Every year my university hosts a community event called Lighting of the Green. There's food, pictures with Santa, Amy Grant sings...all kinds of good stuff. Last year, the theater department was called upon to supply walkaround characters. It was super crazy and not really well organized, but it still went well.

This year, we have been asked to be dressed in colonial-era clothing, and I was put in charge (I'm a senior and one of only two people in the department who can sew well). I went through the racks, looking for items I could pull. The answer? Two dresses, several guys' shirts, and three pairs of knee britches. And did I mention that I need to dress TWENTY-THREE people?

And did I mention that Lighting of the Green is on December 1st?

So here's my full and complete sewing list:

-Blue and gold pet en l'air jacket and gold petticoat

-Brown plaid shortgown and green petticoat

-Blue pinner gown and blue floral pinner apron

-Purple twill stomacher gown and purple pansy petticoat

-Pink and white chemise a la reine

-Blue lace-trimmed gown and white petticoat

-Red striped zone front gown and red petticoat

-Pink satin polonaise gown and cream petticoat

-Yellow velvet gown, rose pink petticoat, and brown flannel petticoat

-Aqua floral pannier gown

-Cream and maroon floral stomacher gown and cream and maroon striped petticoat

-Light blue frock gown with red velvet belt

-Caramel knee britches

-Gray knee britches

-Brown knee britches

-Cream knee britches

I also have six waistcoats on the list, but at the last minute I was able to pull some vests that, while not completely accurate, will work in a pinch.

If I make another JoAnn's run, I'll be able to get enough fabric to make six pinner caps (I have six girls with short hair). And then everyone will have a hair ribbon. Yay for hair ribbons!

I have one pair of britches done, and eight gowns. Monday I'm going to fit everyone and add accessories (gloves and petticoats for the girls, cravats for the boys), plus alter the pieces as needed. Tuesday I'm going to finish my gown (I'm saving it for last) and fit all the people who didn't come in on Monday. But while everyone else is getting dressed and ready, I have to get ready for a performance. Because did I mention that I'm in a play that performs right before Lighting of the Green?

Oy.

If I survive, I'll post all the finished costumes.

If I don't, I leave my sewing machine (the ever-loyal Zac Efron) to my sister.