BECOMING SANTA CLAUS

Cutter, CHICAGO OPERA THEATER
The Queen's first look (Aurora Dress)  [Costume Design by Brenda Winstead]
Mock-up made in poly chiffon and muslin from a combination of altering a commercial pattern for the skirt, draping a pattern for the bodice, and combo of draping flat-patterning the shirt/cape.
Make alterations to pattern after fitting the mock-up and cut new pattern out of the garment fabrics, iridescent shantung and silk organza. 
Sew the final garment together. Picture from final fitting. 
The final dress after being sent to the dyer and bejeweled. 
Prince Claus's final look. [Costume Design by Brenda Winstead]
My task was to alter the collar, CF opening, and bottom edge of this store bought jacket to resemble the designer's vision. 
Re-shaping, cutting and finishing the jacket's CF opening and lining. 
Draping a stand collar pattern and cutting it out of fabric from the hem of the suit pants. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the finished jacket. 
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Another task for the Opera was draping a pattern for filling-in this store bought dress to give the singer more modesty. 

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

AMERICAN SCHOOL IN JAPAN

Elizabeth

Bias-cut dress (draped and patterned)

Frau Blucher

The step-by-step process of building this piece, is detailed after the other pictures. 

Inga

Inga's whimsical Roll in the Hay dress and apron built from scratch using a bodice sloper I made from the actor's measurements.
Inga's Puttin' on the Ritz dress draped and patterned from a padded form matching the actresses measurements. Step-by-step process for building this garment is detailed after the other pictures. 

Ensemble Slopers

Set of bodice slopers made for the ensemble women made specifically to the actors' measurements.

Ensemble Dresses

I built all of the below villager dresses and their aprons from scratch, using the slopers shown above. 
The same dresses with their "Happiest Town" aprons:

Constructing a Garment (sample)

Day 1

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​Make body padding for the cis-gender male actor that will play Frau Blucher.
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"Rear view" - haha. 
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Drape a basic sloper (view 1)
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Draping a basic sloper (view 2)
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Transfer muslin markings to paper for basic sloper pattern.
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Mark edges and darts.
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Add S.A. and cut out of base fabric for blouse.
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Overlock edges of base blouse pieces pieces and let them hang overnight.

Day 2

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Sew in darts and tie off top ends of threads by hand. 
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Stitch blouse pieces together. 
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Iron seams open. 
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Cardigan from thrift store. 
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Cut off sleeves.
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​Use back of the cardigan and drape blouse insert design starting at neck.
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Mark edges of blouse insert design. 
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Cut away excess material.
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Hand baste grosgrain ribbon to edge of insert. 
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Skirt found from storage but it has a side zipper and Frau's garment must open center back.
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Use seam ripper to take out skirt waistband and zipper. 
Re-set pleats in front.
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Re-set pleats in back.
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Stitch skirt to blouse. 

Day 3

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Make approximate pieces for high collar. 
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Drape pieces on form, sew together and attach to blouse. 
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Manipulate bodice sloper to make jacket bodice pattern. 
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Jacket bodice pattern after sloper manipulation.
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Draping the lapels and collar using a combination of paper and muslin.
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Make a basic sleeve sloper for the actor.
Manipulate the sleeve sloper to make jacket sleeve pattern.
Cut pattern pieces from velvet. 

Day 4

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Make and cut lining pieces
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Sew lining together
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Stitch lining to jacket and clip all curves. 
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Cut out sleeve detail from remnants of cardigan. 
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Attach the detail before the sleeve is sewn closed. 
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Hand stitch lining at neck.
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Nearly finished just need to put in closures and embellishments on collar.
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Full-length. 

Constructing Inga's Bias-cut Dress

Make a stabilizing lining from the actor's sloper
Mark the true bias on the mock-up fabric. 
Drape the bodice on a dress form padded to match the actresses's measurements. 
Mark the true bias on the garment fabric and use the mock-up to cut out the shape. 
Sew the bodice and attach to the stabilizing lining. 
Make a skirt pattern and cut out of garment fabric. Hang all pieces overnight and then add skirt and belt to bodice.