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

It's cotton crinkle gauze.

 

That is an excellent style of shirt. I need to make some for my girls to wear with their more contemporary fantasy outfits--- but then one for my MF Shiwoo, to make him look a little more period. Oddly the elf is the only one who doesn't have any medieval styled clothing. It's an easy style to make for different sized dolls without a pattern.

 

I made a costume for my boy for the ren fest up here and it turned out fairly well, i think. I was working on a very short deadline so he's sewn into most of the outfit XD I plan to eventually go back and take my time so that the outfit can actually be taken off and swapped out for other odds and ends~ The only bit I'm not really satisfied with are his boots which are really more like shoe covers at the moment. I think I'd like to get some thin leather and try making him a pair that matches his belt.

 

Here's my SD10 Nana, Rachael in the medieval styled dress I made for her. I'm putting it in the fantasy thread because of the grommet ties to the sides and the beading that I may or may not continue to add to. The necklace was a prize from a game at the Medieval Festival in Miami, I have not I idea what it is (it looks like some kind of combination of Thor's hammer and some fertility thing, but I haven't found the symbol in any resources). I braided ribbons into her hair to break up the browns a little bit. I didn't give her a belt, because of the lacing to her sides, but I would like to make some kind of pouches or something to go with. The pictures are a little wonky because her face is so pale, I ended up having to punch them up a bit in the computer--- but this shoot was just to show the outfit in it's current state. I'll work on different lighting later.

 

Boussole, I love the chain mail shirt you have here. How did you make it? And the colors of the whole are fantastic. I wish you the best of luck with your boots.

 

Sounds lovely but the pictures don't show up - I just see the broken-picture icon.

Teddy

 

Maybe it's something with this site itself, since all the pictures were there earlier. My computer is trying to load them but all I get is a few wide horizontal bits - okay, they are staring to show up - but not the chainmail pictures.

Boussole - that's a lot of work making that chainmail. Looks great!

Elasaid Aiden - Very nice medieval-looking gown.

I'm currently working on a bow and some arrows. I already made a quiver with the non-pointed arrows that will stay permanently in it, but I thought it might be good to have a few loose arrows with points. The bow is wire with Aves Apoxie Sculpt over top. I forgot that I can only sculpt half the bow at once otherwise there's no place to hold it without squishing the Apoxie, so right now it's waiting for the one half to cure so I can do the other side, and add embellishments to the first side.

 

Must have been I can see the all now...

Elasaid Aiden - she looks very pretty

Boussole - It's looking good - what size rings did you use for the maille?

Teddy

 

Thank you!

The only bow I've ever used with my dolls was one my sister hand carved (we're both archers and wanted to be as authentic looking as possible in that department). The trouble was we used a light balsa and the notches for the string gave way at a weak point in the wood. I want to make another bow, but I'd have to be more selective about the materials. I have seen some very cool sculpy and apoxie bows, even though that's not my media of choice. I can't wait to see yours, you have excellent craftsmanship.

 

I had a bow maker and fletcher make some miniature bows and arrows (stone tipped) for my SD's - they work too:


Teddy

 

Oh, that's so cool!

That about too soft wood is also very valuable to me.

So this tiny bow really works?

 

Yes (so do the two others I got at the same time)... We had a try-out just after I got them and "killed" the sofa in our living-room.

Teddy

 

Thanks so much everyone for your comments~ ^_____^

The chainmail is made of 7mm aluminum jump rings that I found at my local craft store. They were soft enough that I could just bend them open with my hands and loop all of the rings together. I already knew the basics so I just sort of went to town and tweaked things as I needed to, but I know there are some nice chainmail tutorials on Instructables that can be scaled down to doll sizes~

 

Teddy: Love that bow

Boussole:: When you say "jump rings" do you mean the little jewelry rings you get in packets?

 

Elasaid: Yes, the one's you use to connect things when making jewelry~ Though I do think someone is currently making rings that they're marketing specifically for making chainmail.

 

I do like the idea of the jewelry rings though, and I hadn't really thought about it. It would be a savior to my hands. Being a Ren Faire geek, I know a thing or two about the pains of making chain mail--- it's not worth it! lol--- but on a doll it doesn't need to be "battle ready" so the soft rings are a blessing.

 

Teddy, that is impossibly cool

 

Thanks.

One of the girls over on this ide of he pond found an SCA bowyer/fletcher who had made a mini small bow and arrows set. As son as she posted picture of her dolls with them, the poor confused guy was suddenly inundated with requests from England for more.

Teddy

 

Must be nice to be able to get a real set of miniature bow and arrows.

I had to make mine. It's a fantasy set. The bow is wire with Apoxie Sculpt over top. I'm not sure I like the paint job, but I can always change it later. The arrows are thin wooden skewers with paper fledging, and Apoxie points. The arrows in the quiver are permanently glued in, so don't have points.

 

Oh, but it is beautiful.

Fabulous work.

Teddy

 

amazing work as always....I like the paint job but having seen your work in the past you might consider leather where you have the black with some of those teeny studs you use on your costumes.
But...if not ...I'd be happy to take that bow off your hands...lol

 

I had thought black leather designs like the ones on the quiver. But I was in a hurry because I go away in two days. I may still do that.

 

Those are beautiful. I especially like the quiver and the fletching, which looks very like feathers for being paper

 

They might not be functional, but they are gorgeous.

 

Well, I worry less about "functional" It's not like my dolls need to put food on the table to repel invaders

 

I am planning (after having finished Julian) that Auryanna will portray Merida's older sister (or an adult Merida, I still have to see that). Being an Iple Carina, she has that "I do anyway what I want" expression on her face.

I want to copy Merida's hairstyle by using woolen thread, and make a similar dress. Perhaps a bit more practical, and in a different colour. I am thinking about making a kind of protective, long apron (is this called a houppelande?) out of some thin leather. And a cloak with hoodie from some beautiful, deep-blue velvet.

 

LOL You are too funny! That's exactly what I was thinking.

 

Same here - although it's a nice touch with the three sets that I have that they are actually functioning.

Teddy

 

Functioning is pretty amazing!!

 

You guys are just soooo amazing! I am just in awe with the talent in our thread here.
I am just beyond inspired every time I pop in here

 

I don't think I have ever shared the King of V'aar here...
He has an extensive fantasy wardrobe.





he's an Iplehouse EID Akando Super Hero body

 

PamSD - Those are some impressive outfits!

 

PamSD, those are amazing!....and His Highness clearly has an elevated opinion of himself.

 

Wow! How fantastic!

 

Wow!

Most impressive.

Teddy

 

That is one tough-looking rabbit! Cool.

 

PamSD, Slersk: Your outfits are fantastic! So many tiny details! And they all fit so well! Awesome!

 

Pam SD, those accessories are bloody intricate. How did you find the time, material and patience to make them all?

 

Slersk- Wow! What an original design! I thought I'd seen all the rabbit dolls, but your surprised me. Very nice work.

 

Thank you!! I'm calling him a Badass Barbarian Bunny, but he's going to end up with a scimitar if I can get my hands on one the right size. His name is Francis and he's part of a fantasy story involving my main doll, Effie(a RS Yao), who is half satyr and half high elf; he is one of her traveling companions that she meets on her journey to find her long lost parents. He is a forest fairy ranger, who, after hearing her story and worrying about her safety, decides to help her out as she travels through the dangerous mountain realm of the dwarves. :3

Thank you!!

Thank you!! It took about 6 hours in all. :3

Thank you!! He is a Pipos Mecy, I like how he has a constant look of irritation, it goes well with the character he is portraying.

 

Badass Barbarian Bunny is ADORABLE!!!!

{SQUEEEEE!}

Teddy

 

Thank you!!

 

I'm finally getting back into a Tedros fantasy costume I started awhile back. All the main parts have been sewn, and now it's time to embellish. I've embroidered designs on the hooded cape-let, and am almost done the beading. Then I have to bead the tunic and over-sleeves before sewing the parts together.

 

So intricate! I can't wait to see it done!

 

Your attention to detail is amazing.

 

@ MB Lilac: It already does look amazing! I am so much looking forward when everything comes together.

 

Thanks! I'm hoping it comes together real soon as I want to take photos in a ruins garden we discovered this summer - while there's still some coloured leaves on the trees.

 

Most impressive.

Teddy

 

That's gorgeous, MB Lilac! I've been loving all of the intricately detailed outfits I keep seeing all over DoA~ ^____^

Would you have any good tutorial recommendations for someone interested in learning how to add embroidered designs to their work?

 

I do have one tutorial on my website for chain stitch, which is the main embroidery stitch I use on my doll clothes - http://www.antiquelilac.com/embellish-with-chain-stitch---tutorials.html I also used it for the designs on the capelet I'm working on. For other embroidery stitches you can do a google-search on the Internet.

 

MB Lilac, it is very-very great! I like (and read regularly) your blog and tutorials too.
Am I right to guess, that you made brown diamond-quilted shirt with machine stitch? Or it was some embroidery or the fabric in origin?

 

Guess I want to try this chain embroidery as well...Being technically a princess, I want Auryanna's hunting outfit to be practical, but it also needs some kind of...a nice touch? What is the right wording?

 

Aaah those would make amazing shots I am sure!
I just want to say thank you!, as your work always inspires me so much and helps me think outside the box, and my own dollies benefit muchly.

 

The "diamond-quilt" fabric for the sleeves came with that design, but I added the beads.

 

*What a pity! I searched here in Russia and in online-stores for some fabric with diamond-stitch, but it is really rare. I hoped that you made it by yourself (hoped that it's possible to make).

 

That's why if I ever see any, I buy some. But you can make it yourself too. My Tedros costume has sleeves I sewed the diamond design myself.



It's made by layering the good outer fabric over a very thin layer of quilt batting, and then on top of a lining fabric where you've drawn the diamond pattern onto with a ruler and pencil. You just stitch back and forth up every pencil line. I used a thicker thread in my bobbin - so the sewn lines would stand out more on the good side.

 

MB Lilac, thank you very much for sharing experience. Hope to try some day)

 

Here is the King's Wife...The Elvin Empress of T'lann