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Yesterday, I mentioned that I'd made a costume for my niece H, and that pictures would be forthcoming.
As with pretty much every project I touch, the scope expanded dramatically. What I was asked for was "an Indian costume for [her] horse show." She'd be in it for about 10 minutes, and she wanted something kinda Hollywood-Indian-y, not so much with the historical accuracy.
Roughly a week or so after the request, while I was still trying to wrap my head around what I was going to do, A and I went to the Joann's that was closing (technically, moving) to see what was on clearance, and I found some amazing fabric with cutwork and fringe along the edge. I probably would have gotten it even if it were full price, though I might not have gotten quite so much of it (I have a lot left over, and I'm fine with that). That it was 70% off was just icing on the cake. Finding trim that I liked a lot in H's favorite color sealed the deal on the basic design. A pattern was harder; I ended up getting something that was close and then modifying it. The problem was that the "close enough" pattern doesn't exist in the nieceling's size. I collected measurements and decided to wing it. (And I also wandered over several extra times to have her try it on in various stages of basting, to make sure I had the measurements right.)
Somewhere mid-project, just before H's birthday, I realized that what I wanted to do with the cutwork had issues-- the strip along the bottom of the tunic didn't show up very well against the pants behind it, and the strip up the sides of the pants would show H's underwear to all and sundry. So as part of her birthday trip to the mall, we stopped by the Joann's nearby and she picked out a red satin to go behind the cutwork and help it pop.
The final results?
( Pictures behind the cut )
She says she wants to wear it for Halloween too, which I think is best since that was a lot of work for just 10 minutes at a horse show. But she is thrilled, and I am proud of how it turned out.
As with pretty much every project I touch, the scope expanded dramatically. What I was asked for was "an Indian costume for [her] horse show." She'd be in it for about 10 minutes, and she wanted something kinda Hollywood-Indian-y, not so much with the historical accuracy.
Roughly a week or so after the request, while I was still trying to wrap my head around what I was going to do, A and I went to the Joann's that was closing (technically, moving) to see what was on clearance, and I found some amazing fabric with cutwork and fringe along the edge. I probably would have gotten it even if it were full price, though I might not have gotten quite so much of it (I have a lot left over, and I'm fine with that). That it was 70% off was just icing on the cake. Finding trim that I liked a lot in H's favorite color sealed the deal on the basic design. A pattern was harder; I ended up getting something that was close and then modifying it. The problem was that the "close enough" pattern doesn't exist in the nieceling's size. I collected measurements and decided to wing it. (And I also wandered over several extra times to have her try it on in various stages of basting, to make sure I had the measurements right.)
Somewhere mid-project, just before H's birthday, I realized that what I wanted to do with the cutwork had issues-- the strip along the bottom of the tunic didn't show up very well against the pants behind it, and the strip up the sides of the pants would show H's underwear to all and sundry. So as part of her birthday trip to the mall, we stopped by the Joann's nearby and she picked out a red satin to go behind the cutwork and help it pop.
The final results?
( Pictures behind the cut )
She says she wants to wear it for Halloween too, which I think is best since that was a lot of work for just 10 minutes at a horse show. But she is thrilled, and I am proud of how it turned out.
