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Pirate Belle, part 2

YouTube video associated with this blog

The base pieces for this costume are not complicated. I used Simplicity 3677 for the blouse and the pants. The fabric I bought at Joann Fabrics and was exactly what I was hoping to find. It's a light and airy cotton gauze-type fabric. Also, I am in love with the delicate lace I found at Hobby Lobby that I used to trim the wrists. The blouse has elastic bands at the cuffs and a drawstring neckline. It is incredibly over sized, but the fabric gathers under corsets and pants nicely because it was so soft and light. The pants are a tan corduroy and also have elastic in the cuffs. (Did I mention Historical AccuracyTM was not a priority for this costume?) I still think it's beautiful.

And now, for a few accessories. These make or break a costume, especially for a pirate. So many little things must be present for the costume to really say “Pirate”. This little hat was such a blast to create. I used a Yaya Han pattern, McCall's 7643. It has little alligator clips underneath to secure to the wig. Am I now a milliner? Perhaps not, but I did enjoy making it. I ended up sewing a good portion by hand, which I rarely do. It was just too small and detailed for the machine to handle.

The hip scarf was a cream polyester floral brocade scrap from the stash. I cut it in two pieces, each about 9” wide and a little less than yard long. Then, the short sides were sewn together and I had a very long scarf. It was hemmed, and then I dyed it light yellow, and also tea-dyed it, to give it a more gold/brown shade. I love the result. The sword was given to me by my father, and I have no idea where he got it. I love the ship on the hand guard; it's gorgeous.

I decided all the smaller accessories needed to be kept together. I keep all the different garments and pieces of the costume together in one garment bag, too. I used the free drawstring bag by Made for Mermaids in a gold matte satin leftover from my NYE 2017 costume. It was a very simple and easy make, perfect for beginners. It comes in several sizes and I used the small. I may replace the trim I used for the drawstring, though. The bag doesn't open and close easily, and the trim has already tied itself in a pretty tight knot.


My little sister gave me this decedent faux pearl necklace and little pearl studs, and I thought it added the perfect touch to the costume. The gold pendent necklace was from my paternal grandmother, and has her initials engraved on it. It looked like pirate booty to me, so I added it to the costume. I already had gold hoops, so I thought I might as well add those too. After all, what is a pirate without her treasures?


What other “Alternate Reality” Disney costume should I make?


Yours in hard work, creativity, and a dash of pixie dust,

Sarah


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