Bristol Renaissance Faire 2017

Its been a month since our last trip to Renfaire and almost 3 since our first trip.  We went opening weekend and closing day this year.  The only sewing that I did this year was for E.  For the first day I had the main parts of her costume done. The dress and the over dress.

We went up north the week before Renfaire, so that's all I could finish.  If I remember right, I actually had some finishing to do when we got home the night before. 

So the next few days after the Faire, I made the detachable sleeves.  I think they took as long as the dress.

Each piece had to be faced, lined, sewn and then turned right side out.   Her dress is made from Kona Cotton, Pool.  The brown is all a faux suede.

Here is the pattern that I used.

Here she is with the sleeves on.  Not sure why her eyes are closed.

The first time, Si was Link.  This was a costume he had received for his birthday.  He was pretty warm, but never complained!

 Si went as Peter Pan the second time. All costume parts I had from previous costumes.

 WP had a repeat of the barbarian.  Cool and comfortable.

 WD also repeated the Elven Archer.

 Despite her face, Mini wanted to "snuggle with WD"

Mr. Riley is wearing linen pants I made for him a while ago, but he bought himself a linen sleeveless shirt this year.  Not sure if I should be offended or relieved.....  I am wearing the same costume as last year, too.

 Si and Santiago from the Clan Tynker - one of our favorite acts to watch. 

Mini was a blue princess the first time, originally worn by E *here*

And a pink butterfly the second.

 I suppose in the realm of costumes, I need to start planning on Halloween, now.

Bristol Renaissance Faire 2016 Revisited

I know I've already done a few posts on our visit to Bristol RenFaire, but we went for a second time on Labor Day.
Princess1
Elf
Barbarians
Ranger
Princess2

 In the past it used to be free for children on the last weekend.  It was not this year, but we went anyway.  And, I made a completely new costume for myself, since everyone else had their costumes done and ready to go.

 So much to everyone's surprise, myself included, I made a corset and a new skirt using the McCalls costume pattern 6911.

The details: The corset is a fabric from Joann Fabrics Casa line, and I lined it with a quilting cotton!

It also has boning, which I had never done before, so I enjoyed the challenge and it seemed to have turned out OK.

Here's Matilda showing off the outfit outside today.  Since she is red, I put a t-shirt on her so you can see the corset.

I had to apply a total of 20 gromets.  Corsets are sort of a "thing" at RenFaire, all shapes and sizes of ladies can be found wearing them.

 The skirt is paneled with an invisible zip in the back.  (I know, no zippers in the Renaissance, but hey, no credit cards, either, and the merchants are more than happy to take those!)  I made the skirt out of a sort of suede look-a-like.  Our local Joann was closing to relocate, and clearing out everything, so I was able to get some good deals.

 I even added beaded trim, which I was able to get at 70% off.  Otherwise, I'm not sure I would have considered it, that stuff is expensive!  The pattern tells you to line the skirt.  I didn't bother.  It was full and heavy enough without the lining - especially for wearing midsummer.

 I did, however wear my crinoline slip from my wedding!  It's one of those things I've debated for years about whether I should keep it  or not, so finally 20 years later, it has new life!

 My mom did ribbon embroidery on it for my "something blue".

 I should also note that this guy changed up his look for the second trip.  No more barbarian, just a "pheasant" (peasant).  These were items already in the costume pile.

 So here's me and Mr. Riley.  We celebrated 20 years of marriage this summer.  Love this guy!

Renaissance Faire 2016: Princess Dress

This dress took forever.  At least two weeks.  One of the most complicated things I've probably done.  I should go back and fix a couple things.
Good thing she loves it.

 This was actually the first project I started for this year's Renaissance Faire.  It was a good thing I didn't save it for last, or it would never have gotten done.  It took me 2-3 hours to get all the pieces cut and marked.  Another night to sew darts, oh the darts.  16 darts in total.

 It is straight up view B with no alterations.  Because, guess what?  You can't alter it.  There are no "lengthen or shorten here" places due to the way the skirt and bodice are formed and go together.

 And given the construction of the tulip skirt, it definitely required leggings to go with it.  (and MY boots)

 I should say, that despite all the pieces and all the steps it did go together like it was supposed to.  I've never sewn anything quite like it before, though.  The cross straps are sewn into the neckline, but then hand stitched on the outside.  (another evening of sewing)  That is actually the one thing I should probably go back and fix.  I should probably sew those straps down while its on the dress form so the curves sit correctly.  To me the bust area isn't as smooth as it should be.

The skirt does sit smoothly, but it was a bit windy and E had already been sitting in the car for 20 minutes before we took pictures.  Oh, and she had worn it for most of a day once I finished it.

Just a couple more things, in case you are curious about this pattern and visiting from the interwebs.
The instructions have you do lots of under stitching (I don't get under stitching, I mean, I know why I'm supposed to do it, but it never seems to work well for me.  Give me top stitching any day).  And I did it, because top stitching clearly was not going to work on this dress, but because the neckline was so thick with all the layers of fabric, lace and interfacing, the lining still kept coming forward, so this was my hack: I did a large running stitch, from the lining side, through all but the top layer, all the way around the neck opening, and now the lining doesn't roll to the front.  I don't care if its not pretty, or doesn't match.  It worked.

 And also, the back detail.  The bands do not actually go all the way around.  They meet up at the side seam.  The pattern has to do this because of the side invisible zipper.

 E and Mini.

Renaissance Faire 2016: Elf

 The elf costume was pretty easy this year.  In years past WD has chosen costumes that made him uncomfortably hot.  Dwarf, Gandalf, Gandalf again, Radagast (apparently never blogged).  This year I encouraged him to choose something cooler.

 I made the sleeveless tunic from a linen-look fabric and view C from Simplicity 1552

 And pajama pants out of a green jersey knit.  I bet he was one of the most comfortable people at the faire.

 Of course, as with most projects nothing was perfectly easy.  I bought the linen before deciding on a pattern (I know, I know).  So then I obviously didn't have enough.  Went to the store, matched my sample piece and after washing discovered they were actually not the same.  Fortunately I had more than enough of the second fabric.  I was able to use one piece that I had already cut out, as the facing.  But I now have one piece already cut for the tunic.  Back into the stash, just in a funny shape.

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: A Small Princess

 Mini got a new dress for Renfaire.  More on the princess side than peasant side.  The mint was all extra from E's dress, and I found the coordinating lace in the red tag aisle at Joann.

 This was a pretty quick sew, especially since I've made two versions of this dress before.

 Hanging next to E's dress, waiting for Saturday.

 Mini wasn't terribly thrilled about having her picture taken.

 Playing chase with the cheetah barbarian.

 Mini meeting Tiny from Barely Balanced.  I think she was so happy to see a small person on stage.

 More costumes to come.