So I updated my swatch book last night. Which required measuring of some yardage. And I don’t think I have enough fabric for my intended Carnivale costume.
The black shantung embedded with shisha mirrors is only 4 yards of 45″ wide material, and something tells me that just won’t be enough for a robe a la francaise, even though I’m a somewhat petite 5’2″ gal and would be using another fabric for the petticoat, stomacher, and engagettes. If the black fabric was wider, I could probably do it — being short does come in handy for that. But I dunno. Not 45″ wide. Now, part of me says, hey, get some plain black shantung and piece it in. But how? At the bottom half maybe? Alternate panels? Hrm.
Another option would be to find some black silk or poly taffeta as a complete substitute. Use that with the hot pink. Of course, I already need to get some matching hot pink as a backing because the sari is semi-transparent. And I wanted to get trim, a wig, feathers… I kinda prefer not to buy more fabric If I can help it.
So what else is there in the Stash … we have the red and black wide-striped rayon (11 yards) that I’ve oft said I’d make a Sleepy Hollow style gown out of. That could be my Carnivale costume. It’d meet the requirement of being flashy.
I recently bought a plum and black wide-striped mystery fabric (5 yards) that would make a lovely robe a la anglaise. It’s not very flashy, but perhaps if I found a dramatic contrast fabric — maybe a black satin with sparkle or shine for the petticoat? maybe a really fabulous trim? because I think I have a plain black silk skirt from another outfit I could use with it, if necessary — then that + a new wig and such would be “enough.”
There’s always the salmon pink damask earmarked for my Pink Venetian. What if I went for a different century entirely for Carnivale? There’s no law it has to be 18th century; Carnivale has been celebrated since the Middle Ages. I could be a courtesan. I’d planned to make that one very fluffy and girlie, so it’d be quite appropriate for Carnivale. And pink!