If I clean it….I can sew!

Over the course of the past couple of months, I’ve slowly been cleaning up and reorganizing my sewing room. It is so much work, but it feels good to know that eventually, this room will become all that I had originally hoped.

At the same time, I’m also trying to get ready for the GBACG’s Titanic event.

To that end, I spent a couple of hours on saturday getting things at least clean enough that Bridget and I could work on a corset mock up. No pictures of that yet, but it is looking pretty fantastic.

Speaking of pictures, I still need to snap a few of my newly reorganized fabric stash. I wanted to be able to see everything, so I took everything out of bins and am now storing it all on shelves. I was pretty strict with myself in the process and have purged more than three bins full of fabric.

January 29, 2012 · ithilwyn · No Comments
Tags:  Â· Posted in: Nineteen-Teens

Easing Back In

I haven’t done any sewing in ages, but I really needed to sew some of the Christmas presents I was giving this year.

After managing to get my sewing room cleaned up just enough to do those couple of projects, I made a couple of baby slings for a friend and my sister-in-law, then made a set of sleeve aprons for my mother-in-law.

I wanted to test out one of the slings before giving both of them, plus I wanted to get pictures, so I put one on and carried my cat around for a little while.  He was in heaven!  I think I might need to make one for myself just so that I can carry Mochi around while still getting stuff done around the house.

I used the directions from this website.

January 7, 2012 · ithilwyn · No Comments
Posted in: Sewing

1950′s Does 18th Century

Just came across this image from an eBay seller showing Elizabeth Taylor in a gown that is very reminiscent of an 18th Century zone gown.  Isn’t she lovely?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ELIZABETH-TAYLOR-8×11-Glamour-Photo-B-W-Parasol-Beauty-/300541747594?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f9af218a#ht_500wt_969

August 23, 2011 · ithilwyn · One Comment
Posted in: Uncategorized

Miser Purses

Here’s a sneak peak at a couple of the designs I’m experimenting with.  Both purses are the largest size I would make…big enough to fit a moderate sized phone.

Both will actually be about the same size, despite their appearance in the photos.  The first is worked in two colors of cotton crochet thread.  The second is worked in a single color of cotton crochet thread with a silk ribbon woven through.

August 22, 2011 · ithilwyn · One Comment
Tags:  Â· Posted in: Thread, Victorian

Sadness and Frustration

So, although my 1840′s corset is looking awesome, I’m not happy with it.  I’m really kicking myself about it too, because I KNEW I should have waited until I had my usual lining fabric before proceeding, but I talked myself into using fabric I had on hand.  Grrr.  The problem right now is that the fabric just isn’t sturdy enough to support the corset once it is on me; even with the boning, it keeps wanting to collapse.

Unfortunately, this means I’m probably going to remake it.  I am glad that I figured this out before I did all the finishing work on it.  Still sucks, but that makes it more manageable.

This means that I’ll need to wait until Saturday to work on anything–I need to get some twill from Joann’s, and I’m not going to do that until I can use my teacher coupon.  At this point, that’s really no big deal since I have plans for tomorrow and my next opportunity to sew will be Saturday anyway.

August 12, 2011 · ithilwyn · No Comments
Tags:  Â· Posted in: Victorian

Runaway Vacation

Technically, today was the first day of my summer vacation.  I’ve only got two weeks, so every day needs to REALLY count.

I started off with a bang.  I did my morning run (trying to get back into the routine) and then went out to my sewing room.  I got the modifications to my 1840′s corset transferred onto the paper pattern.  Then I tried to make fabric decisions, and that was the beginning of the end.

I decided to go over to Joann’s to pick up some twill (both for the corset and for mock ups) and figured, since I was going out, I should take care of a few more errands.  Four hours later, I was finally home and no longer in any kind of mood to sew.  I did, however, make some fabric decisions that utilize stash fabric.  (I will eventually buy more twill or canvas, but I want to wait until Saturday, when I can use my teacher appreciation coupon.)

Speaking of sales, if there was anything I had planned on doing this Saturday, it ain’t gonna happen.  Seems that everyone is having their teacher sale that day–Joann’s, Michael’s, Staples.  So, I think I’ll be shopping on Saturday.

August 8, 2011 · ithilwyn · No Comments
Posted in: Victorian

Mock Up Central.

I LOVE when fittings go well.

Like many others, I came home from CoCo with so many ideas.  First up, I need to work on a new outfit (or outfits) for Dickens Fair.  Bridget has been suggesting for a little over a year that I make a day bodice to go with my Eugenie dress.  Since I’ve got leftover fabric, this is a pretty sensible idea.  Plus, it’s a color that will really pop in the dim lighting at Dickens.  It should also be pretty simple, as well, since Bridget already has a bodice block that should fit me with just a few tweaks.  (If you know us, you may think this strange, but we essentially have the same body type and corseted measurements, so we just have to shorten things a bit at the waist.)

This morning, I got up and traced her pattern block and then put together a mock up.  Of course, I always annoy Bridget when I do stuff like this because I’m not nearly as exact in my cutting as she would be.  Thus, my mock up is just a tad larger than expected.  There is also a bust adjustment to make, so I’ll need to do at least one more mock up before starting on my fashion fabric.

I also got started on a new corset from a book I bought at Costume College, Corsets: Historical Patterns & Techniques.  The book itself leaves some things to be desired, but I’m familiar enough with corsetry that I’ll be able to glean what I need in order to recreate the corsets I want.  I decided that the first corset would be the 1840 corded corset.  I scaled up the pattern, taking into account that I’d need a few extra inches all around, but assumed we’d really need to play around with the bust and hip gores during the fitting.  In order to really get a good idea of the shape, I sewed a busk pocket into the front for my straight wood busk, and sewed lacing strips to the back.

Bridget was able to lace me closed in the mock up, which isn’t such a bad thing, since the cording will take up quite a bit of that excess once it is made up.  HOWEVER, once I saw how great the shape of the corset was on me, I quickly decided to make this first version up with regular boning.  That means I’ll be taking out about two inches between the center front seam and center back edges.  The only real adjustments that needed to be made were to the bust gores, which ended up way too big (surprisingly).  Oh, and the straps needed to be seriously lengthened.

Tomorrow, the plan is to adjust the bodice pattern and then cut out another mock up–if I can find some scrap fabric that is the right weight.  Then, I’m going to get some major work done on the corset.  (Oh, and the corset is for another Dickens dress that I want to get made up…an 1840′s dress.)

August 7, 2011 · ithilwyn · No Comments
Tags: ,  Â· Posted in: Victorian

What I Wore to Costume College

I carried my camera with me all weekend and took a grand total of THREE pictures.  I suck.

So, I had to resort to swiping other people’s pictures of me in order to provide you with a quick run down of what I wore.  (Of course, I totally forgot to make a note to myself about where I got them from, so if I didn’t give you credit for a pic you took, please comment.)

As I was packing last week, I came across my Dr. Horrible groupie accessories.  I quickly sent a message to Bridget and Diana asking them if they wanted to bring their groupie costumes for Friday during the day.  Not only did they love the idea, we managed to rope Meagan into joining us.

Friday night I wasn’t feeling too well (damn lactose issues), and so missed most of the ice cream social, but I managed to put myself together for Kendra, Sarah, and Trystan’s PPP party.

Saturday I just wore my regular clothes until the gala, at which point, I broke out the zone gown again, this time with the new sleeves and the cap.  I LOVE how it all came together.

Then on Sunday, I was determined to debut my first bustle dress.

August 4, 2011 · ithilwyn · One Comment
Posted in: Uncategorized

Because I’ve Been So Good…

Okay, well, not THAT good, but I did limit myself to just two small pieces of fabric in the garment district on Monday.  So, I’m considering pre-ordering these lovelies:

The Devonshires are a leather 18th century shoe based on museum examples from the 1760s through 1780s.  They’re made of top-grade dyable leather, with a beautiful, smooth Italian leather sole for dancing, and are hard-wearing, water- and mud-proof, for even the toughest of outdoor re-enactments.

Pre-Order the Devonshires through August 10, and get the special $100 price.  We’re only making 200 of these shoes, so don’t miss the chance to own one of only a couple hundred pair on the planet!  Visit www.american-duchess.com to order.

August 3, 2011 · ithilwyn · No Comments
Tags:  Â· Posted in: 18th Century

Overplanning

I went out and bought my new academic calendar/planner the other day and immediately started filling it with costume events and planning.  (On a side note, I’d thought I was done with actual, paper planners once I got my iPad, but I find that an electronic calendar just isn’t the same.)

Once I got all of the GBACG events written in, I headed for the August-at-a-glance page to plan my next project(s).  I have two whole weeks off coming up.  Two glorious weeks.  What I always forget is that there are a TON of things to do in those two weeks, and that I can’t spend all of that time sewing.

Doesn’t stop me from planning, though.

So, here’s a poll with my dream list.  Vote for what you’d like to see, and I’ll take popular opion into consideration once my vacation actually starts.

Summer Project Possiblities

  • 18th Century Jacket and Quilted Petticoat (50%, 1 Votes)
  • Medieval Gown (style to be determined) (50%, 1 Votes)
  • Regency Gown and Bodice Petticoat (0%, 0 Votes)
  • 18th Century Francaise (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 2

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Poll will close August 5th at 10 pm.

July 27, 2011 · ithilwyn · No Comments
Posted in: Uncategorized