Cosplay Throwbacks: Rapunzel

When? Back in 2012, though I never actually wore this costume and sold it soon after making it.

 How? This was made from cotton sateen, some kind of furnishing fabric, chiffon, faux silk dupioni, and a pair of tights. I painted a lot of the details with acrylic paint and fabric paint, such as the "embroidery" and the stripes on the sleeves. 

 i think the skirt is a half circle skirt. I painted on most of the details 

 I think the design looks surprisingly good, considering my lack of experience with fabric painting 

 This was also one of the first costumes I made which I used piping and tried to make sure that all the edges were properly finished. 

 I also tried to make this as accurate as I could, but did take a few short cuts; for example, instead of making the lilac corselet a full piece, I turned it into a stomacher and a panel for the back; both of them attach to the main bodice with snaps. 

 Has it aged well? Hard to say, since I made it so long ago and don't have many good photos. I think it looks quite good. 

 Would I remake it? It was fun to sew, but I probably wouldn't remake it. I would, however, remake the miniature clay Pascal that I made (sadly I can't find photos!)

Photos, photos everywhere: Rapunzel, ALice and Sweet Pea

Rapunzel is done!

For some reason, blogger thinks this image works better on its side. But you can tell that it's done. The last step was to finish all the grommet and the sleeves, and to lace the bodice up. Hopefully I will be able to organise a photoshoot with this dress, because it deserves some good pictures. 

I have also had the opportunity to update my Alice Liddell (American McGee) costume. This was my first ever cosplay, so I didn't sew it myself. Instead I asked a local seamstress to make it out of the materials that I bought, which consisted of a lovely blue linen, and an old white apron.

Here is what it originally looked like.  I had to remove the skull at the back because it was too heavy (I used polymer clay!)

Wanton cruelty to evil bunnies is not advisable

Not bad, but not entirely accurate either.

So I decided to make it more accurate. The dress is more or less perfect, but the apron needed alteration.

Once again, blogger messes with my images.

To get the apron the right shape, I place it on my dress form. On one side, I drew a diagonal line to get the shape of the apron. I unpicked the stitches that secured the skirt of the apron to the waistband, and cut the diagonal line. I did the same to the other side. The raw edges were sewn over with a zigzag stitch, then I folded them over and top stitched. This process was repeated for the top front and the back of the apron.

For the bow, i first altered the waistband so that it closed with snap, then I made a bow out of an old white shirt. The bow is attached to the waistband with a snap. The skull is paper mache: loo paper soaked in PVA glue and moulded into the right shape. I then painted it with acrylic paints, and added a coat of spray varnish.

I also made the pockets out of scraps of white material, painted on the symbols, and sewed them on.

The blood is watered down acrylic paint. I made it too runny, so I had to touch up the blood spots to make them darker red.

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to get some good photos of two of my costumes at a local cosplay meet up. The one thing that irritated me about the meet up was the sheer lack of people in costume: is it really that hard to dig out a steampunk themed costume? To be fair, my costumes weren't exactly steampunk: Sweet Pea and Dinah Wherever; but at least I made an effort.

This is my Dinah Wherever (Bizenghast) costume. I've mentioned it before on this blog, but never had any good pictures of it. The dress is made of a skirt suit, and the apron is made from an old long sleeved shirt. The skull is painted on with acrylic paint.

These pictures were taken on the bastions of Mdina.

I also managed to get some good Sweet Pea pictures.

I added a gun belt, a leotard and new tights to the costume. I also borrowed a pellet gun. That darn gun weighs a ton. I am so glad my friends helped me carry it around, especially since I already had two costumes to carry around for the photoshoot.

Embroidery complete

The painted embroidery on Rapunzel's skirt is finally finished! 

 The sleeves are now sewn on to the bodice, and all the piping and lace are sewn in. 

I messed up the piping on the back, though. Oh well. This picture also shows you the lace on the back: I'm amazed that I had enough lace. I had enough lace to cover the top and bottom of the bodice because I cut the lace in half width-ways.

Skirt embroidery progress

Halfway done with the 'embroidery' on Rapunzel's skirt. Embroidery is in inverted commas because I actually painted it on, not having the patience to actually embroider. 

Before embroidery. My sewing machine's just been repaired, and I got it back yesterday, so at last I had a chance to over-lock all the edges.

To get the pattern, I looked at images from the film and pictures of costumes that other people had created. I measured the skirt and cut out a piece of paper the right length. Using my reference pictures, I copied the pattern on to the paper.

Originally I wanted to use my iron on pencil to transfer the pattern, but for some reason it wasn't working (has anyone else ever used Prandel's Transfer Stift pencil before? Have you had this problem?). Instead, I cut out the pattern pieces like a stencil, placed them over the skirt, and used some chalk to copy the pattern on both sides. Once this was done, I used a thin brush, and a mixture of acrylic and fabric paint medium to paint my embroidery.

I think it turned out pretty good.


I also had the chance to make a choker.

The cameo is made of Polymer clay, painted with acrylic and nail varnish. The base of the choker is a black ribbon. For decoration, I sewed on a pleated black ribbon. The choker fasten with a little chain and clasp, which were taken from an old broken necklace. This will probably be for sale on my etsy.

Rapunzel updates

Long time no post, eh?
The moment my exams were over, I spent two days working on the skirt, the sleeves, and the piping.

 The skirt is made of what is apparently 'silk', but I'm not convinced that it's the real McCoy. The pattern is painted on with acrylic, and the centre panel is stained with more purple acrylic, to make it a distinct colour from the rest of the skirt. The pink ribbon is also painted on. I hand sewed the hem of the skirt with a blind hem stitch. 

Here's a detail of the pattern. All free handed. 

 here's a close up of the piping. I began sewing it in by hand.

 The pink stripes are also hand painted.

As is the embroidery. I actually made the sleeves a little too narrow towards the bottom, so I will have to add a button at the bottom of each sleeves to get into them.

Rapunzel Progress

The bodice is taking shape. Most of it is basted in place, and just needs to be sewn down. Amazing what you can do during study breaks.

Lining and outer fabric have been sewn together. The outer fabric is cotton sateen: I found it in the furnishing fabric department of JB stores.

 Adding the piping. This is my first succesful attempt at piping. I used some polycotton lining fabric, cutting it into bias strips, then sewing three loosely plaited strands of wool into the strips of fabric. 

The piping is all basted in place. The modesty panel is there just to see what the finished bodice will look like.

 Here's the back. The darker lilac thing is a panel which I added to fake the look of the camisole she wears under her bodice. It's made of satin, interfacing and lining. I added a button just to see what they would look like. The buttons are all painted the right colour with acrylic paint.

Rapunzel Bodice

I am working on too many projects at the same time. as evidenced by this bodice.

The pink stripes are boning channels

This is the structure for Rapunzel's bodice (Tangled).http://www.squidoo.com/disneys-rapunzel-costume

Back

Front: the nice side of the lining. I didn't bother matching up the pattern, though if I had, it would have made a really cool reversible bodice.

Bodice: I used a Burda style pattern from their folk wear edition (March 2012 I think). http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns/092011-bodice

 I altered the pattern a lot by raising the neckline, making the sleeves thinner, removing the lacing at the back, moving it to the front instead.

The bodice base is some kind of furnishing fabric that frays like crazy. I added boning channel from some random pink lining material, cut on the bias. The boning is this thick plastic strapping material (yay recycling).
I'm cheating slightly by adding a modesty panel to go underneath the front, rather than having a camisole underneath (too much work, and too hot for summer time).
The bodice material is lilac cotton sateen. The modesty panel and the panel at the back will be made from dark lilac satin which I dyed years and years ago (I must have been 16 or younger)

Sleeves: I'll be using Burda's Danielle pattern (best pattern for big puff sleeves) http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns/danielle

The lower sleeves look simple enough: a tube of organza/chiffon with lace at the cuff)