Mad Hatter's cravat and hankie

The school already had a set of tails for the Mad Hatter, but they wanted to titivate it up with a cravat and a pocket handkerchief.

The brief was to make it out of some bright and cheerful fabric...

Easy peasy!  And he looked great too!

Next...

Alice in Wonderland

Would I mind making an Alice in Wonderland costume for the local dance company?

Absolute no brainer - of course I would!

It began with a circular skirt...

I added a top (which had to be taken in a little with darts)...

Next I added a Peter Pan collar (this photo was taken pre-pressing - top tip - ALWAYS press your work LOL!)...

Puffy sleeves with a little gather...

Acres of Broderie Anglaise...  Always buy more lace/Broderie Anglaise than you think you will need, because you will need loads and loads of it, especially with a circular skirt!

All topped off with an apron...

I love how the more that I sew, the more that I know :)  All of the above costume was made with no pattern, just a few measurements from the dancer.

The dancer looked, and danced, beautifully!

Next...

Pink polka dot dance costume

Dance costumes.  I just love making them!  Well, any costumes really!

So when I was asked to make a dropped waist lycra dress costume for a Competition dance, I jumped at the chance.

I was given the idea for the dress together with measurements and off I went!

I made a first version for fit and asked the dancer to pop round for a fitting.  Everything about it fit perfectly first time - even the length!

So I continued on to make the final version and this is how it turned out:

And the back view:

The ruffle added a final touch and, because it was lycra, the binding was easy to apply with no rucks in the fabric. 

The sleeves were slightly puffy.  And the bottom of the sleeve was easy to make as I could follow the dots to ensure it was straight.  You can't beat working with polka dots!

And the best bit?

I received a text during the interval of Les Miserables to say that the dancer had taken first place in the Competition.  I was so pleased for her!

And yes, I was checking out the costumes at Les Mis - only fleetingly, mind you, because the performances outshone any clothing.

Next...

Mowgli costume

This time last year, school was putting on a production of the Jungle Book.

I told them that I had some faux fur that might just make a good Mowgli costume.

So easy to make too - it was just a tabard sewn up at the sides!

 

 

 

Next...

 

 

 



Caterpillar-that-turns-into-a-butterfly-costume

I was asked to make a costume for the caterpillar in a school production of Alice in Wonderland. 

But the caterpillar had to turn into a butterfly during the performance.  Hmmmm. 

After much head-scratching I began by making a caterpillar body consisting of a quilted green tunic. 

 

 

And then set about making a hat with antennae.

 

Two attempts later and I finally figured out how to a) make a head shape (you know, that is a real toughie if you've not done it before LOL!) and b) how to get the antennae to stand up.

 

Raking through my supplies to see what I had that would be worthy of sticking up on someone's head, I came across some net curtain wire.  Excellent!  Yes!  That would be it!

 

Except when I tried to put it on my head they crossed each other and ended up looking rather like the antennae on an old fashioned television set.

 

Hmmmm.  I know!  Bend them!

 

And sure enough, after covering them in green felt and making a channel in the lining of the hat for them to sit, they stood up #soproud!!

 



 

 

So far so good.

 

But I had to find a way for the wings (when they were eventually made!) to stick on the back.  Aha!  Velcro it was! 

 

 

 

But the caterpillar needed a tail.  So I would make one with some velcro and another quilted part.  How hard could that be?

 

Well, my original idea was to have the tail sitting sideways on the body.  I added some more velcro to the back of the body and the tail and then had the caterpillar/butterfly try it on.  Hmmm.  The tail just wrapped around the body.  Not quite the look I was aiming for!

 

Much unpicking later, I decided that gravity would do the work for me and I would have the tail pointing down instead.  So I added velcro up inside the tunic and added the tail.

 

Yep!  That would definitely do it!

 

 



But how would the butterfly appear without the aid of a cocoon?

Easy peasy!  The headteacher had already figured this out for me <grin>.  The interval would be called just prior to the metamorphosis.  Whew.

During the interval, the tail would be de-velcroed (!) and the wings would be attached to the back instead.  Sorted!

Note to self: don't try to be clever and try to applique the spots on the front AND the back at the same time LOL!  Just do the front section then the back section and then sew them together :)

And now would be a good time to add straps for the now-butterfly to insert their hands to ensure the wings stay out too.

 

And here is the end result:

 

One caterpillar...

And one butterfly!

Of course, the face paint is always a great addition to any costume too :)

 

The production was a success!!

 

Zippedy-doo-dah-day!

 

Next...

 

 

 

 

 



Twirly wirly skirts

I was asked to make some circular skirts for a dance show.  Yes, of course - let me at 'em!!

Did I know how to make them?

Nope!

Was I willing to learn as I went on?

Abso-bloomin'-lutely!!

Take one complete circle of fabric...

 

And cut out the hole for the waist...

 

Then add a waistband.

 

Easy peasy right?

 

Um, not quite as straightforward as it sounds!!

 

First I had to do some calcuations to figure out how large the waist hole ought to be.  I haven't used maths in earnest in years LOL!

 



 

When that was sorted out I just had to create the waistband and then hem the bottom.

One of the skirts even had a net underskirt too which could stand up on its own!

 

And here they are in action!

 

 

 

Next...

 

 



A tailcoat tale

I was asked if I would like to make a tailcoat for a dance show.

So, never having made a jacket in my entire life - of course I said yes!

As it turned out, it was a challenge and a half.  I think there were about 16 pieces to the pattern, which made for some interesting times LOL! 

But I made it.

When the tailcoat was tried on it fit beautifully but the front of the coat met in the middle rather than there being an overlap for buttonholes.  So I added a velcro overlap

Here is the front of the tailcoat with the velcro in place.

I added the buttons for decoration.

The tailcoat was made in two distinct sections - the top half and the bottom peplum and tail.

When I initially made it I was sure I'd followed the pattern but it didn't look quite right.  After much humming and harring I realised that I had managed to sew the flap of the tail on the wrong way round!  I'm convinced that not many people would have noticed - but I would have known LOL!

So I unpicked it all and put it on the right way round. 

There's no point in having a tail if you can't flap it, is there?!

I can't say that making the tailcoat was the easiest thing in the world, but I was happy with the end result.

More importantly, so was the dancer who got to wear it :)

A tutu or two

What have I been up to this last week or so - it's been kinda quiet around here hasn't it...

Well, as it happens I have been helping to make some costumes for my daughter's dance show which took place this weekend.  So there was a flurry of activity in the background but I didn't think it right to post the costumes until after the show!

It happened something like this if I remember correctly - dance teacher spots a dress that I've made and asks me if I'd like to make some costumes; I smile and nod; dance teacher mentions tutus; I say 'I could probably do that'.

You see, being largely self-taught, I don't know what I don't know when it comes to sewing.  But I am oh so willing to give it a go and figure it out as I go along. 

Make a tutu? 

Why not! 

Let me at the lycra and ballet net!

(And yes, that is my sewing machine in amongst all that net!)

Luckily my daughter already had a ready-made tutu that I could look at for reference. Normally I would also do some research on the internet first for hints and tips but I didn't come across much of that.

Ok, Selena, so it looks like it's down to you...

a) Make up lycra body (it was to be an elasticated, pull-on skirt to go over an existing leotard)

b) then add net

Well, that sure sounds easy, right?

So I purchased a ruffler foot - an amazing gadget that really helps with getting the right amount of gather on the net.  I also bought a rotary cutter and a cutting mat - a godsend when it comes to cutting acres and acres of net.

I figured out how wide the 7 layers of net had to be and I cut net for hours.

I then ruffled for Britain.

It was an experience sewing each layer onto the lycra.  Net has this habit of boinging about and not staying where it's put LOL!  I felt like a jungle explorer at times trying to make my way through the dense undergrowth in search of the needle!

Some things I learned along the way:

- Wear long sleeves - cut net is sharp!

- Make sure you only sew the net to the lycra body and not the gusset as well (I've lost track of the number of times I did that)

- Lycra feels kinda soft and silky

- Figure out how much net you think you need and then buy more - you will need way more than you think

- Your sewing machine will need a rest every now and again to prevent it from getting too hot

- You will need a rest every now and again - don't let it get the better of you!

- Ruffler feet respond well to gentle coaxing

____________________________________________________________

Here is the end result.  It goes nicely with a Girl Guide t-shirt doesn't it?!

Oh, and I didn't just make the one.  I made three.

And when I watched the three of them dancing today I was so happy I had to wipe away a tear. 

It really was a bit of a challenge.  But I did it.