Bye Bye Olaf, was nice making you!

I have had a very busy couple of weeks making the 10 Girls outfits for the Frozen troupe. I had already cut them out of different coloured fabrics and bagged them up in named bags, as the girls are all different sizes. Here are some photos. I have not put the petticoats in them yet, as I want to try them on and make sure the lengths are correct before putting the zips in. They will probably be a bit long, so I will take them up at the waist and then they can be let down later when the girls grow.

 

I have made scalloped hems on five of the dresses, as they were featured in the film. I have chosen much brighter colours than in the film to give more impact. Once the petticoats are in, the skirts will stick out a lot more and they will all have a pair of white lace-edged bloomers.

 

I have also been working on Kristoff and have completed his top. I have used long grey fur inside out so that the fur edge is showing and trimmed it with thick cerise ribbon. I cut up a grey jumper for the sleeves and neck. When I went to Camden Market recently, I found exactly the right scarf to use as his belt, which was another stroke of luck, as trying to make one would have been very difficult. I now have to make his trousers, boots and hat. Here is a picture of work in progress

 

 

 

I have attached the mittens, as it saves them getting lost by the dancer, which often happens with quick changes.

 

Well, I was sad to say goodbye to Olaf, who has been my companion this last week. Once the features go on, the characters seem to come alive and I get quite attached to them. However, I was thrilled to see how well he fitted and Emily was over the moon with him. I am really looking forward to seeing her dance in the costume, she has to do some cartwheels, which won't be a problem for her, as she is a very talented gymnast. Some of you may remember her as the Hedgehog in Alice, where she had to do countless gambols through the hoops made by the cards. she will be the Hedgehog again this year in the show in December and after a few alterations, the costume just about fits after 3 years. Here is a photo of Emily, looking very happy in her costume. Her face will be painted grey to make it look like his mouth.

 

I have started to make Sven, the reindeer and will post some photos in my next blog, which will be the last of the Frozen blogs, except for maybe a photo of all of the dancers in their costumes. After this, I have 11 Playing Cards, A Red and White Queen and a new Alice to make and will be blogging about them, hoping that there are some interested folk out there.

 

 

Olaf Costume




 

Ice Maidens and Elsa

Sorry my third blog is so overdue, life got in the way, but now I am steaming ahead.

Because I work alone, it takes me a long time to create each costume. First there is the planning of how to make each one. In the case of the Frozen Troupe, this means watching the movie over and over, making sketches and notes. Then I make a shopping list and take pictures with me to match colours. I buy most of my fabric from Birmingham Rag Market, where I know all of the fabric retailers now and which stalls are the most likely to stock the fabric I need.

I was lucky with the Elsa sequin fabric, as it was there on the first day I went shopping and then I never saw it again. I chose a lilac shiny mesh fabric to put over it and a pale blue lining. I lined the bodice with pale blue lycra to give it some stretch and made lycra pants as it is to be danced in. Because it needs to be danced in, I couldn't design it the same as the film, it needed to flare out and had to be mid-calf in length, as the child's feet need to be seen by the adjudicator at Festivals. I used a stretch white sequin mesh for the arms and trimmed them with strip sequins that I cut from normal sequin fabric, as they are easy to sew on, catch the light really well and don't keep breaking needles. Here is a picture of the Elsa Costume

 

I have now finished the snowman and will upload a photo in my next blog, as I need to try it on the dancer first and hopefully her parents will consent to my posting a photo of her in it. Here is a photo of the head with all the features ready to sew on.

 

 

 It took me nearly two hours to cut them out and sew them on. I don't stick them on because eventually they will peel off and I want my costumes to last for years, as the Madagascur ones have, they are about 10 yrs old now and still going strong.

 

I have been working for the last couple of weeks on 6 Ice Maiden Costumes. I know they are not in the film, but they have been requested and will set the scene nicely against the Trolls and the main characters. I have made some headbands to match. The dresses are like soft Tutus with all 6 layers cut into points of different lengths to look like icicles. I have used different types of fabrics and the top layers are sparkly. I then appliqued icicles onto the stretch top and edged with sequin trim. Here is a picture of one of the dresses

 

 

I know the girls are going to love them. I based the idea on some dresses I saw in The Nutcracker, but obviously mine are a lot less detailed. The Birmingham Royal Ballet ones probably cost around £1,000 and much as I would like to have a go at making one, I doubt if I would find a customer!

 

I am now making 10 Girl Villager outfits. They will be in different colours with white polycotton petticoats and bloomers edged in deep lace. Each one will have a pretty contrasting trim and a matching bonnet. I will try and blog again by Sunday with some pictures. This troupe is going to be so colourful and interesting. I am really looking forward to seeing the dancers try them on at the end if next week.