Lucy Heartfilia

Who is this??  I barely recognise my daughter in her fabulous cosplay outfit!  For ComicCon this year, Cassie decided she wanted to go as Lucy Heartfilia, from Fairy Tail; the anime/manga conceived by Hiro Mashima.  And she has been busy busy busy, working solidly on her costume… isn’t it gorgeous?!!  I think she looks absolutely amazing!

Lucy Heartfilia from Fairy Tail; artwork and character by Hiro Mashima

And yes, Cassie’s costume is all made by herself, with just a few pattern adjustment and sewing suggestions by me.

Patterns; adapted Burda 8175 for the skirt, and adapted Burda 8548 for the vest.  The corset top and the sleeves are self-drafted.  Actually, the “corset” top is more like an abbreviated bodice than a corset; with princess seams and unseen skinny gold shoulder straps, that are hidden underneath her vest, and closure is at the centre back by white hook and eye tape.  The sleeves are two pieced and double layered, with the white layer longer so it comes out at the bottom, and with elastic in a channel at the top so they stay up on her arms.  The long gold straps on the sleeves are purely decorative.  You want to see what the pattern piece for the sleeves looks like? No? well I shall show you anyway  😉

You cut two of each per sleeve, so the bottom flared bit of the sleeve is almost a full circle.  A circle skirt for your arms! haha  And yes, she hemmed the lot too, I think she stayed up until the wee small hours doing that job!   The white and blue layers are joined together at the top with a casing for elastic, so they stay up on her arms.  The gold straps were sewn on afterwards, they’re pretty much decorative.  But don’t they look great!

Fabric; quilting cotton from Spotlight.  Mainly chosen for the just-right colours, of course!

I’m so proud of her, because the whole costume is properly and beautifully made, and she did not take the easy way out in any part.

The dark navy blue, pleated skirt has an invisible zip closure and an interfaced facing.  I suggested she make it a little longer, so she could at least wear it as a normal skirt too; but no; the costume had to be as faithfully executed as possible!

Those keys are an integral part of Lucy’s costume, and a part of her character’s story.  Cassie was so thrilled when she spotted the key set in a store; and pounced… perfect for her costume!!  Belt; surreptitiously extracted from her brother’s wardrobe mwahaha.

The camisole/corset top was self-drafted to fit her perfectly, and it fits like a glove! and then she drew the lines for the blue heart and gold edging on her muslin and cut it up to get the individual pieces.  Meaning; they are not just appliquéd on but are all separate joined pieces; and the top is completely lined in white cotton.

She used a blouse pattern for the vest, mainly because the collar was right for the costume; it had no collar stand and was the right shape and lay in the right spot.  The front and back pieces were easily modified to be a vest shape, and she individually drew out the gold edging pieces to fit, and with self-fabric facing throughout.

Really, I am so proud that she put so much care, thought and diligence into making it and finishing it all off perfectly and beautifully.

This is a character driven pose; it means “I’m watching and I’ve got your back”… and that symbol on her hand is also a key component to her character too.  I freehand drew it on for her this morning, because you know; right handed, and it had to be on her right hand! It’s in pink ballpoint pen.  I can’t wait to hear how her day was…. I’m sure she will be one of the best dressed at the convention!!  As we drove in to drop her off, we saw stormtroopers and a Joker strolling down the esplanade on their way to the convention, laugh!  It’s fantastic how everyone who goes makes a real effort to dress up in amazing costumes and really look the part… oooo I so wish I could be there to see all the costumes!!