Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Halloween 2015 - Girl Musketeer.

I feel like the older the kids get the faster time goes.
We were well into October before I realized that we really needed 'the talk'.....the one where we took the final and unchangeable decision on halloween costumes that is, hehe. 


This girl musketeer costume has seriously been one of the most fun things I have sewed in a long time. It was one of those lucky projects that just worked. Sometimes you rip every seam and sometimes things are just flying along.....this was the last kind which is probably why it ended up much more elaborate than I originally planned. I don't think I ripped a single seam during this project. Which is not normal for me...in case you wondered, ha.


When E decided she wanted to be a musketeer (after getting a mask with a big feather - I'm still mystified on how she made that connection. She says "she just knew.") I of course started googling for inspiration. I found a pretty good girl musketeer costume but I was too cheap to buy it SO I went to Jo-Ann and bought materials for nearly the same amount. Great! Of course this is way more fun plus it is hopefully sewed a bit more long lasting and with a perfect fit.


I realized I needed a dress pattern with a basic bodice plus a circle skirt as a starting point and since An from StraighGrain has just relaunched her Tinny Dress pattern (with more sizes and endless new and amazing details and variations) that pattern was the first one that came to mind and it was the perfect base!



I just drew a line (and added seam allowance) on the front bodice for the center insert plus I added the gathered extra skirt piece and sleeve flounces (both self-drafted).

 Easy peasy!


And then I drafted a cape pretty much out of the blue and how I imagined the shape to be. In other words, it was not difficult and didn't involved much math or technicalities.

Since the outer layer of the cape is made form stretch velvet and the inner layer is a much thinner and non-stretchy viscose lining, the outer layer becomes a bit longer when it is hanging vertically. I should have made the outer layer a tiny bit shorter but I didn't, ha. It's really not that much and it is only center back and I can totally live with it. I hope you can too, hehe.


It is only for her back and it is attached with velcro on the back side of the shoulder seams.
I might be overprotective but it feels good to know that if the cape catches on to anything it will just be ripped of instead of potentially choking her.


After seeing this photos - more specifically the hem of the cape, especially left side - I had to go back and look at the actual cape because in the photo it looks crazy bulky and gathered and just plain awful and I didn't remember any of that happened while making it. And I do not know why it looks like this in the photo (maybe something with velvet and the way it catches the light??) but you just have to take my word for it because it looks fine and smooth in real life. Haha, I just needed to let you know!


The leather belt was a bit of an afterthought. She needed a loop for the foil (in between fencing matches you know. Or maybe to have hands free to shovel in candy while trick or treating) and it was easier to tie a string to a belt than sewing it into the dress' waist seam and it adds a great contrast to the fancy dress if you ask me.


Another detail is the musketeer 'boots'. I bought some knee high black socks. Then I sewed a flounce on a 2 cm wide elastic measured to fit under her knees, added a square gold 'buckle' made from gold pleather and boom, you got faux musketeer boots.



The hat is mine and with a gold ribbon, a wild turkey feather from our last vacation and a hand drawn fleur-de-lis cut in gold pleather it became the perfect musketeer hat.


She is thrilled with her costume and she loooves her fencing foil.


This silly girl is SO ready for halloween!

I'm off, I have another costume to finish and this one is in a WHOLE different direction.
Thank you!


22 comments:

  1. it's awesome! And E makes a really good musketeer. The photos are great too. Love it all, as always!

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  2. Excellent! What a sophisticated costume! I love everything about it.

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  3. This is so great! Not one seam ripped - wow! It is obvious you have had a lot of fun making this costume 😊

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  4. One of my fav costumes ever. Really cool!

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  5. Love it! What a fierce wee musketeer she is!

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  6. Mie, I have no words. Jaw-droppingly fabulous! I can't wait to see how your other one turned out <3

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  7. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! I have no more words.... WOW!

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  8. From head to toe, it is just so perfect! I love the "boots". Very cool, Mie!

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  9. i just love it mie!! and such great pictures as well. cant wait to see what else your making.

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  10. This absolutely fantastic!!! WOW Perfect fabrics, perfect details, perfect everything!! You ROCK! And she looks so happy, it really is one of those things that we don't have to do, but that will leave them with great happy memories for life right? Love the details on the hat and the musketeer boots too, pure genius (oh and I want those camper shoes for me hehe). And I'm probably going to copy the velcro idea for some wings I have to make soon heheh xoxo

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  11. This is great! I admire your pacience! She looks so happy <3

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  12. I want a muscateer costume it looks so fun, especially those cutes sock boots. And a agree the contrast of the belt works with the velvet and lace. Lucky girl.

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  13. I want a muscateer costume it looks so fun, especially those cutes sock boots. And a agree the contrast of the belt works with the velvet and lace. Lucky girl.

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  14. This is exquisite. The only thing I would think to add is a fleur de lis on the chest. Adorable model too. Absolutely exquisite!

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  15. This is so awesome, from the costume to the phtotos, to little details. Blown away!

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  16. This is the most fantastic costume! I love it!

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  17. This is the most fantastic costume! I love it!

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  18. Omigosh you did SUCH a great job on this costume! I love it, and I love your daughter's poses in it!!

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  19. That's an awsome idea! Execution as well. I feel sorry for all princesses who have to face such a strong competition.

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