AOTC Cut Scene Padme Senate Gown

This will probably be my last update for a while, since now I've gotten back to my commissions and am working on other people's projects at the moment.

I was able to finish the sleeves (I still need to attach the 20 buttons) and I got most of the skirt attached to the bodice.

Here is the collar progress:

Sleeve progress:

The sleeves, back & sides of the skirt attached to the bodice:

All that remains for the velvet outer dress is to finish attaching the skirt to the bodice, work on the lapels, attach them to the collar, pipe & attach them to the bodice & skirt, embellesh them with the "Naboo symbol" and attach 10 buttons to each lower sleeve. Then I need to finish my beading so I can finish the under bodice/skirt.

I'm unsure when I'll be able to pick this back up because I have a mile long list of commissions! :)

AOTC Senator Amidala Cut Scene Gown

At long last, I've picked up work on this gown again! I started it over two years ago, but set it aside to work on Halloween costumes and that turned into working on Episode 3 [pregnant] Padmé costumes to go with my pregnant belly. Now that I'm back to "normal" I decided I should pick it back up. I've made some great progress.

I am still working with Simplicity 4156 but I've also picked up Simplicity 3782 which is an Elizabethan costume pattern. I'm using 4156 for the collar, under bodice, sleeves and parts of the outer bodice. I'm using 3782 for the skirt and underskirt. Obviously, everything gets some sort of alteration to make it work for the Padmé gown.

To read (or re-read) my original posts:
First Post
Second Post
Third Post

Here are some of my fabrics. Top left is the drape fabric, then the outer bodice/skirt/upper sleeve velvet, and then the lower sleeve/piping fabric.

My rough sketch of the drape "clasp" beading. I can't really determine what the rest of the design is based on the pictures I have, but here is what I could make out:

Sketch of the hair and head jewelry:

My original sketch of the bodice beading. I later came across the "touch wall" picture thanks to Kathy's FIDM pictures. The picture shows similar beading appliques without all the extra stuff, so it makes it much easier to see what's going on.

My sketches of the collar beading and the navette rhinestone "flower" details:

(Ignore the strange fabric) This is my mock-up for the bodice, sleeve, collar, and [shortened for mock-up purposes] lapel:

My silk velvet before cutting into it:

Lower sleeve construction. I made the lower sleeves two pieces, one longer than it needed to be to create the folds that the original has. I gathered the edges of the longer portion and sewed it to the other portion. Then I lightly pressed the folds to get them to lay the way I wanted them to:

Bodice progress. I basted the velvet to a blue broadcloth to give it strength and stability:

Bodice pieces after being sewn together:

Pinning some of the piping:

Sewing some of the piping:

Upper sleeve progress:

Upper sleeve after having all the sections piped and attached:

Here is my velvet "skirt" laying on the couch. It is a LOT of fabric, and pretty weighty too! (This picture shows the front and fronts of the sides, the back and backs of the sides are underneath...there's that much fabric!) It will look gorgeous once I have it pleated and sewn onto the bodice. But first, I need to pipe the edge of the bodice, because the waist seam gets piping too:

Now, I need to sew some more piping. I roughly calculated I will need about 16 yards of piping for this gown!

Padme Aqua Georgette Update

I am so very close to being finished with my Padme aqua georgette gown that I was able to wear it for the first time last night (3-21-09) at an event! My city's hockey team has a Star Wars night every year, and we (the Midwest Base of the Rebel Legion & Great Lakes Garrisson of the 501st Legion) help raise money for the Grand Rapids Griffin's youth foundation. So, my aqua georgette gown made it's debut at the Grand Rapids Griffin's Star Wars night.

I had some pictures taken in front of the photo booth green screen when there was a lull in activity:



I still have a bit of embroidery to do on the front, near the hem of the gown, as well as the back drape.

To see my previous update click HERE

Padme Mustafar Update

I decided to go ahead and start working on my Mustafar outfit even though I am not 100% finished with my aqua georgette gown yet. The work I need to do on the aqua georgette is evening, sitting on the couch, after the kids are in bed work and the things I can do on the Mustafar outfit can be done while the kids are up.

So, last week I began laying out the pattern for the top and creating a mock-up to test for fit. After a bit of altering, I finally had the pattern ready. I have the top 100% complete now with the exception of sewing snaps onto the neckline and collar to attach the collar. The movie-used costume has an invisible zipper up the back and a removable collar held in place with magnets (of all things!). I didn't want to spend the money on magnets, so I'll be using large snaps.

Here are some progress pictures:

Front, no collar.

Back, no collar.

Front, with collar.

3/4 front with collar.

Close up of front.

Front seam detail.

Back seam detail.

Closeup of front with collar.

To see my previous posting on this costume, click Here.

Padme Aqua Georgette Gown Update

Here's another update on my Padme Aqua Georgette Gown. I haven't done any more embroidery on the gown itself, though I did attach hooks & eyes to the back of the gown and the drape so that the back drape could be worn on the gown (regardless of the fact I haven't embroidered anything on the drape yet). I have been focusing most of my attention on the sleeves (gauntlets). I also have the headband finished!

Below are several progress pictures.

After the embroidery was finished on the sleeves, I started adding the shells and beads.

Closeup of the embroidery on the sleeves.

Adding the shells and beads to the top of the sleeves. (Flash off)

Adding shells and beads to the tops of the sleeves. (Flash on)

Sleeve detail showing the "V" shaped inset. I included an opening, since I believe the original may have had some sort of opening here to allow for easier dressing.

Sleeve detail showing "V" inset.

Headband after painting.

Headband after painting.

Headband complete.

Headband complete.

Gown front, with drape attached.

Gown side, with drape attached.

Gown side, drape attached.

To see my previous update click Here