The show we’re working on right now is William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. We’re setting it loosely in 1968-72, and we’re making a few costume items rather than buying. Really, you can buy so much for the late 60′s/early 70′s that it’s silly to make your own unless you have specific things you want to see color-wise or if you’re a bit crazy (like me?).
Sewing with Vintage Patterns: McCall’s 9629
Costume Construction Vlog!
Over Labor Day weekend, I was working on Julia’s costume for Two Gents, and I made this vlog while doing so (but of course forgot to post about it here!). You can see her blouse go from nearly nothing to nearly done, and you get a slight detour into the Vestival!
An NFDC Vlog – September 6, 2010 from North Fulton Drama Club on Vimeo.
A Work Day Episode in which Nikki shows the progression of a costume from pieces to nearly finished, along with a slight detour into vest-fu.
Hand-sewing – A Blast from the Past
We are winding down on the finishing touches on the costumes for 2 Gents, and while finishing the bodice/jacket for Sylvia’s outfit, I ran into a conundrum. Unfortunately, I ran into it at 9:30 last night and might have thrown a slight temper tantrum over it. I’m not proud, but hey, it happens. Sometimes you curse out a bodice, sometimes you throw a kimono across the room.
Video!
I know, I know, we are terrible bloggers. But we are working on a new show, so posting will abound!
Today, though, we will take the easy way out and give you a video post. This is from our first big sewing work day for our production of “Two Gentleman of Verona”. The show is set in Tombstone/Deadwood/Wild West era, so lots of bustles and vests abound.
Enjoy!
An NFDC Vlog – August 28, 2010 from North Fulton Drama Club on Vimeo.
Pattern Review: Simplicity 5359
Several of the costumes from our plot for Comedy of Errors relied on Simplicity 5359. We had originally planned on using a separate bellydancing pattern for one of these outfits, but time and the reality of our fabric dictated that using 5359 was the way to go. What follows is my review of the pattern, which will also be posted at PatternReview.com.
MC Hammer – Fan of Folkwear?
As previously discussed, our production of Comedy of Errors is set on the Silk Road, which required a lot research into traditional clothing from a variety of countries and ethnicities. I cannot tell you what an enormous help Folkwear patterns was to us. They are practically the only pattern makers online that make detailed, interesting and accessible patterns for ethnic clothing from all over the globe.
Costume Plot: Comedy of Errors
Because we both have regular day jobs, we often don’t have a traditional costume plot. More often than not we assemble a database of potential patterns, inspiration images, fonts, colors, objects, anything that puts either of us in mind of what we are trying to accomplish.
To the left, you will see some of the items I included on my original Comedy of Errors inspiration board. Our concept for CoE was at first, “Arabian Nights,” and then it morphed a bit into “Silk Road.” Think Constantinople, a melting pot centered on commerce, a city in which you might see beautiful things from almost any culture.
Which brings me to another core concept of the plot: Beauty. We wanted gorgeous fabrics, rich colors, metallics, color shifting fabric. Rich texture.
Battle wounds
Y’all, I am not gonna lie: sewing is a dangerous business. Nikki and I were comparing notes a couple of nights ago and between the 2 of us, every finger and several inches of arms are damaged. I think this might have been our bluest working period yet – not a night went by that a “fuck!” or “shit!” followed by violent shaking of hands or fingers in the mouth sounded across the Annex (our current work space).