This year at Gen Con, I decided I was finally going to go all out. I hadn’t made a complicated costume since before the pandemic and was all geared up and ready for some real historical costuming shit with a twist. Unfortunately, this is also the first year I got COVID and had two trips to Michigan, and got a really bad non COVID cold… so I went with plan B:
Offbrand Halfling (Including Elements I Can Use at Ren Faires)
You see, I’ve also been going to ren faires more than cons lately and they’re kind of my favorite thing to dress for. You can create an elaborate original character, or diy some interesting fantasy accessories, wear something sci fi and memeable, or just throw a cloak on over your cargo shorts and call it good.
Last year for the Ohio Renaissance Festival I made The Bodice that seemingly everyone on instagram makes: Butterick B4669. It’s a good basic fantasy-passing pattern, though the sizing on all the big four sewing patterns are always off. It gaped like crazy in the back which I didn’t realize until I had worn it last year. I put in a couple darts to help, which was obnoxious because I had to do the same to all three layers: the fashion fabric (some random linen-looking synthetic from a rummage sale), duck canvas for support, and a lining (random scraps from my stash). I wish it had instructions on boning for newbies because they are necessary for this kind of style. I was too nervous to figure it out last year, so this year I also went back and threw in some zip ties in a couple spots. It’s especially important around the eyelets for support and on any style like this with a pointed bottom. So it’s a good shape and style for ren faires, but it needs more work to make it fit. Also it has terrible size ranges and only goes up to a 42” bust
The first piece that I made specifically for this costume, but mostly to have a fun cape for future events, was the Simplicity 5794 cape. It’s a basic cape pattern fitted around the shoulders and includes a hood. It’s my first time making a hood and while it may have been the fabric I chose, the hood was floppy and weird and I would absolutely never use it as an actual hood. Also this baby is HEAVY. I got away with using just 5 yards for the pattern rather than the recommended 6, but with the lining that’s almost 10 whole yards of fabric on your shoulders. My original plan if I had an unlimited budget and more time was to order some wool, but that would have been WAY too hot but also even heavier. Speaking of shoulders, I wish this pattern based the sizes on shoulder width because the limited sizing also only goes up to a 42” bust, but it doesn’t even close over the bust so it doesn’t matter what your bust size is. I went a size down from my recommended size (my current strategy with big 4 sewing patterns) and it still fit a little roomy. I think it would technically fit a larger range of people but ymmv.
The last piece I sewed for this project was a cartridge pleated skirt. I just followed some blogs and used some fabric I salvaged from another project. As I was hand sewing the gathering stitches, my grandmother told me point blank that she just does that on a sewing machine. Like yeah, I know Meemaw, you taught me how to do that, it’s an experiment to broaden my horizons. But I think that’s more a difference in the fact that she had to learn to sew for practicality reasons and to clothe her children and I’m making stuff for the fun of it. But in the end maybe she was right because it didn’t work the way I wanted it to and I want to repurpose this fabric again lol
For the accessories, I added the required flower crown that I bought at Gen Con the day before I wore this. I grabbed a random basket that I use for harvesting from my garden. I had a peasant style top from the thrift store, and last minute I grabbed my mushroom earrings that my best friend made me. I did buy the Ardani halfling ears especially for this, but then found out they had a booth at Gen Con and I could have saved on shipping. Alas. I’ve also discreetly hidden my feet this whole time, the downfall of my costume. I forgot about the most important aspect of a hobbit until the morning of and just wore comfy slip ons that day… 🌼
Dropout Daisy 