'Happy Families' Showcases at the Jackson Lane Theatre in London

 'Dot Crook' - Costume Maker: Mary Eberlein. Designer: Katie Broome. Costume Supervisor: Lou Tring.

Developing The Knitwork

Things have moved along really well now! Today I went out and bought some wools that were far chunkier. I wanted to see if I could intensify the shape of the boil by giving a greater contrast from fine knit to fat knit. By starting off on medium sized needles I then transferred my stitches onto very large wooden needles. They were really fun to work with! I also started off with one thread of wool then added another colour as I knitted along. By adding two threads the sample became very chunky but it blended the wool colours very well! Unintentionally I also managed to shape my knit sample! This was due to the tension of the needles changing and the extra wool strand being added.

With the sourced cardigan I then began to play around with the knitted sample and the latex pieces. Looking at my reference image of a boil I realised that with a spot you always have the puffy lighter centre where the pus is under the skin and the redder area is always on the outside. I think when I create the textiles for the costume I want to blend the cardigan wool colour into the red outside of the spot into the lighter area of the pus centre. I will try and sample this idea before my fitting however I have got tones of stuff to do before then.

Learning how to knit has been really exciting and a lot easier than I expected! It's really addictive as well so I want to make sure this costume will look it's full potential when I make the real boil.

Latex Experimentation!

Let's get gruesome!

Today I experimented with latex and synthetic dyes to see if I could recreate skin that has been infected by a boil. I am rather enjoying creating disgusting samples! You can see that mixing the dye and latex was very effective. The 'bleeding' effect was purely accidental and rather surprisingly worked. I want to use the clear latex to represent the 'pus' of the boil and the darker dyed areas to highlight the spot section.

My designer Katie was very impressed with this sample and loved the gruesome feel and look of the latex. This will be incorporated into my knit work as I want to try weaving sections of latex into the loops of wool.

Role on more sampling!

Learning how to Knit!

Dot's Knit Samples

Courtesy of Andrew Layton, I was taught how to knit today! Here are my step by step instructions:

Step 1: Cross right needle under left needle stitch (towards the right). 

Step 2: Tuck wool bundle line under right needle (towards the left).

Step 3: Pull wool bundle line over right needle (towards the right).

Step 4: Push left needle stitch up over right needle.

(End of Step 4)

Step 5: Stitch is transferred onto right needle. Repeat process.

It was fantastic to finally learn this technique of sewing as I have always wanted to know how to do it. I will carry on and as they say - Practice makes perfect! I found I did my stitches very tightly at first and dropped a couple of stitches, causing a few holes in my sample.

Dye Room Day!

Wig Felt Experimentation 

Well today I was back in the place I love - the dye room! As I have been introduced to the designs and previously briefed on the nature of this heavily devised performance, the designer Katie asked if I could get started  working on sampling ideas for the costumes. The designs at the moment are still being finalised, however the characters ('The Twins' and 'Dot') are the ones that have been given to me. Being given a bright yellow mop head my challenge was to turn this everyday household cleaning item into a wig.

With my dylon dye pots by my side and saucepan on the boil, I experimented with 'Tangerine' and 'Cherry Flame'. I could see that this mop head was definitely synthetic, so I also tested synthetic disperse dyes in the colour of 'Scarlet' and 'Claret Red'. They worked better but only by a slight difference.

I really enjoyed the  problem solving today and am looking forward to developing this mop head further with some stitch work! 

Let's Runaway with the Circus!

First Meeting - The Designs!

Costume Designer Katie Broome

Had my first meeting today and introduction for this fantastic new circus production! Myself and three other makers/supervisor have task of tackling these costumes. The performance is not till July however my costume deadline is 28th May - so not long at all!

Notes from meeting: 

- Grotesque twisted reality of a caravan park.

- The story will develop with costumes.

- 1st Fitting 20th April

- 2nd Fitting 3rd May.

- Bodysuits - shiny lycra but broken down depending on the character.

- Stains, broken down fabrics.

- Masks/wigs.

At the moment everything feels very up in the air and I can tell this project is going to have a slow start! Oh well we shall have to wait and see what happens. Very excited though and looking forward to it.

Portfolio Photo-Shoot

Final Portfolio Shots from Ovid Costumes

Textiles Supervisor: Mary Eberlein. Costume Maker: Bethany Holmes. Actor: Verity Hicks. 

Character: Juno. Textiles: Ombre Dye work onto raw Silk Noille.

So pleased with how the shots have turned out from the photo-shoot! These will look fantastic in my Portfolio!

Textiles Supervisor: Mary Eberlein. Costume Maker: Bethany Holmes. Actor: Chrissie Lynn.
Character: Philomela. Textiles: Silk Velvet dyed and Devore screen-printed. Lining fabric painted with copper effect.