically accurate fashions from 1790 - 1910 with accessories, furniture and backdrop instructions, There are at least 23 separate booklets, each on a different fashion era. Ms. Sirkis focuses on dollhouse-size patterns, but any of her patterns can be easily enlarged with a copier.

Both sources have doll-sized pattern pieces, but you'll have to modify them to fit your particular doll. Happy Costuming!

 

Yes! I swear by "Patterns for Theatrical Costumes", I've been using it for my elves ^_^

 

Patterns for Theatrical Costumes is a great book, and I would also recommend "The evolution of fashion" by Margot Hamilton Hill and Peter A Bucknell. It gives a little extra know how on things like movement, fabric type, colors and decoration for the different eras.

Swim2thesun : The Tudor tailor has a book on children's fashion, The Tudor child. And it's amazing, it has a wide selection of patterns from birth to when a child would enter adulthood.....and it covers for the early Tudor to the early Jacobean era

 

Good addition! "The Evolution of Fashion" and "Patterns for Theatrical Costumes" are available on Amazon. "Evolution" is $25 and up, though. (I'll make it my birthday gift!) If you're lucky enough to have a used book store nearby, give it a try.

Dover Publications has historical costume pattern books for less than $10. The Dover pattern pieces are already doll-sized and printed on regular paper in the book, not tissue. (yay!)

Other thoughts: To really sell the look, don't neglect the correct hair style and headgear. The correct jewelry can be very important, as well as footwear, if it shows. If you want to save money on the shoes/boots, fabric spats or shoe covers can really save your budget!
On the other hand, your BJD doesn't have to meet museum standards. Mix and match styles all you like. You are the final judge. If you are happy with your efforts, that's all that matters! Sew on!

 

Ooh, good tip about the shoe covers! It's so hard to find nice boots that work... my elves don't wear goth spiked platforms! XD And I'll admit my fantasy efforts would make a historian weep, I tend to mix and match what I think looks good!

 

Oh, I'd love to see a photo of your efforts!
Isn't it odd that something that's a little "wrong" bugs me more than a lot "wrong"? A deliberate mash-up is wonderful!

 

Not the best photo, but taken while I was at a friend's for a customising day. I made the clothes both boys are wearing not the boots, I bought those). The cream tunic and the brown pants were both made from Theatrical Costume patterns with a bit of adjustment - the tunic sleeves needed to be widened for BJD hands, and the braies needed to be lengthened because SD legs are ridiculous - while the purple trousers (left, with the white stripe) and the green shirt were both made from Gracefaerie's The Prince/Poet pattern. ^_^
My mum made the necklace.

 

Wow! Excellent work and a beautiful fit!
Your gathered cuff works great for getting over the hands. One trick for narrow sleeves is to leave the seam at the cuff unsewn for just a little ways to get it over the hands.
Now that your patterns are perfect, will you make another in different fabrics? I find the first use of a pattern to be the hardest. The second time around is much easier!
Great work, Nyara!

 

I think she is georgeos, i like your sewing skills, mines is just begginer :-)

 

That's the plan, yeah I've got several dolls to dress, and I'm hoping to make things to sell once my crew are done! Thanks!

 

This thread is amazing!! I'm researching some options to make my ResinSoul Mei a costume to wear to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Hubby and I have a different costume every weekend and I'm looking forward to making her something to match!! Thanks for the awesome pictures everyone. ☺️

 

Love those! Nice work.

Mord Sith!!!! How fab!

Yes, that green n brown armor is amazing!!!

I have always loved that outfit. That site in general is great to peruse.