"What's your name, darling?" "Captain."

I would apologize for not posting anything in such a long time, but then I would probably have to do that every time I post something. Life is just too busy! Usually when I complete a project - it's under extreme pressure and in only three or four days. I was hand sewing my Starfleet uniform hours before I had to board my flight to Sydney for Oz Comic Con. I just never have the time until the week before a costume needs to be finished - when I'm forced to neglect my obligations and put all of my energy into that costume.


My Captain Peggy Carter costume is no exception. I think I made the pattern in a couple of hours and then worked on the costume non-stop the week after that. It wasn't stressful, though, which is a rareity. I learnt a lot while making this costume and it is the last one I made before finally picking up my overlocker. This costume just felt like a huge stepping stone in my journey to becoming a better seamstress, so I wanted to document it here.

I knew going into this that I wanted the costume to be more inspired by Steve Rogers' Captain America than the Captain Carter we see in Marvel's Puzzle Quest. Although the latter has a lovely and unique design, I wanted to go with the more easily recognizable costume - especially as I'd be premiering the finished product at Melbourne's biggest convention of the year.


The final design is mostly inspired by Steve's outfit when he rescues Bucky and his regiment in The First Avenger. This was half because I liked the grittiness and reality of it and half because I didn't actually have enough time to make a matching pair of blue trousers.


I copied a long sleeve shirt pattern onto some drafting paper and then added in all the patches and designs and bits and bobs. In the end, there was a ridiculous amount of pieces in the top half of the shirt. It wasn't necessary - I could have just made them patches and sewn them onto one single main piece. But it's a bit late for that now, innit? Anyway, the pieces that are sewn into the sleeves and bodice, rather than attached as patches, have a raised look that gives the illusion that I am actually muscular. And I wouldn't be Captain America without those.


There was so much customizing of this piece. I wanted it to be as fitted as possible, but it always somehow ended up loose in some places. It's my own fault, really. My first few projects when I originally discovered sewing ended up too tight to wear, so now I overcompensate my seam allowances in the hopes that I won't make the same mistakes again.


I got the length of the zip wrong and had to run out to Lincraft and buy one that I could sew into place at uni. It still wasn't the right length and falls short at the neckline, but - as usual - I didn't have time to make adjustments so that it would be the right length. It was actually my first time using an open end zip which is now a very close contender for the title of My Favourite Zip Ever. I'll definitely use it again on one of my next costumes.

Photo by Ganjaninja Photography

Of course I'd love to make this costume again, especially now that I have my overlocker. I'd also love to make other versions of Captain America - especially his USO costume from TFA, complete with his original shield. But this one will do very nicely, until then.

Photo by Kitt Photography

You can find more photos of the costume in action on my Facebook page!