...So Where Was I?

Oh, yeah, RenFest.

So this costume turned out to be ADORABLE.  We got so many comments at the fair, not to mention from our many Facebook friends after I plastered my page with photos.  We definitely took lots of pics in costume, however, I was so pressed for time while making it that I didn't really take photos of the process.  The good news is that I pretty much used the straight pattern pieces with little or no departure from the instructions.

Here is pretty much how it went down:  I used the straight pattern of Simplicity 2788 for the baby costume, using white cotton muslin for the body suit and headpiece, black velveteen for the outside ears, cuffs, and booties, and a peach satin for the inside of the ears.

For the Bo Peep costume, I really didn't have to do much of a "Franken-pattern."  I was able to use most of Simplicity 5582, a Renaissance-style dress with a lot of different pieces.  I used the bodice without tabs at the waist and the long-gathered-sleeved blouse pattern, cutting the sleeve just below the first elastic channel.  The blouse is made of cotton muslin that was dyed an olive green to match the drawing.


 Simplicity 5582

For the skirt, I just clipped about 10 inches from a yardage of 45" fabric, added some double lace at the hem, and gathered the top into a waistband.  For the panniers, I used the panniers from Simplicity 3723, view C.  The skirt on 3723 is a very basic skirt, so I just followed the instructions for that pattern on how to attach them.  I shopped long and hard to find the fabrics for the skirt, and finally found them in the quilters cotton section of Jo-Ann.

I borrowed a child's hoopskirt, the shepherd's crook, and the lady's colonial straw hat from the world's greatest costume shop, Performing Arts Supply. I didn't use a petticoat, though I wish that I had.  I like the rounder shape of the skirt in the illustration more than the conical shape of the hoop that I'm wearing.  I believe the panniers would have looked better too.

Here's a photo of the three of us.  Dad was dressed as The Big Bad Wolf (he's such a good sport)!

Oh, and PS, I believe I will be selling this costume (Bo Peep and sheep only, no wolf!) as the first item in my Etsy Shop.

Abby