Little Red Riding Hood

I am an avid convention goer, and I particularly love cosplaying. While I'm not a huge fan of any particular anime or many of the shows most commonly associated with cosplay, I like to bring my own interpretation to characters I have a a passion for. Normally my cosplay is directed by the guests attending the convention, but this year I just decided on something a little more generic and versatile for use at other events. So, Little Red Riding Hood it was.

Originally, I had a brilliant idea for a werewolf hunter, Anna Valerious-esque twist on the traditional Red Riding hood. Something closer to what the Grimm Brothers might have imagined she'd grow up to be guided by the cunning and knowledge of her Grandmother and the skills the Huntsman who saved them. A red velvet hood would replace the jacket, a crossbow in lieu of the sword, but keeping the flowing romanian style peasant blouse, underbust corset, fitted black pants and knee high boots.

As all brilliant ideas go, I had started the crossbow 6 weeks out from my event.  The weapons codes for Supanova (my preferred Australian pop culture convention) are very strict, and for any sort of projectile weapons require them to be unstrung and without ammunition. This required a completely static prop with the look and feel of a strung crossbow. While the majority of the work had been completed, I ran out of time to finish the weapon for the event. However, I will post in detail later when it is finished.

My next task was my hood.  Initially, I bought a beautiful deep red, synthetic, 112cm wide double velvet. The pile was beautifully luxurious, and being rayon, it wasn't as heavy as you would expect from a cotton double velvet.  If I may offer one word of advice to anyone sewing with velvet for the first time: for the love of anything holy to you, DO NOT put it in the washing machine.  For some stupid reason - I think my brain took a leave of absence - I chucked it in the wash with the rest of the red fabrics I'd bought recently. I've never washed velvet before, I never will again. I just destroyed $224.95 worth of fabric. And despite what all the blogs say about 'How to revive the pile in your velvet', nothing worked.  Not handwashing, not handwashing in hot water, not steaming it in the bathroom, not steaming it with a steamer, nor ironing it face down on a towel.  Nothing.  And I didn't have the time or the $90 to buy a needleboard, which would have been my last hope. However, if I ever need 5 meters of crushed velvet, I don't need to buy it.  Lesson learnt.  After much crying, hair pulling and despair, I was incredibly lucky that my local discount fabric store had a suitable red cotton velvet for a fraction of the price of my original purchase.

The pattern I used for my hood was based on the Butterick B5265 Historical pattern. The basic pattern provides for a semicircular unhooded cape. I modified the pattern and added 5 inches to the length. This was purely to make the piece more versatile, as I can also use it as part of my medieval re-enactor garb. If this wasn't your intention, it is far more manageable and wearable at the original length. 

I then added the hood from the robe in Simplicity 5840 to create my preferred garment. Lined in red poly cotton, the finished product required a little additional gathering around the neckline to match the two patterns together.  Having only ever worked with velvet once before, and failing dismally due to my lack of understanding on how to cut patterns to ensure the pile ran in a consistent direction, I was a little chuffed that everything worked out relatively well. I know in the future I need to add extra allowance to the lining to prevent puckering of the external fabric. This is my finished product.

From here, I used an old blouse I already owned to create the pattern for the peasant blouse.  Made from a cotton cheesecloth, with 2mm rolled hems, it secured the edges inside the elastic channels without adding additional bulk. I added elastic to the necklines and arms to allow for off-the-shoulder styles, and for better shape to the sleeves.

While it looked exactly as intended, it was at this point when I put everything together that I realised I did not have the figure to support the curvy wench look I was aiming for.  I just don't have the hip width in the fitted jeans, and even with the corset, it just didn't look right. So this, combined with the fact that I couldn't get my crossbow completed in time, meant I had to really rethink my initial kick-ass, warrioress style Red Riding Hood and pare it down.  I decided to bring it back to a more traditional character, rather than abandon the costume completely for this convention.  So I changed the boots to something a little more girly, and found I had enough fabric left over to create a matching skirt.

I decided in a simple circle skirt.  It added additional colour to the costume, but also provided the illusion of wider hips, giving that more traditional medieval style silhouette I was aiming for. A great site for basic circle skirt tutorials is By Hand London, and they've even got an app for the calculations. Once you've got your measurements, I find the easiest way to create the circular arc for your skirt is by folding your fabric in half, and drawing a semi circle using a fabric pencil tied to a piece of string the same length as your skirt + the radius of your waistband.  I also chose to line this skirt with the same red poly cotton as the hood, simply to maintain the integrity of the velvet.

With all pieces I could create completed, I complimented the outfit with a gorgeous faux suede, gold microfoiled underbust corset, created especially for me by the lovely Elizabeth from Curvy Wench on Etsy.  She has amazing skill and creates beautifully fitted custom pieces to order. I'm not a regular corset wearer, but I was able to wear this piece all day while traipsing back and forth from one end of the convention to the other.  It is incredibly comfortable.  One day I aspire to be able to create corsets, but in the meantime, I will happily spend my money with Elizabeth.

On a side note, I prefer to trace all my patterns onto a trace and toile interfacing, rather than relying on the tissue paper patterns that tear so easily. I've always been an unusual shape, and most patterns don't fit me well, so I find the interfacing allows me to modify and customise the pattern without damaging the original. It's also cheaper, and far more forgiving that making mistakes on your fabric.

From here, my next project is for the premiere of Star Wars VII - The Force awakens.  I'm aiming to create my own Jedi robes, as close to the canon as I can.  I hope to see you then - but in the meantime, here's Little Red Riding Hood hanging out with the Jedi from the Tattooine Base of the Rebel Legions at Supanova Brisbane, 2015.  May the force be with you!