Author Topic: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!  (Read 6045 times)

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oslapedo

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I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« on: January 13, 2010, 08:26:13 pm »
I just posted this on the coscom forums but I'm very new to all of this so the more opinions I can get, the better.

I'm making Miranda's dress from this picture (http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b53/DocGerbil/D%20Gray%20Man%20and%20Reborn/21m55jq.jpg) and I've got the purple fabric but right now I'm pretty clueless. I think I'll try and draft my own pattern since I can't find any good ones but I've got a few questions-

1) How can I get the sleeves to be so poofy in the shoulder area?

2) The dress is form-fitting around the torso but then gets very poofy (for lack of a better word, maybe bunched up) around the butt- is it a dress or a top and skirt? And how can I achieve butt poofiness?

3) How can I get the skirt to be so billow-y?

THANKS FOR LOOKING~~~

Offline Coconutty93

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2010, 09:04:17 pm »
I don't think there is a specific butt poofiness.  I think that's because she's in the middle of tripping, which might jump her skirt a little, so I don't think you should worry about that. d

oslapedo

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2010, 09:10:37 pm »
I'm doing the butt poofiness, I just don't know how. And if anyone'd like to give me a more proper term to descirbe that, feel free :D

I was googling some stuff and I think her outfit might be Edwardian inspired... though that doesn't really help me.

Also, I only got four yards of fabric but I think I probably need more since the jacket's long-sleeved and the skirt's long and hitched around the buttox. Should I get more to be safe or is four enough?

Offline fleur_fraise

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2010, 09:18:01 pm »
Kay, I don't know this character, and I'm no expert seamstress, but here's what I see:

1) It seems that the sleeves are either a. two pieces of fabric or b. a special pattern. I would go with two pieces, since that's probably a little easier. Basically, make a larger section and a fitted one, and gather the larger one and sew it to the fitted one.
Although after looking at the picture again, that might not be right. I would suggest looking at other peoples' cosplays of that outfit and see what they did.

2) It's a dress, but you could do two parts, the top and the skirt. For the skirt, cut it longer than your waist and gather it in the back/wherever it needs to be poofier.

3) Again, two options, a. petticoat or b. get tulle and fold it in half, so there's a pocket sort of thing, and stuff it with stuffing and sew it into where the top and skirt meet. Petticoat is probably way easier, but you'd want to get a long one from what I can tell in the pic.

You'll probably need more than four yards. A lolita skirt with an elastic waistband takes me three yards.

Anyone who knows better than me please correct me, since I'm still pretty much a newbie to sewing myself.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2010, 09:22:51 pm by fleur_fraise »
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Offline The_Geek

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2010, 09:21:46 pm »
1. For the shoulders, add more fabric and evenly distribute it. Think the princess sleeves seen in Napoleon Dynamite... http://media.photobucket.com/image/i%20like%20your%20sleeves/saturdayclik/napdyn.jpg
2. I say as a dress.
3. If you really need poofyness you could always consider a petty-coat. One for wedding dresses trimmed to fit your needs perhaps?

Just my opinions, still hope it helps! Best of luck!
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Offline Hazuza

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2010, 09:27:50 pm »
A Lolita skirt takes me 1.25~1.5 yards of fabric personally :P But because this is longer, and a dress, you might need... 3 yards? Better to buy too much than too little though *-*

I've actually seem patterns like that before... I don't have any specific numbers, but look in the costume section and you should find something that you can alter.
I personally suggest using darts/princess seams, since I worked with them once for a very similar shape. They're pretty tricky to work with sometimes, but there won't be any seam from the bodice to the skirt then, and it'll look more realistic. Google how to use them or ask someone who knows them better to help xP

I second fleur's suggestion on a petticoat. You could probably settle with those neon ones that places like hottopic has. You can get em for $10 and they should have enough (if not more) poof, but they might be too short... If you made the skirt too wide, it might look a little funny then, but you can always make it thinner. ono

As for the sleeves, just widen the top part of the sleeve. Gather (ruffle) it a little bit at the top, and maybe in the underarm, but not all the way around the seam (that connects it to the bodice) since that'll probably look weird *_*

« Last Edit: January 13, 2010, 09:28:10 pm by Hazuza »

oslapedo

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2010, 09:32:37 pm »
I'll see how far I can get with this fabric and if it runs out I'll just have to stock up during one of Joann's sales.

I like the idea about stuffing a tullie, I could get/make a petticoat but from my experience with long petticoats under long dresses (not much) I got the impression that they didn't make too huge of a difference. I've got tons of stuffing so I'll have to look into this tullie thing.

I do have a hottopic petticoat but it is short. I just don't want to accidentally make a pencil skirt or something, the horror.

I'll have to practice the evenly distributing fabric for poof shoulders on something I don't need so that I can get the hang of it.

The thing that makes me think that it's a vest/skirt is that if you zoom in you can see a line, as if it were a shirt.

I haven't seen cosplayers of this particular dress, maybe because it's only in one picture, but if anyone does a link would be much appreciated. Seeing what ideas other people have had certainly makes things easier.

Hazu, I'll have to look up some of those more technical terms tomorrow, haha.

Thank you guys so much for your helpful posts~~~!

Offline fleur_fraise

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2010, 09:33:07 pm »
For a long skirt, HT's petticoats would probably do little more than a normal skirt would.

http://shop.ebay.com/angelsbridal/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25
That shop has cheap, long pettis, but they might be too large for your dress. This Peach cosplayer has suggested those petticoats, and she's wearing one in the picture, the "3-hoop full crinoline/petticoat skirt, with adjustable waist and hoops."
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Offline ~boogiepop~

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2010, 09:40:55 pm »
I'm terrible at giving help if I don't have a pattern but maybe these can be of some help to you?
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a164/-Boogiepop-/1217538498785.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a164/-Boogiepop-/1217538436655-1.jpg
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oslapedo

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2010, 06:05:13 pm »
fleur, I might just stick with the HT petticoat since most of the poofs near the butt and not the floor but thanks for the links~

boogie, That mutton sleeve pattern is practically perfect, thank you!

Offline SiderAnne

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #10 on: January 19, 2010, 03:44:05 pm »
I looked up some patterns... the best I could find for what you need is either Simplicity2843 which is a girls size, or Simplicity2851 which is a womens size.

You might try looking for pattern books in your public library. Try looking up Edwardian, Mutton Sleeves, and Bustles (the butt-poofy thing). Or ask a Librarian, they love helping people find the right books. Bring the picture along, that'll help both of you. Plus... free patterns!

As for the underskirt and making the bustle-y part I would suggest a lightweight muslin for the skirt and netting (which is heavier duty than tulle) to help fluff up the back. Actually I'd say sew a circular throw pillow to the topback of the underskirt, and a little netting over it to hide the pillowness of it.

I would suggest getting supercheap fabric (like the $1.50 stuff from wal-mart) that feels as close to your costume fabric and make a practice costume. That way you can mess around with the shape and size without using your good fabric. Or use newspaper, it's a little awkward, but it will curve around you and you can write all over it.

I used to make costumes during college, so if you have any questions during construction, please PM me.
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Offline Runa

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #11 on: January 19, 2010, 06:22:23 pm »
Boy, this is a rather big challenge for a first sewing project. You may be able to find a bustle - look through some steampunk sites and find out where they're buying them. Simplicity has some  patterns for bustles (that's the pouf on the butt)
For the sleeves, please refer to
http://www.vintagesewing.info/1940s/42-mpd/mpd-04.html
(note: http://www.vintagesewing.info  has full text of several sewing books published prior to the 1950's, and is an excellent resource for learning to sew - just search through the site for the specific item you need.

Collar:
looks like you start with a Plastron Type Collar (http://www.vintagesewing.info/1940s/42-mpd/mpd-07.html)



Another EXCELLENT reference for costume research = http://www.costumes.org/
Go to http://www.costumes.org/ADVICE/1pages/pattern_links.htm#Historic  for historical paterns.

http://www.costumes.org/history/100pages/victlinks.htm

Offline StarryShay

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #12 on: January 19, 2010, 07:01:40 pm »
Sahara, make my Belarus cosplay while your at it~!

Offline Sutie

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #13 on: January 19, 2010, 10:05:27 pm »
I'll try to help you out here...

Boogie got the botice patern spot on! I would say use that.
As for under the skirt, use a bustle. Cheap and easy way to make one is make a half circle/cresent moon shape pillow with an elestic attached at the "corners" to go around your waist. Then use a petticoat. A style that I would suggest for this would be one that has regular fabric (anything you have on hand really) from the waist to mid thigh with toole attached to it after that. Great way to make your skirt look full w/o spending a bunch. ^^
The sleaves are like Saber's from Fate/Stay night. So it can be done. I know exactly the shape you need... just need to draw it out, erg! I've made my own patterns for, well, ever since I've started sewing at age 12.   I'll see if I can draw this one out for you.


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Offline Seraph

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Re: I need hardcore help on my first sewing project, eep!
« Reply #14 on: January 20, 2010, 03:07:24 pm »
for puff sleeves I used the pattern for wizard of oz so that may work for you. http://www.simplicity.com/p-2112-costumes.aspx

as for the skirt, I think looking up for a bustle pattern may be best.  I do like the note that the hoop skirt(worn by the peach cosplayer) is the same one Chihiro used and you are able to take out the hoops out if its too wide.
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