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From: Ozll
Date: 01-31-2007, 10:20 PM (1 of 14)
Ah, I just found out that I have to make at least 30-- probably more- 20's outfits ( most dresses) for my schools next musical- Thoughrly Modern Millie- and i don't know if I can make them all in one month.. Plus I still have not had time to work on my dress for this friday.. Is there such a things as too much sewing..?~ Thanks for the help, any suggestions on going about handleing this situation is greatly apprechiated..~ |
User: Ozll
Member since: 01-25-2007 Total posts: 32 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 01-31-2007, 10:42 PM (2 of 14)
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Definitely possible to have too much sewing. Can you get some lackeys to do some of the grunt work? Cutting etc. Don't you have some sort of sewing group/club? Maybe it could be a group project. If they are all the same - production line sewing might be the go. Layout and then cut them all at one time, then sew all at once. Maybe even pass them on to the wearers for hemming. It sounds like a big job - maybe you should speak up about your doubts and ask for assistance from whomever asked you to do it. Some things just can't be done. Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: material_pakrat
Date: 01-31-2007, 10:56 PM (3 of 14)
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It still takes a time, but at least make sure if you can that all of the dresses are the same basic design. It is one less thing to worry about. And you can always dress them up differently (lace etc) so they look different. I'd lend you a hand if you were closer. 
Cheers, Soph.
I'm happiest when I am sewing! |
User: material_pakrat
Member since: 12-13-2006 Total posts: 220 |
From: Sherri
Date: 01-31-2007, 11:04 PM (4 of 14)
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I feel for you. I have about 60 costumes in 10 styles to do for our ice carnival in two months. Luckily we have lots of help for cutting and a little sewing help. Because the tediousness gets to me sometimes. Sher My website
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User: Sherri
Member since: 02-07-2001 Total posts: 357 |
From: Ozll
Date: 01-31-2007, 11:57 PM (5 of 14)
Thanks for the advice, I'd let my sewing club help, however, most of them do not even know how to thread a sewing machine * they joined to learn* adn as for makinging them mostly similer.. I doubt it, The director of the show is very strick and does not want to spoil the " illusen". SO just random people have to have diffrent outfits. I also won't know for sure how many I have to make untill Friday.... I also have to go around and get all the actors measurements.. it is a gruesome job. I just wish I did not have to do it all.--- Oh and as for speaking my mine about not being able to do it, I have too much pride, plus I kind of unknowingly volunteered for it... My teacher asked me to help out and suddenly I have to make 30 costumes.. |
User: Ozll
Member since: 01-25-2007 Total posts: 32 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 02-01-2007, 07:42 AM (6 of 14)
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Make it fun -- cut them all the same but different fabric. Simple sleeveless shifts with a band around the hips to make them low waisted. Don't bother with finishing seams and such. You could even skip facings by binding edges. Now those club members can start learning. They can learn to cut. Then they can have a lot of fun trimming -- adding fringe to the skirts, making simple lace collars, that sort of thing. They will learn a lot -- especially how creative sewing can be -- and not have to worry about making a garment that will be seen up close. Heck, if you work it right all you have to do is organize and supervise. And now you've learned a sewing lesson too -- don't volunteer to sew until you lay down the ground rules. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-01-2007, 08:33 AM (7 of 14)
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I can pretty easily make 20 in 5 days. The worst situation I ever got into ended up being 27 in 3 days instead of 7 outfits because I was bullied by someone who wouldn't give me the final go ahead. The key is to organize and do as much on the machine as possible...machine hems (blindstitch, etc.) Do not let them pressure you to do more than you can handle. When I was doing this kind of work, I was on my own. Find out if any of the students have mothers/grandmothers who sew...they are out there, but out of 125 band families, I could only locate 5 (including me) that sewed and one of those was willing but minimal...one had parent who was dying (couldn't use), one other was advanced and one was moderate. If they say they can sew and are willing, be careful about giving out fabrics to have something made...of the 3 that helped me make 75 band flags and 16 colorguard pants and tops in 4 weeks, I had to remake everything that one of the parents did which was topstitching a group of flags and adding the pockets (but she was more than willing to help) and the other never finished her stuff...we ended up dividing up her work to finish so I actually ended up with one parent who helped and did a good job. I assembled all the flags, she did the cutting, I topstitched 2 sets, she did one and we sent two out to be done. The one whose work we had to finish, did topstitching on 5 flags. Because of the wind involved with large color guard flags though, the quality of stitch had to be much better than it will need to be with drama uniforms. It is easier to do it yourself and pace everything than to sent out things to be made and find out late in the game that nothing has been made..then you are in danger of running out of time. If you are in charge of this, you'll really need to stay on top of it. You'll really be smart to SEE things as they go along because people will often tell you something is "coming along" but it is not...then they try to rush and may or may not be able to finish. Line your people up and take their measurments 2-3 at a time. If possible, do not allow yourself to be the only adult in the room with the students when you measure and do not let the students leave the room until they have all be measured. Do the same during the fittings. This is for your own protection...believe me, no one can be too careful anymore. Keep in mind these kids are old enough to make up stories. As much as possible, do all your cutting and alterations at one time. If you can trust your parents to cut where you mark, let them do this for you. When you go to make your outfits, sort the outfits by person, then sort each outfit by color. Those that are similar colors can be sewn at the same time (ok...so I'm petty but I want all the inside seams to be the right colors). Then do all the facings for that color at once, all the pressings together, etc. Arrange things so that you can take a group of things to the ironing board together to press, then return to work. If you do this you can make a large number and completely finish them quickly. When you do your fittings (time is very precious), do mass fittings...don't trickle in with one outfit, fit it, do the next. when you hem, line them up on the stage during break, stand on the floor and mark your hems...save your back where you can. Take a yardstick with you. This way if you want the hems at the same length, it can be done all at once. You are much more likely to find a parent/helper who can hem. If nothing else, if you can get reliable help with the cutting and someone to do the finish work....you'll be miles ahead and you'll have more control over the pace of progress. Remember to you, you may have 20-30 outfits but if you part them out, they'll only have 1 or 2, so to them the situation isn't as urgent. You see 20 outfits coming back but they think "Well, if I don't get this done, I'll just send it back, what is one outfit?" pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Ozll
Date: 02-01-2007, 07:10 PM (8 of 14)
| Thanks! this helps! |
User: Ozll
Member since: 01-25-2007 Total posts: 32 |
From: Ozll
Date: 02-01-2007, 07:12 PM (9 of 14)
Thanks for all the organization info, I won't be abel to get the total number of outfits untill friday night. I also won't get the color schem or what outfits our needed, untill that time. Feb 3rd. Is my dance so I can't do a whole lot untill feb 4th. The play is on March 2nd. As for the measurments I made the crew head -- who can't sew take most of them yesterday. I will get the rest tomorrow. And if my Sewing Club Members can handle cutting, I will certinly give them jobs!  I think with a little help and some organization, this won't be so hard! Thanks!* but still a very big challenge* |
User: Ozll
Member since: 01-25-2007 Total posts: 32 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 02-01-2007, 08:06 PM (10 of 14)
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I think there's also a lot of leeway for stage costumes. I knew a costume designer in NYC, and his work was always museum-quality, down to the last stitch. That was something special about him, but even he would have admitted it was more than the audience needed. I made a flapper costume out of a store-bought black slip ($7) and sewed on some fringe trim. That took about 10 mins, and cost less than the yardage would have. Some of the costumes might come from the local thrift shop, too. Yes, there's a lot of pressure on you, but with some creativity, less of it will be dragging you away from your school work, and sleep, than you might have thought. It's a good time to start drumming up support for your team!
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: Ozll
Date: 02-01-2007, 11:01 PM (11 of 14)
| Thats my first proirty, school. I know some people in here think 30 dresses in a month is easy but I have school 6 days a week and I volunteer at the zoo. So it is not that easy. However, i did bring up Thrift shops and we plan to go ahuntin for clothes. Thanks, I did not think to buy somthing cheap and add somthing to make it what I'd need. * goes hunting for cheap long dresses* Thanks! |
User: Ozll
Member since: 01-25-2007 Total posts: 32 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 02-02-2007, 09:11 AM (12 of 14)
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You are not likely to find much in thrift stores. You are talking about 80 years ago. Andrea's slip idea is good. Here are some quick lessons on fashions of the period. http://www.fashion-era.com/flapper_fashion_1920s.htm http://www.costumegallery.com/1920/ http://www.rambova.com/fashion/fash4.html But, while they are interesting, remember for the theater you want quick and easy and you want it to look like what people are expecting. Think about the movie Chicago. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Ozll
Date: 02-02-2007, 07:48 PM (13 of 14)
| Thanks for the sites, I told my teacher about the slip idea and she loved it, however the director of the show does not want fringe..? So maybe insted of sewinf fringe on I'll sew on ruffles or ribbion.. |
User: Ozll
Member since: 01-25-2007 Total posts: 32 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-02-2007, 08:11 PM (14 of 14)
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Considering the time frame you might be able to find some straight plain dresses at the thrift store, cut at the hipline or just below and then add a fabric skirt of some sort, pleats, (maybe even from another dress/skirt..would save hemming) and a bow at the hipline or just below, add a collar, whatever.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
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