Boris and Natasha, International Spies

Spy fun with my favorite cartoon International spies, Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale!  Together with Fearless Leader, these no good-niks get into all kinds of mischief trying to eradicate Moose and Squirrel.   I wanted an easy dress for both Costume College's Friday night spy party, and Tiki Oasis spy themed weekend.

I had to have a Boris and Natasha dress. After looking all over, I found this fantastic fabric!

 Well of course, it was out of print.  I was only able to find one continuous yard of this fabric (I was finding fat quarters for quilting).  How do I make a dress from one yard??? 

Out came my favorite pattern, which I make once a year.  See pattern here    If I were careful, I could squeeze the bodice pieces out of it.   It was soooo tight, I even had to use the selvage for the center back where the zipper went!  It does not show in the finished dress.




I decided to attach it to a black skirt, and decorate it somehow with left over scraps. There was a strip of fabric and two square pieces left over.   One square I would incorporate into the black skirt somehow, and the other square was for sleeves.  















I cut out the skirt and sewed that up so I could attach the strip around the bottom.  I had to take a few tucks so it would bend with the curve of the skirt.  I sewed some tiny black and white check ribbon across the top, and then hemmed the bottom.




Then on to the cap sleeves cut from the second left over square piece.  Oh dear, it wasn't quite wide enough at the ends of the sleeves where the underarms meet.  I decided to piece the ends with the tiny left over scraps.  It would be in an area no one would see.   The pattern doesn't match up, but its such a busy print it didn't matter.



I found a cute little Boris cloth doll, and wanted to use him.  My second square of leftover fabric became a pocket!   I can always take him out and use the pocket for small items later. For now, he is riding along.  I am currently looking for a turquoise belt, but will use the red one until I find one I like.  Still have to sew on the pocket, its just pinned on here.





First event was Costume College's Friday Night Social: Casino Royale-Our Favorite Spies.  I was Chair for this event.   I hired the wonderful Richard Halpern to appear as Austin Powers and work the crowd.  He was amazing! This is his website     Here are a few photos from the event.

Above left, Richard "Austin Powers" Halpern with Birda and me.  Above right, a lovely lady from the UK as Natasha. Love the way she's holding a gun on Bullwinkle.



 

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 Next, Tiki Oasis!   For this event, I added belt loops on the dress, because when I raised my arms, the belt would shift.   I changed out my hair accessories, because my friend Erin made the cutest bomb/red eyeball flower hair piece, and it went perfect with the dress.  I also wore comfy black sneakers, as I was at this event for 13 hours.   AND.... a Boris and Natasha won the couples costume contest!  If I come across their photo, I will add it here.

Tiki Oasis photos below!

 Above, at the Deadhead Rum tiki trailer.

Above right, hangin' with da boys.

Right, Men (and Women) from U.N.C.L.E.

Below, end of the night room party line!

ALOHA TIL NEXT YEAR!
  

The Pink Panther Dress

There were two 1960s events in the summer:  Costume College and Tiki Oasis.  Both revolved around a 60s spy-theme;  Costume College's Friday Night Social, "Casino Royale: Our Favorite Spies", and Tiki Oasis overall theme was 60s International Intrigue-Den of Spies.  I wore the below dress to both.

Butterick 9826 was a popular pattern in 1961.  It was one of the patterns they made part of their current Retro pattern line, and I wanted to give it a try.





 

One of my favorite spies is Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau of the Pink Panther series. While looking for fabric for this dress, I came across this great print.  Perfect 60s vibe!   There were a couple Pink Panther prints, but this one was my favorite.  I love the pink hot rod.

This is an extremely easy pattern, and sewed up in no time. I added a pink wrap around the waist as pictured.   It is kind of odd, as the ties are secured in the side seams, cross in front and tie in the back.   I was not too happy with the way the pink ties were wrapped high in the front, but when tied in the back, there was quite a drop in height.  Here are some photos to show what I mean.

Once I tried the dress on and wrapped it around my waist, I was not happy with it.  I carry my excess weight around the middle and the tie made me look like a burrito.  I opened the side seams and removed the ties.  I think if I make this dress again, I would sew the tie in the same fabric as the rest of the dress so it will blend in better.  I  am using a pink belt instead for this dress.

Left:  This still needs a hem and sleeve hems.
  
I DON'T LIKE THIS DRESS.  I think this pattern didn't work for me because it was too much fabric.  I felt I was swimming in it.  While it could have been the large, bright print or the boat neck, it just wasn't right for me.  I am going to remove the bodice and re-cut to a different pattern, and reattach it.
 
Here are a couple of shots.















My lovely friend Birda looks charming in her dress made from the same pattern!

I did wear it to Tiki Oasis for Friday evening, but was not real happy with it.  Several people did remark on it, and liked it.  Jerry took a few photos of me on the balcony of my friends' hotel room but they didn't turn out.   Well, not everything you make works out!  When I remake this dress, I will post the changes.