Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Arrrr, it's called Matey Couture for a reason!

Just because I've been sewing more everyday wear does not, by any measure, mean that I've lost my passion for costumes, historic and otherwise. I fulfilled a dream of mine this past week in making a pirate hat. I think I finally have my pirate outfit mostly complete, and I can't express to you how much that satisfies me. I've been working on it for a couple years, adding a piece here and making one there.

My friend and I were shopping at Ragstock when, on the Super Sale rack, we came across a bunch of brown fake leather pants for 3$ each. We immediately bought a pair each, and when I got home one of the first things I made was this hat. I used Corrine's Halloween Pirate tutorial from http://www.threadbanger.com/. (I'm sorry I don't have the direct link right now. I'll find it when I have more time), and while I had a bit of trouble with the rolling of the sides, it turned out alright. I still hope to make a proper styled one with wool felt and buckram, but until I've gained the millinery super skillz to try that, this one will work.


Out of this outfit I've made the pants, the vest, and the hat. The shirt came from the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, given to me from a friend, the sash is a window thingy, the coin belt from a local market, the boots from target, and the jewelry I found randomly around my room. The flintlock is entirely a prop-- from http://www.museumreplicas.com/.



I was asked by someone on Threadbanger to make a tutorial for my hoodie, so that's how I spent my afternoon. It took me 2 1/4 hours to make this hoodie, and just as long to make the tutorial. Go figure. I'm extremely pleased with this one, though: it's soft, stretchy, and a very fun print. Also, because it went so fast, I'll be able to keep my prices pretty low for these, which is good news for my customers!




The link to the tutorial is here. It was my first tutorial, and I'd taken about 40 pictures for it. Heh, I ended up only using 25 or so, but it's still quite a lot. I hope it helps people out!

Other Threadbanger news... I'd posted several of my projects in the forum, and I found out today that I'm going to be featured in their newsletter thanks to my skull hoodie!! I'm really honored. It comes out tomorrow, so I can't wait to see what it says!

I'm pretty excited about another thing... I designed a prom dress! For me! I'll post pictures of the sketch when I scan it, and then eventually the real thing. But I decided upon a wine colored satin for the color. It's going to rock. I really, really want to make this jacket to go with it, but I don't know how I'd sew a jacket and a prom dress in just two and a half weeks. Sounds just crazy enough for me to try, but the prom dress has got to come first. ;)

5 comments:

  1. You inspire me. Honestly. I went and read your Threadbanger thingy, very sweet. After looking on your website and seeing your overflowing talent, I am inspired to go finish my trite little projects. Haha! When you are designing famous fashions, will you let me oil your machine? :D Anyway, your pirate costume was cool, and you added more to it since the 4th of July! Awesome! I miss you!
    ~Dana~

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  2. P.S. James would so wear that pirate costume! ;)

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  3. At the end of the Thread Banger episode "Make Workshop, Sodafine..." the user video features a guy who made a hoodie from your pattern.. I followed the username here to your site, but the link in this blog post for the tutorial doesn't work! Any chance you might have an alternate link?

    Keep up the awesome DIY work!
    -Sarah

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  4. OK, so that pirate costume of piratey goodness is kinda hot. Mary Read would approve.

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  5. Ahahaha! Oh, Janice. This thing is so old! Thank you, though! And, ARRR for female pirate references!

    ...I should not reply to comments before I've had coffee.

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