Officially, one of 4 costumes is now finished and a second is on it’s way!  Last night was quite productive.  First I attached the sleeves to the jacket so the Witch costume (dress and jacket) are officially done!

Jacket all finished!

The back of the jacket showing the collar

Another view so you can see the grometts and lace up.

Then I moved on to Chloe’s Vampiress skirt.  This is actually a two-parter.  First there’s a pleated skirt, then there’s a bustle that you attach after the skirt is on, so it’s a separate piece entirely.  I worked on just the skirt last night, cutting all the pieces, sewing and pleating (LOTS of pleats), finally adding the wasteband.  It still needs trim, a hem (it’s about 5″ too long), and some method of securing it in the back because I think it’s too large to do the small lace up that it calls for on Chloe (I’m sewing a woman’s size 6 essentially).  Maybe buttons (to make it adjustable) or extra gromets at different widths so it can be laced tighter or looser.

Here’s the half finished skirt…

The front panel is gathered and the side and back panels are pleated. I loved working with the solid fabric, it's very stiff but that makes pleating easier!

A view of the back, I have it just pinned shut so it's not secured nicely.

I’m also leaving off the train entirely, no need for it, it would just get in the way.  I really love this costume, mostly because of the fabrics themselves, the redish/black solid fabric cuts like a dream (also frays but what can you do).  I’ll get a picture of the costume all together when it’s completed.  I see an end in sight – so exciting!