#Afrovictorian

[elfgirlcraftworks]

The completed Afro Victorian ensemble. More to come.

Links to all the behind the scenes posts here

[aesthetic-otd]

Today's aesthetic is afro-victorian

[elfgirlcraftworks]

I'm working on finishing a deceased friend's quilt and plotting the one for my parents' 50th anniversary (March '24) while trying not to start on the next Afrovictorian ensemble until those things are done.

ITT: Tell me about something you're making or doing

I'm gonna write a story about a werewolf 🐺

[elfgirlcraftworks]

BTS the Afrovictorian ensemble: the day bodice

when last we left our intrepid heroine they were trying to figure out how they wanted to use the remaining fabrics to craft the jacket/daytime bodice.

Couple of strong options but I wasn't feeling either of them particularly. Time to go shopping.

Kidding, I enjoyed the trip. Here's the new candidates.

Okay, comparing the pieces of the new pattern to the completed dinner bodice seems like we don't strictly _need_ to do a mockup... Fuck it. We're cutting the final fabric.

Good start...

Sleeve fits...

Brave, if I do say so myself

Bonus: I needed a bigger bustle.

So that's another set of head to toe looks!

[elfgirlcraftworks]

Larp shenanigans incoming

[elfgirlcraftworks]

BTS the Afrovictorian ensemble: overskirts

I had some decisions to make. I still need to make 2 bodices

From these fabric choices, each a six yard piece.

But I also still want to make overskirts.

The overskirts take a little more than 4 yards plus an additional 2 to line the rears... hmm...

Oh no. I guess I'll have to buy more fabric. The horror.

But wait, if the backs are fully lined... that means the back can be reversible!

Okay, that works. Let's try the other one.

Wait a minute... I have 2 fronts and 2 backs... what if I made them interchangeable too?

Success!

Now I have a couple of head to toe looks!

[elfgirlcraftworks]

B T S of the Afrovictorian ensemble: the dinner bodice

This is why you should always make a mockup when using a new pattern. Something's not quite right...

Oh, I'm a dumbass and used the wrong sized front pieces. Let's try that again.

Much better. Now on to the real fabric.

Somehow I lost some of the process photos but the front still wasn't aligning properly so I added a placket. On to sleevies. It's where I keep my armies after all.

All done!

[elfgirlcraftworks]

Behind the scenes: the skirt.

I wanted the skirt to be versatile so I used a navy quilting cotton instead of a print. (Also made some pattern weights from a marble tile sheet from the hardware store and stick on felt)

And, of course, it has pockets because I have things I need to carry

Hemmed it with pink for a pop of color. Thought I was done but then thought "maybe ruffles? No, pleats! Okay fine. But I'm I'm going to have to make myself a pleating board then." So I made a mile of pleated trim.

One row?

Nah, definitely two.

[elfgirlcraftworks]

More larp shenanigans!

My character went on an action mission between sessions so I needed an outfit that would suit that. I also wanted to do a test run of the cycling costume pattern.

First up: hat

I used a pattern from Etsy for a newsboy hat. It was pretty straightforward. Six panels, band and brim. I covered a button to match for the top.

Next up: spats!

These and the bloomers are from the Laughing Moon Cycling Costume pattern. I used fusible fleece to stiffen them and snaps to close them. Also a pretty straightforward make.

Finally: the bloomers.

NGL, hyperfocus kicked in while I was making these and I forgot to take many progress pics.

I tweaked the pattern to add pockets on both sides and an adjustable waistband.

[elfgirlcraftworks]

I say, do you hear something?

Is that... the sounds of bigots complaining that someone has the audacity to inject a non European culture into the age of European colonialism?

Well they're probably going to dislike this immensely.

For the skirt:

For the jacket and bodice

It's going to be a fabulous riot of color and pattern.

Ta ta for now. I'm off to make an outfit for the Renaissance Festival first.

[elfgirlcraftworks]

Shenanigans afoot!

My larp character is going to be skulking so bloomers, spats, and a jaunty chapeau are in the works. Finished the hat today. Cut out and lined the spats. Tomorrow I'll cut out the bloomers and maybe get some stuff finished before game time.

[elfgirlcraftworks]

Took a video while shopping for fabric. This is just one aisle of many at African Eleganza Fashions in Beltsville.

[elfgirlcraftworks]

BTS the Afrovictorian ensemble: the evening bodice

Time for the last piece of the original vision. So far the main colors have been blue and yellow with pops of pink so this one's going to be pink with pops of blue and yellow.

Not sure where most of the process photos ended up... (No I don't know why the hammer is there)

Pink or blue gloves?

Eh voila! Sans overskirt

With overskirts

[elfgirlcraftworks]

Someone asked so here's all the behind the scenes posts collected into one place.

The Underpinnings 

The Skirt

The Dinner Bodice 

The Accessories

The Overskirts

The Day Bodice

The Evening Bodice

The Completed Ensemble

[elfgirlcraftworks]

B T S the Afrovictorian ensemble: accessories

Every Victorian lady needs a parasol and a jaunty chapeau right? I guess I can dive into millinery.

I started with buckram (harder to find than one would think) and the same fabric as the skirt base, a navy quilting cotton.

There's a fuckton of hand sewing involved. I suppose I could have tried to fit it under the machine but that sounds like more work than it was worth. I do manage to only use glue to tack it in place so I could sew it down so go me!

Brimarvelous! Now on to the decorations. In keeping with the color scheme so far we have blue, pink, and yellow.

Good start, but not ostentatious enough.

Better... needs moar. Remember, bird species were hunted to extinction for hats!

Maybe without feathers?

Nah, definitely with. Remember, more is more.

Oh, and I dyed a parasol to go with it all.

Even though it was listed as 100% cotton the dye really only took in the lace. 🤷🏿‍♀️