Family Friday 11.1.19

 I was reminded recently that I haven't blogged in a while.   I pointed out that I can either sew, or blog - and since there was a quilt show and then Halloween, there was sewing, not blogging.  But its all done, so now I can blog!

Yesterday was Halloween. 

We got 6 inches of snow for the occasion.  Ridiculous.

I only had to make two costumes this year.  And they were the same.

 Jawas from Star Wars! Can you say oootini?

 We also had Harry Potter in the bunch,

Mr. Riley is wearing a Ravenclaw scarf (he was the warmest of us all)

 E & W came along for the fun, they didn't actually ask for candy this year.  That's more than fine.  We get PLENTY!!

 For dinner I served "Snakes, Eyeballs, and mouldy bread".  Also known as linguine with Pesto, cream cheese filled olives, and Italian bread, dyed.  They ate it well.

Renaissance Faire 2016: The Ranger and the Peasant Lady

 I am lumping Mr. Riley and I together today, because I didn't actually have to do anything for Mr. Riley this year.  You can find all the details of his costume in the following links: vest, bracers, shirt and pants, and pouches.

 This year for me, the only technically new thing was the corset.  The other pieces were either made and worn previously, or tweaked.

The fabric is a polyester faux suede from the upholstery department at Joann.  Perhaps a little stiffer than I should have chose, but I like the look of it.  The lining and binding is a cotton.  The binding actually dictated the fabric. I had two choices in my cart, the suede and a velvet, but I couldn't match the velvet as well as the suede. 

 I was originally going to make view A, without the peplum, but as I was working with the pattern pieces, I realized that no peplum on my shape would not be very flattering, so peplum and view B it was!

 Construction required a very large amount of continuous bias binding.  I found this hilarious, as I think I've only ever bound two quilts with bias binding. 

The original post about the white shirt I wore can be found here. Funny thing about the shirt, E ended up wearing it a lot last year, me never.  She recently decided she was done with it, and I rescued it from the donate pile.  While trying it on, I realized the problem for me, the elastic around the neckline was too tight, it would pull way up to my neck.  Very uncomfortable.  So I added some inches to the elastic, so much better, and now back in my costume wardrobe.

The original pieces of the costume can be read about here.  This year, I cut off the top of the green under-dress and turned it into a skirt instead.  The length was better and it was ultimately more comfortable.  I should really make a new under skirt that matches better for the next time we go.

 And this year I bought a hat.  I'll have to get a better photo than this weird selfie.  You can't even really see the feather, and my hair was flattening out by the end of the day.  But I loooove the hat.  I tried it on and was sold and then Mr. Riley said yes!  Yay!

Next up will be E's dress.  It took me twice as long to make hers than all the other costumes put together.

Renaissance Faire 2016: The Barbarians

This past weekend was the opening for Bristol Renaissance Faire, and seeing as the kids were free, it was the best time to go!  (5 kids free, always a good thing, plus in 3 months E isn't a kid anymore) So of course, nearly everyone needed a new costume, because the kids just keep growing.

First up, my Barbarians.

 This is my Cheetah Boy.  Which, considering how much he loves running, was perfect.  He also wore this for about two days straight before we even went to the Faire.

 This guy was actually the one who started the Barbarian idea because of the fur vest I had laying around from a previous costume. (which I can't remember, or find pictures of for the life of me)

 For both of the boys shorts, I used this pajama pattern.  Nice and loose and comfy.  I didn't bother with the hemming.  Incidentally, they are pretty much the same size right now.

 The shorts on the left are made of a costume fabric from Joann.  The ones on the right are a fine wale corduroy I found in the red tag section of Joann.  I'm all about cheap costumes!

 The cheetah top is a loosely shaped rectangle.  I sewed up the sides, and then a bit across the top to make a sleeve.  Then I draped it on the boy and pinned where to take in the side a bit. 

I think they were both pretty happy with the outcomes of the costumes.  Which is good, since we will try to go at least once more this year.

I'll leave you with a shot of one of our favorite acts: Barely Balanced.  (yes I know the sign says Dirk and Guido, that's the other act that shares the stage)

Pirates!

 Once, many moons ago... Actually about three weeks ago, I started making this year's Renaissance Faire Costumes.  I finished them all in time to go on the Sunday before M arrived.  Perhaps walking around in the heat for a day helped get things moving....

First up, the pirate boys using McCalls 4952

Si got new pants and a head scarf.  I also made a pirate eye patch out of felt.

The shirt and vest are from last year's Hobbit costumes.

Pirate Yell!

WP got a new vest, pants, sash and eye patch.  Only the shirt was recycled.

We happened to have a tri-corn hat from a historical visit years ago.

 Grrrrrrrr!

Leather Pouches

 I made two leather belt pouches for Mr. Riley's costume. 

 For the leather, I purchased a leather skirt from one of our local thrift stores.  $3.00 for a knee length skirt.  Pretty good deal as far as I'm concerned.

 This is the first pouch I made.  Following the pattern and directions from Butterick 5371.  Did you know you can fuse things to leather?  Me neither, but it worked pretty well.  The whole thing is lined with muslin fused to the leather.

 After it was finished and I handed it to Mr. Riley he says, "That's a little more refined than I was expecting."  Yep.  So back to the sewing table I went.  I drafted this one myself.  Longer and thinner - less 'pretty'.

 It was originally the color of the other pouch.  Mr. Riley used shoe polish to darken it up and crumpled it up in his hands to give it a more weathered look.  I also neglected to center the loop and button.  Just adds more rustic charm, right?

As you can see in the picture above, he did end up wearing them both.  No pockets in the medieval era.

Hobbits

 And now for our Hobbits.

 "I suppose hobbits need some description nowadays, since they have become rare and shy of the Big People, as they call us.  The are (or were) a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded Dwarves.  Hobbits have no beards.  There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you and me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can hear a mile off.  They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good-natured faces, and laugh deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it)."  From The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkein

 The shirts were both made from MCCALLS 4952.  Both are cut a size 4, with the arms being shortened for the green shirt.

 I omitted the lacing on WP's shirt, because it fit him quite well without them.

 I actually don't remember the pants pattern, but they are simple elastic waist pants, that I cropped into 'short pants'.

 The yellow vest was made from Butterick 6894.  Cut a size 4.  It barely fit Si, so it was deemed his.

I just went ahead and self drafted a larger one for WP.

And of course every hobbit needs hobbit feet.  Some scraps of fake brown fur attached to sandals - and voila!