Little Updates

First, I finally got a picture of Edmund's finished chainmaille:

The lighter section in the middle was not on purpose. I ran out of the darker rings so I had to use the leftover rings from Susan's chainmaille which were lighter. It won't really matter because he's wearing the tunic over it so we won't see that part.

Next, I added two inches to the length of my Susan sleeves (curse of being tall) and finished the back of Susan's cuirass. I just attached the straps to each other randomly. I also tied string and cord in different places for a little more detail.

To get in and out, I think she has to unlace each strap in the back. Well, that requires someone dressing you. No thank you. I hot-glued hidden snaps on two large straps on the left side. I just have to snap those two shut after lacing. No problem!

Then I worked on Peter's Brown Tunic Outfit. I didn't want to buy brown velvet (which is impossible to find in the almost summer) so I found a brown polyester at Walmart for $1 a yard. I just cut a simple vest and then worked on the sleeves. I used a sleeve pattern I had but realized that the slope of the shoulder 'seam' had to be more defined. So after a draft or two I came up with this:

Here's the not-finished picture:

The blue undershirt is a little too blue but I don't care. For the LWW premiere it was Peter's Camp Outfit. I altered the sleeves and the neckline and now it's Peter Prince Caspian! I call it recycling. =)

To Do for Peter's Brown Tunic:

• Buy Brown Bias Tape and Attach at Edges
• Machine Embroider Sleeves
• Make Holes for Shoulder Lacing
• Add Buttons Down the Front
  
• Try it on my 'Peter' and Hope it Fits!
  

Susan's Battle Dress Embroidery

Today I "embroidered" the hem of Susan's Battle Dress. I bought some blank stencil sheets at Hobby Lobby and cut out a stencil using this design I made. I then just painted the stencil using my same ol' cheap acrylic gold metallic paint. It took a ton of paint - almost two bottles. I love the result. It might be a little too tall, but I'm super tall so that shouldn't matter!

It's not quite that gold because the red isn't quite that light. It really looks nice. Slowly but surely this dress is getting completed!

Susan's Cuirass

I weathered the cuirass today. I used equal parts black and brown acrylic paint and then watered it down a little. Then I just applied the mixture haphazardly concentrating on the cracks and seams. I did about a 4x4 inch area at a time. I'd smear the paint on and then immediately wipe most of it off with a damp rag. I'm really pleased with the results. It's actually a lot dirtier than the picture shows. It looks very battle-worn which I love! Hooray!

Left To Do for Susan's Battle Outfit:

• Do 'Embroidery' on Dress Hem
• Lengthen Dress Sleeves
• Make Cuirass Straps Attach in Back
• Add 'Embroidery' to the Top of Cuirass
  

And I think that's it! Whoo-hoo! I'm so close! That's good because there are only 21 days left!

Susan's Cuirass Details

Okay. I went to Hobby Lobby and found all these thingies to use for the cuirass. The big medallion is a piece of carved wood. I also found metal belt designs, scrap leather, rivets and random buttons that I had on hand.

Then I aged everything. I also over-sprayed some things to make them more antique gold/silver. Here's a medallion with the left side plain and the right side aged with black craft paint in all the crevices.

I found a trim that I had so I took it apart to use the straw strings to tie on my medallions.

I then stared at all my pictures of the cuirass. I scrounged with all my leather scraps, cut up two belts, and created a few medallions. I then laid all the pieces on the cuirass where I wanted them.

I then glued each piece starting for the pieces that are closest to the cuirass. First the two long straps that go over the right shoulder.

Then a short vertical piece for the left side:

Then came the bottom piece. It turned out a little big but oh, well:

Then the top piece with a long down strap on the right side:

Then the long skinny strap that goes across your left shoulder and a skinny strap that cuts horizontally across the middle:

And ta-da! Now I just have to do the back. Much more complicated because I want to be able to get in and out of it easily. I'm thinking about putting some snaps somewhere for ease of entry. I also need to 'age' the cuirass by making it look dirty and worn like the original. I'm thinking dark brown shoepolish, concentrating on getting it in the corners and crevices. Any other ideas?

I'll hopefully finish gluing the back tomorrow. I've almost used an entire bottle of fabric glue. Oh, I also have to put the design across the top of the cuirass. Since the entire cuirass isn't real leather, I can't just make the design as indentations. I'll probably just stencil on a design in a darker brown.

Susan's Cuirass

I've finished the base of the cuirass. Whoo-hoo! It's made of a fake leather cloth and flat-lined in some fabric I had laying around. The fabric is a little too light but once all the straps get glued on, you won't see much of it. Each seam has 1/4" spiral steel boning and the lacing sites have 1/2" boning. It is a little too loose when I tried it on, but when worn over chainmaille, it should fit beautifully. Now I've just got to find tons of leather scraps and belts to put over it. I guess I'll go by Salvation Army tomorrow to look through their selection of belts. I also need to find some things to be her metal things (can't think of the right word).

Susan's Battle Outfit

Wow. I've gotten a lot done this weekend! Today I worked on Susan's Battle Dress. I had finished the muslin a while back (like two months ago!) so I finally cut it out of the real fabric. Well, fabrics. I had bought garnet velvet for the skirt (back when we thought the skirt was velvet) and I didn't want to waste it so I cut the overskirt of velvet. The underskirt and bodice was a suede cloth that I had bought for Lucy's Rust Red Dress before I found her velvet. I didn't have enough of that for a full underskirt and the bodice so I also used an embroidered taffeta for the sleeves and the front panel of the bodice. A picture is worth a thousand words:

It looks very Victorian in this picture but it's really not. And it's not quite that dark. I was so pleased with this dress but then I put the chainmaille on top and bummer! The sleeves are way too short so I have to length both the dress and the chainmaille sleeves by about two inches. The neckline is too high so I have to lower it about two inches too. And the chainmaille has to be altered to work better with the dress. =(

With the chainmaille it's SUPER HOT. I only wore it for about 5 minutes and I was burning up. Great.

Still to do on this dress: hem underskirt, hem velvet skirt, put gold embroidery on hem, put in invisible zipper, lengthen sleeves, alter neckline, and take in the waist a little.

And I haven't even started on the cuirass. =(

More Progress

Ok, long time since I've updated. I have been working on different pieces while still trying to do boring stuff like pay rent. I've mostly been working on Edmund's Battle Outfit for my 11 year old cousin. I've got the chainmaille about 1/2 finished and the basis of the red velvet tunic (though mine is red suede). It still doesn't have the gold embroidery or the gold lion. But I want to make sure it fits my cousin before I start detailing it. I'll post pictures as soon as he comes over to try it on!

Another tiny addition. Since we now have tons of new pictures, we can see more details. Lucy's underdress neckline has some kind of embroidery on it. I went through the stitches that my Bernina machine offers and found one that was close. I chose light blue thread and I actually like how it turned out!

Also, the new pics showed the skirt isn't velvet. But I have tons of this velvet that I love, so my skirt will be velvet. Also the bodice now appears to be dupioni silk. Since I haven't started the real bodice I think I will make this change. I'll then paint on the swirls and make blue french knots for the buds.

That's it for now. I've added Susan's Purple Dress to my list of costumes I want to make. But with only 78 days left, I don't know if I can pull it off. It's so exciting!

Susan's Chainmaille - Finished!

I finally finished it! Well, it's mostly finished. I might go back and work on the split in the back because it looks a little weird right now. But besides that, it looks great! Note the details like the sleeves that are longer on the outsides and the long splits. I really like the square neckline too!

Susan's Chainmaille

Worked a little more on the chainmaille today. It's looking so great! If you look real close at the big picture of her costume, you can see the the sleeves have a slight point on the outside of the arm. I made that today on one sleeves and it turned out right! The first time, too! I'm so pleased. I added more width under one arm and will add a little more on the other side so the maille will hopefully fit better.

On a non-Susan's Chainmaille topic, my brother (who will be Caspian) is coming home from college this weekend and I hope to have a muslin of the shirt and the brigandine for him to try on. Whoo-hoo! On a slightly sadder note, I have about $20 to my name and I owe Mom and Dad $200. Somehow this is not good. I hate being poor...

Susan's Chainmaille

More chainmaille rings finally arrived today! Whoo-hoo! I'd say I'm about 2/3 the way finished. Of course, I saved the hardest part (the sleeves) until last so it might still take me weeks. =(
I was so afraid that I would make it too small but I tried it on and it actually fits - mostly. It doesn't do the fabulous things that most chainmaille does of hugging your curves. Mine seems to be stretched to the limit from side to side. But I tried adding more width under the arms down the side and it just messed up that area but didn't add to the overall look. Oh well, it looks like chainmaille. That's all I care about. I'll try to post a picture soon.

Susan's Battle Outfit

I have most of the materials for this costume. I have the garnet red velvet for the skirt, gorgeous red embroidered taffeta for the bodice and sleeves, and some gray flannel or gray felt (my choice) for the annoying collar (which might get nixed). Also, my chainmail hauberk (technically a haubergon) is half finished. I ordered more chainmail rings - hopefully they will get here tomorrow. Oh, here's my version of what my dress will look like:
I can't decide if I want to have an underdress shown at the neckline or not. The skirt is not another separate skirt; it's just an inset. Of course, you won't see the neckline because it will be hidden under chainmail (and possibly an ugly collar). But I want the dress to be pretty enough to wear without the chainmail - like to the Renaissance Faire. As for the corset, I haven't gotten very far on that yet. I do know that I want it to be extra long like hers. Hers doesn't stop at her waist; it continues to the top of her hips. Gorgeous.

I've made a muslin of this dress and everything works well except the neckline. I can't quite get it right and now it's WAY too low. Definitely not queenly. I want to have the muslin perfect before I cut into my $9-a-yard velvet.