How to make this dress for CHCH Ball

By sakura_petals. 24/07/09, 05:06 pm

I've decided to go with a character going by teh name of Lasty Farson (found her on the anime character database thingy) for the CHCH Cosplay Ball but would like some help figuring out how to make her dress.

Ref pics:

Spoiler:

I want to make it a little longer in the skirt and add long sleeves to it but I'm having trouble figuring out the ribbon thingy and if the dark blue under dress is actually a dress or a shirt and skirt. Would it matter either way? What would be easiest?

Any help is apreciated!! I'll give you virtual cookies/cake...

By MissEevee. 24/07/09, 06:00 pm

what i'd say is make two dresses.

the fist, dark blue one, should be really easy.
it's a simple a-line dress + kimono collar with corset ribboning.
you should be able to do that without much trouble.

it's the overdress that might give you some problems, because it's very anime in that it's physically impossible in parts. >.<
i'd suggest making a strapless floaty pale blue number that stays up without assistance (possibly elasticised, since you won't see the top anyway), then attaching the ribbon/sash to that to get the drapey sleeve effect.
as for how to make the sash.
you're going to need turquoise material and gold/yellow binding.
and i'd advise forgetting the patterns on the ribbon, as they'll make everything more difficult, when you already have enough to do.

hope this helps. (:

By sakura_petals. 24/07/09, 06:09 pm

Cool, it's the way I was thinking but I still wanted to get other opinions. I'll need help with the collar - never done anything like that. What do you mean by corset ribboning? As for the patterns on the ribbon- can you get gold puff fabric paint? Might need to go have a look in Spotlight....

By MissEevee. 24/07/09, 06:12 pm

corset ribboning = the ribbons that look like corset ribbons on the collar.
they're really easy, so don't worry.
just insert eyelets, and thread. >.<
and you should be able to find a simple kimono collar pattern on the internet. (:

the patterns...iunno.
i'd definitely leave them.
they don't seem to be worth all the extra time you'll have to spend on them. D:

By sakura_petals. 24/07/09, 06:17 pm

I'm a details person so I don't think I can't not have them... I'll get the dress done and then see how much time I have left over - so glad we're having the sewing meet so I can get help in person!! I fell in love with this dress when I first saw it so I hope I can do it justice!

By MissEevee. 24/07/09, 06:19 pm

it really shouldn't be too difficult.

i'm sure you'll have no trouble. (:

oh, one more piece of advice.
make sure you get the right weight of fabrics.
you'll want really super light and floaty for the outer dress (maybe chiffon?), and heavy-ish for the inner.

(could be incredibly obvious, but it'd be a horrible mistake to make)

By sakura_petals. 24/07/09, 06:25 pm

No, I'd already figured that one out! I'm pretty good at working out the logistics of things but when it comes to the practical I fail most of the time (it doesn't end up looking like I think it should).

By MissEevee. 24/07/09, 06:27 pm

haha, yeah, i thought you might have that one down.
just thought i'd mention it as it could ruin the entire outfit and be a terrible waste of money. D:

once you get the basic pattern sorted, i'm sure you'll be fine. (:

By sakura_petals. 24/07/09, 06:29 pm

Thanks for the tips! It looks pretty easy once you break it down...

By MissEevee. 24/07/09, 06:30 pm

no problem at all. (:

and yeah, it does.
when i first glanced at it, i thought it was going to be pretty complex.
but really, i think there are just going to be several pieces to it, none of which should be overly time consuming for you. n.n

By sakura_petals. 24/07/09, 06:35 pm

Yep, it seems to be skirts and dresses - the hardest thing for me will be the top and the ribbon/sash thingy I think.

By Mandie_Chan. 25/07/09, 02:57 am

seems most good things have been said already ^_^

have you got a back view?

my thoughts would be to cheat slightly. Kinda hard to describe over internet but shall give it a shot. >_<;
I would make a 'main' dress (with the navy attached to the white for the top) and then make a navy skirt (could be latter attached to the dress if desired)

Ribbon would obviously be better separate and have interfacing to help strengthen it (and give more shape)
how were you going to do the designs on it? ~~i only skimmed the thread~~ i thing paint would be the easiest way to go, but could always use smaller ribbon if you have the time (may look a bit tacky if sewing skill arn't up for it)

I would attach the green ribbion to the dress by 2/3 clips on the front (depending how much you want it to move) and i would also put 1/2 on the back to help keep it up.

also looking at the pattern the colour change on the dress (from navy to white) looks like its ON THE BUST!
don't know about you... but thats not always the most flattering look (even more so when it flares out) I would actually change it to the seem being under the bust and would even think about moving the ribbon to being under the bust to.
-DONT HAVE TO DO THIS!

um yea... think thats all from me ^_^

By sakura_petals. 25/07/09, 05:15 am

Now that you mention it, moving the white dress to under the bust would be best. So what you're saying is for the navy under dress make it a top with the white dress attached and another navy skirt under it? Make it 2 separate items? That's what I was thinking at first but wouldn't it be easier to find a dress pattern then a top pattern - might have to go looking online to find matching patterns. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by clipping on the ribbon - like with domes or something?

By Mandie_Chan. 25/07/09, 05:30 am

well... this is what i mean by its hard to explain >_<;

Its still a dress, I would just do the navy under skirt separate.
There will be patterns for the dress flaring under the bust so you still use one of those, just make it shorter.

i feel like im making no sense T.T

yea domes would work, even a hook and eye. either way you need something to keep the green ribbon up (and staying in place)

By MissEevee. 25/07/09, 05:38 am

i think the flowy overdress actually comes from above the bust - like a normal strapless dress.
iunno.
but i find that line to be fairly flattering. especially since the top will be covered by the sash?

idk. i just think the whole dress might look very different if the outer dress came from under the bust.

- shrug -

By Mandie_Chan. 25/07/09, 05:42 am

well thats just something I would do (coz it would suit me better) though in the end it's not really up to me >_<;

~~follow the heart of the cards~~

By MissEevee. 25/07/09, 05:44 am

iunno!
i just think it might look really different from the original, that's all. (:

~~C'MON KURIBO! .__.~~

By sakura_petals. 25/07/09, 05:44 am

Know that I go have another look, it does look like coming from just above the bust. I think I'll make the over skirt with an elastic waist so I can see what would look better before I fasten it permanently. This could be quite interesting trying to get that pretty but silly ribbon sash to stay in place... Will probably have to have someone come and help me - last minute stuff is always fun!! But if I get my A into G quickly and don't muck around too much I might not have last minute stuff like always..

Just saw the post you made Mandie - heart of the cards? LOL!

By Mandie_Chan. 25/07/09, 05:46 am

@eevee
yesh it would look very different ^_^

@alice
thanks ^_^ i thought id would be appropriate here lol

By MissEevee. 25/07/09, 05:46 am

if you attach the ribbon sash by a brooch (see that thing in the centre?) to the outer dress - as long as your outer dress is well attached to the inner - then it should stay.
and then, as Mandie said, just clip it in several places. (:

By sakura_petals. 25/07/09, 05:59 am

That's true, I was wondering if the triangle thingy was just decoration or practical - glad to see some people are paying attention when I'm not! So I'll add that to my list of things to make/buy/find.

By MissEevee. 25/07/09, 06:50 am

doesn't matter what it is to the character, you can make it practical!

haha, don't worry about it.
i always miss really obvious things for my own cosplays.
but i'm pretty good at analysing other people's.

>__<

By sakura_petals. 25/07/09, 06:55 am

That's why I posted this thread, to see if others can come up with ideas I hadn't thought of. I've already decided not to put in the ring/hoop thing under the top of the sash - there is no point to it and it'll be a pain! It seems the point of cosplay is that you start with an idea and then modify it to point it no longer looks like the idea you started with... does this sound right?

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