Complexity:
0-10 *3
Pattern:
McCall's 2890 (Skirt), Simplicity 7808 (Shrug Sleeves) & McCall's 3033 (Shrug)
Fabrics:
black polyester (used for shrug & skirt)
red velvet (used for crosses on sleeve)
Notions:
2 inch wide red silk ribbon
2 inch wide black gathered lace
1 inch wide red gathered lace
tiny red flowers
1.5 inch wide elastic
"HeatnBond" iron-on adhesive
Accessories:
red garter belts (click HERE to buy garter belts)
2 inch wide black gathered lace
red lace thigh highs (click HERE to buy thigh highs)
black & red lolita shoes
black petticoat (click HERE to buy petticoat)
black waist clincher
wig cap
black curly wig (click HERE to buy wig)
red cross necklace
COSTUME CONSTRUCTION
Follow the instructions for the shirt exactly. In order for the skirt to hang longer in the back and shorter in the front you first need to finish sewing it together as instructions direct. Once the skirt is sewn together lay it on its side with wrong sides touching. Be sure that the skirt is fully stretched out and that there are no wrinkles in the bottom part of the skirt. Take your scissors and make your first cut 7 inches (or however short you would like it) above the bottom, gradually cut towards the bottom hem to the other side of the skirt. This way when you unfold it, it will be equally cut on both sides, gradually becoming longer at the back.
For the waist clincher I bough a cheep one at Wal-Mart and sewed 4 strips of red 2 inch wide ribbon down the front. The top of the waist clincher has two layers of lace sewn around it. Be sure to use a stretch stitch when sewing on the waist clincher. I tied two large bows and hand stitched them at the bottom of the white ribbon strips. You can place little details in the middle of the bows like flowers or jewels.
For the bra I bought a black one the same material as the waist clincher. I measured out the length of the top of the bra then cut the black and red lace using those measurements. Then I sewed two layers of black and red lace along the top of the bra using a stretch stitch. Be sure to place the 1 inch wide red lace in front of the 2inch wide black lace before you sew it onto the bra.
The shrug is a combination of two different patterns, McCall's 3033 and Simplicity 7808. I used shrug D from McCall's 3033 for the part that wraps around the shoulders, the puff sleeves are taken from dress B from Simplicity 7808. Follow the instructions for the shrug D and leave the arm holes open on the shrug.
If you would like to add the crosses to each side of the sleeves you will first need to cut out a cross pattern for them. For a perfectly symmetrical cross take a piece of paper and fold it in half. Next draw one side of the cross. Take you scissors and cut it out. Unfold it and place it on top of the red velvet and cut two. In order to adhere the crosses to the sleeves you will need to iron on the "HeatnBond" iron-on adhesive to the back of the crosses. The iron-on adhesive comes with instructions that will help you out. Place the cross in the middle of the sleeve (piece 11) and iron on.
Keep following the instructions for the puff sleeves from dress B then sew them to the arm holes of the shrug. A little trick to keep puff sleeves puffed is sewing in a small string or ribbon on the inside of the puckered part connecting top to bottom. The shorter you make the string the puffer the sleeve will appear.
ACCESSORES CONSTRUCTION
The red cross necklace and wig were bought on ebay (click HERE to buy wig). The red lace thigh highs "lace stockings" were bought online (click HERE to buy thigh highs) as were the garter belts (click HERE to buy garter belts). The shoes were bought at Hot Topic, its a great place to find the finishing touches on any gothic costume!