Wearables Sewing Project: Theater/Masquerade [ Round 104 ]

finished mine pretty early since I took her to bjdcon!






had a lot of fun (and tears lol) making this sweet bunny girl!
she had a bit of a costume malfunction so I gotta redo one of her socks and reattach the clasps for the back of her outfit which fortunately wasn't noticeable lol
I'll be slowly posting more pictures of her on my Instagram too!

 

What a cutie!! Amazing outfit!!!

 

Sweet! @ohnoaiwa.

 

So irritating to run out mid project!

Very cute indeed - love the tail too.

Costume malfunctions at conventions are a long stnding tradition.

Teddy

 

@cthulhu @Katrynar @Teddy
thanks sm friends!!!
as someone who also cosplays I can indeed confirm this unfortunate tradition lmao /sob
can't wait to see how everyone else's costumes come out!

 

No costumer should ever attend an event without a backup supply of nappy pins.

Teddy

 

@ohnoaiwa She looks great! The outfit came out so well.
Minor problems when wearing a new outfit out for the first time is perfectly normal.

 

I feel like I am somewhat behind, but at least I have finished Bennys pants. Since pants are far from my favourite thing to make I consider it a win. They even turned out ok.


And here is the finished pattern:

The puffy part on the left, the lining on the right and half the waistband on top. The panes are just straight srips and there is a triangular modesty panel in the front opening that didn't require a pattern.

Over all I am happy so far. Now I just have the rest of the outfit to make.

 

Those are gorgeous trunk hose

 

Thank you @Teddy !
I have started on his shirt now. It will be a long sleeve shirt, orange with bronze-coloured stripes.

 

Well done Lillith! He looks quite pleased with your progress. ;D

 

@PoeticSoul thanks!!!! I'm glad people enjoy her look!
@Lillith those pants look amazing! might be borrowing that pattern for a future project hehe

 

Thanks! He does, doesn't he?

You are welcome to. It's just a photo, but I tried to take it from as straight above as I could. If nothing else it serves as a over view.

 

Cape! (also my switch plate cover I need to replace shhh)



I also adjusted the pants a little, so they're a tighter and higher fit. This unfortunately puts the pockets back too far to see from the front, but they're still visible from the side. I need to add another clasp at the fly though (and also at the sleeves but I've been too busy for a joanns trip). I'm thinking of changing the vest color (it was the red that I've now used for the pocket and inner fly), and probably won't make the jacket like I originally planned, but it wouldn't look right with the rest now that I added a cape. I think.

 

That lifts the outfit into the realms of Dramatic!

Teddy

 

@ohnoaiwa That is SO cute! I bet she was a big hit!
@Lillith Wow. Those pants are fabulous.
@Biofreak659 That's going to be quite spectacular.
@helgie: So cute.
@cthulhu: I am, as always and forever, in complete awe. And your resin lady is stunning!
@SteamWitch: I adore that green fabric.

 

Plenty of dramatic theatrical flair arising this time around! That cape is the perfect topper for the project.

Thanks Vindalootoo. >///< Have to admit I wasn't having a particularly admirable sewing week with this head cold...
The challenge became "how many times can I make this pattern just right only to find it is too small?!?!?"
For the first time, I used the cling wrap and masking tape method to figure out her exact shape. Then used those pieces along with a jacket pattern I drafted a couple of years ago for a Granado doll to draft the pattern.
Good thing there is plenty of fabric...and Vastra can always use more than one bodice (once I figure out how to fill in the front gap on the one I carefully made yesterday that needs another 1/2" in the front)...and Teddy was up for a chat when I felt discouraged.
Pattern version 2.0 today should have been just right. But it wasn't ! I ended up adding a panel to enlarge it at the side seams by 1/4" each side. (No one will ever know once I make her over dress. ;}
My penance today was hand sewing the beads for buttons down the center front. And tacking lace along the neckline. The loop trim stitched in place meant I needed 32 "buttons" to match. Yikes! Nimble fingers required for dressing this Silurian now. XD




The purple wool should work nicely, not super fine, but a nice weight. Sadly I now see (daylight through the moth holes) that I'll have to cut carefully because the moths feasted upon the lovely fabric sometime in the past. :/

Now to see about drafting another pattern which actually fits madame...

 

@cthulhu Oh, buttons! That bodice is gorgeous.

 

Thanks Lilith! I'm really loving how it fits her-finally!

 

@cthulhu I can't get over how gorgeous your project is turning out! The bodice and skirt are amazing!

 

Thanks @Biofreak659 ! Madam Vastra's been demanding my best work all year. ;}
Fitting that vest about did me in... XD

 

Good thing Madam Vestra has a maid....

I knew it would look even more gorgeous on her thn it did while you were working on it

Bad luck about the moth holes! Hopefully you'l be able to cut around them.

Teddy

 

Thank you Poetic soul! After years of collecting fabrics & trims (for various reasons & then more recently for doll intentions) they're finally getting used.

Preparing for the overdress means the work table had to be put back in order...such mayhem occurs when the creative muse stops in for a visit!

Auditioning fabrics & trims this morning with sunlight falling across everything was a great help. After a couple cloudy rainy days the sun is playing hide & seek today but when it was shining I learned the beaded sheer I hoped to use is more of a navy blue than a black so that got set aside.
In the meantime, Madam Vastra noticed there is enough of the lace left from trimming her skirt to add a nice flounce to her bodice. Of course that means more handsewing ... And buttoning her bodice again ... :/

 

Hi Seamsters!
I've been reading some tutorials by antiquelilac as I consider my options for Mu. Discovered I underestimated the amount of lining fabric because of the extra fabric needed for the stripe direction. Ideally I wanted it reversible, oh well. Ymir and Mu's history is being revealed to me as I consider - so romantic! Guess I must write it down when he's complete.
Had to take some time away for 2 new arrivals (photos in openings) and a doll meet. Had so much fun I forgot to take photos!! And I was given a dollhouse! So, this weekend no sewing time, starting the doll room move.
Not all told, starting to worry I may not complete Mu this month. Hoping to complete the other sleeve shape today, cut the robe opening with curves at the bottom to reflect his unmarried status, and apply a trim by hand to the skirt to cover the piecing I had to do. I like the look of it though. Wanting to try the bead picot edging on the sleeves from the tutorials. Here's a pic of where he is now:
IMG_20211118_144541_hdr by Coulombe, on Flickr

@Lillith .
Thanks for that very educational response about machine embroidery. I'd better make sure I have the right needles for a first attempt!
Benny looks even happier in his perfect fit, beautiful pants! Adorbs!
@ohnoaiwa .
Wow! Congrats on a super-cute outcome on your dress and mask, I hope you will share your wonderful creativity and participate again next month!
-more to comment, but draft not saving.

 

Mu's outfit looks quite dramatic already @Valdemagra ! I've been thinking of using that same tutorial to picot bead the sleeves and overskirt hem of Jaala's green dress. I'm just not sure if I have enough matching beads for the whole hemline.

 

@Valdemagra Ooooo nice! Could you put a link to the tute you mentioned? Pweddy pweese wif Wiishu hugs?

 

Tutorials
I YouTube searched for more specific info after looking through her journey inspirations.

 

@Valdemagra tysm! I'll definitely join in the future months since ik the holidays are gonna wreck me orz

 

Looking magnificient.

Add some different beads into the pattern/mix so it looks deliberate...?

Teddy

 

I haven't been able to post pictures for a few days because of some tech problems, but now I can catch up on that.

First here is the main outfit as it looked a few days ago. I finished his shirt, made a pair of shoes and socks. The shoes are more of a working prototype than finished pieces, but they will work as place holders if I run out of time to remake them properly. The socks are not at all what I had in mind for him, but it turns out that my stash is seriously lacking in colourful knits, so this will have to do.

And I have started on a hat. This took way longer than it should have, but all it needs now is embellishments. I am very happy with the shape and proportions of it. Sorry about the grainy photo, but well, Sweden + late November means there is a very limited window for good daylight and that's only if the weather is clear.


Left to do:
*At the very least some sort of a jester collar. Preferably attached to an over garmet of some sort, such as a vest or a jacket.
*Perhaps remake the shoes.
*More decorations. I want sparkles! Even if they end up invisible in my bad pictures.

 

Lillith, what fun! Maybe not the socks you had in mind, but the diamonds look great. And that hat is excellent!!

 

Thanks! Yea, the socks will do for now. I can always replace them later.

 

So well done @Lillith I like the stockings too, they make the rest of the outfit as the focus. Those shoes are fabulous as is the hat!

 

That jester outfit is looking quite impressive so far @Lillith ! More sparkles are always good, even if they are hard to photograph.

I got all the snaps sewn on to the dress last night. I've never needed 4 on one dress before. MSD girls are much bigger than mature tinies. Now I'm working on hand stitching down the waist band on the overskirt.

 

@Lillith wow he's looking so good!!!!

 

Thank you all for your kind words. This doll works so well for this concept that it almost feels like cheating. I am having so much fun with this.

 

@Lillith .
Oh, one more!
Muahaha! Love it! You've drawn out his character! Such wonderful play of pattern, but beyond that the fit is perfect! Now that I see a better close-up I see his pointy teeth! Such mischief!! Brilliant! Yay! Called the man right over! A must see! Lol!

 

@Lillith He TOTALLY rocks this look! The shape of the hat is perfect for his head shape and features. Oh...and could you give us a closeup on those shoes? I'm totally intrigued how you did the soles.

 

it's not cheating...you just already studied for this test LOL

 

He's looking great - especially the shirt, but the shoes and hat are bringing the whole jester look together beautifully.

{grin} You should try sewing for a Lusion.

Teddy

 

The puffy part on the left, the lining on the right and half the waistband on top. The panes are just straight srips and there is a triangular modesty panel in the front opening that didn't require a pattern

 

Lillith: love his outfit so far.

 

I am happy you like him! I must admit to be quite pleased with the fit myself.

Sure thing!

And here is the pattern:

The shoes are symmetrical, so no left and right. This pair was made from a single layer hobby felt for the upper part and a piece of thin cardboard for the inner soles and a piese of felt for the outer sole.
The uppers were cut with seam allowance at the bottom edge only and the soles entirely without.
I closed the uppers with a tiny whipstich, edge to edge.
The uppers were attached to the paper soles; sole edge to seam line withe the allowance haning free.
The seam allowance was folded in under the paper sole and then the felt sole was glued on top.
Last thing I did was to make a row of blanket stiches around the upper edge to neaten and reinforce it as it gets pulled on when putting the shoes on.
Oh, and there is a tiny bit of stuffing in the toe point to help it keep it's shape.

If I make a second pair I will probably add a lining to the uppers and the insoles and make sure to get a much neater join between the upper and the soles. I would also cut a felt infill to level the outer sole before I glue the felt on.

That's a good way to look at it.

Thank you very much!

 

You know, when I first saw the shirt finished my first reaction was a bit dissapointed, like "it's just a plain shirt". It looked a bit too ordinary and the colour and pattern looked a lot more tame than I had anticipated. But once I put it on and saw it together with the other parts it started to grow on me. Then I realized I had felt in a similar colour and made the shoes out of that and then it came together.
I am glad I gave it chance instead of just go and cut a new shirt of a different colour.

 

@Lillith Thanks so much! I could have sworn those soles were done differently. They're so clean and flat! Excellent.

 

Sliding in just before the end of the month. Whew!
The hand sewing just about did me in, but for the right doll I'll go to the extra effort. ;}
Madam Vastra wearing her fanciest winter garb:

Not the best lighting today. And of course I finished after dark...hopefully,I'll get better photos tomorrow.

Detail shot while it was still under construction.

 

@cthulhu wow she looks amazing! i love the little details and her sleeves!!!!

 

Oh, those sleeves! I mean, the whole coat is amazing, but... those sleeves!

 

@ohnoaiwa thanks! Gotta admit the details just kept creeping in and insisting. I'm totally blown away by how it worked.

@Lillith I was trying to replicate the look of my inspiration image & there was a lot of head scratching as I started working on the pattern. But then it was like jazz music, a lot of improv, riffing & luck went into those sleeves. ;D

 

I'm speechless. Stunning.

 

Ahh, thanks Vindalootoo!

 

@cthulhu I am in awe of Madam Vastra in her new outfit. both the mods/sculpting on the doll herself, and the incredibly gorgeous detail and beautiful fit/shape of the dress. you just did such an amazing job on the whole doll. I hope you're as proud of her as I would be if that was my project!

 

thedarkstar13, I am. ;D I kept smiling thinking this was as close as I'd ever get to owning some of the fancy lace trimmed dresses I've admired online. The pattern drafting muses were definitely blessing this project more than some I've done.

 

Thanks for this in-progress image!