Sewing and Costume Rambles
Apr. 7th, 2008 10:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyofthethreadHmm… Several days ago, I was flipping through my historical costume books and photographing things since natalie526asked for ideas for her draping final project. I’ve gotten pretty good at dissecting outfits for cosplay but some of the asymmetrical Victorian designs were so complicated that I couldn’t even completely visualize how they would look in full. ._.; (For example, this and these) Reminded me I still have much to learn and try in sewing.
Also, while looking for ideas for Natalie, I stumbled on some exciting news about a favorite musical of mine, “The Scarlet Pimpernel.” ^_^ I found out the Takarazuka Revue is supposed to be giving the show its Japanese premiere this summer. Although I’ve seen some gorgeous cosplays from their shows (like HCC’s Rose of Versailles costumes), I haven’t really investigated Takarazuka so far. I’ll have to remember to check into this during the summer though since I’d love to see what they do with the costumes. ^_^ The site only has a few tiny pictures of the three leads so far.
And I finally got around to making a bag with a kimono fabric handkerchief that I had picked up at NYAF. Basically, it’s just a lined circle with a drawstring threaded through series of buttonholes near the edges. Really simple and only took a couple of hours to make. (Yay for the automatic buttonhole feature!) If I do another one though, I’ll put the buttonholes closer to the edges. I think this one came out looking a bit more like a giant flowery wonton rather than a bag since I left so much fabric at the top!
I also started on that new Count D costume I mentioned last time. (Yes, I am obsessed with his wardrobe. ^_^;; I love dressy clothes and he has so many nice outfits! He probably has the largest wardrobe of any male anime/manga character considering how he always gets at least 1 or 2 new outfits per chapter in addition to all the covers and artbook stuff!)
Went shopping for supplies last week and found a light green leaf-patterned Chinese brocade to use for the skirt. Of course, it had to be at the last store I checked, which is normally the first but I had the bright idea of starting on the other side of the street this time... -_-; (Fabric shopping is definitely not my favorite part of costume making. I feel like I often end up on a wild goose chase when trying to find certain patterns!) The shimmery cream brocade was left over from an evening gown I made years ago and will be used for the tailcoat. I would have liked to have a little more contrast with the trim and the green brocade but the next darker green was an olive which didn’t look as good with the cream.
I worked on the skirt this weekend and it’s done now. ^_^ (no progress pics yet) Did the usual seam finishes and stuff inside but it’s just rectangular panels gathered into a wide waistband. I’m going to make the front of the coat a little lower since I didn’t really want to make a whole dress to go under it. >_>; I’m just trying to do this one relatively quickly to get it out of my system since I already have so many D costumes. Maybe, I can wear this for Sakura Matsuri if the coat doesn’t take too long…
natalie526asked for ideas for her draping final project. I’ve gotten pretty good at dissecting outfits for cosplay but some of the asymmetrical Victorian designs were so complicated that I couldn’t even completely visualize how they would look in full. ._.; (For example, this and these) Reminded me I still have much to learn and try in sewing. Also, while looking for ideas for Natalie, I stumbled on some exciting news about a favorite musical of mine, “The Scarlet Pimpernel.” ^_^ I found out the Takarazuka Revue is supposed to be giving the show its Japanese premiere this summer. Although I’ve seen some gorgeous cosplays from their shows (like HCC’s Rose of Versailles costumes), I haven’t really investigated Takarazuka so far. I’ll have to remember to check into this during the summer though since I’d love to see what they do with the costumes. ^_^ The site only has a few tiny pictures of the three leads so far.
And I finally got around to making a bag with a kimono fabric handkerchief that I had picked up at NYAF. Basically, it’s just a lined circle with a drawstring threaded through series of buttonholes near the edges. Really simple and only took a couple of hours to make. (Yay for the automatic buttonhole feature!) If I do another one though, I’ll put the buttonholes closer to the edges. I think this one came out looking a bit more like a giant flowery wonton rather than a bag since I left so much fabric at the top!
I also started on that new Count D costume I mentioned last time. (Yes, I am obsessed with his wardrobe. ^_^;; I love dressy clothes and he has so many nice outfits! He probably has the largest wardrobe of any male anime/manga character considering how he always gets at least 1 or 2 new outfits per chapter in addition to all the covers and artbook stuff!)
Went shopping for supplies last week and found a light green leaf-patterned Chinese brocade to use for the skirt. Of course, it had to be at the last store I checked, which is normally the first but I had the bright idea of starting on the other side of the street this time... -_-; (Fabric shopping is definitely not my favorite part of costume making. I feel like I often end up on a wild goose chase when trying to find certain patterns!) The shimmery cream brocade was left over from an evening gown I made years ago and will be used for the tailcoat. I would have liked to have a little more contrast with the trim and the green brocade but the next darker green was an olive which didn’t look as good with the cream.
I worked on the skirt this weekend and it’s done now. ^_^ (no progress pics yet) Did the usual seam finishes and stuff inside but it’s just rectangular panels gathered into a wide waistband. I’m going to make the front of the coat a little lower since I didn’t really want to make a whole dress to go under it. >_>; I’m just trying to do this one relatively quickly to get it out of my system since I already have so many D costumes. Maybe, I can wear this for Sakura Matsuri if the coat doesn’t take too long…
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Date: 2008-04-19 04:47 am (UTC)That would be cool. :-) Right now, it looks like I'll have a group for AnimeNext, with a few of the people who were in my Anime Boston group plus a Medusa and maybe a T-Chan. And I'm going to NYAF again this year.
I have a room for Otakon but I'm currently feeling blah about going since it's expensive and I didn't enjoy the con/location itself that much when I went in '06. :-/ And unfortunately, I think Katsucon is just never going to work out for me as long as it's in February. Last year, it was on Chinese New Year (big deal for my mother) and this year it was pretty soon afterwards. It falls in January next year but then I realized my grandmother's birthday would be right around Katsu. I just can't seem to win with this one!
I'd really like to go to Costume Con in Maryland next year though. I've been wanting to check it out for a few years but it's never been close enough to the northeast for me before.
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Date: 2008-04-19 03:44 pm (UTC)OOOH, please to be coming to Costume Con, ^.^ That was what I was planning on making the black Medusa for, actually, as well as something from Sweeney Todd, and hauling along some Clamp things.
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Date: 2008-04-20 04:57 am (UTC)My parents are very paranoid and my brother and I are generally not allowed to room with other people. So, we end up having to get our own room for cons, which gets pretty expensive and I have to be picky about which ones I'd consider attending. :-/
Yep, NYAF is at the end of September this year. Not a spectacular con since the dealer's room is the main focus but it's cheap to go to since it's local for me. ^_^
I'll certainly try to make it to Costume Con since I don't know if I'd get another good chance anytime soon. I saw the last time it was even in the northeast was Connecticut in 2000!
Hmm... Sweeney Todd is probably the biggest Sondheim show that I'm not familiar with. I've heard (and in a few cases, seen) most of the others but have just never looked into that one. My favorites have to be Follies and A Little Night Music. ^_^
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Date: 2008-04-20 05:05 am (UTC)Yeah, I have a feeling the east coast locations for that con have always been few and far between. But I love that it travels.
The music for Sweeney Todd is pretty good, and the movie wasn't half bad. I'm surprised that it did so well, considering the cast was pretty much non-singers, and that it was a Sondheim musical, which I never thought would do well on screen. I guess I'm wrong, XD The movie is pretty bloody, but stage versions aren't as much.
Plus, sometimes Tim Burton movies just have good costume design, ^^ I don't know who he's working with, but they just dream up the neatest thing. That, and By the Sea is such a silly song,and Helena Bonham Carter sells it so well, ^.^