New Discovery and Old Progress

While thinking up how to make my Voyage of the Dawn Treader costume, I stumbled across an awesome idea.  I’m always having to buy multiples of the same patterns because I modify just about any pattern I get to achieve a desired costume.  This method of pattern modification is rather expensive and I can’t afford to keep going that route any more.  So I came up with my own idea to the solve the problem.  After I read a really helpful tutorial on how to conserve pattern pieces, an idea struck me.  Cut out the pattern pieces to the desired size, follow the tutorial to back them, and use chalk to trace out the pieces onto the desired fabric.  This way I can make any modification I want to a pattern piece without wasting a pattern!  It’s so cool and brilliant!  Right now I’m trying out my idea with my newest project, Susan’s Narnia from Voyage of the Dawn Treader.  That brings me to my next subject.

I just started Susan’s dress today, tonight actually.  I’m using the above method to make the pieces I need for the dress.  So far it’s working wonderfully!  Right now I have the first two pieces cut out and am working on the third.  It takes me much longer to cut out the pieces because I have to lay out the original pattern piece and pin it down, trace the outline and markings to the fabric with chalk (I’m using paper chalk and it’s working just fine.  It comes off with water too), unpin the pattern piece and place it to the side, then I finally cut the piece out of the fabric by cutting along the chalk lines.  It’s so much fun!  It’s like a giant connect the dots and cut out the paper doll project!  I love it! 

I should be done cutting out the pieces sometime tonight.  I hope to pleat the front panel and sew the first part of dress by tonight/early tomorrow morning too.  Well, I better get back to work if I’m to get all that done!  Talk to you soon!

Updated Cosplay List for 2011

I've been working on my cosplay list for next year.  So far I'm most likely going to one or two cons.  I'm hoping to go to more, but I'll see what God has in store for me.  I'm hoping to make at least five new cosplays.  Vorfeed from Lost Universe is at the top of my list followed by Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender.  I want to make both Toph's Earth Nation outfit that she wears in season two and her nobility dress from when Aang and the others first meet her.  I'm also hoping to make Sailor Saturn's sailor scout outfit, though I'll modify the length to make it a bit longer.  I'm not entirely sure what the fifth outfit will end up being, but I know that Sophia Forrester from Last Exile is defiantly on the list. 

My list changes constantly, so I don't entirely know what I'll end up making and what I won't.  I know for sure that I'll be finishing Toph's Fire Nation disguise and since I have most of the materials make at least one of her other outfits.  I already ordered my wig for Vorfeed, so I'll definitely get her done soon, either this year or next.  Also, I found a lot of pieces to my Saturn cosplay, so it's second on the list.  Either way, I'll get the cosplays done, even if it takes me a year.  I cannot wait for Christmas break and Christmas.  I'll have a whole month to sew my heart out and make my cosplays.  Plus Christmas means Christmas money which means I'll finally be able to get more supplies for my cosplay.  It also means I'll be working my butt off trying to catch up on lapsed 4-H projects.  Ah, the joys of cosplaying with a busy schedule.  @_@

Susan’s Voyage of the Dawn Treader Dress

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader premiere is only a few days away, less than a month to be exact.  I recently purchased my materials for my Susan dress.  It cost me only $25 to get all the supplies I needed for the dress, minus the thread and embroidery floss that I already had.  For the main dress, I got this lovely dark gray fabric that hangs and flows beautifully, and should hold the pleats well.  As for the collar, I got this fuzzy knitted fabric that looks really nice with the main fabric.  I just wish it was a tad bit darker in color though. 

I’ve decided to embroider the designs on the collar instead of etch them in.  I couldn’t afford the right kind of velvet to use for etching, and I only have a limited amount of time so ordering online is out of the question.  I really worried that I won’t have enough time to embroider both the collar for my dress and finish the embroidery for my sister’s jerkin.  I really hope I do cause Lucy just won’t be Lucy without her jerkin. 

Only 36 Days Left

I just realized there are 36 days till the premiere of Voyage of the Dawn Treader!!!!!!!  *faints*  I still have so much to do before the costumes are finished.  I think I predict lots of late night sewing during Thanksgiving and the week of the premiere.  Oy!  Why does time always run short for me? 

The Lucy costume is coming well.  I still have to finish the embroidery for the jerkin.  I think the breeches embroidery is going to have to wait till after the premiere.  Embroidery takes forever.  I’ll have to work overtime to get it done.  Time to start embroidering in class again.  Don’t worry the profs already approved.  ^_^

I still have to get the fabric for my Susan costume.  I found the perfect pattern(s) to use for the dress!!!  It’s either Simplicity 9891 or 4940.  Both would work wonderfully because the pattern has a front panel that could be easily added to.  I’m so excited to make this costume!!!!!