Watch Out There’s A Minx About 2019 Part 2

Watch Out There’s A Minx About 2019 Part 2

This blog carries on with the Bottom half of the Minnie the Minx Costume.

Minx Shoes

The Shoes were the simplest part of the outfit. The Minx wears different shoes in different Comics. Sometimes it is Boots and sometimes a kind of Plimsoll.

I had some old trainers that were about ready for the bin. So therefore I got some old nail varnish and I added a touch of Red.

Minx Socks Materials

I needed a Pair of Black Socks, Scissors, Needle, Thread and Red Edging.

Black Socks

First of all I bought some socks. It was quite a bargain as I got three pairs for 99p. The only drawback was they weren’t hundred percent cotton. So that along with the polyester Skirt I was going to be pretty warm.

Adding Red Border

With the Top of the Sock turned over I started to add the Red Border. I used the crease at the Back of the Socks as a marker. Ideally I needed Red Elastic however I had to make do with Red Bias Binding.

I used a simple Tacking Stitch at the Top and Bottom of the Binding. I had to make the Stitches extremely Loose. This was so when I had my hand in and Stretched the Sock that it wouldn’t snap.

Finishing the Binding

I Sewed the Edging all the way around the Top of the Sock. As you can see in the photograph above the effect wiggly looking. I tried it on and found it was a little tight.

On the Second Sock I made the Stitches even Looser. I also did not sew the Two Ends of the Binding so close together. Everybody has one leg that is bigger than the other. Therefore I used the Tighter Binding on my smaller Leg and the Looser Binding on the bigger Leg

Pagan Pride Nottingham August 3rd 2014 Homemade Lammas Costume Part 4

Pagan Pride Nottingham August 3rd 2014

Homemade Lammas Costume

Part 4

This is the final part of making the Lammas Costume. In this Blog I will be concentrating on adding sleeves to the top and lengthening the skirt.

Making the Sleeves

First thing to do when adding sleeves is to measure the armholes of the top so you know the minimum material that is needed.

Next choose your colours for the sleeves I used Yellow, Orange and Red. This is because I made the sleeves in 3 parts. However you can make as few or many parts to the sleeve as you want.

I started with Yellow material but the example in the images is of the second layer (Orange) because it showed up better. First I took a large piece of material. This was already hemmed along the width at one side. If your material isn't then allow extra material (about a thumbs width) for making a hem.

I laid it out flat and measured the length I wanted at the shortest point of the sleeves. This is because I was going to taper it into a point so DON'T cut it out now.

(A close up of the pinning)

Now you have it pinned and made sure you have enough material make a slight mark (I left the end pin in) it is now safe to unpin fold and re-pin.

Next if you have enough pins (if not leave in the first and last pin) mark a diagonal line from one side to the other. You will see that I haven’t gone across straight from the last pin but left an inch for hemming.

When you are happy with the length and angle it is now safe to cut out.

Now unfold the cut out material and put best side down so you can see the inside to hem.

When you have secured the point of the sleeve you can now shorten the width

If you are confident you can cut now and re hem. Alternatively and this is what I did was hem all the way around. I then folded the material back to back. I shortened the width by folding and sewing the material together then trimming the excess.

Now you have your first part of the sleeve.  Pin and Sew onto the OUTSIDE of the arm hole. The point should be at the top.

Repeat the process with the other pieces of material. However sew the other pieces of material on the INSIDE of the last sleeve part.

When you have finished one whole sleeve you can start on the other side.

Completed top design front and back.

Making the Skirt Additions.

Take your skirt and lay it flat this will show the complete width at the bottom.

As you can see my skirt is shaped in points. If your skirt is the same length all the way around then some parts of the Blog will not apply. Choose the coloured material that you want.  I used Red, Orange and Yellow to match the top.

I cut out some triangular shapes in the various colours. Since I needed a variety of sizes I cut out triangles with a mixture of widths and lengths. However this is not necessary with a skirt with a consistent length unless you want to.

After you have cut out your triangles you need to hem them.

Next you can start roughly placing the triangles along the skirt. I put the longest triangles on the shortest point of the skirt. Then I put the shortest triangles on the longest point of the skirt. This way the length was becoming more standard sized.

Once you have a rough idea what it will look like then you can adjust it to your liking. You can either sew straight on to the skirt or alternatively you can overlap the triangles. I did the latter which meant I had to cut out more triangles.

This is what the completed skirt front looks like with Bottom, Poppies and Wheat sheaf added.

This is what the completed back of the skirt looks like with Bottom, Poppies, Wicker-men, Suns, Bales and Sunflower added.

Finally pictures of yours truly in the outfit at Pagan Pride.

Photographs kindly taken by David Hames

Pagan Federation Regional Co-ordinator for Nottingham.

Lammas Costume - Basket

Lammas Costume - Basket

This is an add on to the Lammas Costume I made for Pagan Pride 2014. After people in my drama group saw it they decided it was ideal for this years 'The Outrageous Mother Goose Pantomime'.

Since I have a basket to carry I decided to make a cover to go with it. These are the pictures and instructions. Have skimped a little bit at the beginning due to the fact that I only thought about doing a write up until three quarters through.

First of all you need a basket. The shape of the cover will depend on the shape of the basket. Mine is a rectangular shape.

Plain Basket Side View

First of all choose your material. I am using cotton off cuts I saved from the Lammas Costume.

Take a piece large enough in width and length to go over the basket handle. It wants to be fairly sturdy material. It will need to go comfortably over the handle plus enough material to attach to other pieces of material .

Plain Basket View From Above

Make sure you leave enough material to make a good hem. I have decided to use Brown cotton for my base.

Cut out a rectangle in the centre.Check it fits nicely and hem both the cut out section and the edge of the material

Brown Letter Box Shape Over Handle

Once you have done this you should end up with what looks like a Brown hemmed letter box.

This is your starting point for adding the rest of the material. Next you begin adding the rest of the material. I found it easiest to go around the length of the basket first. You can either do this in small sections or as I have done and for each side made long rectangular pieces.

Green Material Attached to Letterbox

I measured from the centre of the length of the basket to the centre of the width of the basket around the outside. I then made 4 lengths of rectangular material (2 for each end) and hemmed them. I then sewed one end to each of the of the centre points of the letter box. Then I sewed the 2 free ends together.Repeat for the other side.

Joined Green Lengths 

Off Basket  

Joined Green 
Lengths On Basket

Once you have added the sections that go around the basket you can start adding the rest of the material to the letter box section.

Selection of Hemmed Squares

The idea is to make a patchwork effect cover though if you wish you could just add one large piece of cloth. I have cut out and hemmed a selection of squares in a variety of colours. 

An example of green squares can be seen here.I pinned and sewed the squares onto the Brown letter box until I had enough to cover the top of the basket.

Pinned Squares

Sewn Squares Reverse View

When you have finished adding all your squares it should look as shown in the pictures below.

With Squares added showing the Basket Opening

Next you have to think about covering the gap in between the two sections of covers.

This I did by cutting a couple of rectangles big enough to bridge the gap and cover the width. I decided to use a darker green to do this so I could easily identify which were the gap covers in a hurry. 

Green Flap

I also chose to use slightly thicker stiffer material so they would not drop down into the basket. Once I had cut out the rectangles I hemmed them. Next was to pin the rectangles into place prior to sewing.

Pinned Flap

 I pinned ONE flap as close as I could to the basket handle without rucking. I ensured that it would bridge the gap comfortably.

The next part is very important otherwise you might have to unpick and start again.Start sewing on the side nearest to the basket handle.

First Sewn Flap

When you have completed that side you can then turn the corner and continue sewing along the length of the flap.Now the third side depends on how far back you placed your flap. 

Second Flap Pinned

Before sewing the third side pin the second flap into place. This is because you want to be able to tuck the second flap under the first to hold it. Once you have pinned the second flap you will be able to tell if you need to sew any part of the third side.

Both Flaps Sewn

If you need to sew any of the third side I suggest that you do a stitch at a time. That way you can keep checking that the second flap fits snugly under the first.

Overlapped Flaps

As you can see in the photograph the flaps interlock nicely. If there is any gap at the side by the handle more squares can be added to cover it.

Hemmed Triangles

In order to match the skirt from the Lammas Costume I cut out some triangles in various colours and sizes.
Hem around the triangles as you did the squares and rectangles.

Then pin them all around the basket.

Pinned Triangles

After pinning the triangles where you want them you can sew them into place.

Sewn Triangles

Now the cover is finished you can turn your attention to the basket handle. That is of course if you wish to do so. As my basket was bought second hand some of the weaving had come loose and was also missing in places.

First remove the cover and start with the plain basket shown below.


Plain Basket

Orange Hemmed Ribbon

Take a long piece of ribbon. I chose an orange coloured piece of ribbon roughly an inch and a half in width. Since ribbon frays quite easily I would hem the ends.

Pinned Ribbon

Wrap one end around the bottom part of the handle and pin it.

Sewn Ribbon Front and Back

Begin winding the ribbon around the handle of the basket. Keep it nice and tight so it doesn't unravel. Keep winding until you reach the other side of the basket. Then either sew, pin or glue the other end of the ribbon.

Fully Wrapped Ribbon

When you have finished wrapping and fixed the end of the ribbon you can replace cover.

Finished Basket

That is the Basket Cover finished and ready for use. However at a later date I may decide to add more triangles and decoration. Hope you enjoyed this blog.