Proof of Lulu

So I lied about the Tumblr pictures. Sorry. I forgot my camera on day 1, and day 2 wasn't much of a photographic opportunity day- mainly because I was either in judging, the green room, or the masquerade. It was worth it, because, shockingly, I won a Judge's Award for Julia. I really wasn't expecting it; there were several costumes I kept staring at going 'oh my gosh, that's fantastic! Mine can't compare!'. I'm so grateful, if still gobsmacked.

All right, now that all of that's out of the way, Lulu is being constructed!

For the skirt I am using Simplicity pattern #2058. It amazed me how difficult it was to find a simple, line skirt pattern. I looked through four different pattern books before I found this one. To be honest, Simplicity is my least favorite company for patterns, so I use them in last resort. Someday I'll have enough expertise to make patterns on my own.

The skirt is being made of black pleather we purchased some years ago, on clearance again, when we first theorized this cosplay. The entire thing is cut out now, and I'm just waiting for Sil to tell me how long she wants the front panel to be.

I changed my mind on the pattern for the corset, and have moved on to Simplicity pattern #5726, one of those that we purchased when we bought the pleather.  I still very much like S#7215, but Lulu needs very distinct lines down her corset, and the construction of that particular pattern did not lend itself well to them.

There will be a lot of changing up on the S#5726 though. Why anyone would think that one layer of fabric, without interfacing would be a good idea for a corset is beyond me. Yes, that's all this pattern calls for, with casings for the boning being sewn onto that one layer. And new interfacing at all. How stiff do they expect that to be?

Instead I am making a shell and a lining, both of which will be accompanied by a fairly stiff interfacing. Both of these portions will have casings on them for steel boning. As visible on the image of Lulu above, there are light gray lines on the shell of her corset, easily made with bias tape, and I am considering placing boning in them too, just for good measure- though that would be the featherlite boning.

I have all the proper pieces cut out, and interfacing fused to each one. Tomorrow I'll be stitching them all together and getting as far as I can. On the negative side, I need a 12" corset busk, and I'm pretty sure I can't get that anyway around here. Ordering one may take a while, so we'll see...