The importance of being pattern-est.

Right, this looks like a Regency-ish dress. However: cheap fabric and low waist. Last year I started to make costumes regularly. This was my first attempt at an historical one (everyone goes for Regency to start because it's the easiest thing!). But not for me.

I don't have internet access where I stay in summer. But the excitement of making the dress made me try to do it without looking at a single pattern. "It's the simplest bodice ever, what could possibly go wrong?" I thought. I somehow drew the pattern out of a t-shirt with a similar high waist. But that t is elastic. FAIL!

I had to lower the waist to make my bust fit in the bodice. So this has a pretty evident conclusion: checking out some historical patterns is highly advisable and in case one is making his/her own pattern one should take into account the fabric used. Novice seamstress problems...

I love the bodice's back, anyway. If only the waist was higher...

I started a new Regency dress like a month ago. It's blue, again. I chose to use an old curtain just to save in fabrics (I'm a student, I can't spend as much money as I'd like to in this hobby of mine). The fabric is so heavy and slippery it's almost impossible to sew. FAIL!

This time I had proper patterns, my seamstress friends made them for me. The problem is that I wanted one of those huge trains up in the back and the heavy fabric makes the neck go up (because it's heavy at the back). Also, I have problems fitting my bust. Because of this, the bust part kind of puffs.

The dress per se is quite beautiful, actually. What's my solution, then? I made some pleats under the bust to "gather" the fabric and remove the puff, and then hid it with satin ribbon. I think it might work.

I love the back in this one too, so lovely, if I may say so. You can see the train I was talking about previously.

The sleeves are puffed at the top and normal long and tight sleeves at the bottom. I love them too, I could made them thanks to my seamstress friends!

If it continues to puff so much I'll just end up wearing the Spencer jacket that holds the waist at its place. A pity, because I love the sleeves and the back, but...sigh...

I'll tell you more once its finished! If someone has some advice I'll be glad to hear you, thanks!

Medieval fair.

Just a quick post to tell you about a Medieval fair I visited yesterday. A friend of mine who is really good at sewing (she's actually a trained seamstress, not like me!) dressed up with her medieval surcote and I wore my medieval/Pre-Raphaelite inspired costume.

I'm absolutely in love with this dress! The silver cords are gorgeous and the contrast between the red surcote and the green underdress is stunning.

And this is mine, actually my first dress, not historical but I'm very fond of it! My intention was to create a Pre-Raphaelite look, with the long sleeves etc.

We had lots of fun. Our boyfriends followed us with their cameras, but after a while they started to talk to each other and were tired of being un-payed photographers haha. Actually, other visitors took more pics of us than our boyfriends! There were a lot of German tourists (that's normal here in Mallorca) that asked to take pics of us. Also, I heard tons of girls saying "Look mum, that's a princess!" or "Mum, there's a fairy there!" I could work as a Disney character in Disneyland now! Girls stopped crying when we smiled at them!

My boyfriend and one of his favourite things: weapons! There were magnificent stalls in the fair, great food and drinks, dragon and fairy figures, all sorts of weapons and even fabrics and decorations for gowns. I got some interesting things that I'll eventually use! The fair was half set up in a castle which made it even cooler.

There were animals too! Some lovely owls with funny faces, crows and eagles.

And maybe it's just the light here but the pic reminds me a lot of Dicksee's La Belle Dame Sans Merci.

Well, that's all for today. I'm on my finals during these following weeks so I'm afraid I wont post a lot until June. Regards! 

P.S. There are more pics in DeviantArt and Flickr!

Are you "Brave"?

Or "How to make the cheapest quiver ever" tutorial.

As most of you may suspect, I'm working on a cosplay of the new Pixar's film princess Merida. Since I saw the teaser trailer a year ago I've been interested in the film, because of the plot, the Scottish setting (everyone knows I'm in love with Scotland, perhaps too much) and the gorgeous Pre-Raphaelite-like princess.

So if I'm to wear a bow, I should store my arrows in a belt quiver as she does in the film.

I'll show you how I did mine, as cheaply as possible because I can't afford to buy a good leather quiver. Here you have the materials I used:

- A meter of faux leather.
- A string of faux leather. (This one is tougher than the actual fabric, but you can cut off the string out of the fabric too).
- A belt mechanism to unite the two parts of the belt. (Easily found in any costume jewellery shop).
- A piece of brown card.
- A plastic bottle.
- Scissors, fabric glue and thread.

Step 1. Cut the bottle:

Step 2. Wrap it with the glued card:

Step 3. Make a circle to cover the bottom part. (I also covered the interior part with card, just to hide the plastic bottle from sight).

Step 4. Wrap it with the faux leather and sew both ends together: (I love the coarse look it gets with this detail).

Step 5. Do the same with the bottom circle:

Step 6. Sew a handle to make the belt go through it:

Step 7. Glue both ends of the string you will use as the belt to the belt mechanism:

And done!

Sorry for the quality in this last one but it was worse with the flash light, this is my bathroom mirror haha.