Eventing Season! Time for a new to do list.

Ok so Egils is May 27 and The Rogue Renaisance Fair is May 14 We only need one outfit apiece for The Ren Faire so I'm not terribly worried just excited to go have fun. The list that follows then is for Egils. Today marks 35 days until the event and 25 of which can I reasonably expect to get things done. Each of those usable days has a block of time open that is approximately 8 hours but to account for other chores, my attention span and other distractions let use average it at six. That leaves approximately 150 potential hours of work.

Egils sewing to do list.
1. Finish Riley's purple shirt (80% about three hours work left)
2. Finish Riley's vest (35% estimated work left about 15 hours (will probably skip the decor for this event and cut it down to 4 hours)
3. Finish the tokens for the dance competition (65% about 1.-2 hours left.)
4. Make the scarf for the youth bracket's prize (5% about 6 hours estimated work.)
5. Find a teddy bear and garb it for the children's bracket prize. ( 0% estimated time about 6 hours and maybe another two for detailing I need the actual bear before making an estimate.)
6. Finish my surcoat and Gaelic chemise (75% about 3 hours left)
7. Make my cotehardie (0% about 20 hours work. ((may be backlogged until seadogs))

That's about 46 hours total assuming nothing explodes and the puppy lets me work.

Gypsy Garb

I got Riley to garb up and show off his new bright duds.

Fun With Color

The faire season is fast approaching and I am scraping the bottom of the fabric stash and doing whatever I can to make our garb work. This week that has included experimenting with dying and fading the fabric I have that is an appropriate weigh for garb but the colors were just a little off. I also redyed a shirt of Riley's to make it a nice saffron with curry powder. I did this because it was a dingy white that looked sloppy and gray with a few stains and because his persona is a gitano (Spanish Romani) and sloppy white is not a bright color.

Not as even of tone as I would like but not awful. Click for full size.

The other experiment was with bleaching some purple quilting cotton to a tone that at least looked like it could have been achieved with period dyes because the original color was fairly neon. After several hours of feeling sure that the threads were going to disintegrate before the dye did I finally rinsed it out and let it drip dry and left for the weekend. When I came home I discovered how dramatic of a change actually occurred.

Bleached on the left original on the right for comparison.
Now I just need to hope my iron works long enough for me to get those wrinkles out!

I like the result and it totally looks even better in person. The fading really brought out the texture of the cloth and made it seem a lot more earthy. It has a much more period feel to it now. It will hopefully make an amazing shirt with wonderfully garish puffy sleeves. At last my gypsy love will be wearing appropriately bright colors that are not red. I am also trying, rather futilely to darken the tone of a brown polyester cotton blend to make it seem a little less shiny and industrial. I'm hoping a couple more trips will fix it up.

So that's what I've been up to, that and job searching.

New Garb and puppy

So I haven't entirely been slacking but getting any work done with a six month old puppy is practically impossible. This is the adorable new distraction in my life.

His name is Zathras and he's a basset hound/ rat terrier mix (we think)

But my puppy as cute as he is, is not the reason for this blog. I have been working lately, I have been hand edging the surcoat and leaning how to cut and iron my own bias tape to finish it. (which hurts a lot) I also broke down and made a chemise out of the plaid fabric I had been keeping around for my Gaelic wear.

I will try to say the following without sounding like an insecure teenager. Women my size should avoid plaid like the plague and I should know better. But it's appropriate and it was an inexpensive fabric in colors that suit me so I decided to deal with it but I just wasn't prepared for how awful the following image is.

Oh, hello again puppy. 

I really really hate how this looks on me but it's better than being naked at event and it is still a good piece. I guess I should just focus on changing me rather than the fabric but ... gah!

I'm still here and getting work done.

So I have my new bodice pattern worked out and I'm working on the prototype and I'm also practicing my embroidery on it. which is significant since I haven't actually done embroidery since I was 11. It's not perfect yet but with a little more practice I will be back in the groove I think.

Embroidery on Blue Velvet Bodice

Also I am almost done with my surcoat and just have to figure out how I'm going to trim it. I'm tempted to just get some hem bias in a contrasting color and topstich over that. It's not the most complex trim but it would be pretty and fairly period.

Business start date is being pushed back until my mom gets me my money back. I'm still regular job hunting so I can start on my own anyway and Riley has me looking into ways to get back to school. So big things will hopefully be coming soon!

Scaredy cat has kicked me out of my sewing room! (And corset contest news)

So I got home from visiting family on Saturday and Riley had agreed to puppysit for a friend of his. Which was fun even if they weren't all that well behaved. (One of them kept trying to hump my leg and the other one was covered in fleas and the younger one peed on my floor right in front of the bedroom door.) Well apparently even though his cat is used to big puppies she is not used to being caught by them and it shook her up pretty bad. She's been panting and hiding in my sewing room (Where Riley locked her up to protect her from the puppies) since then although she's finally peeking her head out today so we're optimistic that I can get back to work soon. (This cat just has a personal vendetta against me getting work done.)
Well I tweaked my Damsel in this Dress corset design entry. I think this will totally solve the problem with the curls standing up and makes my design look different from Damsel's prototype so I thought that I would share it. Damsel is apparently re-considering her idea to host a contest for fear of legal ramifications I really hope she decides to do it anyway because I know me an a lot of her fans have been really excited for it.

Ondine corset design

my new design idea

 

 

Kind of sad

So I got really excited for my design for Damsel in this Dress's corset contest and then yesterday I saw this on her page.

Image property of Damsel in this Dress

For those of you who didn't see it this was my idea for the contest.

Design by Me: Bobbi Weth

I feel really unoriginal and silly now and have no clue what I'm going to submit for the contest. I still really want to enter but my backup design is not really a design so much as an easy mod to one of her existing designs to make it more visually flattering. I like it but I doubt it counts as an actual design.

Oh well back to the drawing board... and hours spent making a probably unnecessary collage of my idea to make it look prettier and more like a real corset.

I have conquered!

The craft room resembles a usable workshop now! There's still a ton of laundry and bins hanging around but those will take a while to be done away with. (The bins will stay until we get dressers so I can steal the shelving unit Riley is using for his clothes.) But I did get a couple of useful bits of shelving in. So I decided to show some photos of the new organizational apparatus.

New trunk for fabric so I can see them

The trunk over here is actually a really long, thin shelving unit that I put on it's side and it makes a great fabric organizer. Other than the skinned muppet trying to cover it up (Orange fleece that will be a blanket when I have more patience to figure out what I'm doing wrong with it) I can actually see most everything that I have at once. (There are some bulkier bits that are still in a bin but it's down to only one bin and the trunk for now)

This has let me inventory my fabric stock, which is pretty much useless as far as the business goes. All of it is either really neon or is some terrible kind of knit stretch. (Totally the downfall of fashion... well that and the invention of the assembly line for mass produced clothing... and discarding corsets... we just hate looking good don't we?) I do have enough usable fabrics to make and model the prototypes of my ideas but I can't actually make a stock until I get orders. That is a bit of a setback but I plan to stock up on basic colors in a good heavyweight cotton (Black, Red, Deeper Blues and Greens and browns) to make some simple pieces to sell at first.

Then I got Riley to put up some shelves for me. They are a really basic design that is actually pretty convenient.

ZOMG organized!

I have labeled most of what's in there for the curious. Not enough of most of what I need for the business (bias tape, threads and notions) But it's a good start. I have enough to make my prototype projects and show them of and to hope that someone will want one for their own.

The collection is pretty darn eclectic with the glue gun and the old fashioned (I'm talking 70s here) electric shears that belonged to my great grandmother. ( I inherrited a lot of my craft supplies from her ... including most of the neon knits ... oh the 70s ... they were terrible.) The shears are actually way better at cutting smooth lines than I am (I always show jagged edges no matter how sharp of scissors I use) and so long as I have a guide I can make much better lines with them. They are terribly loud and sound like I am torturing a beehive but I consider them a pretty good tool.

I have actually set a hopeful business start date of February first and I am optimistic. I even have a bulletin board set up with my goals to get ready on it. (ooh fancy I know)

The goals are as follows. 1-4 finish design example finals. 5 get my business cards printed to take to events, put in with orders for referrals and to, in general promote myself. 6 Get Riley to help me take good photos of my designs (Outside!!)  to use for my Etsy store. 7 to work out my referral incentives.  

What do these mean? Well 1-4 are pretty easy, finish making the examples of my clothes so I can get them modeled and photographed for my store. Most of these are things for Riley and I's SCA garb kits because both of us have had a bad year for misplacing or otherwise having to discard our garb. I also have a few projects for friends that will make these lists at a later date but these are the bare basics.

Goal 5 is pretty self explanatory and 6 is to put my experience as an amatuer photographer to use to flatter and sell my designs. The plan is to go out to one of the parks nearby to take photos and use the nice sunlight and beautiful landscape to create romantic and fantastical images to help invoke the feeling I'm trying to create with these designs. The last goal is to work out how to reward my first customers and to encourage them to refer their friends since word of mouth is the mainstay of this business. My basic plan is to give each of my first five customers five coupons to give to their friends that will give them AND their friend 5% off any one item. (this only applies if the friend uses their coupon) It's nothing terribly complicated but every little bit of encouragement helps eh?

Since this is primarily a sewing and project based blog I figure I should probably show you what I have been working on. So behold my first attempt at a surcoat as a WIP.

Wow I need an iron ... and something to cover that door up.

I guess that's enough ranting about my progress for now. Back to pretending it's Christmas Eve to make up for not spending it with my family.

Damsel in this Dress Corset Design Contest.

I have been working on making a new corset design for Damsel in this Dress's Corset Design Contest. Basically the goal is to come up with a unique corset design and put it up for others to see. At the end of January a winner will be chosen and they will receive a copy of that corset. I have two designs I would like to enter but only one is allowed so I will show both here.

Starting with the one I will actually enter in the contest. The Fae Corset.

 

This is something that I would love to have around for Faerieworlds. It's a very versatile design (at least I think so) and  I like how simple it is. 

The other design I cam up with is just a top stitched web overlay design on the Victorian longline underbust pattern to enhance the slimming effect with an optical illusion. 

Steampunk illusion underbust by Bobbi Weth

I will be posting this on Damsel's facebook as an invitation to come talk about ideas for the contest so I hope some good critique and conversation will be forthcoming.

My craft room has exploded

Riley got me some shelving and I have been hard at work trying to sort through tangled mess that is my supplies in the hopes that I can get it organized and inventoried so I know what I'm working with.
Let me just say that I have a lot of fabric. Most of it has been gifts or inherited pieces that I never had a plan for. I also have a work in progress pile that got upgraded to a box because it was too much to sit on the worktable.  I keep finding projects that I really need to finish or repair. Also I found pieces of family gifts that I didn't even know I hadn't finished which is nifty considering our late Christmas celebration is coming up and I did have anything to give my dad and sister. I also found some camouflage fabric I will attempt to make something out of for my sisters boyfriend but I haven't a clue what to do with it.
Also, Notions SO MANY NOTIONS! I have trims, ribbons, bells buttons, thread, elastic and god knows what else! I may have to relegate these to their own box soon. Riley did get me a small piece of knicknac-y shelving that I think I want to put dowels in to keep thread and ribbon spools onto.

So I have some frantic organizing and last minute sewing to do before I head home for a week to catch up on the holidays. Then I will be back to conquer my WIP pile and start my new designs for eventing season. Good lord you'd think I was making this into a job or something! Well I will be back soon with things to show you all. Have a great New Year.

Costuming Business Ethics 101

Ok I already posted this on Damsel's facebook but I decided to rant about it a little on my own blog. I know that total originality is extremely hard and that most things start from a basic concept and evolve. Creative property can be a little hard to track and that inspiration comes from many sources.

That being said this is a blatant theft that annoys me to the  very core. I know I don't really have readership yet to bother complaining to but really I don't care. I take a lot of care in designing and working out prototypes of my designs while I am still teaching myself the fine art of sewing. (Although books like this are a great help)

Salem Libraries Rock!

When I do finally get my own store up and begin sharing these designs and products I know it would absolutely make me furious to see one of my own designs being so flagrantly copied as what I am about to show you.

I am a huge fan of Damsel in this Dress bodices. I have tried on some of Michelle's pieces and if I'm lucky there is one waiting for me this Christmas. Her designs are elegant and flattering and I understand why someone might want to emulate them. Like I said they are awesome. But I don't want to sell copies of her bodices I just want to make ones of a similar caliber in my own design and aesthetic. I just want to be as awesome as she is with my own designs.

So on to the thief. It is poorly rendered so it may take a moment to realize that this

Photo belongs to http://twospools.com even if they stole the design

 Really wants to be this

Photo belongs to Damsel in this Dress http://damseldress.com

The worst part? The badly made copy costs only $25 less than Michelle's original design. The person orchestrating this theft can't even flatter a mannequin with this piece let alone a woman and expects to get $125 for it!

Why am I ranting about this so much? It bothers me, it bothers me a lot that someone might actually buy something that flimsy and cheap for such a ridiculous price. Why? Doesn't that mean that I should be able to make a ton of money when I get there. Well honestly it scares me because I'm afraid it means that people don't know enough about clothing to recognize quality when they see it and maybe I am wasting my time trying to learn the proper way to do things and working out the best methods to provide quality when I could just churn out something like that and sell it for $100.

Readers (hey someday there will be some) please please please, say no to bad quality ripoffs and reveal them where you see them. This is no way to run a business and honestly it's just no way to live.

With SCIENCE!

Ok not really scientific but I am doing some dye experimentation with black beans and some white cotton lace that I got at a yard sale. Since I am bored and on the subject I thought I would share some things I have learned about dying with plant and food dyestuffs.

Rule 1. GLOVES! seriously some dyes are pretty darn permanent even to skin and modern society is not exactly accepting of people wandering around with green or orange hands. Also newspaper and some wax paper to protect your counters. You make think the new colors are pretty but your landlords/roommates/significant others may disagree.
Rule 2. LABEL! if you are doing a dye that needs to set in the fridge or outside then label it because dyes can be pretty stinky or gross if you open them. (Also they may somewhat resemble juice and just throwing them in the fridge in an unmarked waterbottle is cruel.... apparently)
3. Research. see if someone else has used this dyestuff and what tips they may have. I found a knitter online who had used black beans as a dye and instead of boiling them she just used the leftover water from soaking the beans soak them in a tupperware. I am using a clear(ish) waterbottle so I can watch the results.
4. Experiment! go ahead get a labcoat and goggles (good plan if you use a strong mordant like spirits, vinegar or alum) and cackle maniacally
5. Have fun and make sure to document your progress to show the rest of the class ;)

Sewing to do list

So my craft room is a mess! I had to leave my dresser and craft cupboard behind at my last moves so I have nothing to do with all of these craft supplies. I have finally set up my sewing machine but I don't actually have a chair that I can use to sit at it so I can't really use it right now. I was using Riley's computer chair when he wasn't home but he broke it and now it's too low.
The yarn at least is organized ... for now. I swear I sorted and organized it before I moved and then I opened the chest and all I see is this colorful Gordian Knot. This yarn stash was inherited from someone who apparently loved plastic canvas and granny squares (as well as scary geese I really need to get some new contact paper to cover that chest) so there were a lot of itty bitty ends of skeins causing the clog. The odd thing being that I have already gone through and purged those little things before and given them to crafters who use them. I swear my stash is breeding which means I should probably not ignore it for six months at a time.
The fabric is folded neatly in messy bins and boxes and I really need give it its own dresser or bookcase soon. But then there's pattens and notions ... good lord the notions! I have been slowly collecting interesting laces and ribbons and little pendants and beads for projects over the years and now they are eating our spare room.

So on to the sewing to do list. (AKA the goal list to be able to turn this into a viable business in the someday future thing)
1. Get roving. I have been trying to work out how to make miniature tri-corns and top hats and my buckram with cloth covering tries just haven't given me the right shape so the new plan is to felt them myself. I learned felting years ago as well as home dying so with some work I think I could get some nifty unique hats going.
2. Work out my pattern and prototypes of my ribbon wench skirt. This is one of the items I want to have around for fairyworld/ faires next season. I want it to be signature piece in my faire collection when I get the etsy shop up (getting closer to that when I apply for real world jobs so I can have a bank account again).
3. Work on my prototypes of bodices, the single most popular item of a good wench's wardrobe and so many people can't get them right. I have some great plans to make unique ones that range from underwear appropriate Elizabethan conicals to the wonderfully Out Of Period and wenchy. I just need to sit down and work out my collection and patterns.
4. Get a dress form, then adjust it according to the directions on Sempstress. So I have a way to perfect these patterns and display them.  This will probably be accomplished by making a duct tape version of a less curvy friend and then padding it so I can use it for my size. ( I am much better at drafting for other people when I can see how the garment fits them via mockups but I can't do the same thing for me.)
5. Make Riley some garb that won't get us as much garb snarking. He may not care but I actually am in the SCA for some measure of accuracy in my anachronism and his stuff is blatantly inappropriate for his persona's nationality and period. Also he's free advertising space.
6. Make up some simple chemise style tops and skirts to go with my over skirt designs and bodices. I have the design worked out and they are pretty one size for certain ranges.
7. Make me some actually period garb because none of mine fits anymore and what does isn't practical. I need to make some nice period pieces. I am thinking of just sticking to a cotehardie (I am aware this is a disputed garment but they are pretty) and possibly a simple apron dress. I want to keep my clothes in a middle class income level so copying the nobles styles in linen and wool (Ok cotton blends because eventing is bloody hot!) and I will probably just making a linen leine for when it's too hot to bother with more layers since I'm Irish anyway.
8. Organize, Organize, Organize! I can't know what I need to do or buy to finish these unless I actually organize and do a real inventory.

So that's where things stand right now.

Happy Halloween!

Well I still feel rather icky so I didn't do anything for Halloween besides staying home with apple pie (the drink) that we had made to take to the party. Riley did take me to the humane society to hang out with puppies to make me feel better. It was awesome! There was this little tiny weimaraner that I wanted to steal and cuddle forever! Her name was Snowy but she's only five weeks old and already 20lbs so I know there's no way we could keep her. Also there was a gianormous boxer mix in isolation that we played chase with through the fence. (Exerting myself a little too much but it was so much fun.)

But even though I am not doing anything interesting for Halloween I did make a Peter Pan costume for my friend Meghan down in Southern Oregon and my mom went and got a picture of her so I could see how it turned out. 

From my mom's iPhone so not the best quality

I am really proud of it ^_^. Apparently though people think she's Robin Hood .... I don't get it but people are silly. But yeah costuming I did some!

Zombie Zombie Schoolgirl Zombie!

So this weekend was the zombie walk and since I made a costume up for it I thought I would share the photo since I haven't had anything else to put up here.

Grr Argh! Photo by Coyote's Childe

You can't see the skirt I actually made, but that's because it was getting rainy so the camera went away pretty early. You also can't see the rips I went to great lengths to make all over that top. I did get an awesome shot of Riley and I together that showcases our awesome makeup (By Coyote's Childe)

Love bites photo by Coyote's Childe

It was an awesome walk and only a little rainy which wasn't to bad anyway since I thought it was going to be worse and planned ahead and turned my boyfriend into a ZOMBRELLA!

Riley the Zombrella by Coyote's Childe

 I should have thought more ahead to try to hide the tape. It looked more believably stabbed into him from behind but I really just didn't feel like trying to get sick when I really wasn't feeling too hot when we started. ( I have an ear/ sinus infection that I have been trying to home treat and hoping it will just go away but I may have to see a doctor soon.) We did get some complaints about it when we were trying to watch the dance. Honestly though it was a rainy day in Portland. There were umbrellas everywhere and ours was not more or less an offender than any other. I know it's frustrating not to be able to see but there was a reason the website told you to come early if you wanted a decent viewing option.

Sorry for the mini-rant but people annoy me. It was a really fun event otherwise and hopefully the rain helped clean up and make sure the walk didn't cause too much property damage.

So I am moving again

Gypsies don't complain about moving ... right?

So if life goes well I will be officially moved to the Salem area in the next few weeks.  This means several things.

1. I may actually be able to have all of my sewing supplies in one place! I have so much of them in storage and I've just kind of been stressed not being able to do a proper inventory and goal list for trying to create this business.

2. I will have a place that is not the corner of my bedroom to sew in. It will be the corner of our spare room/ library but still; being able to actually get away from a sewing project at the end of the day is helpful in unwinding.

3. There are more actual jobs here and public transit. I might actually be able to stop failing utterly at being a contributing member of society.

4. I will be within reasonable distance of game again! Yay new characters and costuming and seeing my friends again. I have to learn an entirely new game because they changed systems while I was gone but I am most of the way through a new character concept ... and by concept I mean costume design.

On the other hand, I am so tired of moving! I haven't managed to stay in one place for more than a year since I was 18. This actually kind of bothers me. I haven't  had a place that I really call "home" since then. I mean yeah I am always welcome in my parents house but I've already left it a few times and I'm not really that heavily nostalgic of a person. I love my family but living together drives us all crazy. We all love each other but in a very "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" way.

So costuming stuff is temporarily on hold until I am settled in and have everything together and sorted out.  I hope to be up and running again as soon as possible.

Why I am too blunt for my own good

I'm not a garb snark I swear! I hate garb snarks because they made my early years of eventing pure torture especially when I was stupid enough to ask for their advice once when I was learning to sew and they teased me so badly about a mistake I made on a friend's shirt that I completely swore off sewing for several years after that.

That being said I don't snark on people's garb to their faces or just because it isn't period. If it fits the aesthetic and they are having fun and are comfortable I just make mental notes about what I would change. But when we were at Shrewsbery Faire this last weekend Riley asked if I had seen a girl's dress and before my mental filter could turn on I blurted out "Tell me you don't mean that slouchy purple poly(ester) one" There was a lady in front of us who turned around to agree that it was a good description of the dress but I still felt really bad. Riley was just trying to point out that the dress had an amazing cut. If it were in pretty much any natural fabric he would be right. It was a very simple princess seamed gown very lord of the rings movie style (Yes I am aware those were not period but for the casual costumer; who cares they are cute!) It was laced rather cutely up the front and back and was a good color for the girl but the fabric was just clingy hot mess that was already quite obviously sweaty and uncomfortable.(It was only 11:30 and the forecast was just going to get hotter) On a rather thin but healthy girl it was terribly unflattering because she was slouching and it gave her the illusion of being far pudgier than she was all because the farbic was wrong.

So there's my confession. I totally garb snarked at a ren faire. I do feel bad,
I am used to the standards of the SCA and I honestly am glad that the girl never heard me. I need to remember that not every event is like the SCA events I went to when I was younger ( I wasn't old enough to realize that the people I was camping with were the pickiest of re-enactors that are not the norm for eventing.) I also just personally don't ever want to let myself get into a habit of being that rude.

Business Cards!

Well my last two events for the season are this weekend and next weekend and working on garb for them has me thinking that since I have time this winter to work on some of my designs before next eventing season, hopefully I can come up with something that makes people ask where I got it. When this happens I want to have awesome business cards ready.
So since I am waiting for my laundry to dry in the dryer that eats time (minimum two or three runs through for any load to dry) I played around with some ideas and created these beauties. What do you think?

Blasted Machine! (and in progress photos)

Well my Singer Tradition 2250 has officially kicked the bucket. Nothing I do is fixing the thread bunching and I have done everything in the singer troubleshooting guide for it. I even called their customer service and they told me that the only way that would happen was if my presser foot was up. I have read reviews of the machine from amateurs and professionals and have finally come to the conclusion that this is not operator error. So mom and I will attempt to figure out how to thread the vintage 1960ish (can't for the life of me find the model's history with the numbers on the machine.) Kenmore Zigzag DeLuxe. (Actually she just did it's just weird to me because newer machines don't have nearly as many pieces to thread through.) We got it for $30 at a thrift shop and it's amazing I just pretty much have to relearn machine sewing.

In the mean time I have been hand stitching trim onto a vest for my boyfriend for the Ren Faire next weekend and am rather happy with how it's going so I decided to share some photos with you. It is a really nice faux suede I picked up and extra wide bias in a really nice emerald green. I will be adding some gold trim to it before the pirate festival so he can be a truly gaudy gypsy. (He likes being showy) Although there is an up side of my sewing machine being broken.I am getting a lot better at hand sewing.


A hand sewn seam that I don't feel like hiding yay!!!



Very pretty suede, almost can't tell it's faux leather. Hopefully Riley will like it.

Simple green tunic

This may be simple but with a belt and a good attitude it is one of the most flattering styles of garb and the most versatile. I absolutely love how this one turned out although you'll never catch me wearing this one at summer events because I made it specifically for Egils when it gets bloody cold! (It is heavy wool) This will hopefully become a staple of my inventory someday. With a little trim and a couple sleeve and fabric options it can be appropriate for any class of persona or character and can be used as an under tunic or just by itself. I know I am making a big deal out of something really easy but I really love it.

Now onto business. Survey time! If you were likely to buy one of these options which would it be? Do the price tags put you off? I am doing this at very little over cost and nowhere near a living wage because this is never intended to be anything more than pursuing a hobby to help pay for my own eventing and costuming habits. I could probably make things more affordable eventually if I can buy in bulk but I am just starting out and don't have the investment capital to do that.

Best fabrics and possible price points

Quilting Cotton
Positives- Good color range, inexpensive, 100% cotton so it breathes (big plus for summer events. Seriously people can get heatstroke from synthetics).
Negatives- Wrinkles: fabric softener and wear can eliminate this over time but it takes a while for the fabric to relax, Shrinkage: means I have to buy more fabric overall to achieve the same result, Not actually period: Cotton wasn't really widely available in Europe until the industrial revolution.
Proposed price for cotton tunic= $40
+ Trim
Metalic = + $20 (the stuff is pretty spendy)
Binding Tape (Actually a common period trim) + $10
Dagged Sleeves= + $15

Linen
Pros-
Period, Lightweight, good drape, takes dye well.
Cons- EXPENSIVE!, Really there are cheaper silks out there than 100% linen. There are cheaper synthetic alternatives but I really would rather not use them. What I actually use is a cotton/ linen blend that once again is not period but it would be driving the price way up
Tunic Price Range Cotton/ Linen Blend $60
100% Linen $80
Trim prices are the same
Dagged Sleeves + $25

Silk
Pros: Pretty, tear resistant, lightweight, dyes well
Cons, expensive, also stains easy and is not appropriate for all personas, more labor intensive and prone to unraveling.
Price Point $90
Trims " "
Dagged Sleeves + $30


Velvet
Pros: pretty, warm, very tactile and luxurious.
Cons: HOT most conventions, Ren Faires and SCA events are hot places and draping your body in these fabrics really isn't good for your health. Expensive: well really there are two price options here crushed and stretch velvet neither are cheap but crushed is significantly less expensive. Velvet is also not appropriate for most period accurate personas but it is great for costuming.
Prices
Crushed Velvet
$50
Dagged Sleeves +$15
Stretch Velvet
$80
Dagged Sleeves
+ $20