Halloween Costume
 

I finished this Thursday night before I went to work in it on Friday. lol I normally give myself a year to work on a costume but other things got in the way this year so I only had 2 months this time around. Frantic sewing is not the word I would use. American Civil War outfit. On the paletot I had to redo the sleeves 4 times to get them right. Sleeves are sleevils!

You do beautiful garment sewing. Nice details. Do you have a closet full of costumes?

Thank you and, yes, I do have a closet full of historically accurate garments ranging (so far) from the viking era to the Victorian era. Each year I try to make a new one. My next one will probably be a Regency era gown.

Fabulous! What nice work! I watch some Youtubers do this kind of sewing. It is a lot of work!! Beautiful costume

Beautiful dress, that third photo looks a little risque. What a beautiful, beautiful dress.

You should make an album here with your costumes. I for one would love to see them all.

Your outfit is beautiful!

In my dreams, but then where would I have the opportunity to wear my beauties? https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/wink.png I assume you must be part of one or several reenactment groups. Lovely and you absolutely look the part in your dress.

I second the idea of sharing your creations here! I would love to see them. I've sewed a Union Cavalry uniform for a local gentleman that does a lot with the Pony Express as well as history around NE Colorado.

Oh my gosh I lovvvvvvvvvvvve it! Simply beautiful, you obviouly have some mad sewing skills😁, I was born in the wrong era.

Beautiful. I love your lacy pantaloons. I’m green with envy.

I love it! Perfectly done! Every once in awhile I do a costume for someone. Only once for myself and that was 30+ years ago. I make the occasional costume for one of the grand kids. They are always fun to do. They are a lot of work but the end results are worth the efforts. You make a fair lady in you civil war costume. Thanks for sharing this.

Gorgeous work. It must be so fun to dress as anyone you like. I can't imagine that kind of time frame to sew it together.

That is a wonderful outfit. I have several patterns for different era dresses but have never cut the first one out. The thought of all that sewing and it not fitting was enough to stop me. I applaud the fact that you could get this made in only 2 months.

Wow, you are good! Perfect reenactment costume!

Thanks for the compliments! You've made my day.

Just to let you know though, I'm not a member of a reinactment group.

Long story short - about 10 years ago I was invited to go to the Renaissance Faire in Shakopee MN. I had a blast and saw a ton of beautiful Tudor gowns. 8 years ago I was invited again and this time I wanted to dress up.
However, the dresses online were either not authentic enough for me or not affordable. So, I had to either learn how to sew or not have a gown. I didn't have a working sewing machine so I hand sewed...a lot, using online sources to figure things out because I can't read a sewing pattern for my life!

I enjoyed dressing up so much I decided to make an outfit from several different eras, as historically accurate as possible. I've discovered each era did things uniquely for their time. Examples: The diamond shaped backs of Regency era gowns or the collar supportasses of the Elizabethan era.

The best part is I learned how to draft things and don't need to rely on patterns now. And, since most people aren't fully aware of how things were really supposed to look in previous eras, if I make a mistake, they won't know. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png

Anyway, I have rheumatoid arthritis and can't do much anymore so I sew a lot. And wear the outfits to work. Sometimes I enter costume contests.

For each costume I learned how to make the jewelry or weaving the belts or, well, you get the idea. I tried learning how to knit to make the stockings but my hands won't let me knit.

Here are a couple of past costumes.

Stunning costume!

Wow! I am SO impressed!

You should have been a costume designer. I am so very impressed.

Wow! Thank you for sharing your beautiful costumes with us. It is an interesting hobby. Your smiles and costumes are the real reward.

Thank you, everyone, I really mean it.

Wow , you do beautiful work.

Well, my dear, you have been having just too much fun! You have lifted "playing dress up" to a higher level by making each costumes authentic to its era! It is such fun to be free enough to be what we are not. Playing pretend can be an adventure as you have shown us. Keep making costumes.

I never thought of it as playing dress up. I suppose you're right. Well, guess that means I'm tall for my age... LOL

Wow! Spectacular!

And I learned a new word. Had to go to youtube to learn how to say it!

I guess you are the most interesting person in your neighborhood. That is so cool!

Very nice! I have planned on making outfits, but on a much smaller scale. I bought an Iplehouse doll that is close to being the correct proportions, and plan on making the dresses for her. The doll has a wig, so I can style the hair to go with the clothing.

I also had to hear how to pronounce paletot.

Gorgeous - such a talent!!