Saturday, March 9, 2013

The Peter Pan Collar

peter pan collar white
Somehow I got the job of making Peter Pan collars to put on a bunch of dresses for my dance company's debut concert. I'd never made a collar of any sort. But like all 21st century women, I resorted to Pinterest for inspiration and a tutorial or two. 


Source: chicnova.com via Amy on Pinterest


Source: sheinside.com via Miaka on Pinterest

This next one is almost a spitting image of a dress we were going to buy at Forever 21, but we didn't act quick enough, so they were sold out in stores and online... bah humbug.



peter pan collar diyWe were going for a vintage housewife/maid vibe. In the dance piece we'd be "cleaning' with rags, "sweeping," and wearing aprons. I ended up just making up the collars as I went along. I cut out my own template, and traced it onto white fabric and interfacing. I ironed the interfacing to the inside of the fabric. For each dress, I needed 4 pieces of white fabric cut a little wider than 2 pieces of interfacing, because I would end up sewing it inside-out, then turning it rightside-out. Follow? 

peter pan collar DIY

peter pan collar white on redOnce it was turned right side out, I sewed a re-enforcement stitch along the top of the collar and where it would hit the shoulder. Then, I sewed it to the actual dress in two spots- at the shoulder and in the center where the two collar pieces met each other. Because it was a costume, we opted out of having it go full circle around the neck.

peter pan collar on dress

peter pan collar on red dress with apron housewifepeter pan collar on dress with apron

Forgive our horrid backstage area. I had someone snap these shots as I was rushing to the stage. 
You can see we added some accessories. We each had crisp white "rags." I made aprons with heart pockets and ball fringe:

DIY apronbright DIY apron


I also spruced up some brooms. I thought I had an "after" shot of them, but this is actually the "before" shot. Go figure. I painted the handles various shades of olive, cream and tan, added some brown ribbon where the broom meets the handle, and spray painted the broom portion in golds and silvers, just to give it a glisten under the stage lights. 

The piece was such a hit, that we've actually been asked to perform it again in May for our students' year end recital! It's to this song called "I Don't Care." I don't know the artist. (Don't ask... and don't give me tips on how I should go about finding the artist either. Me and 5 other people have all tried.)

Oh, and because Ivy wanted an apron like mommy's, of course I made her one:

kids DIY apron

Aloha,

Rebecca

7 comments:

  1. I love Peter Pan collars and have thought about doing it to a few older shirts to spruce them up!
    Thanks for sharing this tutorial. :)

    Also, I'd love it if you would share this project this week for F-it Fridays-
    http://www.parloandlogi.com/category/f-it-friday/

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  2. Nice job! I think it can get a little tough when you have to do projects in repetition like that!

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  3. Great job--love the collars and the aprons too!

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  4. I had no idea that's what they were called. How cool...Learn something new every day!

    Thank you for linking to Raising Imperfection.
    Please come back Friday to see if you were featured. :)

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