Sunday, January 27, 2013

Pirate UFO


For this week's Historical Sew Fortnightly challenge, we were supposed to complete a "unfinished object".  I have a number of UFO's in my sewing bin, but the project that I most wanted to finish was a pirate costume that I started six years ago.  I was originally making this to wear to the a Pirates of the Caribbean premiere, and I was SO in love with my design concept, but then I got pregnant and this project was placed on hold due to my growing belly.  But every year or two, I start thinking about how much fun it would be to wear a pirate costume to faire.  I've dragged it out several times over the years and made attempts to work on it some more, but unfortunately, I never can seem to make much headway.

And once again, life has thrown up roadblocks on this project, and I didn't get as far as I had hoped.  But I did finish the petticoat, so that's better than nothing.  I keep reminding myself that this is an unfinished OBJECT challenge, not an unfinished OUTFIT challenge, so I'm counting this as a minor victory anyway.


The petticoat is made out of some machine embroidered voile that I bought on clearance for next to nothing.  It's not authentic, but I thought it was reminiscent of the beautiful embroidered petticoats from the 18th c.  The construction is based on petticoats like the ones covered in this tutorial.  The only thing creative about this whole project is that I spent a lot of time distressing it so that it looks worn and old.  I dyed and splattered the hem with a mixture of brown and dark green dye.  Then I ripped holes all along the bottom and tried to fray the bottom edge.  I also stitched up some of the rips with some hand-spun yarn, and I added a few patches here and there with scraps of striped fabric.


I'm going to continue working on the jacket over the next few weeks, and I hope to have the whole outfit done in time  for the embellish challenge.  I've changed up the jacket design quite a bit from my original sketch - the big frockcoat looked great in the drawing, but when it started coming together, I discovered it was much less flattering in real life.  I'm still not 100% sure what the jacket will look like when I'm done, but hopefully I'll figure something out this month.


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Arrrrrrrr, it be awesome!!

Anonymous said...

Love it! The distressing is great, and I loved the jacket inspiration pictures you posted before.

Cathy Raymond said...

This may not end up being your most authentic outfit, but it looks as though it will be nifty, fun, and comfy to wear. I look forward to pictures!

Caroline said...

Super cool! I love seeing costumes distressed. It's so gutsy to take something you've made and intentionally destroy it just enough to make it look awesome.

Jaquelinne said...

That distressing turned out great!

Chelsea said...

I love distressing. That was one of my favorite parts of working in the costume shop at college. :)

Thread-Head said...

Ooh! I love the effect! That is a killer petticoat.

Augustintytär said...

It looks fantastic! I'm eagerly waiting to see the outfit come together.

Crafty Caring Friends said...

I have seen this picture on Pinterest and I instantly liked it too! I would adore a suite like this. Did you ever finish it? I cannot see so I would like to find a seamstress to work with me to make one similar for me. This is a dream look for me. Any suggestions one where to begin? Luke possible patterns? Thank you, durandconnie

Crafty Caring Friends said...

I have seen this picture on Pinterest and I instantly liked it too! I would adore a suite like this. Did you ever finish it? I cannot see so I would like to find a seamstress to work with me to make one similar for me. This is a dream look for me. Any suggestions one where to begin? Luke possible patterns? Thank you, durandconnie

jamesanderson said...

Completing an "unfinished object" is quite the accomplishment, especially considering the journey this pirate costume has taken over six years. The petticoat looks beautifully distressed, adding character to your project. Best of luck with the jacket, and I'm excited to see the final ensemble!

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larryjoe said...

The comment on "Pirate UFO" adds a whimsical touch to the article, expressing appreciation for the creativity and ingenuity showcased in the costume design. It reflects on the fusion of pirate and UFO themes, applauding the unique and imaginative concept. The commenter's enthusiasm shines through as they envision the costume's potential to captivate imaginations and inspire awe at any festive event. Overall, the comment adds to the festive atmosphere of the article, highlighting the joy and creativity inherent in costume design and themed celebrations.
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