My Youngest was going to be a bunny for the Narnia Faire. She then decided 2 weeks before that she actually wanted to be apart of her parents cosplay and complete the trio as Merida. Fortunately this was an easier build for me so I was actually excited to do it.
I used a pattern I had previously used before so it was gloriously already cut! The pattern wasn’t exact to how Merida’s dress is so I had to make a few modifications.
I chose Simplicity 8065 style A. I also used style B for the sleeve bases. I started off by measuring how long I wanted the skirt to go on my 5 year old. I then Lengthened the pattern on some mock up fabric to make sure I got it right. I sewed the main body together and then tried it on my daughter to make sure it was right. The skirt ended up being a little too long, so I hemmed it a bit.
Once mock up was good I moved on to the real fabric. Fun fact, the Fabric I bought was actually curtains from a thrift store! I think I ended up paying 5 dollars for them. I had always intended to make a Merida costume out of them, but for my older daughter. I never would have had enough fabric for that because I just had enough for the 5 year old! I just followed the patterns instructions to finish the bodice.
I then went to the arms. I grabbed a long sleeved shirt that my daughter currently fits into and used it as a guide for how long I needed to make her sleeves. I went with the choice of making a white “under” sleeve and then an additional outer sleeve with cutouts for the shoulder and elbow. I used the pattern sleeve base B for the curved part that connects to the bodice. so that my sleeves would line up to the armhole of the main dress.
I then added a white layer to the neckline and made it in a little V cut.
I don’t know how it exactly happened, but at some point I accidentally cut a huge slice out of the skirt. I was super annoyed! I decided to try and patch it with an iron on interfacing. I ironed in on to the underside, and it ended up not being very visible thank God!
The only thing I had left was accessories! I already had a belt that worked so I was good there. I used an old bow an arrow kid toy left over from when my eldest wanted to be Tauriel from the Hobbit. Worked perfectly and I didn’t have to make anything else!
The day of the event, I just curled her hair overnight with some curlers and sprayed it with temporary hair color. I probably could have let her hair alone and let it curl naturally in hindsight.
cosplay4christ.com 