Last Post of 2014, Creating Ms Clauses Costume

New Year is nearly upon us in Ireland, just 90 minutes to go so I better get this in before the stroke of midnight. 

Santa has been and gone for another year.  I had been talking about making a Santa costume for at least 5 years but only this year did I actually get around to doing it.  It took me a week, fully tailored.  I had so much fun making it, and even more fun wearing it.

Here's the journey in pictures...

 

First toile fitting.  Happy with the shape and fit.

 

 

Laying out the £2 red velvet curtain on my parents crazy carpet for cutting out.

 

Dyeing up silk for the lining.  So hard to find a post box red dye.

 

 

 Taking shape

 

 

Adding the poppers so the fur is detachable.  This means the garment can be washed and drycleaned.

 

 

Adding the poppers to the detachable sleeve cuffs.

 

Collar and cuffs.  Just the fur hem to do.  Using calico cloth to envisage how it will look.

 

Buttons on.  These are only for decoration.  A diamonte brooch looks like a glistening snowflake.

 

Adding sleeve rolls and shoulder pads.

 

Tacking still visible.

 

Herringboning up the skirt lining.

 

Pinning and placing on the silk skirt lining.  Honestly this was the best red I could achieve!

 

Black pre-folded bias binding for around the inside neckline.

 

Body lined.  Just the sleeves to do.

 

Pinning in place and then hand stitching in sleeve linings.

 

Hooks and poppers added for closures.  The finished garment from inside.

 

 

Testing out the tutu.

 

£3 charity shop patent belt added.

 

 

Great swing and oomph with the tutu.

 

After its first outing I decided I needed boot toppers to complete the costume.  But this will have to wait until 2015 Christmas.

 

Christmas Eve I walked into town and called into St George's market to wish my friends a very Happy Christmas.  I enjoyed wearing the outfit so much I continued to walk into Belfast city centre.  Seeing the 'Santa bus' parked in Royal Avenue, I waved at Santa and got invited onto the bus and drove around the city waving at everyone.  I got to sit beside the kids and asked them what the big man was bringing.  The kids loved seeing Mrs Claus, and it was worth all the effort to bring big smiles to wee faces. 

 

I hope everyone had a very special Christmas with loved ones.  I am really looking forward to 2015, I wish you all a wonderfully exciting New Year ahead.  Dream big, because dreams do come true!

 

Till next year

Christine xxx