Headdress beginnings

Hey, so I've not really done much costume work for the last 3 weeks =(  I've been stupidly busy... and I'm also one of those people that has a hard time getting back into the swing of things after I've taken a break (good thing I didn't take a "year off" after high school).

But alas, I did some work today.  I wanted to work on a piece that would feel significant upon completion so my next part to tackle is the headdress.  I have some black spandex that I worked with to make a tight cap to go over my head.  Took a couple tries and the opening of the back, but I have something that works now.  I might redo it though and loosen the neck as I'm not sure if wearing it all day will start to choke me >.>

The next part was working on the patterns for the crazy parts of it.  As I don't have any sort of mannequin or styrofoam head, I improvised with this balloon.  I felt the smiley face was appropriate ^_^

I swear I wasn't trying to make it look angry.  That's just for the black part in between the pointy purple parts!  The red balloon is to give a base shape to work with for making the pattern for the pointy parts as seen below:

I still need to work a bit to get the shape exactly how I want, but I'll then make pattern pieces from that to translate to fabric.  I have a good feeling about this!  A TON easier than my priest tier 10 helm!!!!!!

Not really an update...

...but here's a picture of the paper-craft ceiling cat I just put together and taped to the ceiling of the "nerd room":

Real updates to come hopefully soon ;P

Analysis now that i've tried it on...

So, the back worked out splendidly .. although I could have left a larger gap.  As it is now, it closes without much gap so if I lose any weight between now and Blizzcon, it might overlap =/

However, the front did not work out as anticipated =/  Most corsets have what is called a "busk".  It's a metal rod that has these hook-ball things to unclasp for easier getting in and out of said corset (instead of having to lace it up each time).  I decided not to do this since I didn't really like how it looked and it's not like I'm going to be wearing this on a regular bases.  However, because of not have this, the centre front line doesn't have a stiff metal plate in it (it has boning... but those flex) which makes it so it just kind of gapes between my boobs instead of laying flat.  And, because my pattern accounted for it lying flat, that space is too large =/    Soooooo... I'm going to have to do some sort of problem solving to get it to adhere to me... double sided tape?  Attaching it to a bra and wear that underneath?  Le sigh... I'll figure it out ><

The back is pretty though! ^_^

Corset finishing touches

After about a week of not working on my costume, I knew I had to do a bunch of work tonight so I tackled the finishing details of the corset.  I first did the trim to clean up the edges.  I did this along the top and bottom:

Then was for the scary part:  the eyelets (the holes on the back for the lacing).  I had to poke and stretch of each of the holes first using an awl and then using a chop stick to stretch it even more for the eyelet pieces.

After much measuring and marking to make sure I didn't screw this up (I can't undo holes...) I started along the one side, which took HOURS... and my hand is sore =(  But here is the one side completed... I'll do the other tomorrow or something.

Green side thingies progress

A couple posts ago I wrote about my adventures making that 3d shape that goes on each of Maghda's sides hanging down from the waist.  I took those patterns and transferred them to foam and wonderflex to make pieces as such:

I wasn't happy with the rigidity of the edges of the pieces, so I covered the whole thing with craft foam (have I ever said how much I love craft foam?).  Again.. I suck at imagining three dimensional objects made from flat objects.  Eventually I got it:

Below, I draped over the green fabric to give an idea what it'll look like.  I'll need to fiddle with how I want that to work.  Since the object it's covering has multiple planes/angles, it'll need seems/darts/something.  I want something that won't be too obvious.  The other option that I toyed with was making these things smooth/solid and just painting them... but I really liked the shine and reflections that this fabric gave and felt it would be a good contrast against the eventual belt piecing.  So ya, I'm convinced on sticking with fabric covering a more solid object like so:

Oh ya, and I added the upper parts to the cloak thing:

Corset making continued....

My goodness what a long process.  I got the steel boning in the mail and so started the work of sewing boning channels (picture below).  These will be where the metal rod thingies go in.  It's a terribly precise process that if i deviate a few milometers I have to redo it =/

I sewed the waist tape in and I'm now in the process of sewing the lining of the corset to the outer layers (yes, plural).  I'm only taking a break because I'm going bugeyed looking at the seam lines.  Man... so much pinning and sewing.  Each of those seams below gets pinned to the lining area before they're sewn.  I'm doing one at a time though...

When this is done, I still need to attach the eyelets (holes where it gets laced up at the back)  and do the top and bottom edging.  The eyelet part scares me the most because there's no fixing errors here.  I'll be making holes in the back... irreversable =/  Not like sewing where at lease I can take out stitching (as tedious as it is).  Anyways.. back to sewing >.<

Visiting family for the weekend so I'll do a brief update, since I can't work on the costume itself!  I spent last night trying trying to create the template/pattern for the side green shell type pieces.  I realized again that I am terrible at visualizing what pieces are needed to create a 3 dimensional object.  It took many tries and several pieces of paper and foam to get the right template.  I know it looks like it protrudes a lot, but I think with the bulk of the belt structure, it'll be ok.  I might make it point out a bit less too.

That green fabric that is on the couch is what'll be used to cover that shape, which I'll make out of wonderflex (shapeable plastic sheets).

When I get back home, I'll do further work on the corset since I know have both the boning and the eyelets for it.  Yay progress (slow, but sure)!