Maka Black Blood Dress. Help, please!

[11denson]

I reeaally want to make Maka's dress from the black blood room. I have a basic concept of how I'll make it except for the hem of the dress. Here are some reference pictures:
http://gallery.minitokyo.net/view/385459
http://www.cosplay.com/photo/1959673/

I just can't figure out how they made that hem in the second picture. Please don't hesitate to throw out any advice. Thanks!!

[Ludi]

I'm not sure I'd try to do it the same way as in that costume pic.  I'm wondering if a different direction might be to make a skirt with an abrupt flare with  several godets and hold it out with a stiff crinoline with lots of tulle at the bottom.

Like this pic but more carefully done and with a lot more "poof":  http://myelix.deviantart.com/gallery/26310782#/d2x10lq

[N30Nb100d]

I think you could get a look similar to the second picture by folding the hem up and sewing it down by hand. If you hung up the dress and picked up the hem bit by bit (following the picture, some folds to the outside some to the inside etc.), sewing down each point to the fabric under it, you should get a similar look (like a "pickup skirt" but only at the hem) There might be some tulle or something inside the poofs to get them to stand out more, and/or a lining with tulle/petticoat under.

[Ludi]

I think you could get a look similar to the second picture by folding the hem up and sewing it down by hand. If you hung up the dress and picked up the hem bit by bit (following the picture, some folds to the outside some to the inside etc.), sewing down each point to the fabric under it, you should get a similar look (like a "pickup skirt" but only at the hem) There might be some tulle or something inside the poofs to get them to stand out more, and/or a lining with tulle/petticoat under.

That's what I was thinking of initially but couldn't figure out how to describe it!

[11denson]

Thanks for advice!
What I've gathered from others who have tried making this dress, the material is simply too heavy for the tulle. It almost seems like there is a ring inside the hem at the bottom and the hem is kind of "gathered" around it.

[Kara B]

In the second picture it definitely looks like she has a metal ring under the skirt.  I think I would also go for a metal ring, but make it smaller, and then go mad with tulle or some other stiff fabric attached to the ring.  You can also stiffen up bits of the dressfabric with bit of heavy vilene at different intervals to get more of that angular feeling from the first picture.

[embercostumer]

What material are you using? I think a cool changeable black/gray taffeta would be gorgeous on this dress. As for the metal ring, instead of sewing it into the complicated hem of the skirt, You could just make a separate hoopskirt to wear under the dress. And I agree with the others that you should do little pick-ups all over the hem and then stuff it with tulle. Maybe experiment around with a mock-up skirt first and see what works.

Good Luck!