My Life

Size Twelve Needles

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:01:54 GMT

Just a quick post to talk about how much I loooooove tiny needles! I was going to work on my drawers next but I'm not quite satisfied with the materials I have on hand right now so I'm hesitating. Since I have so much time before I could potentially wear any of this I want to take it nice and slow and make things as perfect as I can. Instead of drawers I started on my cap. I'll do a proper post on the finished project later but for now... OMG TINY NEEDLES ARE THE BEST THING EVARRR! I found a package of size twelve betweens in the back of my sewing drawer and they seem to enable me to make wee stitches like I've never made wee stitches before! I measured them and they're less than a milimetre. Of course this means that it will take be forever and a day to finish this but heck I'm a patient person.

The proof:

Chemise and Stays

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:01:18 GMT

This is the first in a series of posts about my regency/war of 1812 outfit that I am making. All these posts will be tagged "Blue 1812" if want to see them all when I've finished posting them. First up is the chemise and stays.

Crappy picture I know, it's the best I can do unfortunately! The chemise is extremely simple. I took a rectangle of light linen, about 10 cm to wide on each shoulder and cut out triangles that tapered out to about halfway down the length of the fabric. This narrowed the shoulders to the appropriate width and also provided me with gores to add to the sides. The sleeves, as you can see, have square gussets in the underarms and simple short sleeves. The chemise is entirely hand sewn with linen thread and all seams are finished. The neckline really could be cut a bit squarer I guess but I don't think I will go back and fix that. There's a drawstring all the way around the neckline of linen embroidery thread that I doubled up with a drop spindle.

Here are some links to other versions of these stays:
http://romantichistoryclothing.blogspot.com/2009/10/1790s-transitional-stays.html
http://www.koshka-the-cat.com/1790s_stays.html
http://ladyofportlandhouse.blogspot.com/2009/09/finished-stays.html

I particularly liked the commentary from Sarah's version, the first example above, and used some of her suggestions in my own. I used two lengths of spring steel in the centre front in what became a vain attempt to create the regency separation. What I eventually found happening was that when I bent over the bone pressed horribly into my stomach. They were practically unbearable so today I opened up the binding a bit up top and fiddled around with the bonding. I thought I might shorten them a bit and floss them into place a few centimetres up from the hem. However, what I eventually ended up doing was this:

I bent the bones a bit to curve over my stomach. This rendered it much more comfortable. Since these stays are intended to be worn with high-waisted things it really doesn't matter so much what goes on below the waist seam.

These stays are made with lapped seam and are hand sewn with linen thread. There are two layers of medium weight linen everywhere except in the cups. The edges of the cups are neatly tucked away between the two layers making the inside and the outside essentially the same. I did run into one problem with the narrowness of the twill tape I used. On the cups the stitches attaching the twill tape are only 3-4 threads below the cut edge. When strain was applied, as there would be when the straps were attached, the twill tape actually began to pull away. To correct this I applied a flat piece of tape to the inside and sewed across it lengthwise a couple of times including one time across the bottom edge of the binding itself. This was very effective in reinforcing the fabric and, while I haven't worn them for any long periods of time, I believe it will hold nicely. You should be able to see the extra twill tape in the image below. I've increased the contrast a bit.

And one final image will show you that there is no boning in the back unlike the versions above. At least for me, any boning in the back will really serve no purpose. The stays are just not long enough to offer any support with boning. Also to note is that one of the tabs is tucked under in this picture.

In personal news, I still haven't heard back from either of my potential grad schools but I won't worry until the end of March. I keep reminding myself that these things take time! In the meantime I'm applying to a bunch of museum and archaeology jobs. I'll need something to occupy myself for the summer at least, no matter what happens. Only four weeks left in the term and classes are just starting to wind down. I have final papers to write and last minute club activities to do. Life goes on, no?

1860's pictures and a new plan

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:36:01 GMT

Check it out! Two posts in one week! Whooooo!!

*ahem*

So I took a bunch of pictures of two of my current projects last night and thought I'd post an update. This isn't really a dress diary but sort a halfway-there post. First up my brown Cotton day dress.

FFrom these two pictures you can sort of see the form of this dress. It's very simple. Slightly shaped coat sleeves with a pleated bodice and a pleated skirt. The pleating pattern that you can really see best on the back picture is repeated around the dress. It's not hemmed right now but I'm going to put in a facing and bind the hem with black cotton twill tape.

You can see I haven't done a proper dogleg closure here. Instead of a slit I have left some extra fabric that will be pleated to one side and secured by a hook and eye eventually. I'm also planning on facing the skirt-bodice seam with natural cotton tape for neatness and strength and to allow me to finish the edge of the fabric in the opening. I always like to finish my seams as though the garment will be undergoing heavy washing, even if it never actually does!

I'm thinking I might raise the waist seam a tad, maybe half an inch? If you can enlarge the picture on the left take a look and tell me if you think I should. I think I'm short-waisted a bit - apparently even for my self-drafted patterns!

Next up a picture of the aqua silk day bodice.

(That's not the actual skirt btw, just some fabric I tucked around my hoop to sort of give the impression of what it will look like eventually)

Pictured here are the chemisette and sleeve set and of course the bodice proper. I wasn't very pleased with how the chemisette drapes in the end. I just used poly-cotton stuff and the frill at the neck is far to stiff and the fabric pulled all over the place when I sewed the tucks. I might re-do it some day but in any case it's wearable now! Similar criticisms for the sleeves. The original fashion plate had these immense bouffant sleeves which I basically did not have enough fabric for, nor do I think it would have draped properly for if I had. I'd starting to think that maybe the fashion plate was attempting to show some kind of light but stiff silk. Thin taffeta perhaps? In any case the day bodice is done, see proof above.

A new project (of course), Regency!!

So some back story. I'm thinking about trying to break into reenacting. I honestly don't know what it's like but everything I've read and seen makes it seem like a lot of fun! I need some excuse to wear the clothes I make! That being said, the war of 1812 200th anniversary is coming up so that would probably be period to explore, thus a new regency outfit!

The inspiration image:

I like the one in the centre. I'm not sure about the pink but I do like the ruffle at the hem and the relative simplicity of the dress. I'll probably make a dress in this style, with the addition of some removable long sleeves, the apron and some kind of chemisette. (I do have a bit of silk/cotton blend leftover hmmm...) Oooooo and maybe a fun bonnet too! I'm not so sure of the pink though... I'm going to research cotton prints and see if anything appeals to me

I do have fabric for a new set of stays. I'm going to make something like these. I tried a mock up of a set of mostly flat-fronted transitional stays from Jill Salen's Corsets (page 26 if you have a copy) and it was an epic failure. Not nearly enough support for my well-endowed self and it pulled in horrible ways on my upper back making it hurt even in the mock up stage! So that was quickly scrapped and I moved on. After reading about Sarah's fitting troubles and finding them similar to my own. I'm going to give this version a try. I think it will work better.

I already have a light cotton chemise but before I do a weekend event I'm going to want a new chemise for every day I'm there. I might make a linen version as well... Some day that is not today.

On the school front much better news from the Dean of Arts about the Medieval Studies program. She has assured the faculty that the student's may not even feel the administrative changes although there are still going to be fewer classes of bigger sizes but that was inevitable no matter what course of action was taken. Still it's good news.

I totally have a French midterm tonight and I am clearly procrastinating.

Whew! Long post, kudos if you made it through!

Life and School update

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:16:40 GMT

So my grad school applications are done. I ended up applying to two schools, Queen's for the Art Conservation program and UAlberta for the Textiles and Clothing program. I really don't know which would be better for me. Who knows if I'm going to get in anywhere? The term is progressing quickly and I have a ton of work to do *sigh* I don't see how I'm going to accomplish it all. My next big event is my french midterm this friday. Lots of review to do over the next couple of days.

Issues with the Medieval Studies program have recently been causing drama on campus. Essentially, cost cutting measures taken by the administration are going to result in negative effects on many of the interdisciplinary programs offered at Laurier. As sad as I am to hear this I have come to the conclusion, after much thought, that these changes are inevitable. The budgetary situation at Laurier is dire and the time to remedy that is long past. The Faculty of Arts administration is doing everything it can to preserve the programs but there really isn't much they can do. I'm just thankful that I am graduating from both the Archaeology and Medieval Studies programs when I am and before these significant changes.

In costuming news, I'm making an 1860's day dress in a slightly different style. See below the cut for details.

I got this image here: http://earthlyangelscdvs.blogspot.com/

What struck me about this image was the incredible simplicity. No piping, not even a waistband! I'm reinterpreting this simplicity into a day dress that could have been worn by an average woman. I did a significant amount of piecing at the hem of the skirt in order to keep the skirt as long as possible. I only had 4 meters of the fabric to work with and I have used up nearly every scrap! I've got the bodice put together although I put pleats in instead of the darts in an effort to make it more of a work dress. I've tried grathered bodiced and they just don't seem to work for me! I will post pictures of the finished project when it's done. Did I mention I'm had sewing the whole thing?

So that's the state of the nation here in Brenna-land. I hope those of you who had a reading week enjoyed it!

1860's ball gown

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:42:59 GMT

So in the interest of continuing my trend of posting I decided to post about my current project, an 1860's ball gown.

So I had this silk... I bought it when fabric.com was having at sale on silk taffeta a month or two ago. It's a bit dark for my taste but it's the first silk I've bought so I'm darn well going to use it! They sent me a few meters extra of the stuff because they had to send it in several pieces so there is plenty to go around. I decided to make a separate day and evening bodice that share the same skirt. See under the cut for my sketch and more details.

The design for the day bodice and the skirt trimmings come for this 1856 fashion plate here. I've already got the bodice mostly put together but I shortened the front point and used 1860's seam lines and such to update it a few years.

The ball gown bodice trimming is from this example from Montreal's McCord Museum which I highly recommend you check out if you're ever in montreal. I've visited the past couple of summers and their special exhibits have always been excellent. Anyway, my dilemma comes from wanting to maintain the blue(ish) and black colours of the original fashion plate but I'm not sure what the third colour for the lacing and organza trimming would be. For now I'm thinking white but it might just come down to what fabric I can find. I'm interpreting the decoration as pleated organza and net on the bottom of the ribbon with lace on top. I might even work up some simple scalloped needle lace for that.

So far I have been working on the day bodice. I need to pick of some for hooks and eyes before I can get much farther. Next up are the chemisette, and undersleeves which I will post about as they progress

I'm way tired so time for sleep now. Good night!

Life Update

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:00:08 GMT

So it's been forever and a day since I've posted anything but I'm in a sharing mood tonight so here goes:

-I'm graduating! Very soon! Well it feels that way anyway. I double and triple checked with everybody that the courses I picked over the past four years were the right ones. I was never quite sure until I got the email from the resgistrar's office confirming it. My odd combination of majors resulted in more than one substituted course over the years and my undergrad advisers had no clue beyond the very specific individual majors and were utterly unhelpful with my "big picture"; questions. In any case all has turned out for the best and I'm on my way to convocation

-I'm applying to two grad schools, Queens and UAlberta. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. Queen's is definitely the program to break me into the conservation field here in Ontario. It is well known and recognized as essentially the only choice and as such is supported when it comes to internships and such. It offers only minimal textile content however, with textiles only covered as a topic in one course. I would be spending another 2 years studying topics similar to textile conservation but not quite getting into the nitty gritty of the field. UAlberta on the other had usually offers textile conservation as an option however their conservator recently left so now there's no one on staff to supervise me. They have a great textile collection and the way the program is set up would allow me to study a great variety of topics like dress history alongside conservation science. But unless they get another conservator in or offer another solution I'm kind of stuck.

-It may be that grad school just isn't in the cards for me for next year but I'm going to make it happen eventually one way or another. It might be for the best that I work for a year prior to launching myself into tens of thousands of dollars of debt. Which means I need to start job hunting right about now. Ideally I could find a government job or something that pays better than minimum wage. I'm less interested in experience this summer than I am in saving up ns some money for school. My parents are happy to welcome me back home so at least I don't have to worry about living arrangements for a little while.

-School continues with some new challenges in the form of a directed study with an archaeology prof and a really cool course on medieval scribal culture. Sewing continues with an 1880's corset and soon-to-be bustle dress based off of one in the Victoria and Albert Museum. After that I think I'll be turning my attention to a regency ensemble which would hopefully be ready in time for the 2012 anniversary of the war of 1812, not that I'm reenacting or anything, it's just an excuse for a new dress!

And there, my dear (and few) readers I will leave you. It's way past my bedtime so I should pack things up. Wish me luck!

The Future is Coming!!!

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 06:01:19 GMT

Uggg... So I'm contemplating the future again. I got another vote from a textile conservator in favour of a Masters and I just went over the graduation requirements for my degree. I'm really wishing I had had the big picture view that I have now when I was in first year. I took courses I shouldn't have bothered with and were basically a waste of time. I'll make all my requirements but I thought I'd only have to take 4 courses a term in 4th year since I took 2.0 credits on my summer field school but it turns out that I'll maybe be able to have one term with only 4 courses.

I'm tempted to look into taking a chemistry class this summer just to lessen the work I'd have to do in the term. I almost wish I could stay here for the summer just to fit another term in. *sigh* I'm thinking about going to see one of my profs just to talk things over and get some perspective.

Its really irritating that I just noticed a note in the academic calendar stating that a combination degree is a bad idea for students planning on continuing to grad school just as I decided that was the path I should try to take. Hopefully my interdisciplinary degree is appropriate for an interdisciplinary graduate field of study.

The village and a wig

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:06:24 GMT

I recently watched the movie The Village. I really enjoyed it. I'm not usually one for horror movies... ever... but The Village is not your typical horror movie. Sidenote: I would totally run off and found a village where I'd get to wear 1880's style cotton dresses ALL THE TIME. My favourite scene is about 3 seconds long and at the very beginning where there are two girls sweeping a porch and they start spinning around their brooms. The one girl's dress swirls really prettily!

I am done, done, done the 1780's zone-front dress. I tacked the ruffles on to the sleeves a couple of nights ago. I'm really into finishing things lately, hopefully I can hang on to that urge for a little while. Inspired by demode 's post a little while ago about her wig styling I decided to give it a try. It didn't turn out completely horrible! I'll post pictures of the whole look once I get around to taking them.

Reading week is coming up! I have a ton of stuff to do before I leave but clearly lj is much more interesting...

Housing search

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:36:53 GMT

So I just got back from looking at a prospective house. uuggg.... It was a basement apartment which the girl on the phone neglected to tell me. It had all the negatives that goes along with being a basement apartment. I seriously think that if I had lived there I would have become clinically depressed. Plus tile bedrooms = cold feet in the mornings. The only positive side would have been that there was only 2 other roommates and from the look of the one girl I met I doubt that would have been a picnic either! So moving on now....

Siiigh...

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:57:07 GMT

I want one...

Music? Please?

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:13:28 GMT

So I've been holed up in my room for like a week and as a result I'm sick of all my music. Music suggestions anyone? I'll listen to just about anything at this point as long as its new!

noodles!

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:58:05 GMT

I think this is pretty awesome! Yay noodles!

Sewing Update

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 04:37:16 GMT

So I've been doing some sewing lately and thought I'd post a few pictures.

The two main projects I've been working on are my Halloween costume, which will be an Edwardian witch, and a middle class 1580's outfit from the Tudor Tailor.

I've been working on the smock for the Elizabethan project lately. It will be made of linen handsewn with silk and with silk blackwork on the collar and cuffs. I've got the body put together. Here's a shot of (i think) one of the side seams.

And here you can see the blackwork. The smaller piece is my test piece. I found it really helpful to try it out this way first because it allowed me to iron out all the little details in the embroidery pattern as well as try out a couple of methods for transferring the pattern. The 'good copy' shown here will be for the collar. I haven't made the pattern reversible because I can't make my brain twist that way but I wanted to add a ruffle at the collar and cuffs so I'd need two layers to sandwich it between anyway.

Here's a shot of the corset pieces for the Edwardian costume laid out on some test fabric. I honestly don't know if I'll get this done in time... I might just use my white Victorian corset instead. Still I'm interested in trying out the laughing moon pattern. It comes pretty highly recommended and is a bit different from the pattern I made up for my other corset.

And finally this is the plan I made up for a court tudor dress that I want to make someday. After watching the Other Boleyn Girl and a couple episodes of The Tudors in quick succession I decided I need a tudor court gown. I scanned a few images from The Tudor Tailor and fiddled with them in Photoshop to get this:

I have a piece of antique silk velvet that my grandmother gave me and its so flowy and light I though it would be perfect for the veil on the french hood. Its kind of coppery and I didn't know how to make it look coppery in photoshop so its just brown... The gray is also supposed to imitate cloth-of-silver, but I don't know if that would go with coppery brown. I need to pick a metallic to use for the settings of the billaments(jewels) on the hood and gown which should also coordinate with whatever fabric I use for the under-sleeves and under-skirt. Thoughts anyone? I'm open to suggestions!

Life seems pretty crazy right now. I don't have as much time for sewing as I'd like so little progress is being made on my projects. But that's the way it goes I guess! Thanksgiving is in two weeks (wooo! get to go home). I'm really looking forward to all the turkey festivities. Plus I get to fly home which is always exciting. Yay for no 7 hour train ride! Anyway I should probably toddle off to bed. stuff to do tomorrow and all that...

More corseting

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:08:47 GMT

So I managed to put in all the reed into the boning channels yesterday. It took far longer than I like to think to finish that step. Especially considering my growing fears about fit! I've my fingers crossed that it will all work out! Today I got all the eyelets done on the back and marked the eyelets for one side of the front. All this hand sewing is starting to get to me. It's frustrating because I now have all the materials I need to complete this outfit but my fingers won't sew quickly enough! I also left my camera up at my field school so all I have are crappy phone camera pictures. Oh well!

Oh and I also rediscovered some pictures on my phone that I took of the buckram form I made for my 1860's bonnet

Interior shot

In this image you can also see my lovely basement :)

The finished product!

I really need to finish that essay of mine thats due on Tuesday... Think stock buckles, not sewing!

P.S. I have no idea what I should lace this corset with, anyone have any suggestions?

Polonaise Fabric

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:45:47 GMT

Look I bought dome pretty fabric for my polonaise! I'm going to trim it in dark blue satin and make a middling blue petticoat. I also have some lovely blue wool that I'm going to make cloak out of. The two examples I'm using for the cloak are both red but just love the idea of an entirely blue outfit!

New Corset!

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:54:12 GMT

I'm making an 18th century corset. Oh and I'm hand sewing the whole thing! It will be three layers of linen: a blue-gray for the outer layer and white for the interlining and lining. I also got my hands on some thin leather to bind the edges with. Its a bit yellow for my taste so I'm going to see if I can bleach it a little.

Here you can see all the pieces laid out. There's ten individual pieces. I'm going to add the boning to each piece and then sew them together. This method should allow me to adjust it once its fully boned. It's going to be both front and back lacing. I haven't made a front-lacing corset before so this is a new endeavor! Hopefully it will work out.

Sewing Update!

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:10:32 GMT

Since school ended I've been doing quite a bit of sewing... like A LOT. Today I took a TON of pictures of stuff that you can see

So In chronological order of completion:

RECAP: Victorian Undies - Finished at school

Chemise, corset and drawers

Elliptical hoop

Petticoat over hoop

1) Mid-Nineteenth Century Outfit #1
A two-piece outfit like this was not the norm in the 1860's. It was normally worn by girls or trendy young women. At some point I'm going to make a black "bolero" jacket to go with it. The trim around the hem is some 100-year old trim from my Grandma. The shirt is made of a sheer swiss dot cotton. This outfit is worn over my Victorian undies.

Some detail shots

2) Mid-Nineteenth Century Outfit #2
This Day dress is based on a photo of my great-great-grandmother. I'd post a scan of it but my scanner is broken :( Its not an exact copy but it has pretty much all of the main elements. Most of my birthday gift certificates went into this fabric and I SO do not regret it!

Detail shot of the bodice(sans buttons and buttonholes)

3) Mid-Nineteenth Century Bonnet
I am so proud of this bonnet! I have never done anything like this before. Millinery was an entirely new experience for me and it turned out really well. The hat consists of a buckram form with wired edges covered in silk and my lining fabric. I used the empire version of the Clara Christine pattern from Timely Tresses I used the form pattern the same but I covered the bonnet in a similar fashion to one displayed on the website that they actually don't include instructions for. But i wanted that bonnet and i was gonna have it dammit!

4)Late 16th Century Fitted Gown
This gown is straight out of The Tudor Tailor. I only altered it for fit because I loved the design exactly the way it is. I'm super proud of the sleeves, they came out quite well. It closes with hooks and eyes in the front and is lined in cream linen-look. Normally I would use real linen but this stuff was ridiculously cheap so I couldn't pass it up. I do want to make a new red linen kirtle to wear underneath because my only kirtle is fawn coloured and wool AND laces up in front so it simply CANNOT do! Not that they didn't wear stuff like that in period, I just don't want to. I'm going to make a new linen cap too but not until I'm back in waterloo, I left my nice white linen there.

5) Floral Half-Circle Skirt
I bought this fabric with birthday gift certificate last year and made a retro dress out of it. I bought a whole bunch extra fabric intending to make more stuff out of it and I've finally gotten around to it. I whipped this together one day last week, and it turned out great. Its a little more than a half circle with a small waistband and a zipper at the side. I used my Mom's fancy new machine to do some decorative stitching around the hem jsut for fun and it ended up stiffening the hem a bit which is nice. Look I got new shoes too!

6) Short Floral Jacket(In Progress)
I used this Butterick pattern for a short jacket but lined it in cotton broadcloth. This jacket will forever remind me of spiderman since I watched the first movie while I cut this out and sewed it up.

7)Havana Nights Dress(In Progress)
This dress is the dress I made last spring when I originally bought this jacket. The dress I made out of it then really didn't suit me so I'm remaking it. My inspiration for this dress came straight out of Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. I <3 this movie. It's so cheesy but I love the music and all the pretty pretty dresses.

8) A Summer Purse(In Progress)
My regular purse is black leather. It sucks when its hot and sticky out so I'm going to make a new one out of leftover scraps of the floral fabric.

Whew! Alot of stuff in there. I'll post pictures of more stuff when I finish it.

Every Summer my Mom battles against critters in her garden. Usually groundhogs are the culprits who actually chow down on her plants. She and I and our neighbour Bill were sitting in our backyard on sunday when this groundhog comes along wandering through our garden. My Mom and Bill manage to corner him and then bait this trap so that they can take the groundhog away and release it far from anyone's garden. Lo an behold the none-to-smart critter is trapped and then released in the wilds off by the ski trail and we all come back to enjoy our critter-free backyard. As we're settling in again, Bill spots ANOTHER groundhog crossing his backyard. It eventually moves into out yard the same way the first one did and we trap it in the same spot as the first one. It to is trapped and set free in the same spot as the first. This is quite the record for my family! I'll never forget the image of my Mom herding groundhogs towards a trap with a spear-like tomato stake. She looked like an African warrior or something!

A hoop skirt and more

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:35:17 GMT

So I made a hoop skirt! Its pretty awesome. I also made a bustle pad to go underneath to make it lie nicely. And then I just kept working outwards with a petticoat and a skirt. I have had the hardest time with chemises. For some reason the easiest garment of this outfit has been the hardest for me to make! Finally last night I found a free pattern and managed to make up a comfortable one. So I have left to make:

-a shirt
-a jacket
-a bonnet/headgear of some kind
-a reticule
-arrange for shoes(this might not happen)

Pics under the

My inspiration images

It's a Smock!

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:14:34 GMT

So I made a

Its cute and I like it! It's made from McCall's pattern M5313 view B with the straps from view A and C. I had to alter it quite a bit because I used stretch fabric. The bodice is really quite different because I made it pretty fitted. I think its super cute and really comfortable and I love the fabric! I basically made the dress because I found the fabric. Yet another modern piece of clothing finished! Oh and

is a picture of the fabric because the picture is super crappy.

So I made a shirt...

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:35:54 GMT

I made this

I really like it. I wasn't sure the ruching would turn out but I'm pleased with the way it did. Its super comfortable too. The fabric is really soft and the shirt fits really well. The strike is finally over so I don't know if I'll have much time in the next little while to sew... Back to my regularly scheduled life I guess...

Blue Coat

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:11:42 GMT

I made a coat! Yay for sewing things I can actually wear in real life! And it has pockets!

so this is the pattern I used... yes its a Hilary Duff pattern but its cute right? I edited the skirt quite a bit, the pattern has it as a bubble skirt which totally didn't work for me.

the front

the back

I lined it in white flannel as you can see. Its super cozy.

A full length shot

I really love the colour. I still need to add the buttons and do the buttonholes. I was thinking about using big black buttons. Anyone have another idea? I'm looking forward to wearing this this spring!

A Corset

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:18:36 GMT

Hey check out what I made!

Don't I look hot??? Its not finished. You can see the corset bones poking out, especially at the top in the front but that will be fixed when I put seam binding around the edges. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I've never made a "real"corset before so it turned out really good considering!

Regency costume

Sun, 13 May 2007 21:07:09 GMT

So.. I said I would post my sketches but my sketching skills suck so instead I'll post some of my inspiration

So I'm actually making this corset right now. I drafted the pattern yesterday and today and now I'm putting together the 'good copy' out of white cotton twill. My version's cording with be a little more simplistic than the one used here but mine will have a busk(http://www.koshka-the-cat.com/runder/busk.jpg), two gores on the bust line, but straps that will tie in the front right about where the straps of this one connect. I made the front a little extra higher on the front so that I can put in a drawstring like this one.

I'm going to make a cotton chemise cut like this one, probably without the lace.

These re pantelettes, mine will be with pleats instead of tucks, and with different lace of course.

the actual dress with have pleats one bodice like this one and similar short poufy sleeves

the hem of my dress will have pleats like these and I'll be making a short "spencer" jacket like this one, but probably not pink...

I like these shoes... I might try to make them...

My hat will probably be shaped like this one, but not with the fabric... its icky, I might edge the front with ribbon or something.

I'm going to make/get stockings as well. It should turn out nicely ^_^ I went through all the vintage fabrics and stuff that my grandma gave me and I think I'll use some of it in this costume. I have about a yard and a half of a nice sea foam coloured silk which I'd like to use for the spencer but I'm not a huge fan of sea foam... oh well I'll have to see.

Mon, 07 May 2007 16:41:35 GMT

So this is a fun thing too. Its an animated version of the bayeux tapestry. If you know what that is chances are you would enjoy watching this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDaB-NNyM8o

Embroidery!

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 04:23:55 GMT

So I brought back the materials I needed to start an embroidery project that I've been planning for awhile now. I made a practice sampler where I experimented with stitches and such. I've decided on a form so now I"m going to begin on the garment itself. I'll be putting this pattern on the neckline and wrists of the blue gown that I just posted pictures of. It should turn out nicely ^_^