Sorry guys (Posted 15th September 2010)

Disaster struck, my back is dead along with my sewing machine and i've run out of time.
Don't worry though, it'll still be done, just not this year. Hopefully now if the farscape group next year goes ahead I will join y'all then.
Seems this costume just doen't want to get made, but no way am i letting it beat me.

Bodice (Posted 14th September 2010)

Finally finished the bodice for this now - what a nightmare. Combination of awkward construction, 100 metres of piping and thick fabric has nearly broken my sewing machine, and I've already had to hand sew the majority of the lining.
ExquistiteIrony.com weren't kidding on their analysis of this costume, it is very restricting, especially in the arm movements, so no doubt by the end of expo my arms are going to be in a lot of pain but all in the name of cosplay. It should keep me warm though, with all the layers of fabric, lining, interfacing and that blasted piping for insulation.
I've not had time yet to complete the trousers, or even start the piping work that's going to take, so construction of Winona probably won't happen (since its not vital to the costume, i'm not going to sulk over that). Having to force myself to focus on this project, not run off making disney princess costumes, and i've already had to cancel the group cosplay we were planning for October, so with any luck this will turn out well.

Wig (Posted 22nd August 2010)

As annoying as it is to tackle a wig with the same style as my own hair, there is no way i'm going to bleach my hair white and dye the roots black, even for cosplay. So far I've taken a wavy shoulder length silver white wig, and another silver wig and cut and sewn them till they are virtually unrecogniseable, just to attempt to achieve the thickness the wig will need to hold it's shape.
The fringe is just the way I need it at the moment, but I'm having to compromise on the rest of it. I'm not getting the lift or the shape out of it that the season 2 costume requires, but it is holding the shape that chi sports in "John Quixote"; since her outfit from that episode is one that's next on my list to cosplay, i'm inclined to leave the wig as it is.
I've also sharpie dyed the roots of nearly the entire wig, so the only dying that needs to be done is the darker grey lower layers at the back, which i'll sort once the back is cut properly.

For starters (Posted 21st August 2010)

This costume is one of the most complicated i've probably ever attempted. When I started this 2 years ago I knew it was going to be complicated, but was so excited by the fact i had found the perfect bodice fabric I spent a few months just sketching and digital drawing and doing complicated maths beyond by abilities to get the pattern pieces right. I had to stop progress though when I ended up in and out of hospital again.
Now I've promised myself I will get this done, since after all the money and effort i have already put into it it would just be a shame to leave it. I'm seriously thanking my former self for all the work though; this would be hell to construct without it.
So far i've hand tacked all the basic piping details into the bodice sections (has taken me almost a month but it's finally done), made the basic trousers, undertop and gloves, and done a basic wig style. Not a lot when you consider the fact I've only really got 2 weeks construction time left and i've still got a full group cosplay to put together too. Frell.