Comments on: Planning a Big Costume Project

By: What I Learned from NOT Going to Costume College – Historical Sewing

What I Learned from NOT Going to Costume College – Historical Sewing — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 14:40:11 +0000

[…] Aside from the “regular” costumes I make for Costume College, every couple of years I do a BIG project that challenges me. This year, because I didn’t attend, I feel my skills are kinda […]

By: Jennifer Rosbrugh

Jennifer Rosbrugh — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 17:46:17 +0000

In reply to K Winter.

And she will LOVE it! Keep going – you can do it K! 🙂

By: K Winter

K Winter — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 17:26:53 +0000

I’m pushing past being stuck on a very small big project right now – the most perfect Frozen dress possible for my little niece. On one hand I feel silly worrying so much about a costume for a little kid, but on the other hand I’m the perfectionist veteran of too many ballet and burlesque costumes not to go nuts over every detail, *and* I have the knowledge of my sister’s fashion degree vs. my self-taught sewing skills hanging over my head. And the materials are hell to work with – glitter spandex (so she can wear it a while, and get it on and off without help) and sparkly poly organza, with heaps of sequins and glitter that need to be placed as I put the thing together. I’m close to going mad over it, but instead I’m going to the craft store for more heavy-duty fabric glue. One thing is certain – this crazy-making little dress will sparkle!

By: Jennifer Rosbrugh

Jennifer Rosbrugh — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 16:32:30 +0000

In reply to Diane Ullman. Good luck Diane and I'll see you at Costume College 2015! :-)

By: Diane Ullman

Diane Ullman — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 16:05:01 +0000

The best investment I’ve made to date has been my manniquin. The price for a good one put me off for a while and I did make one to start with (instructions all over the web) and it proved useful, but I couldn’t get pins into it when I needed to and eventually it collapsed. So I bit the bullet and bought a real fit-to-you dress form and I’m so glad I did. It wears one of my old corsets and is fitted exactly to the measurements of my figure. (WORD OF WARNING: You WILL need a lot of self-acceptance when you see what your figure REALLY looks like).

Now I put the appropriate undergarments on it and pin, adjust, fit and tweak my designs right on my double and my dresses look so much better.

I’m doing an 1870s day dress right now and will be starting a formal 1969 dress next. There’s 10 yards of dusty pink silk moure taffeta waiting its turn. THAT is the project that will require every single one of your instructions, Jennifer, and I’m very excited about that project. In my dream I come to Costume College in 2015 and show you what I did with it.

By: Jennifer Rosbrugh

Jennifer Rosbrugh — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:22:40 +0000

In reply to Mary Kay Chicoine. You build the silhouette from the skin out. So adjust your bustle shape to your liking then fit your skirts over that.

By: Mary Kay Chicoine

Mary Kay Chicoine — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 03:45:13 +0000

Ok, I’m hooked and I am now about to tackle a bustle dress. I am in the process of finishing the TV101 Bustle Petticoat. A question I have is how do you know how much to tighten the bustle tapes? Do I tighten the ties to make the bustle fit the skirt or so the skirt fits the bustle? And how do you know if it is tight enough or not?

By: Evie

Evie — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 16:11:47 +0000

I’m working on a bustle dress…except that I’m knitting it, not sewing! I’ve been working on it for almost a year, and I’m very close to finishing the skirt. It’s turning out better than I imagined! I can hardly wait to finish…I think I’m on the edge of burnout, but I will keep going!