Yuuko Ichihara - Foxy Lady #33

two flounces + embroidered cuff

Change of strategy: it takes me an average of 8 hours to hem each flounce, so I need to speed things up, or I won't have a finished costume any time soon. So, I finished 4 flounces, and I will focus on the embroidery. The second cuff is about ⅔ done, and I've been enjoying embroidering it.

Since I've moved, I don't have a washing machine, so, besides embroidering in the evening, I also take it to the automatic laundrette, where I embroider an average of two 1m threads each time. I'll explain, each time I cut a thread to embroider, I cut about one arm length, which is about 1 meter, which I fold in half to embroider. So, each 1m section takes about 15 mins average to embroider, it takes two for each machine wash at the laundrette. I used to embroider on the train to my mom's house, also an average of two per trip, but I've been taking the bus, and it swivels too much to do embroidery. Plus, my correcting glasses broke, and I can't see properly near my eyes with my contacts on. I usually go to the laundrette in the evening, and take my every day nearsighted glasses, which I don't need to embroider, just to go about the streets.

As for the flounces, I will temporarily machine hem them with a tiny zigzag stitch, and later will eventually roll hem them all.

Now it's time to tackle the dress, take the sewing machine out and sew it together!

+ This will save time, and now I'm a bit more confident I will finish the costume on time. Just need to speed up and work on it every-day!

- I really didn't want to cut corners with the flounce hems, but they're too fastidious to make and take too long. This is a temporary solution anyway,  and doesn't look very bad. It’s on the petticoat, not the most visible piece in this costume. The four flounces, fully finished with a rolled hem, will be placed on top, where they're most visible.

THE CUNNING PLAN 

Start sewing the dress as soon as possible, and keep embroidering during the evening. Also start making the props, i.e., build the ruby, and make the shoe swirls.

Telulu - Witches 5 #2

kitten heel shoes, denim (structural fabric), plastic boning, black sateen,
green sateen, green thread, pearl earrings (to put together), green knit (for the tights),
thin black elastic (vines), iridescent leaf sequins, (my) skin colour mesh.

After giving Telulu the go-ahead, I made an assessment of what I already had, what I would keep, and what I won't use. I also decided to make a hybrid costume from all three versions: a more natural wig, the tiny leaf/vine embellishments, like the manga and Crystal, and a poofier skirt and the kitten heels, like in Crystal. Everything else will be based on the Sailormoon S version.

What I had:

• a green taffeta, which I won't use, or use as a yoke for the underskirt, if the green sateen isn't enough. 
• a semi-transparent "skin coloured" knit. actually two different pieces, both too opaque and too light. I'll buy something more like a stretchy netting/second skin.
• a half bent electricity PVC pipe, which I'll use. Just have to finish bending it with the heat gun.
• partially built pink pearl earrings, which I'll keep, just need to glue them to the clips.
• very thin black elastic, for the vines. lots of it.
• white tights (from Rei das Meias), which I'll use for something else.
• 2 green Raposa (the original brand) dye packets, which I'll use for something else.
• black thicker vinyl (from Pollux), which I'll keep.
• blue denim (for the structural bodice layer).

What I bought or still need to buy:

• black sateen, for the main fabric ✔️
• green sateen for the underskirt (only got 1m, I hope it's enough) ✔️
• a thinner and more transparent netting, also closer to my skin tone ✔️
• the wig(s), most likely from Coscraft.
• green knit fabric for the tights/leggings ✔️
• iridescent blue/green leaf sequins ✔️
• kitten heels black shoes ✔️
• a black polypropilen sheet (A4 or A3).
• copper alcohol paint.
• dark eyelets.
• E6000 glue, if I can find it...

So, I already had about half the materials and bought most of what was missing. The sequins, a last minute decision, are really pretty and will add a bit of oomph to the costume, my skater costume. Unfortunately the shoes are very tight, I should have bought a bigger size, but it's the first pair of shoes I got from AliExpress that don't fit true to size... I will wear them around the house and try shaping them with the heat gun, they will have to fit and be comfortable by the time I have completed the costume! For ease of wear, I'll make a boned bodice, and I'll lace it in the back, maybe with satin ribbons, to be pretty. The top "skater" part is stretchy enough to fit over the head. The thin black elastic is to add the vines, and I'll tack it to the knits, together with a sequin leaf. It should be a pain to match it in the back, but it will be done. I'll make a turtleneck, and long sleeves, over the wrists, and the elastic will be used as trim, instead of hemming the netting, for an invisible effect. The stars, in the hair, chest and sceptre, will be in the thick vinyl. The sceptre star will be made in a 3D shape, out of polypropilen and lined with the vinyl. The wig will also be a pain, I'll get a medium length wig, make the parting, and the double "odango" will be added ponytails. Maybe I'll add a headband on the inside, for stability.

+ I'm enjoying revisiting this long planned costume, I don't know when I started... in 2000? it's time it gets out of the wishlist into the world.

- I'm still a bit bummed about the wrong sized shoes. Unfortunately this enthusiasm is distracting me from finishing the Foxy Lady, although I've been working on it, and from writing the thesis...

THE CUNNING PLAN 

Go buy what's missing and all of the above.