Padme Amidala Handmaiden Costumes

LOL, I am glad you are all talking about the EpI battle outfit, because that is on my list, too!

I'm most worried about attaching the skirt... from the pictures & the film, it looks as if the entire front is open, showing the pants. Where does the skirt attach, at the underarm seam? Or is it at the CF and it is folded back & attached, somehow?

Has anyone seen any of Trish's sketches for this?

And is anyone else interpreting the skirt lining as a dark magenta/pink?

(A whole army of HMs at Celebration III! )

--Renata

PS -- is there a thread discussing Ami's EpII rainbow dress? That's on a friend's wish list...

 

Check out the sticky thread at the top of the forum It lists all the main threads and there should be one listed for the Lake (Rainbow) dress

 

I made my skirt come about five inches around the front on either side, measured from the side seam of the top section. I'm thinking of adding another panel to my skirt to make it fuller and then gather the waist and either sew it directly to the top or make it attachable on the waistband with hook and eyes, I'm guessing the colour inside the skirt is kindof hot pink, it's so hard tell, what i'm not sure of is to make the top underneath a maroon or pink to match the lining. I'm trying to find a belt to go with this as well, I haven't seen any with the right kind of buckle even at the western store. liann

 

Hey Renata!

Here are a couple links to the concept sketches for the battle costume:

First sketch

Second sketch

And here's the link to our 'rainbow dress' thread: clickie.

 

I KNEW I could count on you all!

*runs off to check them out*

 

Renata, I just realized the links to the sketches I gave you are really small versions. You can find much larger versions of them at The Padawan's Guide page devoted to this costume:

Battle Costume

 

GAH!! I could swear that this was discussed in this thread, but now I can't find it, and I'm too tired to dig through the Amidala Gowns thread.

Okay, my question is about getting symbols imprinted on the velvet (see maroon Pre-Senate cloak and green celebration dress from Ep. 1).

Was it a wooden piece (stamp, die cut, whatever) that was placed under the velvet, and then the velvet ironed to get the imprint?

Oh, and my frazzled nerves were blessed last year when my friend decided to NOT do her wedding at ComicCon, and instead go for a traditional wedding in a relative's backyard. So, unfortunately, no handmaiden gowns were done - although I did get the silk dyed and pleated - and it looked amazing (and still does since I haven't done anything with it yet).

 

I remember that conversation too. I'll look around and see if I can find it for you because I don't remember the details of it either....

 

Here's one article on embossing velvet.

And here's another.


-sg

 

You the girl, girlie.

 

YAY!!! Thank you sg!! That's exactly what I was looking for!

 

Okay, since I recently asked about embossing velvet, I've gotten a wild-hare about giving it a shot. I'm actually using the technique for embossing velvet tarot-card bags (or gaming dice bags, or whatever someone wants a velvet bag for ). Anyway, I found a rubber-stamp company that will do custom stamps. Granted, having the stamp made is a bit pricey ($17 U.S. for a 2"x2" stamp), but they're nice high-quality heat-resistant stamps and most definitely worth the price if you NEED a specific design (**hint hint** **cough**).

Here's the company:
Purrfection Artistic Wearables

Click on "stamps" in their menu, and then scroll to the bottom of the page for the "Custom Stamps" link and info.



Obi-Anne, that looks fantastic!! I'm surprised she had the guts to do that particular handmaiden costume - that's one of the most "mysterious" and hard-to-find-references-for costumes I've ever researched. Nice work!!

 

Great link kreleia, thanks! Beats making it myself imperfectly and probably spending the same amount!

 

kreleia, I don't think those prices are the least bit unreasonable -- FABULOUS find, missy!

 

I have a question...does anyone know what the Flame Dress is made out of? It looks shinny in one picture I have of it but then not shinny in another!

 

I believe it's made out of silk velvet. At least, that's how it looks to me. I am no expert! Anyway, the nap would photograph differently, which is why it would have a sheen in some photos and not in others.

 

I finished perfecting my mock up yesterday and started on the good version today. I have all the lining pieces sewn together, I put a pocket on the inside of the jacket lining to carry money etc in. I am just cutting out the velvet, unfortunatly my velvet is not wide enough to cut the sleeves out in one piece so I have to cut out two half cirles for each sleeve and sew them together. I just have to cut out the skirt pieces then i can finish sewing it all together. I haven't attempted any work on the pants yet, I'll get the coat done then start a mockup for the pants. I'm still looking for ribbon to trim the outfit with so I won't be able to completely sew my skirt together till I get the ribbon for the inside of the skirt.

 

I am planning on making the flame handmaiden gown for my Padme doll out of pale yellow velour that will hopefully dye nicely in orange gradients. But I'm wondering, should I dye the fabric first, or sew the gown together and then dye it finished? Any thoughts?

 

Well, I know for the actual costume, it is best to sew it together first and then dye it, so the dye on the sleeves matches the dye on the dress. I've made the costume and that's what I had to do in order to get the right affect.

However, I know nothing about making dolls dresses or what would be involved. But that was just my thought.

-Tanya

 

Ok, this may have already been discussed on this thread or another one, but I don't have time to go hunting for it. But if I am going to sew the flame gown (for a doll) and then dye it, it has to hang upside down so the bottom (really the top) sits in the red/orange dye, correct? My question is, how do I keep the sleeves from falling into the dye, since they are rather long? Safety pins? Suggestions, anyone?
-Ame

 

I would actually baste the sleeves gently to the body of the dress -- just big tacking stitches that can easily be removed later. That way, if dye creeps up the sleeve, you won't get any funny safety-pin or clothespin shaped irregularities in the ombre effect.