My Upcycle Disney Villains Challenge for 2021

I know I'm late to the party for announcing this here but instead of a typical New Year's Resolution - this year I decided I would do a monthly upcycle/scrap-busting sewing challenge themed for Villain Disneybounding or also called Villainbounding. Bounding is dressing up in such a way that it is reminiscent of dressing like a particular character.

I laid out this massive project after completing three tablecloth dresses (meaning dresses made from tablecloths) because I had this really strong desire to declutter my craft room and be able to remove an old dresser that stored seasonal household linens and I loved the feeling of putting those items to a better use. I moved to a smaller home and didn't have a dining table anymore so it felt more than a little silly to hang onto so many table linens and I came to the realization that tablecloths make wonderful fabric lengths and then it dawned on me I could reuse sheets and curtains in the same wonderful way!

Without further ado these are the planned projects for 2021!

January

For January I decided to do one of the easiest ones since the month was already half over when I decided to undertake this massive project. I had some white and orange scrap fabric in my bin and decided I would use some black fabric paint that I had leftover from making a 1st birthday onesie for my niece and shirts for their parents to make the stripes.

The pattern I'm intending to use is Butterick 6453 in the sheath version but adjust the pattern to use black bias piping along the princess seams in the bust to really make the seams pop.

February

For February I decided to take on a multi part project wherein I would have the dress, belt, lace shrug, and hat. The bodice, hat, shrug, and belt will be from scrap fabric and the skirt part of the dress will be from a 70" tablecloth. The scrap for the bodice will come leftover fabric from my Purple Mario outfit, the red fabric is leftover from an Ariel Christmas sock I was commissioned to make. The black fabric is leftover from assorted Halloween projects over the years.

The pattern I'm intending to use is Burda Young 7308 which includes the dress, shrug, and belt. For the hat I will use McCalls 7643. Not drawn here and no existing pattern - I will draft some white and black button spats to complete the ensemble.

March

For March I intend to take on the Evil Queen. I have since changed my mind on how I want to approach her since I cannot find stretch purple fabric to upcycle. A new image will be up shortly but the new vision is a a 1940s dress (the same pattern I'm using for Governor Ratcliffe) with color blocking to insinuate the collar and cape.

The pattern I'm going to use is Simplicity 8050. I will have the sleeves and the side colorblocked black for her cape and the collar colorblocked white for her cape collar. I will use black and white scrap fabric leftover from Halloween and upcycle a purple bed sheet to make the bulk of the dress.

April

For April I will take on my most insane project yet - a long Lolita style Maleficent dress. The black will come from a thrifted bed sheet and the purple will come from a thrifted bed sheet and the pink will come from my scrap bin. The lime green bias will come from my leftover genderbent Oogie Boogie.

The pattern I'm going to use is Simplicity 8233 - the long version. It's worth noting that the purple bit is actually a separate skirt that I will be able to use again if I decide to make a similar dress for the Cheshire Cat or Mad Madam Mim. Sometimes it is wonderful to be able to reuse a few pieces that still feel like it was meant for both. This is probably one of the projects I am most looking forward to because of the challenge and complexity since the top is actually a corset! That's right! I'm going to sew my first corset.

May

May will be the month of Cruella. I actually already have the perfect black slinky dress so this month I am going to tackle the coat! I've sewn a few boleros in the past but this will be my first proper coat. I know, it seems crazy to be sewing a coat in June but I have balanced my projects out by the level of their difficulty and involvement and something easy after Maleficent seemed to be just the thing. I don't actually have the fabric for this yet so I will be out there looking to thrift a heavy cream tablecloth and red bed sheets for the lining.

The pattern I intend to use is McCalls 7373 and for the hat I will use McCalls 7643 and I will alter it to divide the color in half to simulate her dual hair color.

June

For June I will take on Governor Ratcliffe in the same 1940s style that I used for the Evil Queen. I will use a plum colored tablecloth to make the dress and trim the edges with black bias piping to make the seams really pop. I will use some leftover lilac fabric from making a top for my Ariel Skirt to add to the wrist-cuffs and collar and thrifted turquoise buttons for down the front.

The pattern I intend to use is Simplicity 8050 and for the hat once again McCalls 7643 (I might have to copy that pattern over to freezer paper to keep it indefinitely with the kind of use it will get this year.)

July

What could be better for July than a strapless summer dress to help beat the heat? I will use an old bed sheet for the black and the purple underskirt. I couldn't really capture it in the drawing but the purple under skirt is sort of like a bustled bubble underneath that I hope will seem like tentacles.

I will be using McCalls 6956 that I had used another version for an Anchor dress I had made to go to Sea World in a few summers ago. I might go over the purple bubble part with some lighter purple felt to make circles designed as suction cups. I am currently undecided if I want to make a hat for this project. What do you think? Tentacles? White and Grey like her hair? Let me know in the comments.

August

For August I wanted to tackle Gaston because his colors remind me fondly of fall and I wanted it to be ready before the season begins. I will be using leftover red fabric from a bed sheet and a tan pillowcase to make this 2 piece peplum 40s style dress. I will be using some scrap brown to make the belt.

I will be using Simplicity 8463 to make this ensemble. It is the same pattern I used to make my tablecloth Holly and Ivy dress. Pictured but no pattern I will be drafting my own ruffled glove pattern to top off this outfit and be ready for all the amazing fall activities.

September

For September I will attempt to capture the moody malice of Lady Tremaine in this 1940s style dress. I will be doing the dress from an upcycled tablecloth and the seafoam and lilac trims will come from my scrap bin from past Ariel projects.

The pattern I will be using for this is Simplicity 8248 with the lightly puffed sleeves to copy her puffed sleeve style in the animated movie Cinderella. I am undecided if I want to do something for a hat for this one in a grey tone like her hair but I'm not sure how I want to tackle it. Perhaps if I can decide on something for Ursula I can reuse it here as well since their hair color is similar and I feel kind of important to their character - their age is part of how they fit into their respective stories and I don't want to leave that out.

October

For October I chose my easiest project since I will expect to be super busy planning my Halloween Ever After Party (more details on that later) and decided on doing Scar. I am going to use an upcycled bed sheet for the bulk of the dress and a piece of scrap muslin for the center princess seam to simulate his underbelly like I did for Scar. I will again use black bias piping to make that seam really pop. I will wear this with a faux fur black stole. and likely some kind of a black fascinator.

I will be using the same dress pattern as I did for Dr Facilier but the hem will be shorter and I will add contrast bias binding to the hem to add some sharpness. The pattern is Burda Young 7308 only I won't be make the shrug and belt this time. Black and orange - what could be more perfect for Halloween?

November

For November I doing one of my favorite villains - Hades. I will be doing a 1930s style dress that has an asymmetrical bodice that is so reminiscent of his toga I couldn't have planned more perfectly if I tried! The light blue will come from a tablecloth and the grey will come from a bed sheet. I will add black bias binding to all the seams to show off those amazing angles and a black bow at the shoulder like his skull pendant.

The pattern is 8247 the short sleeve version without the jacket. I might make a blue fascinator to go with this one to simulate his blue flamed hair but I think that one I will mostly do with millinery netting and freeform it without any kind of pattern. This is probably the project I most look forward to completing - I can hardly wait until the end of the year!

December

My last project is also my most ambitious since I will have a whole week off at the end of year and I like to keep immensely busy on my birthday and during the holiday season. This piece will be this year's challenge masterpiece. The red will come from a bed sheet and the fuchsia will come from a set of curtains and the gold will come from leftover Queen of Hearts fabric. I will use white lace leftover from making my Kairi dress.

The patterns I'm using are Simplicity 1300 the version made with lace rather than tulle and the hat will once again come from McCalls 7643 but the tricorn version instead since it most closely resembles a pirate captain's hat.

But those are my challenges for 2021, which one do you most look forward to seeing? Let me know in the comments! Keep an eye for posts on my progress with this challenge. Until then, Happy Friday!