2013 on its surface looks like I was a lazy bum on the sewing front this year.
So, first, let’s look back at what I said I wanted to accomplish in 2013:
Romana I
Yes! I actually did this one! Yay!
an Edwardian dress
No. I did a ton of planning for it, got fabric samples, and then decided it was going to be too much work the way I was wanting to do it. So it got put back on the drawing board.
finish my Team Zissou costume I started in 2006
Hahaha no. I’ve had the pattern for it pinned to the fabric since 2006 and finally removed the pattern and used the fabric as lining for Trillian. Poor Team Zissou costume will probably never get done now.
Glimmer
Yes!! Two out of six isn’t bad….
Maybe Mary Poppins
No, Mary Poppins keeps bouncing one year’s list to the next and never gets done.
Maybe Galadriel
No… but I did start on an elvish dress. Not Galadriel but do I at least get half points for trying?
Now let’s go over what I did actually finish, or at least scratch the surface.
1. Fionna – Adventure Time
I didn’t finish a costume until April this year! And actually I hadn’t even been planning on making something new for C2E2, but I had gotten into Adventure Time and just randomly decided to put Fionna together. For Dragoncon I added my sword, and I wore it a TON because it’s so comfortable. As soon as it’s warm out again I want to do a photoshoot!
2. Supergirl
Another one I hadn’t really planned on making, but thanks to coupons and a shopping trip with my Mema I ended up with the fabric for this and made it over a couple of days. Pretty simple costume and comfortable too.
3. Donna Noble – Runaway Bride – Doctor Who
This costume was fun, though I still really need new photos of it. Tried at GMX but my hair looks completely crazy (thanks to having it curled for Dr Forrester earlier in the day).
4. Romana I – Doctor Who
Probably my favourite costume from this year. I’m really pleased with how the dress came out, I love the wig. The cape is ok, but needs some repairs as I discovered at GMX. Note to self: stop leaving it wadded in a bin for months on end.
5. Glimmer – She-Ra Princess of Power
A lot of work and the main cause of my costuming-stress over the summer, and if I could get the boot fronts fixed I’d be super happy with it.
6. Trillian and Zaphod – Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Two for the price of one! After years of begging Chase finally let me make a Zaphod costume for him. Trillian was super easy and I finished it in about a week, and added the wig for GMX. Zaphod took a little longer and while there’s some things I wish I’d done differently I’m pretty well pleased with it. Mostly just so happy to have finally gotten to do these costumes.
7. Dr Forrester – Mystery Science Theater 3000
I almost didn’t include this one, since I actually made it last year – but I didn’t include it on last year’s list and I made a lot of changes to it this year, so it’s here. So yeah, I made the jacket for Halloween last year when we were mad scientists at work. This year, since I got my Tom Servo for my birthday, I took it in, made facing and fixed the lapels, and added pleated sections to the side seams. New dress and boots and I consider it a new costume. It’ll make a reappearance next year for sure.
And now for work I did that is not on the little collage above…
1. I partially made an elvish dress for myself.
I made the dress and upper sleeves before getting stymied on what I wanted to do for the lower sleeves and haven’t messed with it since.
2. I made a Haunted mansion skirt for our Disney trip
I need to wash it a few times and get it loosened up and wear it again.
3. 3 Little Princess Dresses
I made 3 little princesses dresses with matching headbands – I wanted some practice making children’s clothing so I made them for my etsy store. A friend of mine bought all 3 for Halloween so I got to see them in action!
4. Batgirl rework
This year, I repositioned the bat symbol, fixed some seam issues, fixed the fit on the mask and we made new gauntlets and a new belt. Now I’m happy with it, yay!
5. Belle rework
2012 on the left and 2013 on the right. Another one from last year that needed some updates – I had way too much on my plate in 2012!
I finally finished restyling my Belle wig, including adding the the widow’s peak. I did more beading on the bodice and skirt (a ton on the skirt!), fixed some of the issues with the flounces getting hitched up (still needs some work there tho), added another flounce to the back and wore it with my Marie Antoinette hoops instead of the round hoop. I need to fix the hem to sit right on those hoops but it was a huge improvement from 2012.
6. Bow
I made the shirt, pants, cape and other fabric parts for Chase’s Bow costume. I still need to get his separate pics uploaded that I forgot from Dragoncon.
So that’s pretty much it for this year. My office is a giant mess still and there’s no way I’m sewing anything before 2014.
What am I thinking for 2014? I’m not even going to really put together a definitive list because I’m so unsure. So EVERYTHING on this list is just a maybe.
1. Willow – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I have the shirt she wore a couple of times in season 2, so I thought about putting together the rest of it and some props for a simple costume.
2. Johanna’s Interview Dress – Catching Fire
I LOVED her in the movie and you guys know my fascination with ruffles (see: Alyss). It looks fun to make and also the added bonus of wearing it at the Marriott.
3. She-Ra
I’ve had She-Ra on my “want” list for several years, I’d like remake it just to see how far I’ve come since my 2002 version. And I stumbled across a hide of beautiful buttery soft white leather while cleaning up the prop room a few months ago, would look gorgeous as the bodice of the costume…
4. Donna Noble – Partners in Crime
I actually pretty much have this put together already, but I may want to buy new pants as I’m not sure mine are wide enough. Also may want to go ahead and get a wig because my hair is now about 4-5 inches longer than Donna’s.
5. Romana II – Destiny of the Daleks
Because it’s cute.
6. Catelyn Stark
A big ol’ maybe for a group for next year, only doing it if Chase does Ned.
7. Tonks
Because I need a new Harry Potter costume.
8. Elsa
So EVERYBODY is doing an Elsa costume and I don’t care – I want it! It looks fun to make and pretty.
At the moment I’m most excited about Elsa so she may come first next year. Who knows.