Little Red Riding Hood

There is nothing more gratifying than completing a project!!! and I have finally finished my Little Red Riding Hood costume that I started in 2004.  8 years ago I wanted to make this costume.  I bought the patter and the materials and got started.  I even had to enlarge the pattern as 8 years ago I weighed 130lbs more than I weigh today.  So it began. 

With the pattern adjusted and the pieces cut the project was quickly overtaken by another MUST DO activity and it sat... for 7 years... In a box of projects....  never to see the light of day....

Until...

I was looking through the boxes of fabric when I found it!  I was excited and quickly gathered all the pieces and started again...  Needless to say it didn't fit... oh and I no longer had the pattern... so I laid it out on the table and began to re-engineer it. 

 

 

Re-engineered and down to the right size I began construction.  Below is the outside panels put together. 

 

I prepared the lining in the same manner,  added boning at the grommet lines and it looked like this. 

All we needed now is to trim out the bottom.  (this part took a while because I couldn't figure out how I wanted to accomplish this)

 

the original pattern called for a short skirt which by now I wanted to change and since I didn't need all 4 of the skirt panels I was able to use two of the 4 to extend the others.  I added a ribbon over the seam line because I didn't like the way it looked.  I also split the two panels into 4 to make an 8 paneled riding skirt with slits from the mid thigh down. 

With a draw string closure the final skirt looks like this.  The red ribbon is so I can tie up the front of the skirt if I want to show off my (future project) pantaloons or under skirt. 

Finally after trimming the bodice with ribbon like bias tape it was time to grommet.... My absolute least favorite part.  So I enlisted the help of my talented boyfriend and he did it for me... (yes that is a sharpened ratchet tool from the tool box to make the grommet holes)

 

The final product!!! (well except the shoulders which I was still in the process of finalizing how I wanted it).

 

After grommeting the shoulders here it is!!! I used a chemise and underskirt that I already have to take the picture...  

 

I put it on three times the weekend I finished it.  I walked around the house in it... I did what ever I wanted.  I cannot wait to wear it at the TX ren fest