11/20/07
Oh, my. I finally decided to step out of my comfort zone and plan an event for the GBACG. I'm very nervous about the whole thing, and it is now one of the few events on my 2008 calendar that I absolutely must finish a costume for. It simply wouldn't do for the hostess to show up in mundanes!
While I've known for some time that I wanted to do a Firefly inspired event, I have been completely at sea as far as what sort of costume to make, completely lacking inspiration...until last weekend. My mom needed to go to Joann's for some Christmas fabric to start decorating at church. While she was in line to get the fabric cut, I started browsing the clearence shelves. After finding a yard of no-wale courderoy for her, I came upon a fabric I absolutel loved but that would never work for the historical sewing I usually do. It's a silky polyster with a sort of water pattern in varying shades of blue and green on it. Then, when I opened the fabric up to see the right side, I saw that there is sort of a glittery, sparkley finish on it. Wow! Then the inspiration hit--it would make a fabulous Firefly costume!
I still had no idea what to make with it, but I bought all that was left on the bolt--only about five yards. Of course, when I get a costume project stuck in my brain, it doesn't take long before ideas start to percolate. I know that I want a fitted bodice, and nothing that is going to bare my midrif--I've lost a lot of weight over the past few years, but not that much. I also figure that the costumes draw on both historical and asian influences, so as long as I stick with those themes, I should be fine.
So, this is what my idea is so far:
Skirt: a drop-waisted circle skirt attached to a wide waistband, about ankle length, out of the water fabric.
Bodice: A very fitted, Victorian inspired bodice out of blue or purple velvet/velveteen, with a low neckline and either a frog closure down the front or small, round, jeweled buttons with loops. I may decorate the bottom edge with sari trim.
So, here is a mock up of the overskirt. Of course, I'd smooth out the side/hip area some, but I really like the drape of the pleats.
7/6/08
Wow! It's been a long time since I've updated this. Don't worry, you haven't missed much. I only just got started on the costume in the past couple of weeks.
So far, the skirt is the only thing that is finished. I did do the dropped waist, but we'll have to see if it stays in place; dropped waists have a habit of creeping up on me when I actually wear them. The wide waistband has five gores sewn to it with a slit in the side front. It's mostly finished at this point. I need to get a bit more hem tape to bind off the slit; I only had enough to finish the hem of the skirt.
For the bodice, I got a piece of purple micro-velvet out of my stash that mom had bought for me a while back. The bodice is very fitted, and sort of Victorian looking except that the neckline plunges down below the bust. The bust area is then filled in with the water fabric. At this point, however, I've only got the velvet sections assembled--with two layers of twill for lining. I still need to sew in the boning, attach the bust fabric, and bind the edges. I haven't entirely figured out what I'm doing for the sleeves yet, so I probably have some draping yet to do to figure that out.
I'm also thinking I want to add an overskirt. Not that the outfit necessarily needs something more, but I kind of want to use more of the velvet in a way that shows off how rich and drapey it is.
7/14/08
Okay, the bodice is done. I got the boning put in and bound all the edges in purchased single fold bias. When I sewed the bias on, I attached the water fabric that I patterned to fill in the bust area. They ended up coming a little higher on the sides than I had intended, giving a less open neckline, but I think it looks okay the way it is.
I'm also pleased with how the back turned out. I gave myself a little bit of extra room in the hips when I put the pieces together, and that pretty much took care of the bunching at the waist I'd seen in my last mock up. Of course, the boning helps as well--I've got the center back and both side back seams boned up to about bust level.
Once the bias was all handstitched to the lining, I got the skirt hooks sewn to front. For a final touch, I added decorative frog closures to the front.
All that's left to do at this point are the sleeves. I decided against the overskirt. While I loved the drape of it, I don't want to cover so much of the underskirt.