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Costume Project: Wisteria Fox Day 1

Since I am collecting material for this project, I'm making it official! Wisteria Fox is happening. 


Sometimes I will haphazardly purchase little things for a project here and there but I've sunk more than 300 USD into this already so it's happening. Why the big price tag upfront? Well, I think this is a good time to talk about budgeting. 

The Budget

There are a couple ways to approach a budget. One is to set a limit upfront. The other is to track costs and pace spending. The holidays were full of blessings for me this year. I got two bonuses from work, gift cards to a fabric store, and I got a raise back in October. Costumes are what I currently spend my disposable income on, thus I felt like splurging. 

It was also a design decision to make the kimono out of a synthetic, yet silk-like fabric. I ended up with Peachskin fabric which cost about 13 USD per yard and I needed 7 yards. (Granted I purchased from a fabric store instead of the warehouse which is what I would usually do. However, I had a 100 USD gift card to the store and felt this was a good use for it.) I will say that website I usually order from had the same fabric for 6 USD per yard so...normally that's what I would do. Compare my usual shopping places and purchase the best-priced item. However, the gift card meant it wasn't really my money I was spending. 

The actual big purchase ended up not being the fabric like I thought. The actual splurge came from purchasing an animatronic tail. Without the fur cover, it was still 200+ USD. I will make fur covers for the tail so this will be a base for many future animal-related costumes. 

Shopping List

In the planning I have done here is what I expected to purchase: 
  • Kimono Pattern ✅
  • Obi Pattern ✅
  • Cotton fabric for the Obi ✅
  • Silk Fabric for the Kimono + Lining ✅
  • Interfacing ✅
  • Fabric Dye in Purple ✅ and Green
  • Fabric snaps and eye-hook fasteners ✅
  • Kanzashi Clip (pre-made) ✅
  • Fox Ears ✅
  • Animatronic Tail ✅
  • White Faux Fur Yarn ✅
  • Curtain Rope
  • Heat n Bond Adhesive ✅
  • White Cotton ?
  • Blue Cotton in two shades ?
  • Fabric Paint - purple, green, pink, blue, black 
  • Transfer tracing Paper
  • Blank Fox/Cat Mask
  • Paper Fan
  • Parasol
  • Paper Lantern ✅
  • Blue LED lights ✅
  • Hair extensions? 
✅ - means I have it on hand or purchased it already. 

Work Done so Far


I will admit that a majority of the work done has been researching and resource gathering. I have a clear plan for getting started with the kimono even if I have not perfected the design. I can at least cut out the pieces, dye the fabric and begin sewing things together. (Once my fabric orders come in. 😅) I have a long weekend so I can get started there. I also need to double-check some of the scrap fabric in my closet to see if I have the colors necessary for the applique. Or perhaps I will be lucky and I'll have enough scrap from cutting out the kimono I can use my fabric spray paint to get the blue flame applique instead of purchasing MORE fabric. I also need to check what colors I have in fabric paint...or paint in general since I have the fabric fixative. 😜

Other than that I've been gathering design ideas for the mask, hair, makeup, and props. Also trying to doodle a solution for where I want to place the tail with the obi. I do know which obi knot design I want to use. 
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