Wedding!

It's come and gone, and despite trials and tribulations, Lord and Lady Hedgehog were fully costumed and had a terrific time. Haven't found any photos specifically of us just yet, nor have I extracted my own shots from my camera, but here's one nicked from the book of face of the happy couple. 

Of course, I now have to clear the decks and tidy up the various bits of sewing detritus that have spread themselves most unaccountably all over the house.

The complicating factor is, as is natural for me, as soon as I clean down one project I can't help but start thinking of the next. Just so happens this year's Hogswatch is going to rather neatly fishtail with the 50th anniversary of Dr Who, I think it's safe to suggest that I might have a cunning plan... 

Sewing for Humans: Borogravian Army Costume

Aha! I knew the photographs would surface sooner or later.

Here's a little peek at my Borogravian costume for Miss Discworld.

Yes, I'm the one on the right... 

Stitches are, of course, optional.

So this number is put together from a combination of reproduction and modern patterns. The underpinnings are my Laughing Moon Victorian corset, chemise and bloomers, with a thrown-together petticoat of no particular pattern, with some 6mm plastic boning tucked into horsehair braid to hoop out the hem a little. 

See? Given the general theme, I'm relatively over-dressed... 

The skirt is (believe it or not) a Colette Ginger, lengthened to the floor. It could've done with being a little wider to go over all the underwear, but I think it worked well. This was actually skirt version 2; the first was a black velvet elastic waist number, but it really didn't work with the top when I put it on in the pub 15 minutes before going on stage. Thank goodness for contingency costumes! 

Particularly pleased with the bodice; this is my second time making this costume top and it's come out very well in both versions. The pattern is Truly Victorian's 1875 Ballgown Basque and is so ridiculously simple to make it's untrue. Because this is only for one-off stage wear, I left of the sleeves and omitted the lining, overlocking the edges. The front and lower edges are covered with black bias tape, and the top edge and sleeves with gold ribbon and sequins. I used more gold ribbon to make the front false frogs. It's held together (just) with hooks and eyes. 

Yes, the skirt has gone missing. It came back later.
Yes, I was beaten by a barbarian. 

The costume must've had some merits, because I was awarded 4th place and got a crown of flowers (which are sat on top of my hat in the above photo) and a certificate! Don't think it'll be going in my CV, mind you...

(Oooh, and here's what the hat looked like in 2010...

Costume recycling! A boon for the Igorina with a busy REALJOB.)

Updates updates updates...

Oh my! I'm so sorry, I left you all hanging on the bleep over the weekend.

And what a weekend it was! We had all sorts of hijinx, from celebrating the 10th anniversary of the twinning of Ankh-Morpork and Wincanton to meeting the superb "poetrix" Muriel Lavender, who Terry Pratchett was certainly very fond of...

Terry complimented her bloomers. She complimented his everything. Love at first sight?

If you live anywhere near Frome, you must go and check her out. Get her to read you the shipping forecast, or share some thoughts on teenagers.

My costumes went down very well. I didn't managed to get any photos of myself, but I'm sure some will slowly surface over the next few days. I'm not a terribly photogenic person (less photogenic than the average wall, in fact), but perhaps a few will be worthy of showing off.

In other news, a certain Toadstool is possessed of  a seasonally appropriate anorak (just in time given the horrible weather of the last few days. She looks fab in it, and I'm glad she and her human seem to be enjoying it!

So that the Hogswatch detritus is cleared from the desk and the hangover fades, I find myself wondering what the next little project is going to be. Number 3 Blythe is waiting for a few supplies, but a very interesting package arrived from MakieLab last week, and for some reason it's all gone a bit "long time ago" and "far far away" around here. Watch this space!

Sewing for Humans: Underpinnings

So, Hogswatch.

Essentially, twice a year, a load of fans of Terry Pratchett's Discworld books meet up in an unsuspecting little town in Somerset, book out all the hotels and have a jolly good time. A large proportion of us dress up 'specially for the occasion, and I'm quite fond of taking myself along and pretending to be an Igorina. Drinks are drank, money is raised for charity and occasionally, the man himself swoops in for a short visit.

Tools of the trade... note the boltcutters!

None of this is making any sense, right? Don't worry. After a few beers, none of us make sense.

The look tends to be sort of pseudo-Victorian with a bit of steam and a lot of odd. I decided this year I'd go for a underbust corset, blouse and long swoopy skirt for 'general' wear. The underbust is adjusted from my classic Victorian overbust corset pattern, appropriately sized for one of minimal height.

Of course, you need appropriate underpinnings...

And given we're meeting up at the end of November, layers are the order of the day!