Pity Kiss Productions

Let me tell you why this is significant and relevant to our interests.

Typically Simplicity patterns run between $9.99 and $18.00 a pattern while McCall's is never less than $16.95 to $20.00+ a pattern. For an independent film that has no budget, that's not at all feasible. However thanks to these sales the first set of patterns were 5 for $1.00, so I spent about $10.00, while McCall's patterns were on sale for 99¢ and I spent about $12.00. The first batch, had I paid full price, would have cost me probably $160+ while this batch would have cost about $215.35.

Yes, I did the math. That way I can pat myself on the back for saving so much cash. And I did.

So, now that we've cleared that up. I think I've got as many patterns as we need. A few of them aren't full costumes, but pieces (like bodices, skirts, pants, shirts) so we can mix and match or just make what we need depending on who we get, once we've cast everyone. Now that that's out of the way, we need to start buying fabric for the costumes we know we have a body for. I'm waiting for measurements, but once we get them, I'm going to Hancock to take advantage of the fabric sales. Apparently they have cottons on sale for $1.00 yard. This is a big deal as well, as most fabric costs about $3-$4+ a yard. This might include just buying a few bolts if it's not too costly. That way we don't have to keep going back for more if we run out of a specific yardage. We have a lot of shirts/pants to make, since in total, we're going to have at least 14 men that need outfits, unless we happen to get people who have Elizabethanesque shirts/pants at their disposal as well as four chemises for our female characters.

And that's just for the cotton. That doesn't include the fancier fabric for the dressy dresses we have, we need at least two fancy dresses for the "ladies" of St. Alban's and two niceish but meant for women who work in the establishment dresses.

We're also going to need shoes-- I've been researching shoes that would be appropriate and I think we could find some that are close enough at Good Will or Stuff Inc. We just need to get out there. Also, maybe some jewelry for Phineas and Wendel and probably Mirielle. Those things might be the last thing we buy as it won't take as much effort as, let's say, a dress with bodice, skirt, chemise and all that.

So, now that I've rambled, here are some examples of the costumes we have patterns for and might make:

So I think either one of these would work for Mirielle (or Evie) but I really love the red one. If I ever get to go to another Ren Faire, I would ask (read: Beg) my mom to make me that one, I love it a lot. These dresses are much more accurate to the era our film is set in, 17th century during Elizabeth I's reign as queen. We thought we would have to sacrifice accuracy to have simpler costumes, but my mom (the sewer extraordinaire) let me know that it's not that difficult, just time consuming. The fabric might be a little pricey, but if we find some good sales, we're totally doing it. Oh and a person who has the patience of someone that's not... Me.

I think the dress on the left, with the green skirt, would like nice for Síne or Prudence, maybe Prudence as she's the more brainy, academic one that works on needlepoint and such but doesn't get down and dirty. I'm not sure we've really thought about what they do around the estate, but I imagine that's what she would do.


I'm not sure we'll use this one, but the photo in the top left would work for Prudence or Síne. I learned the less fabric you have in both sleeves and skirt, the less position you have in society. Which seems reasonable considering it cost more to buy fabric then then it does now... Not by much anymore, but it did, so if you didn't have the cash, you didn't have the sash. I know, lame rhyme, but you get my drift.


I thought if we were looking for a little different look for Evie, this would be appropriate. She doesn't have the type of title Mirielle has, being a Baroness, but I think it's still snooty enough to go with Evie's upbringing and standing as Mirielle's lady in waiting or something of that nature.

We will be using the chemise pictured at top right (just ignore the lady in her bloomers). We'll have to make a few of those since I think we're going to be having the ladies fight in belted chemises. I feel like that would be sort of an epic picture, when we get to our battle scene and they're in their undies so to speak, just hacking away at some arrogant men. No? I think yes.

You thought I forgot the boys, didn't you? Haha, no. Here are some shirt examples we could be using. I think the two on the right would be fine for Neil and Evander, but the poofy shirts definitely need to go to Phineas and Wendel. If not just Phineas-- He seems like a crazed poof of a man. Also-- I started giggling in the middle of the fabric store when I got a look at the Fabio wanna-be's hair.

This isn't a pattern (and I don't own the image, either, just borrowing it for reference) but I really want this jerkin for Evander. I haven't found a pattern for it at all yet, but I really really, really want it for Evander. I think the man we have playing him in the film would look fantastic in it were we to find a way to make it for his costume.

This also isn't a pattern, but I would really love to see Neil (Alan) in this. I think that would be a fabulous (albeit really warm) look for him. I personally think it goes well for what we're looking at.



No... We're not going to turn this into a POTC look alike. I bought this pattern for the pants. I couldn't find any just on their own, so I had to buy a whole pattern and will hopefully it's simple enough to extract the part that makes the pants. I'm a little concerned as there isn't really an inseam number or anything that goes into making men's pants, it' just X, XL etc. So I don't know how that's going to work, but we'll figure it out.

Here are some more shirt designs, again, I hate sketches, but this'll do in a pinch. We can use these to have more variety with our guys. I hate seeing the same pattern over and over, because it looks cheap, you can tell it was a pattern. Hopefully with these, it'll look like our characters are from different places, with different wives who sewed their shirts. I like that thought.

Here's the bodice pattern I was talking about (I won't upload the skirts because they're pretty typical) but this will help with the bodice on the bottom. Which is really an inset, so I'm hoping we can lengthen the bottom of the bodice to pull that off. I think that would work for Prudence or Síne.

Every girl needs a good cloak. Duh. I'd like to have a cloak for at least Mirielle, but who knows if we'll get it done. Also, if she can't have one, I'll have one for my Ren Faire costume, if I ever actually, get to one again ;0) Why yes, I did buy some of these with myself in mind.

Here begin the patterns we may not use, but that could easily become lifesavers if something happens or we run out of time or money, either one is equally plausible.

I'm not sure if we'll use this one either. These are little Lord of the Rings to be accurate, but if we're not able to find the fabric we need for the above costumes, we might have to go after this one. Also, I was referring to the burgundy (We'll be finding a different color, trust me) at the bottom.



I really hate that these are just sketches and not actual photos, but you get the drift. If we need to we can make what we need. We might even be able to convert this into chemises as I only have one pattern for that and we need several of them.


So this post is rather long, but I'm excited to see these costumes become reality at some point. I know there are a lot of them, but a few of the above patterns probably won't be used and if not, I'll probably resell them on eBay or something. A few them will definitely be tucked away for my Elizabethan/Renaissance costume closet that I *will* have whenever I buy my own house!

Anyway, comment away about the things you like, if you happen to know where I can find that jerkin pattern and so on. If you're someone we know and you're interested in costuming, we'll be happy to hear that you'll take on the challenge!

Until then,

~Jaina