Renaissance costume - Crafting fail 2; Megan 0.

Well here we are again. Another project in the "fail" stage on the long process of learning and achieving goals. Good grief! So, as mentioned in the previous post I had decided to revamp an old Renfaire costume within a very short deadline. I thought it would be easy enough, but I ran into problems that cost the whole project. This biggest factor I suppose was time and money. So instead of trying to create a whole new bodice, chemise, and use new extravagant fabrics that would cost tons, I decided I would use the dying process as a way to be more cost saving savvy. Well! I wasn't expecting things to not dye black! My costume ended up looking like a Joker/Renaissance crossover! I was not happy, and I'm not a huge Joker fan at all...




By the time I was done dying my things, trying to get them black, it was already 4am on the Saturday I was to wake up early and go to Renfaire. I also had a crown of black twigs and crystals that I thought was turning out ok, but just did not belong with this costume at all. I gave up the fight and just went in a lovely lace dress (as seen on my Instagram). I also really needed to sleep! It was disheartening and I felt like I wasted so much time and money. However, on a high note, Renfaire was amazing and so much fun. It was also great to see and be inspired by everyone's great costumes. It motivated me to keep working on my witchy Renaissance costume for next year. With more time I really want to have at it and create exactly what I'm envisioning. Even if it means with won't be done until two years from now! I just have a plan and I must follow through! Back to the drawing board!

Renaissance Faire 2015 - Costume

I'm the type to get a surge of ideas for a project way too last minute. For some crazy reason I believe that it's possible for a person with intermediate sewing skills, at best, to take on elaborate and detailed costume design with less than a week until deadline. Ha. This is going to be interesting.

I decided to go to the Renaissance Faire only about 3 weeks ago. Every time I go I want to dress up. I have this very simple wench ensemble that I would wear every time. Well I'm bored with it! I want to recreate it into something more spectacular and a bit more fantasy. I love the folklore of witches(mages/sorcerers), for far way too many reasons to get into here, and anytime I feel there is a prime opportunity to portray one I'm all over it. RenFaire is that time!

Follow Meggilu House's board RenFaire on Pinterest.



So far I've done reference and inspiration searches, drew up ideas, and bought some supplies. You can see some of my favorite inspirational findings on my special RenFaire Pinterest board! Many people out there have made such amazing costumes and it is ok to draw inspiration from their creations. Looking for inspiration really helps when you know exactly what you want, you just don't know how it should look or if your idea will even work.

I came up with something more on the simpler side since there's a time limit, and I feel like I was getting way too carried away with ideas. I'm crossing my fingers that I can put together something even this simple. I hope to slowly keep transforming it and making it better as I get more practice at sewing and pattern making. Then hopefully by next year I'll have the optimal geddup. A more elaborate bodice/corset and a collar is what I hope to achieve in the future. Right now it's just a normal short bodice, chemise, 2 skirts, a hooded cloak, and dark natural crown made of twigs and crystals.



Tonight I will probably go out on a midnight hunt for some "nature" for my crown. I really hope the crown works out. I'll be really sad if it doesn't. LOL. Then I need to find a good cloak pattern and get that started. Those are the two pieces that will be likely give me the most trouble since my vision for each are not solid. BUT THERE ISN'T TIME!! I'm just gonna have at it and hope for the best!! I also have to fix and rework my old chemise and skirt, make my second skirt, then dye all the fabrics accordingly. Then it's off to the Renaissance Festival! I'm going to be at the one in Tuxedo, NY this Saturday. Who else is going?! Maybe I'll see you there!