Wearables Sewing Project: Theater/Masquerade [ Round 104 ]

I'll have to find my list - I'm sure I had somethign planned for this round

Teddy

 

In the tradition of "stretching the definition to fit my current project to the theme"....
Madam Vastra is waiting on clothes. And being a character from a TV drama, that sort of counts...right?
I'll add a photo when next on my computer.
Modified Supia head on a modified Iplehouse SID body.
Late Victorian. Lots of beaded black fabrics with purple accents. (Sort of Mardi gras colors...) Some of the fabric & patterns have been traveling with us. And I've got several inspiration images saved. We should be home this next weekend & then I can begin focusing on sewing for her.
(And, if necessary, the themes for Dec & Jan are perfect for completing if I stall out. XD )

 

I found my list - and according to what I wrote on it - I plan on finishing my very first BJD outfit, an 18th Century suit started back in 2005 for my first BJD, Alphie, a CP Luts Delf Chiwoo.

He's had the shirt and the velvet britches since then, but the silk waistcoat and frockcoat have been part-sewn in my UFO mountain ever since.

Teddy

 

I would absolutely love to join in this round but I completely lack an actual BJD to dress. Gah.

 

That would be a bit of an impediment to the process. You might just have to cheer the rest of us on from the sidelines this time around.

Teddy

 

ooh! yes! definitely going to try to participate in this one. I'm in the middle of making something for one of my girls to wear for the mardi gras theme bjdcon coming up!
the outfit I'm trying to go for is inspired by mardi gras clowns (i love clowns), with lots of floof in the skirt and hopefully a little venetian bunny mask (i also love bunnies)
it's either going to be worn by my SDC Renee (Soleil) or MDD Rena

 

I am going to make another of the rococo suits, ala theatrical. I don't have the pastel and dark green suits any longer. I have the material to make a black suit and a lime green suit. I'm leaning heavily toward the lime green. I may have to buy another bottle of fraycheck to tame the brocade but hey that's part of the fun...
It will be something like this.

 

I've had a silver suit for this theme in mind, but the doll to wear it is maybe going to be re-shelled. Maybe his new version will show up in time for the next round, and I'll fit it under Roaring Twenties. In the meantime, I'm hoping to make a Masquerade gown for my Jaala.
Jaala

 

Ooh, I've been meaning to make my Spiritdoll guy some clothes, seeing as he currently only has pants, which I think I made for somebody else.

I'd like to make him some fancy duds, along the lines of Labyrinth or Kojima's art. And hopefully this will be a stash buster for me.

 

I've been wanting to make a jester outfit for one of my dolls for a while and I think I'll use this months theme to do it.
I want bright colours, lots of decorations, perhaps a bit f beadwork and other sparkles. I even have some tiny bells in my stash that will fit this project perfectly.
Only problem... I don't know wich doll to make it for. I have several good candidates.

 

Line them up and reach out with your eyes closed - the one you grab is your Victim Of The Month

Teddy

 

Last month I very unexpectedly got my second ever BJD, and she needs everything, including new faceup and wig. I'm slowly working on that, and I'd like to participate in this round and try making a masquerade costume for her. I dug up a beautiful silky lining fabric in light blue, so the theme will be winter bluebell, or something like that. It will be a fitted bodice with puffy short sleeves and shorts, maybe tights and separate sleeves to cover her legs and arms.
The doll is named Anwen, a Fairyland Minifee Chloe (love this sculpt ) Here she is in all her blanc glory, with some of the materials I plan to use:
Winter bluebell - materials by helgie, on Flickr
I've only ever worked with an off-topic tiny and my LittleFee, getting used to a mature MSD will be a challenge. She's tall! The bust is A-size, but her hips!
Anyway, next step is making the bodice pattern, I'll just go get the masking tape...

 

@helgie .
You make the cutest clothes!! Can't wait to see what you make!!

 

Sounds sweet.

Teddy

 

Howdy everybody!
For this month Resinsoul Mu gets some attention. I was already in love with the deep green velvet and it's lining for him. It is from scarves I made one christmas, so I also have another with a different lining I will save for his student Jiuyu. Then I found a little Mandarin collared fushia shirt I bought for my daughter 27 years ago in San Fransisco. I will need to cut it and resize it to him, but I think it's perfect! So, he will have multiple layers, as does his Love Ymir. At this point of his evolution I see him as a spiritual seeker, but in time he may bear a suit of leather armor. On to the photos!I

Collage 2021-11-02 12_37_06 by Coulombe, on Flickr

I also have a beautiful purple and white long wig with braids for him. The Mr. Super Clear came and I've gathered face-up materials, but here in Oregon it is very humid. I may have a long wait before he gets his entire look. But at least I can re-suede his joints.

Thanks for looking!

 

The material for my rococo suit. I did pick the green.
green rococo suit material by SteamWitch, on Flickr

 

Picked materials and started sewing today. The light green is synthetic satin is from the skirt of one of a set of knock off made to fit Barbie dresses I took apart for the fabric several years ago and is conveniently pre hemmed. I've started a white cotton underskirt that's not shown. I'm not 100 percent sure of my overall design, but hope to use some of those giant silk leaves in it somehow.

 

This month my model will be Andre (Ryoma), I wasn't sure about the outfit... First I thought about something with Halloween/musical vibes, as Jack Skellington or The Phantom. But I decided go simple and match with the Crimsom dress.
Wip Thomas Sharpe suit by ccsakura85, en Flickr

 

Can't wait to see the clothes (and madame Vastra herself) ! I'm a huge whovian! I screamed when I read the name of your doll!

I wasn't sure about joining this round, because wasn't really sure about what to do. But now I have two options. One of them is not totally theater themed but may make the cut as a costume, and the other would be a dress for my dragon (which would be totally theatrical).

I'll think about it while I get my sewing machine back

 

So many cool projects planned for this round-- I'm going to just lurk and watch this month. Finding a lot of time to sew hasn't been working out well the last two months, as non-hobby life has been super crazy, and if I can manage to find any spare sewing time this month, I am going to use it to finish up the projects I'd planned/started for September and October. Look forward to seeing all your projects progress, though!

 

@Valdemagra, @SteamWitch and @Leo Pheonix... I'm loving the fabric choices

Not really that simple, if your inspiration picture is anythign to go by

Spoiled for choice.

Teddy

 

The victim and a pile of fabrics. I'm going to try to get a shirt finished up, then I can hopefully find my pants pattern

 

Ooooh! I spy sparklies!

Teddy

 

Hi everyone. I found out I have no jury duty tomorrow so I'm glad I can get started on Mu, or so I thought. Seems I may get tossed from DoA. I am informed they are discussing the situation. Seems I posted a bit about resizing patterns and posted a link about it from youtube. Well, this person in the video is a known recast purchaser. I didn't know that at the time. The video is only about resizing patterns to your prefered scale. How to take any pattern, and make it 1/3 or 1/4 scale, ect. Anyway, I may not be around much longer. Complete accident. I feel like 'poop'. Really steals my joy.

"Your post in the thread Haute Doll February, 2007 - Lolita Kimono and Obi was deleted. Reason: the creator of this video posts pro-recast content on their channel. the moderators are discussing the situation"

 

That's ridiculous - That would mean they expect every DoA member to MAGICALLY know every pro-precast person on the internet - all of their potentilly many and various online names and so forth.

Banning you for posting a link to a video that has no recast content, and no way for you to have known the creator was pro-recast would be an absolute travesty. All we can do is hope tht they see sense.

Meanwhile - good luck with getting Mu's outfit started. I hope it goes well.

Teddy

 

@Teddy
Thanks, I appreciate your support. I wrote a letter in my defence to the Moderators last night. I'm still here this morning, so, fingers crossed!

 

I finished my petticoat layer except for a snap, since I'm considering redoing it with stiffer fabric that I think is fine cotton duck. The light green underskirt is edged with gold trim and pleated, since it's too stiff to gather well. I'll share a photo as soon as Dropbox cooperates and actually uploads it.

Any advice for drafting a bodice pattern? I have one from a book that's made for fashion dolls, but it's far too wide. Maybe I'll cut a paper towel version of the front and fiddle with that.

 

Some photo programs allow you to rescale the horizontal differently from the vertical. I use photoshop to resize my patterns because of this feature. Most human patterns are made too wide if you scale to fit height. So adjusting the pattern and then using the paper towel method helps make further adjustments.
Good luck

 

So this are my options...


First one is Naila who I might make a stitch/angel(pink stitch) costume, and the second option is my yet unnamed, halfway strung doll zone moondragon who I'm planning to turn into an earth dragon(black and golden faceup) and I plan to make her a kind of sparkly peasant(ish) dress.
I'm thinking about the second option as she has literally nothing. But I'm still not sure

 

I am beyond frustrated! Every month I have good intentions and every month RL gets between me and my sewing machine. I'm sitting back and enjoying everyone's efforts and hoping that someday I'm back on the boards.

 

I'd also be tempted to go with the second one since they have nothing yet.

Aww - bad luck - Fingers crossed for RealLife to let up on you soon

Teddy

 

SAME. I had that one run of sewing luck where I made 4 dresses for the July sewing project thread...since then I struggled to complete a single tank top for August's and haven't had the time or focus due to non-hobby life to sew anything since. Dry spells are no fun ​

 

I swear, when I finally get down there, I'm making a dozen outfits before standing up from the machine!

 

Nice idea but your back would not thank you for doing it

Teddy

 

I've decided on a doll to sew for.
This is Benny, a Miracle Doll Vic on a Dollzone body. I bought him second hand from a friend a while back and I haven't really goten around to make much with him yet, so it seemes fair to give him some attention now. What he wears in this picture is literally everything he's got. And you can't argue with that smile, he will make a perfect jester.

I don't have a solid plan for materials or design yet, though. I have done a deep dive in my scrap boxes and I don't have that much in bright colours. But I'll figure it out.

 

@Lillith .
Benny is so cute! He makes me smile!

 

I got my second bodice mock-up finished, as it now fits! Now I have to take it apart again to draft a pattern for the real one.

 

@Valdemagra Me too! I am still getting to know him, but so far he fits in well with the rest of the gang.

@Leo Pheonix Yay. Good patterns FTW!

 

Saturday is drawing to a close and I still havent taken the pieces out of their ziplock baggie... Tomorrow.

Teddy

 

@Teddy Ah, heck. My back is already on strike. Still...very true....
@Lillith OMG, he's perfect!

 

When I first started collecting these magical dolls, I had this vision of a Snow Queen. I gathered all the things I felt I needed and yet...well, that was 3 years ago...maybe it's time HAHAHA

 

That was my decision! Supported by you! Not sewing related but I started her faceup which is now looking a thousand times better than when I got her (at first glance, my husband said she was scary, now he says she looks cute) so tomorrow or sometime during the week, I'll start looking for fabric to work with her peasant/ballgown dress.

 

It could well be....

My Evil-Bunny influence strikes again!

Teddy

 

A snow queen sounds like a geat idea.

 

The ziplock baggie with the pieces of the frock-coat and waistcoat in has gone AWOL...

I know where it was two weeks ago, but there's no sign of it now - I probably "put it somewhere safe" when I happened across it two weeks ago but I have no idea where that might be.

This means I probably have to finish the aborted Sewing Room clearup that got abandoned once the room was tidy enough to use, and, of course, didn't get picked up again. No the room has been used for a bunch of projects, it's undone some of that abandoned clearup, so that debris needs clearing before it's back to the point I got it to before.

Hopefully, as the clearup proceeds, I'll happen across what I did with the missing ziplock baggie.

The clearup needs to be properly finished anyway, but... Poop!

Teddy

EDITED TO ADD:
Well, that's all the stray fat-quarters of new fabric rounded up and filed, by colour, in my fat-quarter storage bags. I've rounded up al the parts, offcuts and leftover fabric for several works in progress and piled them togerther for sorting and bagging, and all the reels of thread in the mathcing colours that ahve been scattered around the sewing room - so they're ready to be put awya in the thread storage boxes. I've u nearhted a pile of dolls clothes to put away in the spare bedroom... which has now become an unmanagable mess of stuff dumped there ready to be sorted and put away, so that will need to be done too.

But still no sign of the missing ziplock baggie of the parts for this month's project (it's possile it's among the stuff dumped in the spare bedrtoom, but one mess at a time).

On with the clearnace...

Teddy

 

Good luck Teddy! At least you'll have a tidy work area for this project...once you find it!!
I'm unpacking & clearing space as well. My project bag travelled with me (there & back again) so I know where it is but haven't dared open it until the work table is cleared & ready. ;}

 

@Teddy I'm in the same boat when it comes to cleaning up the sewing room. It's in post halloween chaos at the moment with scraps of fake fur from costumes and leftovers from emergancy repairs and who knows what else. My excuse is that at least half of the mess on the floor is actually from my boyfriends projects, but that doesn't make it easier to work in there. And the mess around the machines is all mine, so no excuses there.
The "safe place" is also very relatable. Here we say "I found a good place for it" when we can't remeber where we put something.
I hope the bag turns up!

 

It's always aggravating when your finally ready to work on something and now don't know where its gone. M
And here's my inner green skirt in progress. The white underskirt that isn't visible may wait for an Unfinished Business round to be replaced.
Skirt in progress

 

@Leo Pheonix Pretty!

 

@SteamWitch .
You wrote:
"Some photo programs allow you to rescale the horizontal differently from the vertical. I use photoshop to resize my patterns because of this feature. Most human patterns are made too wide if you scale to fit height. So adjusting the pattern and then using the paper towel method helps make further adjustments."

I'm looking for methods of resizing. I hate to make mockups for each dolls size, just so much added work! So Photoshop is your method? It's not a program I've invested in. What is the 'paper towel' method? Testing for pattern fit? Are there other ways? Feel free to educate me, anyone! Thanks in advance!

Quick Mu update: I have dismantled the fushia shirt and have been pinning variations for the collar. I dismantled some old collectibles I shall not mention. And in doing so many dolls received new goodies. Mu received hair that reminds me of horse mane for a few wig pieces down the road, He received earrings of stone shaped like teeth, he has received an interesting and effectual headband that keeps his horns from moving. And matching loin cloth. My dolls keep evolving, but that's part of the fun, right?

@Teddy
Yes, I will take a 'before' video of my doll room before the move starts. Not sure I'll share it though, lol! (As mentioned on Flickr)

 

@Kimmera yay for older projects! I'd love to see your take on Snow Queen.
@Teddy wish you the best of luck with the organization effort. Hope you'll have time and energy left for sewing too, and that zip-lock turns up.
@Leo Pheonix Oh, nice. The color looks very delicate.

My project has been progressing surprisingly well. I spent most of this 4-day extended weekend (November 4 and 5 were holidays) on the bodice. Here is a picture from yesterday:
Winter bluebell - top in progress by helgie, on Flickr
The inner layer is basically a corset made of white cotton, with plastic ties under silk ribbons for reinforcement. The outer layer is dark blue taffeta. I later added short puffed sleeves made of the light blue silky fabric.

Positive points so far:
- film and masking tape method produced a good pattern that I used for both layers.
- the light blue fabric is synthetic, so instead of trimming I just melted edges with a lighter.
- it's interesting to work with the curvy MiniFee body.
- MSD size allows to use a sewing machine for a lot of things I would be doing by hand for a tiny. I've been experimenting with several seam types and my regular seams are improving. This saves time and in most cases produces sturdier seams.
- the results so far look well and close to what I initially imagined.

Negatives:
- the bodice took a LOT of time, and it's still not finished; I had to come up with the patterns, but just the sewing time seems disproportionate to the resulting small garment.
- the bottom of the front of the inner corset layer is a bit off-center. I can't understand how this happened. It doesn't affect the general shape and the outer layer is fine, so I won't be doing anything about it.
- I tend to leave very little tolerance, especially in tightly fitted garments, and from time to time this results in a garment being just too small. I won't know if this bad habit has struck again until the lacing on the back is finished. At least the front looks well fitted. If there's a gap under the lacing after all, I will just add a panel under to cover it.

Next is making the lacing holes on the back and final fitting.
Then shorts, probably stockings, and my favorite part - decorations: some embroidery and beads, including dangling bead strings. If there's time left, I may go for a cape.

 

I have also been working on patterns!
I allready had a basic pattern for pants for this guy, but that was all I had and the pants he's wearing in the image is basically a wearable mock up with absolutely no details. What I didn't have is a basic bodice and sleeve pattern, so I made that today.
Since it's a very straight forward thing I just drafted it flat. I find that to be a lot faster than draping once you get the hang of it and it prooved to be true in this case. Just less than 20 minutes of dafting and less than an hour sewing (and out of that I probably spent half of the time looking for the good pair of siccors, that I had apparently put in one of the aforementioned "good places") gave me this:


I know it looks like a set of pyjamas, but this will be the starting point for petty much all his future patterns. This means that as long as I don't do anything too adventurous I will never have to make him another mock up again. Yay!

And if any one is curious, this is the basic patterns:

Pants, back bodice, front bodice and sleeve.

I am also slowly figuring out the design I am going for, but I have nothing to show yet. I may or may not make a "pretty picture" with the design ideas, more likely I will just make the things out of my head and post them as I finish them. But I will try to include the actual patterns I make by adapting these base patterns, as I know that process can seem like a bit of a mystery and it's really not that hard to do.

 

@Valdemagra the paper towel pattern method I used was to use paper towels that drape and fold more like fabric to draft a pattern that fit. I cut out pieces of paper towel along the basic out lines of the original over-sized pattern, masking taped them it place then use them to fold darts to fit my doll who has a different body shape than the doll it was designed for. I carefully cut my new darts apart, traced the paper towel onto printer paper, then traced that onto fabric. Using a photo program might be faster, but I'm not that tech-savvy and my doll has a different shaped chest then the non-resin fashion doll it was designed for anyway.

Its the first time I've used this method to draft a bodice pattern, so I'm pretty pleased with how successful it was. The mock-up fit with minor adjustments. But I didn't make sleeves as part of my mock-up, and have now cut it apart to make a pattern for the final version. Oops. I guess I didn't want to do too much at once, but this dress needs sleeves. I'll just draft them as best I can and see if they work. Much easier to re-do if they don't than a whole bodice!

 

@Valdemagra as @Leo Pheonix says the paper towel method is just using paper towel instead of fabric or printer paper to make pattern adjustments since it drapes unlike paper. If you don't have the photo program knowledge the paper towel method is a great way to modify patterns.
I scanned the pattern into my program then adjusted the length to match the dolls length (arms or legs, whatever) then used the paper towel method to determine the proper width of the pattern. It is especially useful if you are going to be using the pattern multiple times.

 

progress so far on my girls outfit!
all I really have left to do is make her tights (same fabric as her sleeves) and make her mask! I'm glad I didn't have to buy much for her. otherwise I used any scraps and findings I had hoarded



I started the base of her mask and some bunny ears before work today. This is my first time using foam clay. It's somehow easier but trickier than clay at the same time??? not sure how describe as sculpting has been sort of my sister's thing haha.



I gotta say, aside from a couple of hiccups like sewing the sleeves upside down and not making enough pieces for her jester collar, I think I'm doing ok for my second attempt at dolly sized clothes!

 

Thanks Kathel - but the tidyness never lasts.

Clearing the decks before starting is a good idea - one I mean to adopt every time, but somehow, never quite manage

I'm both glad and sorry that I'm not alone in this!

And with nice sparkley trim at the hem.

Absolutely

{laugh!} I have no shame - I shared the whole progress of last year's (still incomplete) sewing-room clearup on Flickr.

Thanks!

Nice work

Excellent!

I think you're doing great - and I love those little bells aorund the collar. Are they actual bells or just beads that look like bells?

I should share a reference picture of the style of outfit I'm making (if I ever find that baggie of pieces):

Alphie's is cut out in a in not-very-period-correct silk dupion (but the theme is Theatre/Masquerade so that'll work) as is the long waistcoat to go underneath - he already has fall-front velvet knee britches (also not very period accurate in the fall, but again Masquerade/Theatre, and the fall doesn't show under a long waistcoat anyway)

Teddy

 

ohnoaiwa, that's looking like great fancy fun! I can't wait to see her with her head in place & wearing the mask.

Teddy, I thought all projects created havoc...and then I put it all away to begin the next one. ;} Next step is unpacking the traveling doll trunk in the (currently tidy) guest room.

 

Ah, you see, it's that next step that's always the problem for me, especially if I flit to another project, and andother after that before completing the ones before - and even if I do complete one, the put-it-all-awya part is usually skipped.

When I clear up, it's usually like an archaological-dig through the strata of multiple project debree.

Teddy

 

@ohnoaiwa Oh, another jester! Wonderful.