Shinku - More Final Touches

I redid the sleeve that I was complaining about... it's a little better. More consistent. I added a lining, although I'm not sure it's quite right and I am may need to resew a few parts after testing it out. I cut off the hook and eye I sewed on the collar yesterday and redid it.

The only thing I might still do is touch up the crinoline because it is a little longer in the front than in the back. It should only take a couple minutes to do that though.

I need to pull out my bloomers to check those out...

That's it. Except for any possible lining touch-ups, it's done.

Shinku - The Final Countdown (Part 1?)

On the weekend I tried on the costume again and the alterations worked out very well, so thank goodness. The cane is painted pink and almost done being sealed. I added more tulle to the crinoline, which was the worst of it. I bought a lighter weight tulle than the original garment and had some difficulty sewing it, but it is bigger, so it doesn't matter too much. I trimmed the bangs and it makes a big difference.

I also picked up some hair pins to hold on the wig better than bobby pins. And a new mascara. I'll need to do some work on my eyebrows, but I think I'll probably wait until Friday to do that, Thursday at the earliest.

Today, I have sewn the band down on my capelet, so that piece is entirely done. I did a few touch-ups on my zipper and added a hook and eye to the collar, though it's a rather shoddy job. I added the three buttons to the front of the bodice as well. As it stands the whole thing is done. There are, however, a few areas that could be improved upon. I will consider these areas in the next two days and make any changes I deem necessary.

Otherwise... she's all done!

Shinku - Mini Part

Finished the hat, more or less, and attached the bow to the back of the dress.

Dress To-Do List:

• Finish sewing the zipper
• Hem the dress
• Bodice alterations
• Sew on the decorative buttons (0/3)
• Make a bow for the back
• Attach bow

Accessories To-Do List:

• Make buttonholes in the capelet (6/6)
• Sew the buttons onto the capelet (6/6)
• Make little band for top buttons of the capelet
• Resew the brim onto the hat
• Sew on a band on the inside of the hat
• Attach button to the top of the hat
• Attach more tulle to the crinoline
• Paint the cane pink
• Make bow for the cane
• Trim bangs and back of the wig

Shinku - Part Twelve

Five hours later, hem is done!

Dress To-Do List:

• Finish sewing the zipper
• Hem the dress
• Bodice alterations
• Sew on the decorative buttons (0/3)
• Make a bow for the back
• Attach bow

Accessories To-Do List:

• Make buttonholes in the capelet (6/6)
• Sew the buttons onto the capelet (6/6)
• Make little band for top buttons of the capelet
• Resew the brim onto the hat
• Sew on a band on the inside of the hat
• Attach button to the top of the hat
• Paint the cane pink
• Make bow for the cane
• Trim bangs and back of the wig

Shinku - Part Eleven

So... I worked on the hat. I reattached the brim and then top stitched all the way around. I don't know if I like how it looks. I don't know what to do about it.

I made the alterations to the dress bodice. It was a little bit of a nightmare, no surprise. Difficult to position, had to cut the skirt off to finish the seams. Not fun. It's done, but I still need to try it on again to make sure everything is alright.

Made the bow for the back. The velvet wanted to slip and move the whole time, so it's a little floppy and not as pristine as the bows usually turn out, but it's pretty good. Velvet is pretty floppy, so, it's fine.

Painting the cane is still going, but not well. I don't know... the paint seems unusually thin and just wants to slide right off the surface, making huge drip marks. I don't know what I can do to make this good, I might need to get new paint. Oi.

Dress To-Do List:

• Finish sewing the zipper
• Hem the dress
• Bodice alterations
• Sew on the decorative buttons (0/3)
• Make a bow for the back
• Attach bow

Accessories To-Do List:

• Make buttonholes in the capelet (6/6)
• Sew the buttons onto the capelet (6/6)
• Make little band for top buttons of the capelet
• Resew the brim onto the hat
• Sew on a band on the inside of the hat
• Attach button to the top of the hat
• Paint the cane pink
• Make bow for the cane
• Trim bangs and back of the wig

Shinku - Part Ten

So, weekend update!

Went shopping for all the last minute supplies that I still needed and somethings I found out I didn't have. Picked up white stockings, false eyelashes, more thread and interfacing, skirt hooks.

I tried on the finished dress with the corset I've decided I'm going to wear and decided the bodice needs to be taken in. This will be a nightmare, but if it works it will make an astronomically huge difference in the fit and look of the whole costume.

I made the buttonholes and sewed on the buttons on the capelet. I tried the - disassembled and pinned together - hat with the wig and it looks A LOT better, so it's ready to be sewn together and finished. A first layer of pink paint was applied to the cane. All in all things are looking pretty good.

Today I didn't do too much work, but I made the little beige band to go on my capelet. It really makes it. I just need to sew it down a bit.

A few people are suggesting I enter the masquerade at AN. I'm still not sure... it's a huge commitment, which can be very worth it. But, last year entering the masquerade took over the whole Saturday. So... I just don't know yet.

Dress To-Do List:

• Finish sewing the zipper
• Hem the dress
• Bodice alterations
• Sew on the decorative buttons (0/3)
• Make a bow for the back
• Attach bow

Accessories To-Do List:

• Make buttonholes in the capelet (6/6)
• Sew the buttons onto the capelet (6/6)
• Make little band for top buttons of the capelet
• Resew the brim onto the hat
• Sew on a band on the inside of the hat
• Attach button to the top of the hat
• Paint the cane pink
• Make bow for the cane
• Trim bangs and back of the wig

Shinku - Part Nine

Countdown to Anime North: 14 Days.

Yesterday, I mostly did work on the cane. To patch up those cracks (I found out someone stepped on my cane, arg!) I applied layers of wood glue and dried them in front of a heater. I think I did around five or more layers... I started to lose track pretty quickly. The thing is pretty sturdy now. I also used some glue layers to smooth over some rough parts. I also started a little work on the seven meter hem. I think I only did about a yard, but I started quite late in the evening and my eyes got tired pretty quickly. I also straightened out the curls in the wig ponytails a little bit. They're still pretty curly, but in more a appropriate way.

Today I went back to the dress. It is now sewn up the back with the zipper mostly inserted. I tried to put it in nice and correctly, honestly, I did. But the velvet was such a nightmare that I had to resort to drastic measures. Needless to say, it's not the prettiest zipper, but it's in there. I just need to hand sew the section near the waist, because it was too bulky for my poor, stupid, domestic machine.

I've also been applying more coats of primer to the cane... after adding all those glue layers, the prime job has to be pretty much be completely redone. But I've been speeding through it, so hopefully I will finally be able to paint it pink this weekend.

Dress To-Do List:

• Finish sewing the zipper
• Hem the dress
• Sew on the decorative buttons (0/3)
• Make a bow for the back
• Attach bow

Accessories To-Do List:

• Make buttonholes in the capelet (0/6)
• Sew the buttons onto the capelet (0/6)
• Make little band for top buttons of the capelet
• Resew the brim onto the hat
• Sew on a band on the inside of the hat
• Attach button to the top of the hat
• Paint the cane pink
• Make bow for the cane
• Trim bangs and back of the wig