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

MB Lilac- I swear every time I see your pictures I think they belong in a book. You are amazing.

Pam SD- You too!!! Your elven queen gown is just so strong and feminine. I just love that fabric. What type did you use for the gown.

I work at a snail's pace because of my schedule. I am making a fantasy outfit for my Elf Dahlia. These are her underclothes so far. Next will come the skirt.

Her shirt is very cropped and tight because there will be a piece that goes over it, and I wanted to minimize the bulk in the torso area.


Parsley Project by designbasia, on Flickr

 

My goodness! You guys are so awesome! >_< I love it whenever someone posts! Its so inspiring!

This is a dress I worked on for Tallith, she might wear it for Halloween but I think I wanted to make her a Tinkerbell dress for it.... hmmm.... time.... (I'm going to be peter pan ^_^)

Fall princess dress by Dove_Heart, on Flickr
Please ignore the house in the background.

 

That is stretch crushed velvet...oh...it's four way stretch not two....that's important and it has no back opening. I have to take her head off to put it on her.

 

PamSD - Your queen looks like a very strong character. I love her wrist-guards. Do you have any photos of the royal couple together?

Tetradeka - Looking good! What I do to minimize bulk when there's going to be multiple skirts, is to make the skirts have progressively higher (or lower) waistbands. The innermost skirt has the widest waistband and often hangs off the hips.

Here's a photo of my Isar as an Eleven Archer, taken at the Grand Canyon. Her outfit isn't exactly Medieval or Renaissance, but it is fantasy.

 

The wrist guards are finger armor I picked up a gazillion yearsa ago. I take her hands off to get them on.

Here's the King and his Empress together.

An early morning in their private garden...


as he goes to war for her homeland....


and in a private farewell.

 

Dove_Heart- Lovely! Great beading and draping of the fabric.

 

MB Lilac, PamSD: Those outfits are fantastic! I'm constantly in awe!

zomjirate: Thanks! I put a lot more effort into this one than my first few, I wanted to get better at my doll sewing skills. I figured I don't need to make rushed outfits anymore because she actually has clothes now. ^_^ I decided to do the beading after looking at how cute MB Lilacs come out! I was inspired!

 

I love this thread! Maybe when Halloween is over I'll be able to take this inspiration and do something with it. I'm learning a lot of different ways to add details from you all, thank you for sharing

 

I love this thread also, so many cool ideas! You folks all do such great work!

 

Tedros outfit update. I've decided to make the fancy sleeves separate from the tunic. I really like the option of having the shirt sleeves showing, so will sew hooks and eyes into the top of the sleeves and tunic shoulder. Next step is all the cords for lacing, and a belt and wrist-guards. His very dark brown pants, and his cloak are both done too, but aren't shown.

 

I sigh in admiration. Your embroidery stitches are so even, yet they still maintain a handmade look.

 

All I can say is "Wow". Amazing attention to detail.

 

Damn it, you make the little sewer in my cry. Because it's so beautiful - and because I still have a long way to go before I get that good! I am just....I weep for you amazing ability. It gives me something to strive for.

 

MB Lilac - as alway I am so impressed by your skills.

What is the fabric called you used for his shirt? I have been looking for something like that for 3 years now and have not managed to find it.

 

His shirt is made from "cotton crinkle gauze". The local fabric store gets it in each spring in a wide range of colours.

 

I just stumbled onto this thread and love it! Everyone has such exquisite creations. I am in awe.

I am a very novice seamstress, but and willing to learn. I bead a lot and can see that that may come in handy. Plus a good excuse to use those boxes of beads I have all over the place. Got to go find those DVDs on how to use the sewing machine.

Harey That Realpuki armour is too cute, and with the helmet and sword, just priceless.

 

I also just stumbled across this thread...and MB Lilac, I have to say looking through this thread I absolutely adore your work. You've renewed my faith as a textile artist in all that can be possible in this hobby. Your work is sheer perfection!

 

Im so glad I found this thread! All the garb looks so beautiful and really inspires me to make some pieces for my girl. And some the detail work! STUNNING!

Thanks a ton for sharing! ^_^

 

Wow! beautiful outfits everyone. Your work is inspiring. Simply amazing. I dream to achieve this one day. Thanks everyone.

 

You might have already finished your work on this and the suggestion might be useless now but.... You might also be able to keep his separate sleeves in place with ties like Ashitaka's sleeves from Princess Mononoke.

 

Well, I sewed hooks and eyes on, but they aren't working as well as expected. The thing is, the sleeves don't really need anything to help hold them up since it's for a doll, and Tedros in particular is not the best at posing, so it's not like he's going to be dashing through the woods or doing anything else the least bit strenuous. I was just hoping for something to help hold the sleeves in place while putting both the tunic and the sleeves on at the same time. Ties sounded like a good idea at first, but I can't have ties sewn into the shoulder of the tunic, since they'd probably hang out when the tunic is worn without the sleeves.

 

The style of sleeves Ashitaka wears actually tie to each other, not to the garment worn over them, so that wouldn't leave any bothersome danglies on your tunic. Pretty useful design when you want optional sleeves!

 

If the ties are sewn to the sleeves they can tie to concealed lacing holes (thread bars will do too) inside the armhole of the garment they attach to, and there's no danglies to show when worn without the sleeves.

Teddy

 

I sewed hooks to the top of the sleeves, and eyes into the tops of the tunic armholes, so if I pick off the hooks and sew on ties instead, they can tie into the eyes! Sounds like a plan!

 

Well, I changed the hooks to ribbons and finished Tedros' outfit when DoA was down. I took him to a Ruins Garden nearby and took some photos.





You can see everything from that photo shoot here - http://www.antiquelilac.com/tedros-in-the-ruins---favourite-photos-2012.html

 

That is ridiculously gorgeous, MB Lilac! I'm so envious of your skills.
Where did you find the brocade for his tunic? I can never seem to find any that are thin enough to use for dolly sewing.

 

Tedros looks awesome in his finery. Love your work.

 

Oh wow, he looks just unbelievable.

 

Thanks! Yes, thin brocades are very hard to find. I've found some at JoAnns when we've been on trips to the US. But the brown I used for this outfit came from an old skirt. Secondhand and discount stores can be a great source for clothes made with interesting fabrics - fabrics you'd never find in a fabric store.

 

He's looking fabulous.

I have gleaned some nice doll-scale brocades from taking apart ties (I haunt the sales in Tie-rack and similar shops and buy up several tie in the same design when they are reduced to next-to-nothing... some of them are even silk). Once they're unpicked an opened out, there's usually enough fabric for a couple of garment panels from each tie (one panel per tie for really big dolls, unfortunately).

Teddy

 

Beautiful, SO beautiful, MB Lilac!!! I adore your costumes. They seem right out of a fairytale Where do you find those tiny eyelets, and how do you set them?? The scale is right on.

 

Gorgeous, as usual MB Lilac
Teddy, I never would have thought of picking apart ties! That is really brilliant.

 

The tiny eyelets are from the scrap-booking section at Michaels. I set them with an eyelet setter and a hammer. First I make a hole with a large needle - then move up to an even bigger needle the same diameter as the eyelets. That way I don't break the threads on the fabric- just move them out of the way. I always squirt some Fray-Check around the eyelet before setting it. If the eyelet back stays sharp or rough, or the eyelet doesn't flatten enough, I fold a paper towel several times and place over the eyelet front to protect it, then squeeze the eyelet with pliers.

 

Very informative, thank you! I will have to look for some next time I am there Thank you!!

 

I am currently making a fantasy kimono/dress/thingy for my Soom girl, and I was wondering if, when I finished, it would be okay to post it here? Or is this thread only for medieval fantasy? I am unsure of what is and isn't allowed.

 

MB lilac- I would have not thought to use the fray-checker. You always bring me back to my basics and I really appreciate it.

Zomjirate- I'm sure it will be fine! This is a fantasy thread after all.

 

I've never done grommets myself - I usually let my friend do it - but I've always wanted to try. I like your method MB lilac. I'm hoping to make myself an Eilonwy outfit soon (anyone know of Prydain? I'm talking about the outfits on the covers of the book, not the one from the movie), so maybe I can put that method into practice for that one. I'll be needing some thin brocade for it as well.

 

This thread's focus is medieval/ren type fantasy but please do find or start us a thread for all the lovely Asian Fantasy outfits out there! We'd love to see your work!

This is Kevya's brigandine, a studded leather vest used as light armor, sometimes with little plates riveted into the leather layers. I went back and gave it some weathering and distressing so it looks less costumey now.

 

Awesome vest!! Where did you find rivets so small? I've been looking everywhere for them.

 

It looks amazing now! What a difference a bit of paint makes. Unfortunately so few people will even attempt it, but it does make costumes look so much better.

 

Fantastic work.

I like to distress before I make anything in leather.
i find that beating the heck out of a poor piece of leather releaves a lot of costuming anxiety.
*teehee*
Then there is the added bonus of how supple it makes the leather.
I often cut leather on the bias of the grain to get a better drape and then weather the wrinkles once the garment is made before I add the studs, buckles and such.
It always makes my day when I discover a battered or broken embellishment in my trim box for these kinds of projects.

 

Aw thanks, but I am a deceptive and sneaky crafter- They're not rivets. I collect teeny studs like this from scrapbooking and leather craft places, so these, if I recall correctly, are tiny "bedazzler" type dome studs with prongs on the backs. You punch them through the fabric or leather and then fold the prongs in over the material for a solid hold.

Thank you! I heartily agree! I'm pursuing a career in film sets and props, and I think the wear and distressing of a piece, along with research and details, is what makes the difference between a costume and a film-style outfit. Any input you have for this thread about distressing various materials would be great!

Aw thanks so much. I'm always in awe of your leather and mini- harnessing skill, so that complement means a lot!

 

I do agree that "distressing" them tomake them look as if they're really worn adds a great deal toa costume but, I seldom get around to doing it on doll costume unless whatever I use for it is chosen because it's pre-distressed.

Too many projects, not enough time....

Teddy

 

I wouldn't call it "deceptive or sneaky", but creative. You often have to think outside the box when it comes to making tiny costumes with full-size supplies.

Film and theatre are the perfect places to learn all kinds of "distressing" skills. Many, many, many (almost 40) years ago, I took a year of Technical Theatre with the intent of going into costuming. I was introduced to costume distressing while working one particular production where one of the main characters was an injured Civil War soldier. I remember running the uniform over the belt sander (and removing the skin off several fingers) and painting everything with "dirt" and "blood". I never did go on to finish the course, and never became a costume designer - other than for my dolls.

 

"Aw thanks, but I am a deceptive and sneaky crafter- They're not rivets. I collect teeny studs like this from scrapbooking and leather craft places, so these, if I recall correctly, are tiny "bedazzler" type dome studs with prongs on the backs. You punch them through the fabric or leather and then fold the prongs in over the material for a solid hold."

Yeah, I consider that very creative! Excellent idea! Thank you!

 

Oh I hear ya! Same complaint here. If only real life would go away for a while so I could make doll costumes.

Thanks! I do often wish I had a garage and a belt sander. They are so useful for so many things.

Thanks! The other thing that can work for small rivets is tiny iron-on metal bits, of the Bedazzler kind. I have a special little craft iron just for those.


I've been learning embroidery stitches to add detail to my work, and Aiden's vest has been my first project. When it's all done I can post pics of the whole thing with detail shots.

 

Oooh! Nice design - and love the colours.

Teddy

 

Thanks! I'm trying to give him muted woodland colors, as this is the outfit he goes hunting in.

 

Yup. That works

Teddy

 

Rosslyn: It is going to look very nice. I look forward to seeing it finished

 

a new picture of my Elven Empress...
showing off her Mage's staff.
It's made of a dowel, sculpy and then has swarovski crystals on the head.

 

Very nice.

Teddy

 

Was it hard working with the velvet?

 

I'm so impressed. I wish I would have a little bit of that talent...

 

Fabulous staff!!

 

Wow, this thread is so inspiring. I am studying to make costumes for humans and I find sewing for dolls so hard! I hope one day I'll be half this good...

 

I haven't been sewing seriously for very long, but if you use some of the tutorials people like MB Lilac have made, or some of the useful links at the top of the Noble Threads: Historic Costume thread, I think you may find that fantasy clothes are some of the easiest to make!

 

I agree, this thread is inspiring! I've been lazy to make my dolls the proper clothes, so they end up in modern casual wear, but soon I want to make them something better. I think the clothes frame aren't that hard to make themselves, but its the all details that go into it which makes it fantastic and challenging. I really want to make a plague doctor mask too.

 

That's so true! Fantasy clothes are a lot easier in many ways because they are just that - fantasy - and they come from your imagination. I find there's nothing harder to make than modern everyday clothes. Tiny zippers or buttons, tiny stitches, trying to keep bulk down. Everyone knows what jeans are supposed to look like, so unless they are perfect it's really obvious. But who has actually seen what a fairy or fantasy figure wears? Everything is "right" for those, whether it be simple or elaborate.

 

Seconding that!!
I too find that it's much easier to sew "free" designs, once you've conceived the idea and sketched it, than to mimic full-sized-fashions in miniature!