A necklace and a hat are a good start...right?

While Kate is working on our yellow/brown dresses, I already got started on the green/black versions.  Well, kinda. I like to think getting started this soon on the outfit shows some sign of maturity in project planning, but the truth is sewing is an escape for me and things are kind of stressful at my day job lately. 

There are many components to the costumes that really make it into a complete look, but from experience I knew if I didn't start on something for the outfit I would be scrambling near the end.  Plus I have Ryan's outfit to work on too.  And I knew I would be "troubleshooting" through some of the pattern pieces.  So, not much actual room for procrastination!

I did actually make a list a few weeks ago to keep track of everything that goes into one of these completed looks - cost especially - but also to wrap my head around all the little things that I just add as a side-thought that really should be taken into consideration if I am ever to offer this sort of costume creation to anyone else.  So far my list consists of:

• Hoop skirt
• Undershirt/short chemise
• Bodice with attached skirt
• Underskirt/hoop cover
• Stulchein/Wulsthaube
• Hat
• Shoes
• Belt
• Handbag
• Necklace

The hoop skirt is already created, and the belt will only take an evening to soften and modify. I made the necklaces before Christmas as a present to Kate, but I haven't posted progress pictures, so here you go:

Those little white beads rolled EVERYWHERE. I eventually laid tape down sticky side up to lay out the design.

Here it is completed!

Kate already had a hat from a previous outfit that will work very well with this one, so why reinvent the wheel?  I just had to find the same supplies, which I thought wouldn't be a problem, as she got hers at Michaels' and H&M.  

Well, it turns out the hat was on FINAL CLEARANCE online when I went online shopping (the closest H&M store is an estimated 4 hour drive from me) but I managed to snag it for less than $5!  Sadly, shipping added to that, but I won't let that fact get in the way in the feeling of my bargain shopping success.  

On to the feathers from Michael's... Lo and behold I did find the exact feathers still on the website.  I added them to my online cart, but something seemed amiss when it came to checkout time.  Namely, the cost.  It turns out one can find the feathers listed online, but sometimes you can buy them individually, and sometimes not.  In my case an overpriced $3 feather pick turned into $20, an $8 (ouchy price) ostrich feather turned into $24, and so on.  I waited not so patiently until last weekend when I visited my Mom in Wichita where I could buy the feathers and not pretend I was purchasing stuffing for a premium duvet.

​Here's Kate's hat and other outfit from last fall:

Isn't she super-cute? Maybe I'm a little biased, but I think this turned out lovely, especially for an outfit made mostly of recycled pieces!

I had to tell myself several times during the construction of my own hat that it did not, in fact, have to be completely identical.  Sigh.  Perfectionism isn't so great at times. No one else will probably even see the difference anyway!  Here's my completed hat:

Aaaaaaand that's all I'll post of the hat until it can be combined with the rest of the outfit. ;)

I am actually now working on the short chemise.  I'm using cotton/polyester voile fabric, which is almost tissue thin.  The over-achiever in me is doing flat-felled seams, that of course take 3 times as long to sew in place.  But, I'll leave that adventure for another blog post, probably after I tackle the smocking.