Thanks, Elaine!

I'm not managing to get much patchwork done, what with rehearsing and costume-making, but I have finally solved my bodice-ripping problem, thanks to my clever friend Elaine!

Nicky has to have her bodice ripped open at the back (by Keith, playing the nasty Robbie Ross). Several people sugested Velcro would be the solution, but in this case it wouldn't be, unfortunately. The play is being performed in a thrust configuration, which means that the audience is sitting on three sides, on the same level as the actors. This means that they would be able to see the Velcro very well once the bodice was open. Also, the bodice is laced down the back, with the opening edge to edge, so there is nothing to attach the Velcro to either.

Here is the bodice from the front. I've fully lined it, as Nicky won't be able to wear a bra, and I wanted it to be comfortable for her. I used some black fabric for the lining in the back, as she has to be whipped in the first scene (off stage, thank goodness!), so it's likely that her bodice will get stained by the blood/makeup, and I thought it wouldn't show up so much on the black.

Here you can see the back, and the way the it closes. I have some cord which I will use to fasten the back together, but for the 'ripping scene' Elaine suggested just tacking the back together like thisShe has a shawl on over her bodice, and we can add the cord as well, but then Keith can just break the cotton and expose her (scarred) back! We tried it on Monday, and it made quite satisfactory ripping sounds! Hooray! Only one more bodice to go!

Dressmaking?!

I have been very busy buying fabric, raiding charity shops and sewing, but don't have a quilt block to show for it. Can you believe I've been dressmaking? It's not been outfits for myself, but costumes for a play. Our local group are taking a play up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. This festival lasts for the month of August in Edinburgh (Scotland) and hosts 1,000 shows a day, with 2,098 different shows over the whole month. Ours will be a production of 'Our Country's Good' by Timberlake Wertenburger, and is about convicts in Australia in 1789. We are hiring the officers's uniforms, but somehow I found myself volunteering to take charge of the other costumes.

After some research, I have decided that full skirts with petticoats underneath, and then bodices with blouses underneath will be accurate enough. Here is the first bodice I made - to fit myself. This is the front view,

and here is the back. I managed to get one of those eyelet tools, and am quite pleased with the way they've turned out.

Here are Becky's bodice complete with tailor's tacks (I never thought I'd be glad to know how to do those when we did them at school!), Jackie's top waiting to be sorted out and Sally's bodice cut out and ready to go.

Nicky's bodice has to be able to be ripped open at the back on stage, to reveal the scars she received when she was flogged. Any ideas how to achieve that?