When I found this red and gold damask, I didn’t immediately know what to make with it. I’d lusted after this fabric for at least a year. It’s from the Christopher Lowell home dec collection at Jo-Ann’s, it’s 100% polyester, and it’s usually $19.99/yard. Now, I am not a fiber snob — I’ll use anything
This is a pretty vague concept so far … I have this unusual black and grey fabric, 100% polyester (because I don’t care!), woven thistle / pomegranate pattern that’s rather 16th-century by way of Art Deco, with a nice supple hand. So far, I’m thinking it’ll be good as a kirtle, perhaps with sleeves. There’s
I’m not making any promises, but I did start something today. I mocked up a polonaise bodice — based on ye olde Butterick not-very-accurate-but-darnit-it-fits-me bodice I used for Cosi Fan Tutte and the blue caraco. Modified the front for no stomacher (for the caraco, it was a zone, so I now I have another variation).
What I wanted to find at this year’s trip to the LA Garment District was something to go with this hot pink and silver (polyester) sari I’ve had in the Stash for years: I made a sketch of my costume concept in Tara Maginnis’ drawing class at Costume College (shown at left). The idea is
So I updated my swatch book last night. Which required measuring of some yardage. And I don’t think I have enough fabric for my intended Carnivale costume. The black shantung embedded with shisha mirrors is only 4 yards of 45″ wide material, and something tells me that just won’t be enough for a robe a
This sort of robe a la francaise held up in a polonaise would be both very pretty and quite practical for Carnivale next year. Can’t have a train or anything dragging about in the damp, and despite the potential cuteness, I don’t want to go all lolita-short. That example circa 1760s-1770s is more accurate. I
Dharma Trading Company rules the world!!! Dude, I always knew this was one awesome outfit, but these fine folks have, yet again, exceeded expectations! I’ve been hemming and hawing (mostly hawing) about what fabric to use for this last tiny little stupid annoying bit on my masquerade costume. I don’t really have anything right in
Berthas are ugly and hard to make! But I’m getting there — evidence is in my folder on the Y!Group. Photo of my bodice with the bertha pinned on and lace pinned on (but not gathered). OMG I hate berthas! So completely ugly. And it kept angling weird, and the pleats went wonky on me
I started my skirt this weekend, but I have a bunch of probably dumb questions… First, any recommendations for pleating into the waistband? I have a lot of fabric (maybe too much — about 5 yards, iirc) and several layers. Cartridge-pleating, box pleating, knife pleating? Other? Combo? Also, should the waistband be shaped somehow (dip
Ok, I’ll admit, I haven’t done anything. I’m a bit unsure, because the bodice pattern I have is a Truly Victorian with darts, not princess seams that everyone else is doing. So I haven’t made a mockup at all. I’ll also need help with that, and I don’t think I can get help before Costume
OMG. I can’t believe I didn’t try this in the first place! A comment from Kendra made me realize I hadn’t really tried the grey part of the sari as a full skirt on its own. I knew from the measurement it wouldn’t work with a hoop, but I hadn’t tried it over just a
I fixed the sleeve-poufyness (mostly), but now I can’t decide what to use for Aouda’s underskirt — black satin or burgundy silk. So I pinned ’em both up and took pix to compare and contemplate. Both of these are just pinned up (so they’re a bit messy), and both would, aside from the fabric color,
Hmm… seeming success is a bit thwarted… While laying awake at an ungodly hour, I had debated the sleeve shape. The more I doubted having enough sari fabric for a hoop skirt, the more I felt that a narrow sleeve would look better, more balanced. So when I got out of bed, I poked through
I cut the sari! Scary, but it’s looking good. I debated which part to use for the bodice — either the choli end, which has a tight repeating pattern, or the end of the sari that hangs over the chest, which has a big wide pattern. Decided to use the choli for the bodice and
Tickets for the GBACG’s Around the World in 80 Days are on sale! It will be on October 21, 2006, from 1pm to 5pm at the Duke of Edinburgh Pub, Cupertino. I need to get crackin’ on my costume! I’ll probably use the Simplicity 9761 pattern as a base, and I have all the notions