(Read Parts 1-4 starting here)
Friday, May 31, 2013
Padme Wedding Ensemble - Part 5
Here it is folks. The final pictures of Padme Amidala's Wedding Ensemble Recreation. First up are the pictures of the overdress I took before shipping it off, followed by pictures from the wedding which the bride graciously gave me permission to share here.
(Read Parts 1-4 starting here)
Due to health issues, I am no longer taking costume commissions. However, I am working to offer more tutorials. Check out my 2-hour Jedi Robes tutorial here!
(Read Parts 1-4 starting here)
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Padme Wedding Ensemble - Part 4
Read Part 3 yet?
It was a fun challenge to separate the different designs and rework them together onto the chiffon of the overdress.
The lace was very supple to work with. It was worked into designs on the tablecloth, but once unsnipped, I could straighten out or recurve the different pieces as desired. I used three pieces from circular motifs to create the border on the train.
Given more time, I would have separated and spread out the patterns on the oversleeves more, as keeping them so connected meant they ended up with less of a drape. Hopefully if I ever recreate this costume again I'll get an even bigger budget so I can be even more nitpicky! ;)
It was way too cool to see the overdress start to take shape.
AHHHH!!! Even though I was the one making it, it still freaked me out to see it actually come to life!
The front of the dress was a bit tricky for me, as I didn't want to continue the straight border pattern. I think what I did works okay.
A look at how I attached the appliques. I sewed very close to the edge of all the designs, and on the larger ones I also ran one or two seams on the inside at appropriate places.
Of course I had to make sure everything was as perfectly symmetrical as possible...
...thank goodness I have a large floor to spread these sorts of projects out on!
I attached the sleeves last, meaning that the final piece of the ensemble was sewing down a final flower chain over the armhole seam.
How did it all work? See the wedding photos in the final post...
As I explained in my previous post, all of the lace appliques were from a vintage battenburg lace tablecloth. Most of the pieces took longer to cut out than to sew, as I had to use a small embroidery scissors and cut carefully to make sure nothing important unraveled or frayed.
It was a fun challenge to separate the different designs and rework them together onto the chiffon of the overdress.
The lace was very supple to work with. It was worked into designs on the tablecloth, but once unsnipped, I could straighten out or recurve the different pieces as desired. I used three pieces from circular motifs to create the border on the train.
Given more time, I would have separated and spread out the patterns on the oversleeves more, as keeping them so connected meant they ended up with less of a drape. Hopefully if I ever recreate this costume again I'll get an even bigger budget so I can be even more nitpicky! ;)
It was way too cool to see the overdress start to take shape.
AHHHH!!! Even though I was the one making it, it still freaked me out to see it actually come to life!
The front of the dress was a bit tricky for me, as I didn't want to continue the straight border pattern. I think what I did works okay.
A look at how I attached the appliques. I sewed very close to the edge of all the designs, and on the larger ones I also ran one or two seams on the inside at appropriate places.
Of course I had to make sure everything was as perfectly symmetrical as possible...
...thank goodness I have a large floor to spread these sorts of projects out on!
I attached the sleeves last, meaning that the final piece of the ensemble was sewing down a final flower chain over the armhole seam.
How did it all work? See the wedding photos in the final post...
Friday, May 24, 2013
X-Men & Downton Abbey Fashion
Downton Abbey love is everywhere - even on the pages of the X-Men comics! Well, one of the Variant Covers, at least. As the adjectiveless "X-Men" title starts over its numbering with a landmark issue featuring an all-girl line-up, it's released several AMAZING variant covers - including a Downton-Inspired one. (My other favorite is the X-Baby one by Scottie Young) Not that Kevin Wada is the first to mash up X-Men and Downton... I did my own (literary) take on it back in January. But I digress.
L-R, Rachel Grey (Marvel Girl), Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), Elisabeth Braddock (Psylocke), Ororo Munroe (Storm), Anna Marie Raven (Rogue), Jubilation Lee (Jubilee).
I am in terrible need to possess a physical copy of this.
I love the stripes/pleating on Rachel's dress, the Asian color scheme on Betsy's, the gorgeous Edwardian skirt paired with the bold African patterns on Ororo's, The green/teal tiers of Rogue's gown (and that hat that just screams Southern picnic!), and the firey gradiants/beading on Jubilee's dress that call to mind her former powers. (Sorry Alicia!)
And of course, in the background we have the Jean Grey School in place of Downton Abbey.
What's not to love? What do you think, which ensemble is your favorite?
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Padme Wedding Ensemble - Part 3
Read Part 2 yet?
In "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" they used an antique Italian lace bedspread to create the detailing on Padme's wedding gown. When it came time to make this dress, I did some further research and found out that this type of lace is called "battenburg lace" and is no longer made. So to procure some I had to find an antique tablecloth on Etsy that we then purchased... and yes, cut up. It was definitely hard to make that first snip into such a beautiful piece of fiber history, but kind of beautiful to think that it was going to be part of a dress that would be cherished by a new family and part of the creation of a new marriage.
First time I ever made a serious train on a dress. Whew. Love how it turned out!
For the underdress I completely hand appliqued the lace. The satin was so slippery that it would have been nearly impossible to use the machine and keep the fabric hanging straight. I actually sewed part of it while on the form, to get the correct bust curve.
I did my best to place all of the designs so that they would be flattering, and not obtrusive.
The overdress required two sets of sleeves. For the undersleeve, I used the pattern with the rest of the Kate Middleton knock-off pattern. To create the oversleeve, I copied the undersleeve and cut and rotated to get the added fabric necessary for the look.
Every seam was finished with a narrow hem on the serger.
The chiffon looks white here, but it was really a pale cream.
Body of the underdress is complete. Want to see more? Read Part 4!
In "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" they used an antique Italian lace bedspread to create the detailing on Padme's wedding gown. When it came time to make this dress, I did some further research and found out that this type of lace is called "battenburg lace" and is no longer made. So to procure some I had to find an antique tablecloth on Etsy that we then purchased... and yes, cut up. It was definitely hard to make that first snip into such a beautiful piece of fiber history, but kind of beautiful to think that it was going to be part of a dress that would be cherished by a new family and part of the creation of a new marriage.
First time I ever made a serious train on a dress. Whew. Love how it turned out!
For the underdress I completely hand appliqued the lace. The satin was so slippery that it would have been nearly impossible to use the machine and keep the fabric hanging straight. I actually sewed part of it while on the form, to get the correct bust curve.
I did my best to place all of the designs so that they would be flattering, and not obtrusive.
Every seam was finished with a narrow hem on the serger.
The chiffon looks white here, but it was really a pale cream.
Body of the underdress is complete. Want to see more? Read Part 4!
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Padme Wedding Ensemble - Part 2
Read Part 1 yet?
It was a little difficult to determine whether the undersleeve of the dress was attached to the overdress or underdress. I decided to go with the overdress, and finished the neckline of the underdress by adding spaghetti straps.
After sewing the lining pieces together, I turned everything inside out and lined up the lining and underdress to pin everything in place.
The train was fussy and honestly, if I made it again, I would leave the dress unattached at the bottom and just do a narrow hem or something. However this fabric was so slippery, that I determined it would be the best way to get a smooth straight seam. In the future I'd use a stiffer fabric.
From the back, attached but not ironed.
The veil was crazy insane to bead, but fun too. I used a variety of sizes, from 3mm-10mm to create the pattern.
As you can see here, I sewed around in circles, so that the faint thread tracing is visible. This was necessary to get the lace to form around the head properly.
Ready to see the dress applique work and overdress construction? Check out Part 3!
It was a little difficult to determine whether the undersleeve of the dress was attached to the overdress or underdress. I decided to go with the overdress, and finished the neckline of the underdress by adding spaghetti straps.
After sewing the lining pieces together, I turned everything inside out and lined up the lining and underdress to pin everything in place.
The train was fussy and honestly, if I made it again, I would leave the dress unattached at the bottom and just do a narrow hem or something. However this fabric was so slippery, that I determined it would be the best way to get a smooth straight seam. In the future I'd use a stiffer fabric.
From the back, attached but not ironed.
The veil was crazy insane to bead, but fun too. I used a variety of sizes, from 3mm-10mm to create the pattern.
As you can see here, I sewed around in circles, so that the faint thread tracing is visible. This was necessary to get the lace to form around the head properly.
Ready to see the dress applique work and overdress construction? Check out Part 3!