Modesty's Costume Closet

 I've been quiet because I am laser focused on making this dress on time. At this point I've finished the major sewing. I'm "tweaking" and getting ready to add the decoration.  Here were the pain points for this project:  Tailoring the pattern Inserting Godets Adding horsehair braid hem Inserting the neckline elastic It needs a zipper But I did learn a great deal. So, here's how these were addressed:  Adjusting a Pattern I do this more often than making my own pattern. However, I understand now the benefit of drafting my own based on a pattern block. Making or getting a leotard pattern block makes tailoring other patterns much easier. Since I'm narrow up top and wide below the belt, I tend to have two very different sizes. In this project, I was able to adjust the top using my dress form and pinning to take in the side seams. I didn't realize until later that I also needed to reduce the width of the front and back neckline. I was able to address this b...

It's November and the year is rapidly drawing to a close. The hectic costume month of October has passed and now I'm taking stock of what I've done and what I have planned to do in the next year. It was very productive.  2024 Costume Review  Since adopting a new schedule for myself, I've found my projects making steady progress instead of sporadic updates.   The 7 kimono project: This was an ambitious undertaking and I'm so pleased how it came together. I learned SO much in this process and hope to clear out room in my apartment to do a proper photoshoot. I do still intend to make zori for these outfits and some kanzashi out of the leftover fabric.  Morticia Dance Costume: This came out so well! It also gave me some challenges and taught me things about fabric choice. It was perfect for the Halloween dance party.  Updates to my Ballroom Gown: While I plan on making my own dress in the future I wanted to spruce up my comp dress with some rhinestones and a ne...

 This is going to be the last planned kimono I'm making for this project. There are a few extra things on my to-do list and some things on my wish list too.  Here's how the Wisteria Cat kimono went.  So some things that went well:  French Seams done well! Even on the sleeves! Bless the walking foot! Got the pattern on the fabric to be upright on front and back. Collar went on smoothly! Even hem!! OMG...finally! Some things I wish went better:  I had to make a seam on the shoulder line which is not authentic. :( I did it to make the motif on the pattern look better so I didn't have upside down cats on the back of the body and sleeves. The sleeves are a bit short  I rushed my cutting and it got sloppy making me cut a part I didn't mean to cut and having to fudge around my mistake.  There's a bunch of little extra things I've been doing for these projects. Including kumihimo braiding!  So far I've made:  A kumihimo obijime 3 kumihimo haori himo ...

Over the past two weeks, I've worked on the male kimonos and got them put together.  The ensemble is not quite finished yet, I am working on hakama for both of them.  Color-wise they look similar, but you can tell they are different material. I've sewn the haori for the more matte red one.  With the haori As you can see, it's a very shiny haori. Needs a haori himo and some paint on it. But significant progress was made!  Kimono and Haori What Went Well I did my French seams correctly!  I figured out MY way of attaching the Okumi with French Seams These did not take long to make Pinking shears really help reduce fray They fit! What I learned Took me a bit to figure out how to put on sleeves since there no opening.  I did have to fudge some measurements because I was a little short on some of the fabric when I cut it and did not want to buy more.  The collars were still kind of a pain to put on but I'm getting better at stitch-in-the-ditch.  Blind h...

 Another week, another kimono constructed and I feel this is my best one yet!  Before putting on the collar and sleeves.  All put together Such a pretty pattern! I used a walking foot to make this one which meant I had to sew a bit slower, but that gave me nicer seams.  I will be going with serged seams or "hair line" seams, but I have not done that yet as of writing this post. For now, she's set aside so I can start working on the NEXT kimono which is my burgundy men's kimono. (I've already had some trouble with it. I really have to pay attention to right side wrong side when using fabric that has no obvious pattern.😅) So we're chugging along at a good pace with this project. Here's what's left:  Hem, attach collar and sleeves to burgundy kimono✅ Construct the Red Men's Kimono✅ Cut, mark and construct the Cotton Cat Kimono Sew the grey hakama✅ Sew the red haori✅ Sew the black lady's haori  Sew the black hakama Some of the extra little project...

 It's been a great year for costumes and getting into various yarn crafts, and it shall continue into next year. Here's what I've been thinking for potential costume projects next year.  In Progress  Demon Slayer in Yarn  This is has been a fun experiment that I've fallen in love with. I've knitted a shawl, one sock, crocheted some sandals and almost finished a sweater! I hope to finish the other sock, some legwarmers and the sweater next year so I will have a Flame Hashira outfit in mostly yarn. I'm not knitting pants.  It has advanced my knowledge of knitting techniques and skills to the point where I am considering making a pattern book of anime and video game inspired knit projects. I'll have to actually make these projects and figure out how to demonstrate things. My camera work is mediocre at best, but I may be able to get away with making illustrations here and there.  Goro the kitsune I feel like I've very much neglected this almost finished proj...

 It's doooo~oone! Gonna get'chu! So I will say, it's not very comfy to wear the head, so I'll wear the full costume only for pictures, but the effect is amazing!  Here are some more pics of it.  I'm not going to use the extensions despite the coolness.

 The year is a bit more than halfway done, and looking back on my 2022 Wishlist , let's see what I've actually accomplished on my list and what has changed.  From the Originals List Goro the Kitsune - Stalled 🟡 I started making the pig skin leather leg wraps, but I think I screwed it up already and need to remake them in a different material. I've selected my leather for the bracers. I plan on using my Cricut to engrave the edges of the leather in a fun design that I have yet to make/find. I also need to remake the ears somehow and figure out how to make the tails. Knitting 3 tails will take a long time, so I'm thinking that I'll actually make them out of faux fur fabric, which means getting said fabric. We'll see what wins out. I could still finish this costume before the end of the year, but I'm not feeling very motivated to do so at this time.  Sakura the Kitsune - Replaced by Wisteria Fox - Finished 😀 When I started Wisteria Fox, I said it would repla...

 I started writing this blog a year ago today! Or at least my first post. It's been a lot of fun putting down my thoughts, processes, and research into things.  I've also done a lot of costume and clothing construction this past year. I have made:  The Armorer Cosplay Wisteria Fox Parts of Goro the Kitsune 2 new swimsuits 2 fake Hakama Pants 2 Aprons I picked up some new skills this year and improved in other areas.  Learned how to knit Improved at 3D printing (Modifying my machine) Started Die-Cutting with my Cricut There are still many things in flight too:  Sewing my Fire Swimsuit Sewing a swimsuit for a friend  Sewing a Dance costume Knitting the Flame Hashira Shawl (About 40% done) Knitting Tabi Socks Knitting a double-knit cowl Knitting the Hyrule Warrior Scarf This blog covered a lot of topics about Costume Design, detailed the process for the Wisteria Fox, and whatever silly thing was of interest to me. Thanks for a great first year.  I am hopi...