Jill Valentine Resident Evil Part 2 Skirt

Sorry for the lack of posts. The current project I am working on has taken up all of my free time. Which is quite unfortunate because I have left some things on the back burner. Hopefully next week I will have posts up about Yvaine or a skirt. I am unsure at the moment. We will see.

This is the easiest post I could make. The skirt was easy. Although, I made a minor mistake that I rectified when I watched it again. Throughout the movie and promo pictures and all costumes I have seen of this during my research, I never once noticed the slit in the side of her skirt. It wasn’t until after I finished the skirt and was binding the corset that I looked up and saw the slit.

 That’s when I paused the stitching of the binding and started back on the skirt by cutting the bottom edge off. I went back to Joanns to get more of the sateen in grey to finish. This time only 4 inches. Which was more than enough. Onto that bit later. Here is the image I captured while watching the film. (I don’t own the rights to the image. If the studio wants me to remove it I will. If that happens I will write where I see the slit in the skirt. But I am hoping the image will provide no spoilers. {Most have seen the movie anyways, I am just not a fan of spoilers.})

The skirt pattern started out as a pair of shorts. A vintage inspired pattern from simplicity. Like usual I cut out 4 sizes too small. If you have never made the pattern before or know how the sizing is from that company make a mockup. I know simplicity runs large. So even though the pattern says I am anywhere between 18 and 20 on the back of the envelope depending on bust or waist or hip, I usually cut a 14-16. Here is what my modified pattern looks like.

The first thing I did after cutting out the material was to mark the darts and sew them.

The two back skirt pieces are on the right while the front piece is folded in half. Then I placed these with right sides together and pinned them in place.

Sew the skirt of the skirt, not the back. We need to install a zipper in the back. With the sides sewn pin the back pattern together. And try on the skirt. I was shocked when I realized the pattern didn’t fit. It was too large. They put a lot of ease into the tight fitted shorts than I thought there would be. So, to help with this I pulled the skirt tight on one side and pinned and then repeated the same with the other. Until it was tight against my legs.

Remove the skirt and straighten out the pins on either side to make them even and try on once again. It was better. Still loose. But I figured I would need the zipper at this part to get it right.

This shows how long I pulled in the bottom of the skirt. I kept the hips and waist the same because I would like to have the waistband on and zipper to get the correct fit over the waist and hips. (I should have just taken in the darts anyways before inserting the waistband. Because I am not too keen on tearing the waistband off the skirt and starting over with the zipper.)

Before attaching the waistband or zipper though I thought it was time to add the grey band at the bottom of the skirt. The grey band is just a rectangle of fabric. I folded it and sewed it in place.

Now was the time to attach the waistband and zipper.

The package of the invisible zipper will tell you how to install it better than I can.

And with that I thought I was done. This was going to be simple and easy…

Until the slit in the fabric while watching the show and sewing the binding of the corset. As pictured above I knew I needed to make it more accurate.

The easiest way I could think of was to remove the bottom of the skirt. I cut the grey bottom strip off the skirt and purchased more to finish the skirt.

Before you add the new grey strip to the bottom you need to seam rip that thigh slit. The slit should be on the right side. Once you rip up the seam stitch the top with a few back stitched and a small square to help reinforce the slit and stop the stitches tearing further up the thigh.

Here is where I attached the grey strip to the outside like you would bias binding, and stitch it down with a straight stitch, the length of the stitch is up to you.

I folded the fabric inward to hand sew the edge shut.

The only raw edges should be the seams and the darts. I do need to take it in at the waist and the hips. If I wasn’t wearing a corset with this the skirt would have issues staying up. But since I accidentally bought enough material to make another one I may just modify my pattern again to fit better. That or go for a more stretchy fabric. As long as the fabric I chose had both a grey and a black.

Although since the top is corseted there is no issue with leaving the skirt as is, except the added bulk in the middle section from the extra fabric. But for now, I am not bothered to start over again. If I do, there will probably be another post about this creation.

Here is a picture of the finished costume. The sun wasn’t behaving that day and the images are hard to see.

But onto another project. Stay tuned to find out what it is about. Thanks for reading.

Jill Valentine Resident Evil Part 1 Corset

Before I start let me tell you that I made this corset twice. Not through my fault. My sewing machine got some oil on the front panel of the corset. Now, I know this isn’t normal, but there isn’t anything wrong with my machine. I’ve checked. It just sometimes does this. (By sometimes I mean three times now since I have started.) And I can usually get it out of the material just fine. But since the fabric was fused with interfacing when I went to wash it the interfacing peeled away from the corset fabric. I have never had this happen before. I was shocked. With that knowledge now, I realize I should have just unstitched that panel and sew a new one in its place, but I didn’t.

Here are images of the failed corset for you to see.

Here are my supplies and my pattern.

As you can see the fabric is already stiffened with the interfacing, and prior to interfacing I needed to dye the fabric a darker shade. The blue wasn’t dark enough, and nor did they have any fabric besides a broadcloth that was the color I needed.

The small swatch of fabric sitting on the top of the dyed fabric shows the original color of the fabric I used.

(Make a mockup if you have not used the pattern before. On all new patterns I use a mockup, I reduced the waist in this one a little bit more than usual to give myself some leeway. But I also accidentally reduced the bust and the hips. So this corset doesn’t fit well. unfortunately. So this corset isn’t ideal for me. Which is a shame because she is a really nice corset, well made.)

After you cut out all the pieces from the fashion outside and the strength layer you need to baste them together. Instead of basting I just serged the edges together. What isn’t pictured below is the second back panel. I cut out two back panels to give the grommets and bones something to grip onto. You can skip this step if you plan on lining your corset. But since this corset isn’t something I would wear to every con I feel like it doesn’t need a lining. If this was a base corset for a gown I would give it a lining. If I had the time for a lining.

Then sew the center panels together, and then the outer bust panels to the center. Just keep going outwards until you get the grommet panel. The pictures show each stage of this, and of course to make it easier for myself I used the seam allowances as the boning channels by stitching a straight stitch the correct width away from the seam. Do this after sewing each panel so you won’t have to cram a lot of fabric under the foot at once.

Now in the picture below the two panels on the corset are the second set of back panels that we cut out twice out of each layer of fabric.

Sew this to the back panel, then fold that spare back panel under. Stitch a straight stitch for that bone that supports the grommets. Then stitch a straight stitch wide enough to fit the grommets. And following that stitch line do another straight stitch wide enough to fit the bone on the other side of the grommets. For grommets to be really secure, in my opinion, you need a set of spring steel bones on either set of grommets.

Cut the boning out of spiral steel and spring steel boning. When I cut and tip the bones I lay them out where they are supposed to go in the channel. This way you only cut the bones for one side and then duplicate those bones for the other side. I tipped these bones a couple times, with nail enamel. If you would like to use tape you can. I do have bone caps for both sets, just they are tricky to get into the corset and not have too much room for the bone to twist. I find nail enamel to be a better fit. Even with the spiral steel bones because the caps those come with if you need to take the bone out you can’t always do that. The cap gets caught on the fibers of the corset and can damage the boning channel trying to pull it through or it can slide off the bone and get stuck in the corset. Neither of which will is good.

(Sorry for the color switch of the fabric. This is where I noticed the oil on the front panel and decided to start over. The fabric I used here was in my stash. I was hoping to save all the fabric for an upcoming costume, but I over bought for that costume and figured I could spare 20 inches.)

Once I inserted the bones the corset had a better shape to it. With the bones in you have two choices at this point. Bind the edges or add the grommets. I opted to bind the edges first. And then changed my mind after only sewing the front of the binding on.

Then I switched to adding the grommets, which pictured below is the holes for the grommets. I punch a hole into the fibers and then push the hole bigger with an awl. otherwise I feel the awl tends to damage the corset by forcing the fibers apart. And with just the punch it might not set the grommets in without having them tear out easily. So punch a hole, then insert awl to correct grommet/eyelet width, and add the eyelet.

I still prefer the hammer method for eyelets. Even with the expensive press I have. Maybe one day I will actually learn to use the press with results I like. But until then the hammer is my go to. You are supposed to use a wooden or rubber mallet, but I just opt for my metal hammer. I can pound the grommet or eyelet in with one hit.

Now you are almost done. The last task is to fold over the outer edge of the bias binding and hand sew in place. I use the ladder stitch. At least I am fairly certain that is what it is called.

Don’t forget a modesty panel.

I did. Woops. But since it is middle of January and roughly -10 outside I will be wearing the vest she usually has tied around her waist. As well as a camisole underneath the corset to protect the corset from body oils. It is easier to wash the camisole than it is a corset. Try to use one without straps or you will need to tuck them under the corset.

Also, if your corset closes or you don’t mind the look it has without a modesty panel you don’t need to have one. I find them finicky at times, but I do like to have them in case I need it. I also try to make all my corsets have at least an inch or two gap in the back. As I have been losing weight, not too noticeable, but enough that I cannot wear some of my corsets from two years ago that I made to fit perfect.

I will post a couple finished pictures next weekend to my Instagram. The final post will be on the skirt, which should have been super easy. But wasn’t. More on that next weekend.

As always, thank you for reading. I hope this has helped you in some way. If you are interested for a more in-depth process let me know in the comments below.

Jill Valentine Resident Evil Concept and Materials

This project shouldn’t require many materials. There isn’t much to her outfit anyways. I am a fan of the games, although I have only really played from 4 and onwards. I do own the other ones on my gamecube, but they rarely get played these days. The gameplay is a little off for me. I prefer the styles of the newer ones.

With the new movie, and supposed to be the final movie, I decided it was time to make my costume. Jill has always been a favorite character of mine throughout the games and movies. I originally wanted to wait to make this until I was more fit, as Jill is in great shape being a STARS member. But alas, I couldn’t give up this opportunity to portray her for the final film.

I chose her costume from Resident Evil Apocalypse, although she wears it in one of the games as well, I have watched the movie more than I played that game. I know she has a shoulder holster, I purchased one online almost two months before the movie, but it didn’t arrive in time. My thigh holster and utility belt did though. I didn’t wear it to the theater. Wouldn’t have been comfortable. And not sure if my theater would approve. Also, due to the weather, I did wear tights, as it was below freezing, and I also wore the cardigan instead of having it tied around my waist.

For materials you will need:

Corset-1 yard of blue fabric, if not blue a bottle of blue dye as well. Black twill, interfacing. Spring steel bones and spiral steel bones. Grommets, lacing. And all the rest of your corseting supplies you could need.

Skirt-3/4 yard of black sateen. 5 inches of grey sateen. 1 zipper about 7 inches. Interfacing for the waistband.

Odds and Ends- Almost knee-high black boots, thigh holster, utility belt, shoulder holster, fake guns, and a wig. I bought a cardigan for this costume, I could have made one if I had the time, but I figured that would be the easiest piece to find. (I don’t have a wig and I find it very unlikely that I will purchase one for this cosplay. As it is pretty low-cost costume, maybe that will change if I wear it to GamesCon. I’m just not a fan of wigs and the comfort they have.)

I would like to apologize for the long wait in my posts. I had a work trip to go to. And I have started the most in-depth costume I have ever made. It will definitely be a labor of love. I need to finish it in time. Most of the posts that are coming up will be posts from the past. No new material. Technically new posts as they have ye to be discussed. But the pieces will be all made within the past year. Also, I won’t share much about the big upcoming project. Thank you for taking the time to read this.