femme Doctor leaves the production line

I stood no chance of getting the frock coat equivalent made, but it was so hot that I was glad about that.

I need to paint the bullet shaped part of my sonic with red enamel paint, but still got some appreciation from other fans. It's a solid heavy piece of skilled work - turned rather than cast. So, here I am ... though I'm sure 99.9% of those there had zero clue what my costume was but I made it for me & not them. Also I am even more of a McGann fangirl than I was before.  What a charming man. Most of the Who guests complimented me on my costume - it must be something about a well fitting corset.

Daphne Ashbrook told me I was beautiful, and even included that in her autograph for me ... which was lovely to hear (even if my inner voice says that I'm gilded, stout mutton).

And if you weren't sure, it's a femme version of the 8th Doctor.  I only let myself buy brocade, and it's nothing like the screen accurate fabric.

 



The reason my lacing cord is wrapped to the front is that it originally wasn't but I made it half way along my street & it came undone. Eeeek, had to try to fix it asap, and after that I didn't trust it to stay tied properly behind me. Stash used 10.5m (with more to be used in the jacket), and 1m brocade bought & used)

femme Dr: completed blouse/chemise & almost done skirt

I haven't tried it on since it's been completed ... as I'm a little afraid I'll spill something on it. Not quite completely irrational but mostly! I created a fake button band with a tube of fabric sewn into the neckline at CF, complete with functional button holes, with the buttons sewn to the CF & facing.  I then stitched the left hand side & bottom edge down to the bodice+neck facing.


And the sleeve cuffs are stitched to the under arm seam so they'll be neatly placed when it's on. The only problem I had with the blouse I made from this pattern all those years ago was that the cuff rotated around the sleeve.

The skirt is hemmed, and I'm about to pin the waistband on.  I quickly stitched a zip into the side seam even though that's historically inaccurate, I just want simple for a costume that isn't even screen accurate.  Plus I tell myself it's steampunk (just maybe they have nylon zippers in the alternate history).  The Doctor I'm doing a femme version of, doesn't have striped trews, but this was my only suitable stash fabric ... and I could only do this costume if all but the corset brocade came from stash.
 

another stashbusting Doctor Who costume is in the wings

I'm going to a 1 day Dr Who convention and don't fancy wearing a nightgown - though it would be very comfortable!

I know, I know - wearing a costume isn't compulsory but it's a whole lot of fun. I'm plotting a femme version of one of the Doctors, and will show each item as it's finished - may not get a jacket made in time. Then, assuming I finish sewing before the event I'll let you guess which of the Doctors it is.

Plus I think it's fair to suggest that it's a more steampunk version than screen accurate. Mainly cos I'm having to use stash for 90% and thinking of it as steampunk femme is the only way my brain is happy.
Fabric clues:

my Vampires of Venice costume - and a fabulous party

I got a haircut this week - and didn't wear a wig as it was too hot when I arrived. Probably should have cos then I could have pinned the veil to my 'hair'. Instead it was precariously in place for a couple of pix and then tossed aside. Plus this costume was comfortable to sleep in.

 Back to the night before: The shed out the back

 some of my peeps
 

Some of the Doctors present
 

Lorna had a TARDIS apron, and a skirt with Paris on it - Paris is bigger than an apron!

One of the Sisterhood I want to join

realising that lining is needed (Dr Who costume)

While cutting out the nightgown I realised that the fabric is too sheer to leave unlined, and not self-lined or that'll be a whiter bodice & top half of skirt.  I checked my spreadsheets to see if I had something suitable and had a couple of options.  This is the one I'll go with simply because it's already pre-shrunk.  WIN.

The motif on the white is 3cm (2 1/4") if you're interested.


I had to remind a friend that it isn't the town hall & he doesn't get a vote in whether I do or don't line it.

Tonight I got the skirt & sleeve seamed & overlocked, with the hem overlocked ready to turn & stitch.  Tomorrow night I cut out the facings & linings - after I see Thor 2.  Wednesday I assemble the bodice, make the skirt & sleeve plackets (so I can roll up the sleeves if I overheat).  Thursday haircut + waist & sleeves cuffs, Friday insert sleeves.  Saturday - party on!

coffee first, FBA 2nd

Yesterday I made it to my sewing guild group and the first thing I did was get a coffee.

The next was work on the simplicity blouse pattern I'm using for the Dr Who costume.  I marked the underbust seamline onto the back piece & cut across - I'm gathering the skirt onto the bodice before applying elastic.  I may also have to do a centre front placket onto the  skirt and have the front open properly - it's a mock opening on the pattern.  I need to get the bodice over the acreage and not struggle too badly.  I'll probably put a fastening on the elastic to hold it together. Dang, should have bagsed one while I was there.

This is the only mockup I'm doing, and you won't get a pic on me for the obvious - bingo arms and snow white tummy (with this years gall bladder surgery scars, even though small) don't need to be seen by the world.  Now the coverage across was enough, just, but there was too much underbust exposure (about 4cm).

 

 Below is the worlds dodgiest FBA (aka full bust alteration).  It's not typical of the ones I do, mainly cos I don't want a side-dart and equally I don't want massive spread if I folded the side dart out properly.  I need the extra across the high point of the bust, not at the underbust.  The spread is 5cm across, and the reason the bodice isn't lengthened at CF is that I'm not longer down the CF line, just over the Acreage of Boobage.  You can see that I've added another 4cm underneath, and I'm wanting to lower the neckline a centimetre or 2.

 

It's supposed to be a low-cut front, but it's not quite as low-cut on me as I want for this costume.  I think as there's more to cover that it's higher on my assets than on a smaller cuppage.  I think I made another woman at the sewing group choke when I said there wasn't much point in having a Vast Acreage of Boobage if I didn't display it occasionally.  I'm also thinking of slashing from shoulder point down & spreading across 1cm as it's a snuggish fit across. Hmm, I'm not making it screen accurate ie no lace at underbust seamline & no piped neckline. Mainly cos my fabric isn't striped, so why aim for that level unless it's in all things.

And a refresher of the costume I'm making - pic from timey-wimey.com

polyster is unlike rayon, and I dislike it.

My FFC order arrived at the post office on Friday, & I picked it up after work yesterday. I was definitely disappointed that the red rayon (#2912) is in fact a heavy polyester crushed satin. It melted and stank horribly. It's more cost effective to accept the loss than pay to post it back, though I'm definitely asking them to update the description of the fabric on their website.

So, that means I'll be making the vampire of venice nightgown from my stash fabric & pattern after all.

I can't wear heavy polyester. It's going to be 32C on Thursday (89.6F), was 35C/95F on Sunday and 39C/102.2F last Thursday. And it's only the middle of spring.

So wearing a long cotton nightie in 6 weeks time is going to be hot enough for the Dr Who party. No poly for me.

dagnabbit, it could have been a 100% stash project

Yesterday I dozed through the Dr Who Episode "Vampires of Venice, and had a massive "D'OH" moment. I'd been loving the main villainess's costume (the matriach) more than the 'Brides' day-wear, but I had completely forgotten the nightgowns which I loved more than their formal gowns. Here's the nightgowns on the left and the matriarch's dress on the right.

And guess what pattern I have unused in my stash but Simplicity 4111 (a Built by Wendy design).

Wouldn't it have been ideal! Yes, there is in my stash a tub full of white fabrics to use in underpinnings. Aiyyyy, I'm not ragey over it but a bit sad. I could still do it, but then I have 5m of red shimmer rayon to use. Though it would be fun to wear a costume I could just sleep in .... at luv2costume's last costume party I made blue/white stripe pjs and then slept in them.

going with 'shimmer' red rayon

Last night I ordered 5.5 yards (5m) of the shimmer red rayon from FFC. The reason for my choice is that it was about the same cost as the cotton, and I wasn't going to have to dye it. I'm already planning to dye some rayon/linen fabric for a skirt and it's getting too hot to be boiling up water in the copper to bucket over to my washing machine. There's no hot water plumbing in the laundry, so the only way to get a hot wash is to either buy a machine that heats the water (spendy) or heat up water in the gas-warmed copper. I'll have to crinkle pleat it, but that's not going to be a hassle. It'll dry fast in our hot weather when I do that process & may even chuck it in the dryer to help it. And presuming the 'shimmer' remains it'll look more like the original costumes.

seeking affordable crinkled red cotton or rayon

I'm going to a friend's Doctor Who 50th Anniversary party later this year. Yayyy, however as it's at the end of November I'm going to need a cool costume.  We've already had a 30C day in the first week of official spring, so it's looking like being a stinker summer.

I've got blue pique cotton for Clara's blue & black bustle gown, however that will be insanely too warm to wear - closed neck & long sleeves are to be avoided.  I do want to do a weeping angel at some point, but the makeup is likely to sweat off {squick}.

Another costume is the sybilline sisterhood from The Fires of Pompeii.

 

Here's a closeup

I'm thinking a cotton or rayon for comfort, and a red crinkle cheesecloth would be really good for our climate. BUT, do you think I can find any?  gahhhh.  May visit spotlight again, but it's so frustrating.

I have found a red silk crinkle chiffon, but spendy & silk is an insulator. Plus I'd need to line it, adding to cost.

Fashion Fabrics Club have a brickred crinkle rayon - int'l postage will double the cost & then it's brick red. Not paying that for the wrong colour.

So I'm not sure whether I could go for their other rayon crushed red as it's crushed and ?shimmers?

It is a better red, and I could broomstick crush the dress after it's made to better effect.  Hmm, if I can't find red cheesecloth in the next week I can see myself ordering this & practising drawing eyes on the backs of my hands.

Hmmm, I just checked Lincrap's website and they have white, black & pearl cotton cheesecloth. 120cm wide at $7.99.   I can dye it in my washing machine. So I need to work out how much I need, and allow a little for shrinkage.  Dye cost will add another $25 to it, sadly. But at least I ought to be able to get it.

planning for later in the year, Clara O

I've been a fan of Dr Who for years, well before the reboot with Christopher Eccleston.  I've liked various costumes, and am still planning to make Idris.  Most recently the 2012 Xmas episode had me say "ooh, ooh I *have* to have that!".  I like all of the costumes the character Clara wears, especially the blue & black gown.  So much that I hunted down a dobby cotton, as the close ups of her show the fabric isn't a plain weave.  It arrived a couple of weeks ago and it's delicious.  This photo is much lighter than it really is, it's navy not blue!

I also got from ebay the Past Patterns 904, an 1880s polonaise + walking skirt, which arrived today.  I know I'll need to make alterations to it, but it was close enough to suit me. No matter what I chose as a starting point changes will be needed so this will be fine.  There's a skirt in Hunnisett's Period Costumes for Stage & Screen that's ideal for Clara's black skirt ... and I wonder if the one she wore came from one of her productions.