Magna Carta
Well, this project all started out with someone in SDNC suggesting we do a War of Genesis cosplay group. I looked through all the pictures, but couldn't find a character that A) wasn't already claimed and B) thatI could do. (dang well-endowed girls with impossibly skimpy costumes -_- ) So I was mentioning this to my friend Tsume (in my Cher Wolfs Rain pics) and he was like "well, Magna Carta is kinda like WoG, take a look at this..." or something like that, and he sent me the first picture I've ever seen of Estell. And, upon seeing this picture (above) I sent him this message, and I quote: "HOLY CRAPNESS, TSUME!!!!!! =O" And it was thereupon decided that I had to make this dress!!! From looking at the picture, I determined that taffeta would be the fabric of choice, because...well, thats what it looks like its made of! The only taffeta I could find though was in a darker red than the picture looks like, but after awhile I decided that even though it wasn't the ideal accurate red, it was still really pretty! I found a huge bolt of it at Hobby Lobby, and when I compared it to a bolt of black feathers (there wasnt any fur immediately around) it just looked stunning. So, good thing my birthday was in a week or so, I got a Hobby Lobby gift card and proceeded to spend it on 6 yards of taffeta! ^___^ JoAnns had a 99 cent pattern day when I found the pattern to use for it (Butterick 6925) and Hancock had fur remnants for $2.99 a yard! So a little bit of discounting in every fabric store in town, and I was set ^^
I made the main part of the dress (minus any lining or triangles on top) in no time, but its not my costume unless I screw up somewhere! ^^; First I made the bodice too tight. So, I took out all the seams and made it bigger. But it was too big. and in all that sewing and ripping of seams, and trying on and taking off, seams popped and edges frayed all over ;___; I was almost to the point of buying a whole new 6 yards of taffeta (aah! the money!! ;;;) but I managed to get it okay ^^;; a few days later I did the top part of the lining out of remnants of the taffeta, and then Friday (2 days before the banquet at which I wanted to have Estell finished) I spent from 5:00pm to 2:00 am finishing the rest of the lining (black satin and lace, mmm) and making the top detailing and fur. It was a long time, but I had a lot of fun!
I think this dress turned out really nicely. It was my first time making a formal dress, something that I would actually wear to a formal banquet not at a con. Which I did ^^ Our marching band has a formal band banquet every year, and after seeing this dress and knowing I just had to make it, I decided it would be great to wear to it! The banquet was wonderful, the hotel was dressed up all classy, and it was great to see everyone (usually in clothes similar to workout gear) in their formals and prom dresses. People really liked my dress (woooo!) and when word got around from my friends that I had made it myself, people loved it even more! I was so happy ^^ It actually worked! Who'da thought? ^^
Yay, got pictures back! A lot didn't turn out (saadd! ;__; ) but there were a few good ones ^^ Estell with a book, looking out the window
