Skip to main content

Cup Cake Dancer

 Cup Cake Dancer



Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Amateur theatre production September 2021. 
Murray Bridge Players and Singers
this was my initial design idea 

As part of the McArthur Park musical number in Priscilla the lead character has a dream involving cup cakes. For this scene I made 5 cup cake costumes, the director requested another complementary costume for each of the actors holding the umbrellas above the cup cakes. I had to make the dresses match the look of the scene and used the remaining fabric I had. 
For this costume I need a very simple A line dress so construction would be quick. I used Butterick 3554 dress view B. 

I used the sleeves from the pattern view B but instead of using the inverted scallops I curved the hemline so it could be gathered and added an elastic cuff. 

I changed the skirt from straight to flaired by splicing the pattern and adding fullness across the skirt. I also widened the shoulders towards the neck so the neckline wasn’t as open. I redrafted the pattern so the front and back had a seperate yoke which I cut from lime green stretch mesh, I also cut the sleeves out of the stretch mesh.
I made binding for the scoop neckline. 
I wanted to included a pleated lame accent to match the cup cake patty pans. 
On the inside I added a mesh lining to which I added the pleated lamé contrast hem. The mesh served to hold the contrast pleated fabric seperate from the tinsel mesh and to line the dress because the tinsel mesh is itchy! 


with added purple sprinkles



rehearsal photo by Jaybirdy Photography 


rehearsal photo by Jaybirdy Photography 



Popular posts from this blog

Gothic Queen of Hearts “Alice in Wonderland” Youth Theatre Murray Bridge Players and Singers 2018 Concept drawing created on Prêt-à-template I volunteer my sewing skills for an amateur Theatre group. They have stage a production once or twice a year. For the second half of 2018 the Youth Theatre staged an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic story of "Alice in Wonderland". The Director of the play oversees the set design and costumes as well as directing the play. This director was also part of the youth theatre herself at only 16. She requested a Queen of Hearts costume with a pants suit and a high low jacket with large collar instead of a more tradition dress.  The above drawing is my submission for the costume. Some changes were made during the construction process to suit the actors proportions and the need to walk up stairs and sit. Pattern For this project I used McCall’s 7641 as the base for my jacket.  Kwik Sew stirrup pants patter...
Read more

Sophie Mamma Mia

Sophie Mamma Mia I made this costume for a friends daughter who wore it to their Mamma Mia themed 21st birthday part. The design is based on the costume the character of Sophie wore during the credits of Mamma Mia where the cast sang Waterloo.  The original costume was designed by Ann Roth for the 2008 movie Mamma Mia. image from Pinterest  Fabric used Pink Rainbow dot shimmer lycra from Tricia's Discount Fabrics Hot Pink Glitter tulle from D K Fabrics Stretch Silver sequin off-cuts, hot pink foil spot fabric, pink acetate lining and light weight white buckram and blush stretch fabric for lining all from my stash. Sophie provided me with a padded bra with removable straps to build the dress onto. We decided this would give her the most support and best fit on the bust line. I divided the costume into 3 sections first test run in Trace'n'toile second version I used a photo of the costume from Pinterest and some notes I took after watching the movie. Bra Bodice: The origin...
Read more

Frill Neck Lizard Costume

Frill Neck Lizard Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Amateur theatre production September 2021.  Murray Bridge Players and Singers I started this costume on November 7th 2020 Alex as the Frill Neck lizard rehearsal photo by Jaybirdy Photography Classic Australian icon the frill neck lizard appears in the original stage production.  design by Charades-theatrical.com While I love this design it has many elements, pants, top, shin covers, cod piece, girdle and sail. Way too many things for my actor to put on so I narrowed it down to a top that zips up the front, some stretchy pants and a headpiece you need a pilots licence to drive. My initial design done with Pret-a-template app This is probably the most labour intensive costume I made, purely because I went back to my skills in a freehand machine embroidery and machine sewed all the decorative embroidery into the fabric making it unique. Unlike the professional above costume where printed st...
Read more