It's Panto time!

Well, this year's flying past and Pantomime is creeping up on me already! So, it's time to think not only about what costumes I'm going to add to the Theatre Costume Hire wardrobe ready to place on hire but also Tip Top's panto this year which is Cinderella - one of my favourites!



Fairy Godmother ideas sheet



As we've already got some main Cinders dresses I've started playing around with some ideas for the Fairy Godmother and Buttons. I've been having thoughts about a Fifties style bodice and large skirt, mainly tulle but thought I'd go for a typical FG dress, based on the idea bottom right, but not exactly the same. I'll make one like that later when I have the time to embroider all the stars on. 

When I danced I always wanted to be the Sugar Plum Fairy but never got the part - always the baddie! Now I've got the chance to be closer to the part and so with that in mind I've decided to go for lilac/purple. I love shot taffeta and so the main body will be that with a dark purple skirt with an organza overlay. It's looking okay at the moment - I just need one of the girls to try it on to see how it's looking!


Toille basics 1 and 2



In the meantime I've been making basic patterns for the Principal Boy as we don't have many of those, especially Prince Charming for Cinderella. I've made up some toilles and got Alice to try some on for me to check the fit - and they didn't turn out too bad! No hems at this stage, it'll be easier to try them on whoever is going to be Prince Charming and also Dandini



Unfortunately my camera skills aren't great and she looks slightly wider than she is!  Behind her is the start of the FG dress, I'll take a photo of that again. 

I need to talk to the Director about how he wants his PC and Dandini to look before I can carry on too far with these - but at least they're started.

I've also started the Buttons costume. The actor who's playing him was with us last year and so luckily I've got his measurements.  I've drawn out the pattern and have cut out the fabric and lining. I'm just going to start putting it all together now. I love the colour of the material and the gold goes well so I'm hoping it's going to work well and go together quickly!  Yes, that's one of many cups of tea I have along with the chocolate - obviously no chocolate is allowed by my working material!

I'll update this as soon as I've got more movement on the costumes! Oh no you won't! Oh yes I will .....

Hello there!

Hi!

Just a quick word about myself as this is my first post - so be kind!

My name is Mel and I am currently a carer for my nephew but in my spare (!) time I love making costumes and corsets.

I make corsets and historical/wedding costumes from home and also hire out theatre costumes, from a theatre base in Chester. We specialise in Pantomime costumes - but have many other costumes and are constantly adding to the list!  I'm trying to work on my website and theirs, hopefully both will be up and running soon.

I hope to be sharing some costumes soon as the project I'm working on is for the Pantomime 'Cinderella'. I work closely with a local amateur theatrical group, Tip Top Productions and have started on designing and making some Fairy Godmother dresses in a variety of styles both for them and ready to hire out.

I especially enjoy working on the pantomime dame costumes and enjoy getting the script so that I can work through some design ideas around it. The writer of the script usually gives me some great ideas to work from and I love doing the research and my 'book', which is always crammed with ideas, fabrics and colours. I make sure that every colour is used, but not too many times.  The Dame for the group I work with uses 8 - 10 dresses and this year of course it'll be double for the Ugly Sisters!  I love it because I get to go  completely over the top and put colours together that wouldn't necessarily go! I love trying to be quite 'clever' with the outfits but it doesn't always work!

I not only design the costumes but make the patterns as I find it more enjoyable that way but time is always of the essence and around December I'm always extremely busy!

I'm lucky this year because one of our outfits has been used for the publicity photograph for a great friend of mine who is to be Dame in Chesterfield's pantomime 'Jack and the Beanstalk'.  He's a fantastic Dame so I wish him all the best - I know he's going to be fantastic!

Anyway, I hope you like my posts and I'll try to post often!