k-for-days

Irish seamstress and cosplayer. I love corsetry, mid-century couture, impeccable fit, tiny details and enormous hats!

[k-for-days]

Hat finished. I’m so in love with these delicate little flowers! #marypoppinscosplay #marypoppins #edwardian #jollyholiday #millinery #sinamay #hatmaking #paperflowers #irishcosplay #irishcosplayer #ilikebighatsandicannotlie https://www.instagram.com/p/BxiJJalj5oK/?igshid=1o0kfdjpwhg7h

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Last weekend it felt like nothing went right with my work on Mary Poppins, but I’m happy to report that I got my mojo back this weekend! Hat and underdress both finished, just waiting on flowers. I’m really excited to keep the momentum going! #marypoppinscosplay #marypoppins #edwardian #jollyholiday #millinery #sinamay #hatmaking #irishcosplay #irishcosplayer #ilikebighatsandicannotlie https://www.instagram.com/p/BxZWN5dDN6A/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5eujlkv8t0jw

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I was a bit annoyed to realise that I’d have to remake my hat Mary Poppins from scratch, but I like this version much more! More accurate crown shape and better fit with the wig I eventually chose. I blocked this crown on a saucepan! 😅 Next step is adding tulle and flowers. #marypoppinscosplay #marypoppins #edwardian #jollyholiday #millinery #sinamay #hatmaking #irishcosplay #irishcosplayer #ilikebighatsandicannotlie https://www.instagram.com/p/BxVuwFUDDv2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10hfa6xulgrv4

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My favourite trick for working with slippery fabrics is to soak the yardage in a gelatine bath before cutting. It gives it just enough papery stiffness to make it easier to work with and rinses out very well. I took the instructions from Susan Khalje’s website and have used it on everything from poly chiffon to silk twill. It’s brilliant, hope you find it helpful 😁 Pour ~15g of gelatine into a glass of cold water and let it sit for 30 mins (I use about 1.5 packs of the Dr Oetker gelatine you can get in the supermarket). Add the solution to 3l of hot water. Add the fabric and leave it to soak for about an hour. Squeeze out the water and hang to air dry. #sewingtip #cosplaytip #sheerfabric #slipperyfabric #silk #chiffon #irishcosplay #irishcosplayer https://www.instagram.com/p/BxU5ZwVjH12/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wcp4exk7dego

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I knew by the time I’d finished the second tier of Mary Poppins’ petticoat that I’d made a poor fabric choice - the net is too stiff and doesn’t move nicely at all - but I’m going to finish it out of sheer bloody-mindedness. I’ll try again with organza (poly, unfortunately). Between this and some hat sizing woes, I’m off to a frustrating start. In the meantime, anyone want to take this off my hands for the cost of materials? 😅 #marypoppinscosplay #marypoppins #edwardian #jollyholiday #petticoat #wip #irishcosplay #irishcosplayer https://www.instagram.com/p/BxDnEwtDVb4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=p1ywh25cwgau

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Starting Mary Poppins at the top! I like to use this tin to block the crowns of my sinamay hats - cheaper than a wooden block and the 21.5cm diameter gives a perfect size to fit over wigs. The crown of Mary’s hat is slightly domed, so I used a small plate to add the shape and covered it with a towel to soften the edges. Delighted with how it turned out! #marypoppinscosplay #marypoppins #edwardian #jollyholiday #millinery #sinamay #hatmaking #irishcosplay #irishcosplayer #ilikebighatsandicannotlie https://www.instagram.com/p/BwhLXC8jIgW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13xb3w2qs88cn

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Time to start work on my third Edwardian-inspired-with-a-big-hat-and-parasol costume. Not looking forward to the boot covers (like, at all) but everything else is reasonably familiar territory. Here we go! #marypoppinscosplay #marypoppins #edwardian #jollyholiday #cosplans #irishcosplay #irishcosplayer #ilikebighatsandicannotlie https://www.instagram.com/p/BwffOj7jHGb/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14b405q26rwbh

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Practice. This is addictive! #tambourembroidery #luneville #learning #sequins https://www.instagram.com/p/BwSnz6xj2Ox/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16kqxrpkikubb

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My experiments with tambour stitching and beading are extremely untidy but very fruitful. I’m thrilled by the speed I can work up, even on my very first try with beads and sequins. I’m starting to believe that I can master the skills required for the Titanic dinner dress - it will simply be a test of stamina! #tambourembroidery #tambourbeading #beginner #luneville #learning #sequins https://www.instagram.com/p/BwPWgHsjdQx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=m5e8fgy46tu

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Bloomers for Mrs Banks done! This is the last of the upgrades I’ve been working on and, like most of them, they’re really just for my own satisfaction. 😉 Still, it felt incomplete without them! They were very simple to make but somehow impossible to photograph well! #mrsbanks #marypoppinscosplay #edwardian #bloomers #disneycosplay #irishcosplay #irishcosplayer https://www.instagram.com/p/BvznBeADOfU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1v0jgyutz4ub9

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A little something I embroidered for my wonderful Mum for Mother’s Day. My parents’ garden has huge cherry trees that will look amazing when they bloom in a few weeks, so when I saw this design I knew I wanted to do it for her. French knots require both hands to work cleanly, so it was a good opportunity to try out my new frame for the first time. My setup was a bit messy, but I was so happy to see that the huge frame can accommodate small pieces of fabric as well as huge ones 😊I think I overcooked this a bit - the crown looked better before I made the crown taller, and I’m not sure how successful the cat is 😅 Still, hopefully Mum will like it! #handembroidery #sakura #cherryblossom #mothersday #tambourframe https://www.instagram.com/p/BvoQR71j5Hq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kogwqymwi6yf

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I’ll have to trial a few fabrics to get the beaded overlay of the Titanic dinner dress right. This is illusion mesh, which is often used as a base fabric for beading. It’s quite strong and impossibly fine - it kind of feels like ghost fabric, honestly! 👻 There’s just nothing to it, lighter than air. Weird but very cool. This might work, if I double it up for more strength and opacity, but I’m starting to think silk organza might be the way to go. We’ll see! #fabrichaul #illusionfabric #tambourbeading #luneville #titaniccosplay https://www.instagram.com/p/BvkcQF6D_SL/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8ldybxtxwib9

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Last set of shots from Dublin Comic Con. Thanks again, Patrick @hearusouttube ! #irishcosplay #irishcosplayer #dublincomiccon #ironmancosplay #tonystarkcosplay #ironman2 #marvelcosplay #mcucosplay #tonystark #robertdowneyjr #genderbendcosplay #genderbendtonystark #corduranylon https://www.instagram.com/p/BvfQTIajQK8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4qqriqzwjls7

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I’m making some upgrades this week to Mrs Banks. The ruffles I made first time around were sad and limp, and I knew I would have to replace them ... I may have overcompensated a bit! 😅 I used exactly half a metre of silk organza for these new ruffles. Much better, I think! #mrsbanks #marypoppinscosplay #edwardian #disneycosplay #ruffles #irishcosplay #irishcosplayer #silkorganza https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvco1Usj8V3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=119r7ls1a78w5

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Another shot I love from DCC, by Patrick from @hearusouttube 😊 #irishcosplay #irishcosplayer #dublincomiccon #ironmancosplay #tonystarkcosplay #ironman2 #marvelcosplay #mcucosplay #tonystark #robertdowneyjr #genderbendcosplay #genderbendtonyatark #corduranylon https://www.instagram.com/p/BvZ41yujA47/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gg144g5dd9o1

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Some more Stark from Dublin Comic Con. Definitely going to switch to darker denim next time! These photos were taken by Patrick from Hear Us Out on YouTube - well worth checking out their channel for pop culture discussion. They’re sound lads 😊 Thanks again Patrick! #irishcosplay #irishcosplayer #dublincomiccon #ironmancosplay #tonystarkcosplay #ironman2 #marvelcosplay #mcucosplay #genderbendcosplay #genderbendtonyatark #corduranylon https://www.instagram.com/p/BvO43JpDSzO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14y5375tmpxu7

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My dad is the best - he made me this tambour embroidery frame to my specifications over the last week or so, and we finished it together today. It’s simple but beautifully functional and exactly what I wanted. I’m so excited and very, very grateful! Thanks Dad! #tambourembroidery #tambourframe #embroideryframe #bestdadever #thanksdad https://www.instagram.com/p/BvJ5whYjfYJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=vc1ysv05a7lf