21st May 2010: Finished! My Grandma dropped the dress off for me today with all the sewing complete. I still wasn't quite happy with how the top layer hanged around my chest so I took it in at the sides a bit until it looked better. It was very awkward to do and it isn't a tidy job... but not very noticeable I hope. I then sewed the snap fastener to the halter neck.
I'm going to do a make-up test tomorrow with the contacts and false eyelashes and then get some photos taken in the full outfit with wig and shoes.
21st May 2010: Coming together Round my Grandma's again this evening for more progress on the dress. Over the last week she cut out the chiffon layer for me and starting tacking the dress together and adding the ribbon to the neckline and the zip ect.
I tried it on and although the bottom half was a good fit the top was very loose (stupid size 12 pattern you lie!)So that had to be taken in quite a lot. The chiffon overlay was also too loose, said I wanted it slightly bigger than the lower layer so it floats over it but think I judged that bad. After sticking a load of pins in to get the top half fitting better the dress came off again and Grandma started un-stitching and re-sewing parts which took a good hour.
After the adjustments were made I tried the dress on again and the top half fits loads better. The chiffon layer could do with being slightly more fitted but it looks better than it did and I don't want to make a fuss ^^' We worked out where the hem of the dress will be and that was pinned into place.
It was getting late so we left it there. Grandma will sew the hem for me tommorow, attach a hook and eye above the top of the zip and if she get's time overlock the seams before dropping it off to me when I finish work. I will then just have to get the snap fastner sorted on the halter neck.
7th May 2010: First part of dress complete Today I finally started work on the dress with my Grandma helping me along the way. First we sorted the pattern pieces out, pinned them to the fabric and worked out where to cut for the size we were aiming for. For this pattern I'm a US size 12 0_o My UK sizing is a 8-10 which is around a size 6 in the US so dunno how I managed a size 12 for this! We thought it was wrong but that's the size I needed according to my measurements apparently.
Anyway. After cutting the fabric I was shown how to put tacks in for the darts and cut out some triangle markers at the sides (think they were just to help you line up the edges of the dress... I forgot ^^').
Then it was to the sewing machine! I didn't have any experience with one so Grandma started me off and sewed the curved edges and then let me do the straight lines. I was holding the material back a bit and so some of the stitching was too close together oopps but I'm learning!
That was all for today. Grandma's going to overlock the seams for me and then when I next see her we'll work on the chiffon overlay and the neckline before putting it all together with the zip and raising the hem etc.
BlusterSquall - 4th December 2008
Mhmm... words of advice: I wouldn't use stretch Satin, its far to shiny and looks cheap. I'd go for a more Duchess satin as it looks classier. Its more expensive, but it looks much better.
Yes - go for a dress pattern. You should be able to find one for something very similar to this dress in the bridal or 'special occasions' sections of pattern books. (If you're using a pattern for the first time, go for Simplicity).
Aside from that - good luck! Hope to see it done soon! ^^
sjbonnar - 18th January 2009 You got them in then? ^_^
Leonie Heartilly - 18th January 2009 After a long struggle yes ^-^ I'm not looking forward to the fun that is taking them out however haha
LittleMissChikorita - 16th March 2009 The contacts really look awesome :) and i love the wig.xx
White Leviathan - 26th March 2009 Good choice! I have been toying with Squall's ball cos for ages... best scene in the game!
Leonie Heartilly - 28th March 2009 Ahhh I hope you do it someday. I'm always willing to encourage more Squall cosplays and I bet yours would be nice and detailed also =)
Ranma1-2 - 28th March 2009 Wow I can't tell they are contcts at all, looks like you have brown eyes for real!
LittleMissChikorita - 25th April 2009 Wow, those shoes are perfect :) they look exactly the same. nice find! x
Anonymous - 28th April 2009
BEAUTIFUL!
My favourite FMV from the game. Can't wait to see it realised by such a talented cosplayer.
X
Leonie Heartilly - 28th April 2009
*blush* "talented"? I wouldn't call myself that lol ^^' Half the stuff I buy or commission, I just have an eye for detail and a very picky nature aha.
But thank you =)
letmelive - 15th November 2009
I can't wait to see the progress of this one ^____^
Your Rinoa in humaan form X___X!
perfectly_purple - 7th May 2010
That's a cool looking sewing machine.
Love the colour on the fabric and those shoes are very cool! ^_^
Leonie Heartilly - 9th May 2010
The machine is my Grandma's =) She said it does overlocking and other helpful things also. It's pretty old.
I spent ages finding those shoes, bloody things lol
perfectly_purple - 9th May 2010 Shoes are always one of the hardest things to find! But yours look perfect! A great find! ^_^
letmelive - 22nd May 2010
Looks so good well done! ^____^
xxx
Pez - 22nd May 2010 Awesome work! Your dress looks EXACTLY like Rinoa's!
SamanthaKaiba - 22nd May 2010 great dress...it looks really good...could you tell me what pattern you used as I didnt use one for mine and you can tell lol
Leonie Heartilly - 22nd May 2010 Butterick pattern (3366
sjbonnar - 22nd May 2010 You did a fantastic job on this!
Leonie Heartilly - 22nd May 2010 Thanks hun ^^
sjbonnar - 22nd May 2010 Definitely looking forward to seeing this!
PapercutPerfect - 23rd May 2010 Wow, looks beautiful! Can't wait to see :3
DuskatNight - 23rd May 2010 You look stunning ^^ Can't wait to see it in real at Expo :3
GraceyDarling - 23rd May 2010 you look lovely! amazing job on the costume :)
Leonie Heartilly - 23rd May 2010 Thank you everyone ^_^
FairyPorchQueen - 25th May 2010 amazing! well done! :D cant wait to see it at expo!
Leonie Heartilly - 25th May 2010 Thanks hun =)
leumas - 31st May 2010 This looked great,I thought you looked really beautiful
Leonie Heartilly - 31st May 2010 Thankies ^^
Mangamad - 31st May 2010 Ballroom Rinoa. Pwiddy. ^o^
FusionRose - 1st June 2010 I did love your rinoa hun, you looked amazing =] x
CrystalNeko - 2nd June 2010 I loved the chiffon overlay! This looks amazing on you!
Amy-Lou - 2nd June 2010 Such a cute costume, you really do look a lot like her when it's all put together (nearly thought the photo was a reference shot from the game), great work :)
Leonie Heartilly - 2nd June 2010 Thanks everyone =)
FairyPorchQueen - 2nd June 2010 seriously you looked so much like rinoa! so nice meeting you!
Leonie Heartilly - 2nd June 2010 Aww thanks hun ^^ It was great meeting you too, I loved Fang & Tifa
FairyPorchQueen - 3rd June 2010 aww thank you >__< your photos by silver look amazing! perfect setting!
Strawberry_Sprite - 2nd October 2010 This costume is stuning :)
CharlieDoryRose - 11th May 2011 I really like this dress, it looks lovely.