Post-Kitacon (Posted 24th April 2012)

Kitacon with Peebles was So. Amazing!!
Buuut as usual there are things I don't like and want to improve!
I really like the dress. Despite how arrogant I sound when I say it, I made it well, it's probably the neatest thing I've ever made, and It's really comfortable, so I'm definitely going to wear it again.
I don't like the crown, but you knew that anyway! Next time, I want to make it properly out of something sturdy- I'm thinking sintra.
The other main thing I don't like is the wig. It's a lovely lovely lovely wig, it really is, but it's waaay too dark for peebles. However, next time I make it, I wont be using a wig!
I saw a lot of PB's on /cgl/ using felt or fleece for the hair, kinda like a hat, and that's what I'm going to do when I next re-wear her. Should be snuggly! XD

Dress Gogogo!! (Posted 9th April 2012)

So yesterday I dedicated about 4-5 hours to this costume and it really paid off. The dress is now about 80% complete! I used my old bodice block from my fashion course at college, and worked from that. I did hit a problem though, in that my bust is so much bigger than my waist, my waistband was always baggy, as was the area around my collar. To counter this, an extra set of darts was added at my shoulder. These will be covered by the wig so it isn't too big a problem that they're a bit unsightly. (I would have swung them into the armhole but last time I tried that, my arms were to tight so I didn't want to take the risk.) I also made the waist darts longer, so that the waist of the dress tapers more nicely, and covered these with her purple waistband. (The attached picture is my bodice front after modifying the darts, but the lighting in my house is so bad, it looks way brighter than it really is!)

Next I added a zip, which was a bit daunting for me because I don't have a zipper foot to guide my sewing, and was worried I'd accidentally run into the zip and break my needle- but I didn't! Everything turned out really neatly and I even managed to topstitch it all for neatness. After that, I pinned the skirt (which was also hemmed and fully lined earlier in the day) added a few pleats to gather it, and stitched it all into one piece! That bit was easy since I'm getting pretty okay with skirts now.

What's left to do is still a bit worrying, since it's sleeves which are the bane of my cosplaying life! I need to make a pair of puffy sleeves and also add the little purple hems. I also need to interface and attach the collar, which because it's a "peter pan" style collar, I'm going to see whether it looks okay without a stand, so it lays as flat as possible. After that, I just need to paper mache my crown, and it's all done! Very pleased :)

Ohgodddd (Posted 4th April 2012)

I know it looks like I'm not doing anything with this costume but I promise I ammmm!
I have the fabric for the skirt all ready to be sewn into a long tube, and my bodice block is all finished- I just need to buy fabric for that, too.
I have my wig, and I have some shoesies I found in Primark, so I don't need to worry about accessories, but I am worried about that crown... Not so much making it but packing it might be a bumache-- I was going to paper mache it, but it might get crumpled in my suitcase. I'll have to think about this!!