After a full school year of running around like a crazy person doing homework, taking midterms and writing papers, it can be nice to relax- unless you're me!
Each summer when I'm not in school, I like to do a big sewing project. Last year I made a few plushies for my friends' birthdays. The year before that, I made a steampunk dress. This year, however, I decided to do something even more ambitious: design Beatriz Abbott's duster- a common but striking outfit purchased from many vendors in Cool Ranch.
Each summer when I'm not in school, I like to do a big sewing project. Last year I made a few plushies for my friends' birthdays. The year before that, I made a steampunk dress. This year, however, I decided to do something even more ambitious: design Beatriz Abbott's duster- a common but striking outfit purchased from many vendors in Cool Ranch.
Some people call it cosplay (a word commonly used by people who like dressing up as anime characters), some people call it dressing up. It's the same concept as when you used to (or still do) go trick-or-treating: buy or make a costume of a character that you really like and show it off to others... or get some candy. :) I began cosplaying in 10th grade with a few friends. As I planned the outfits for various characters from my favorite series, I realized I had a passion for costume planning and making. Some of my earlier costumes were gathered just from thrift stores, with the special items being ordered online. This was fun, but I wanted a bigger challenge. I made a full brown and gold dress for the steampunk group I'm a part of and went to the Renaissance Fair, but I wanted an even bigger challenge... While in the past I had bought pre-made outfits and sewed from patterns, I completely winged it this year. Beatriz's outfit is made from a pattern I designed myself, based only off my favorite cardigan sweater.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to do tutorials, and I might not be able to give the pattern out because it's so darn huge, but here's a breakdown if you'd like to give this a shot yourself:
Time: 4 days
Materials: 4 yards of light red fabric, 4 yards of dark red fabric, 1/4 yard of gold fabric, 12 gold buttons, a small hula hoop, Dread Pirate's Hat (made beforehand), base outfit (blouse, pants, two belts, belt buckle, cloth folded into cravat-thingy), Black Rain Shades (AKA my favorite aviators)
Before I did anything, I took approximately seven screenshots of the outfit in question. I took note of major features, places where there was no gold trim, and even the number of buttons. Then I made careful measurements of my sweater in real life, noting sleeve size and shape, torso dimensions, and roughly how long the coat would need to be. I also had to do some research on real dusters and how the parts fitted together.
I sewed prototypes of all my pieces and tested them by wearing them, running around in them and doing basic activities like reaching up to get something out of a cabinet and leaning down to pick something up to test flexibility and strength.
Once I was happy with my design, I made patterns using parchment paper and a pencil and cut them out on my fabric. If you're wondering about that hula hoop, I cut it to fit the bottom of the duster so it would flare out just like the real thing. Within just a few days, I had my very own pirate outfit!
Unfortunately, I will not be able to do tutorials, and I might not be able to give the pattern out because it's so darn huge, but here's a breakdown if you'd like to give this a shot yourself:
Time: 4 days
Materials: 4 yards of light red fabric, 4 yards of dark red fabric, 1/4 yard of gold fabric, 12 gold buttons, a small hula hoop, Dread Pirate's Hat (made beforehand), base outfit (blouse, pants, two belts, belt buckle, cloth folded into cravat-thingy), Black Rain Shades (AKA my favorite aviators)
Before I did anything, I took approximately seven screenshots of the outfit in question. I took note of major features, places where there was no gold trim, and even the number of buttons. Then I made careful measurements of my sweater in real life, noting sleeve size and shape, torso dimensions, and roughly how long the coat would need to be. I also had to do some research on real dusters and how the parts fitted together.
I sewed prototypes of all my pieces and tested them by wearing them, running around in them and doing basic activities like reaching up to get something out of a cabinet and leaning down to pick something up to test flexibility and strength.
Once I was happy with my design, I made patterns using parchment paper and a pencil and cut them out on my fabric. If you're wondering about that hula hoop, I cut it to fit the bottom of the duster so it would flare out just like the real thing. Within just a few days, I had my very own pirate outfit!
My biggest tips for anyone wanting to do this, too: take plenty of breaks, and make this your project! If you start getting frustrated, take a break. If your eyes begin to hurt, take a break. If you don't feel like doing it, take a break. Sometimes my breaks were 5 minutes long, and sometimes I wouldn't do any more for the rest of the evening. Most of all, do this for yourself. If you start trying to do anything because you feel like you have to do it for something other than your own enjoyment, it's not your project anymore, and it won't feel nearly as rewarding when you're done.
Also remember that your project will never be perfect- just really close. Even as I sit here writing, I'm thinking up ways I could do things differently next time and improvements I could make to this coat. Your project should be a labor of love in which you love your project, flaws and all, and you should be open to improvement for next time. If you'd like advice, further instruction or maybe just a little support, I would be more than willing to chat it up! The best way to contact me would be on twitter (fastest) to @swashbuckler777 or Pirate101 Central (almost as fast) to Beatriz Abbott.
Happy costuming, Pirates!
Also remember that your project will never be perfect- just really close. Even as I sit here writing, I'm thinking up ways I could do things differently next time and improvements I could make to this coat. Your project should be a labor of love in which you love your project, flaws and all, and you should be open to improvement for next time. If you'd like advice, further instruction or maybe just a little support, I would be more than willing to chat it up! The best way to contact me would be on twitter (fastest) to @swashbuckler777 or Pirate101 Central (almost as fast) to Beatriz Abbott.
Happy costuming, Pirates!