Costume workshop

This weekend I´ve been teaching a costume workshop for a bouquet of true theatre-lovers in Rogaland. Every other year Rogaland Teaterråd hosts workshops for their members in the amateur theatre-groups in the county.

In the class I had 6 lovely ladies, all costume-makers in their theatre groups. Our challenge for the weekend was to each make an historically inspired dress.

First on the agenda is altering the pattern so it fits the dress-user. Everyone made dresses for themselves, as they were close-at-hand

Below is my unfinished sample. Using traditional curtain fabric, you can some pretty amazing historical costumes in a fairly low-cost price.

The top is the part that takes a bit time to make, as it needs to fit snuggly. All the ladies used quite different fabrics, for thin polyester via taffeta to thick woven velvet. The good thing about a pattern like this, is that the dress is so easy to alter simply by the choice of fabric. If you vary the neckline, where you define the waistline and how you shape the arms, you can easily vary this dress from the 15th to the 20th century.

Here, Heidi is measuring the skirt and calculating all the pleats in the waist.

Another part of the workshop is befriending your overlock /serger. This practical invention makes every seamstress´ life easier. Above is Beater and her friend 😉

Kjersti is working on a all-cotton skirt.

Aren´t they lovely?! From the pale sea-foam colored Sleeping Beaty-dress, via the Elizabethan-waisted golden polyester/velvet-print dress, the deep-red baroque inspired dress to the young latino-dancing gypsy.

Thank you Heidi, Line, Mari Anne, Beate, Kjersti and Camilla for a wonderful weekend!

Only one of the dresses finished with arms, we needed a couple of more hours for all to finish (they were so close!)