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

tsk tsk, pattern instruction error

My vege-brain blindly followed the instructions for Simplicity 4111, steps 9 & 10. These are wrong! At the end of step 10 you get:

and when you flip the pieces around to the outside of the bodice, what you get at the centre front is this:

Spot that the neckband finishes on top of the button band, when it should be underneath the button band.
This is how these pieces should be placed - and for a ruffled finish you would need to be very careful that the edge ruffle is exactly placed so it isn't caught in the button band.

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.