Yes, I am Still Alive

I took a hiatus from blogging to concentrate on a new job and getting some thing at home in order.  Things look peachy now.  No new steampunk or victorian projects at the moment, although I seem to have an obsession with cotton faille lately.  This could lead to something soon.  Currently I am attempting to finish quilting a king size quilt and not having much luck.  My sewing mojo has been coming and going lately.  Can't wait to post some new pics soon.

Purple People Eaters are Real?

After much measuring, cutting, pinning and sewing, let me just say, "IT LIVES!"  That probably sounds like something you would hear around Halloween but, in this case, the phrase is justified.  The bodice all but stands on its own and the spiral boning in the train of the skirt makes the hemline act as if it has a life of its own.  So, without further ado....The purple people eater.

I never claimed to be the modeling type, let the dress speak for itself.  I love when Joann's puts their red tag fabrics on sale for 50% off of red tag price.  Corduroy and faux embellished taffeta are the major fabrics used for this steampunk creation.

Truly Victorian patterns were used for the skirt, petticoat and bodice.  The dinner bodice pattern from the natural form era was used for the bodice with major changes to the sleeve.  Lots of trim!  Let the trimming begin!

The fantail skirt pattern was used for the skirt.  The train is lovely but it needed lots of support to make it lay correctly.   Horsehair braid and spiral steel boning went a long way in this case.

Detail shot of train.

Bodice and button detail

I love these sleeved and I should after the work it took to make them look like this.  The sleeve was originally a two-piece coat sleeve that I modified the sleeve cap on.  A lining piece and base for the outer side of the sleeve were drafted.  Once the fashion fabric was shirred in the desired places, it was then flat lined to the base over the shirring stitches and then treated as once piece.  Some trim around the bottom of the sleeve modification and the arm give the sleeve a more finished look.

The necklace was made with dyed beads and a pendant from various sources.

Who doesn't love a small top hat?  Lynn McMasters patterns rule!  I am still thinking about doing some changes on the ribbon but for the most part, the hat went together well and without as much hassle as I thought it would be.  Let me just say that I am very thankful for thimbles...

Have pattern and sewing machine, will make things.  Just a detail shot of the ribbon on the hat.

1865 Bodice Update

So, I stared at the three bodice patterns I have in my possession and decided I don't like any of them for what I want to make.  It sucks, especially when I'm on a deadline.  Yes, I have plenty of time before the weekend of September 17 but, I want this finished well ahead of time with enough time to crank out another dress if I feel so inclined.  The upside is that I already have the fabric for the other dress and can start on that while I wait on the pattern for the blue dress to come in.

Elliptical Skirt

Aren't my titles so original lately?  I'll blame it on sleep deprivation brought on by my sewing mojo being in overdrive.

So here is the skirt that goes with the cage crinoline and petticoat from the two previous posts.  I've been a busy girl.  The skirt is made of silk taffeta and is self faced.

I'm sorry to say it may be next week before the bodice is finished.  It is the most involved piece of the ensemble with interlining and lining along with a lot of fitting before hand but, just like the crinoline, it will be well worth the effort and in the end, I will have a gown fit for 1865.

Operation Petticoat

I love muslin.  In the last two months, I have gone through 4 25yd bolts of the stuff and now I need more.  But here is what ate up my last bolt, aside from chemises and test fittings.

You can just see the outline of the crinoline peeking through the front.  The back is done in a mystery lace.  About 5 years ago, someone gave me a roll that must have had about 50 yards on it.  The lace was ruffled with the ruffle attachment and placed about 3 inches apart across the back and side back panels.  I still have plenty of ruffled lace left over.  I can't say that it is anywhere near period correct but it is what I had and it gets the job done.

Elliptical Crinoline Adventures

Here is what my table looked like while I was putting my elliptical cage crinoline together (pattern by www.trulyvictorian.com).  Normally my table is clutter free while working on a project but it looked like my sewing shelf threw up during this particular project.

It is made with a muslin bag for the bottom hoops, finished with a zig-zag stitch, which I wasn't very impressed with and do think from now on I will just fold it over like I usually do.  The actual cage was built with 1/2" hooping wire, also from Truly Victorian, pre-made bone casing (Delicious llc.), a belting kit I have had laying around for a LONG time and a whole lot of patience.  Hooping, I found, does not like to behave very well when it gets into cramped spaces.  My boyfriend had to keep coming inside from working on his truck to hold the thing up for me while I fed it under the machine.  A word of caution if working on this project alone, always let someone know where you are and what you are doing.  I got hung up a few times in the wires.  But then again, I was supposed to sew the horizontal bones on by hand :/.  I had to be smart and show it could be done by machine.

All in all, the end result was very much worth the effort.

Simple and Fun

Here's a knit wrap I made with a lama wool mix made by Cascade yarns.  The design is simple but fun.  I know, it's kinda hot to be thinking about knit wraps made out of wool right now but the colors were irresistible.  It measures 85" x 15", has a right side and a wrong side and is made from Cascade Yarn's Pastaza line which is 50% llama and 50% wool.  It is very soft and wraps just right for the stole enthusiast.

Check Out My Transitional Hoop Outfit!

Here is a post Civil War get-up over an early bustle, otherwise known as a transitional hoop.  I apologize for the poor picture quality, it was snapped quickly with a cell phone camera in a dimly lit corner of the room.  The bustle is there but it still retains a hoop at the bottom to keep the skirts fuller.  With the invention of aniline dyes during the 19th century colors such as these would have been used and were gaining popularity, much to the dismay of some fashion conservatives.
I used Truly Victorian Patterns (www.trulyvictorian.com).  The combination is the Vest Basque, Grand Parlor Skirt and Grand Bustle.  My chemise and Corset are by Laughing Moon Mercantile (www.lafnmoon.com).  I used the Silverado corset pattern.
The outfit is made of two shades of silk dupioni.  There are plans to add single fold bias trim to the tails of the bodice as seen on the collar and cuffs.  Also there will be a 4 inch knife pleat ruffle added around the hem of the skirt.  My passamenterie is going to be rather utilitarian with this dress as I feel the colors and design speak plenty on their own.  It has been in the works for the better part of two weeks and is still not completely finished but by this weekend, all should be done.

Bust Gore Corset

Bust gore version of a Victorian Corset.  Made of two layers of coutil with a top layer of silk.  I'm currently working on faux flossing.  The adventurous sewer in me hit after the fact so the flossing stitches will be visible from the inside but hey, it's my corset, only I will see it.  

Here There Be Underwear

Completed Corset (minus lacing aglets which came in the mail today)

back view of completed corset

collar detail of chemise

hem detail of chemise

gusset detail of chemise

inside sleeve detail (Houston, we have a boo-boo) showing felled seams

crotchless bloomers anyone?

hem detail of bloomers

corset muslin

victorian busk (white) vs. elizabethan busk (wooden)

Victorian underwear project well underway!  I am waiting on some hoopsteel to come in the mail and I can begin on my crinolines.  Don't forget the bustles too!  I'm making a bustle dress too.  Pictures forthcoming when I get the project underway.  Currently I am working on a bust gore version of the corset and am planning on making a sleeveless chemise.  I feel like a sleeveless one would be more comfortable for me and may be placing the one in the pictures in my etsy shop.  Any interested parties can email me ahead of time.  One thing worth noting on the corset is the spread at the top of the busk.  Ehem, the lovely model which I have nicknamed Mrs. Wallace is larger chested than I am, therefore causing the pulling apart of the fabric.  This detail has been duly noted and I will probably be installing a hook and eye to prevent this from happening anymore.

Stupid phone won't let me use the text correctly... That's supposed to be *called

A Worthy Cause

A COMMUNITY WORRIED ABOUT A STUCK KITTEN CALLE  FOR BACK-UP

More Underwear Pictures

chemise

pin tuck detail of chemise

farthingale before hoop steel was inserted

interior side detail of farthingale

exterior side detail of farthingale

interior back detail of corset, notice my seaming boo-boo on the tab?

grommet detail on corset

bum roll

chemise and bum roll with Victorian chemise on the right

underarm gusset

before corset was placed on dress form

wooden busk for Elizabethan corset on top with Victorian corset busk on bottom

side view

rear view

front of corset, I ran out of lacing and had to resort to hemp twine for the busk until I can get more lacing.

rear view of corset

My Elizabethan underwear ensemble is finished.  I chose not to make drawers (at this point) but have everything else; chemise, corset, bum roll and farthingale.  The chemise and bum roll were not difficult to make at all.  Anything you see made in white is muslin, thank Joann's fabric for their 50% off coupons.
I am not sure the pin tucking on the front and back is period but it was necessary to make the thing fit.  The underarm gusset was an interesting detail that I had not encountered in my sewing before now but I found that I like it and the room it affords for movement.
The farthingale was not particularly difficult to put together, it just requires a mixture of technical skill and jerry rigging to get the hoop steel put in and secured.  I skimped on the finishing crimps and used electrical tape, which you may be able to see showing through the fabric in the pictures.  The fabric was still damp from removing tailoring marks.
The corset was not difficult to make at all, contrary to popular belief it does require patience and a fair amount of handwork.  Black linen and green duck were used for the body of the corset.  Boning is done in zip ties and I used metal grommets, then finished them by hand to lend a more authentic look.  The busk is a piece of pine that I picked up for free out of a scrap pile from one of the local hardware shops.  This being my first run at a corset, I don't feel too bad about the effort but there is a lot of room for improvement on any future works.  It does not fit as snugly as I would like but that is on my list of things to keep in mind for the next one.  Yes, there will be a next one, a Victorian era corset to be specific, that will include metal boning and coutil and a real busk!
The bum roll is not placed correctly in the pictures, I was so excited to have it all finished I just kinda threw it on the dummy and started snapping.  Yesterday's post may have a better shot.

Elizabethan Underwear Ensemble

You're Looking At My Underwear!ELIZABETHAN UNDERWEAR!

Found My Camera

Well, technically, it's my boyfriend's camera but it still snaps pictures all the same.  Anyhew, I will be posting pictures before the end of the week.  Nothing major, a couple of chemises, a set of drawers, a bum roll and a (hopefully) complete farthingale.  My coutil just came in yesterday for my corset so I plan on beginning work on that just as soon as I complete my muslin sometime this week.  I will snap a picture of the muslin as well to go along with the underwear post.  Happy sewing!

Pictures of My Underwear are Coming Soon!

So, I go to take pics for you guys this morning and foot if my camera wasn't dead.  Back to the house to hunt down the charger.  I am very excited to show ya'll my chemises, both Elizabethan and Victorian.

Research

I thought with the end of the semester so would I be finished with research but, I find it continues, just on a more pleasing subject -- sewing.  This morning I went to the library and checked out a few books on costuming, fitting and alterations.  One book in particular I am very excited about.  Amazon has it listed in the second edition for around $90 so I was bummed about not being able to afford it at the moment but then I got lucky this morning and found the first edition on the shelf by chance.  It is called "Fitting and Pattern Alteration: A Multi-Method Approach" by Elizabeth G. Liechty, Della N. Pottberg and Judith A. Rasband.  Normally I do not keep books I get from the library for the whole time alloted but this one I think I will so there is plenty of time to go back and page through it whenever I want.  Other titles from this morning include "The Corset" by Valerie Steele, "The Theatre Student: Costuming" by Prisk and Byers, "Period Costume for Stage and Screen: Medieval - 1500" by Jean Hunnisett and "The Cut of Women's Clothes 1600 - 1930" by Nora Waugh.  Needless to say, I cannot wait to get home and begin my research.  Thank goodness for the local library!  Ya'll have a good day, I've got some reading to do.

Costuming has arrived!

O.k., I realize I have been off the grid for awhile...this last semester was H - E- double hockey sticks and I am glad it's over.  only one more semseter to go and I'm dun, yes that was D-U-N, dun.  That's poor spelling coming from an English major. 

Moving on. 

I have begun in yet another interst area, costuming.  It's a blast.  I have most of the underwear for a Renaissance and Civil War/Bustle costumes finished.  The Elizabethan corset is HOT and was so much fun to make.  It was more of a dummy or a test run if you will but it worked out well enough to use in future costumes.  I have the chemise complete and the farthingale and bum roll mostly complete.  I have to get some extra supplies this week to finish them, namely the hoop steel for the farthingale.  Some of my stitch'n bitch friends and I are ordering some Reconstructing History patterns to make our dresses out of and I believe I will be a French courtesean from the 1560-70's era.  I love the deeply pointed bodices and the partlets of the time.
The Civil War and Bustle costumes will be two seperate costumes but the underwear for both costumes will be virutually the same except for the chemise ( I made a sleeved chemise from a Simplicity pattern and love it) and hoops.  I have a Truly Victorian pattern to make a butsle and a Simplicity pattenr for my Civil War hoops.  For over 5 years now, I have been promising myself I would make myself a hoop dress and never got around to it.  Wednesday night at stitch'n bitch, I decided to stop putting it off so I began the underwear construction so I would have the base to build the dress on.  No more excuses, this is going to be a dream realized and, it appears, a new obsession.
A word of caution on the Simpicity costuming patterns, they run large so hold the pattern up to yourself before cutting anything to see if the dimensions are anywhere near correct.  This was what I did for my Victorian chemise the other day and it turned out perfectly with some arm alterations (I have monster arms and always have to add at least 1", sometimes more for a comfortable fit in the bicep area).  I am debating making the sleeveless chemise from the Laughing Moon pattern I have on the way.  I purchased the LM DVD on how to build a corset and have found it to be very helpful and it is the Dore/Silverado corset pattern I am waiting on at the moment.
At first, I was very intimidated by the idea of building a corset but I found once I did, it was not as bad as I expected and I would like to make more (I'm thinking on for every day of the week).  Which leads me to my next paragraph.
If you live in the area and would like a costume, I'm available.  I am totally in love with the old fashions and while I have a ways to go before being a fashion history buff, I can make it work for hobby costuming needs.
Now that I am making these costumes, all I need is somewhere to wear them! 
I have no pictures yet but will get some up as soon as possible.

Where'd My Mojo Go?

O.k. I have tried twice now to sit down and sew the dress for my daughter but I'm lacking mojo.  I got the pattern cut and the fabric prepped but I can't get any further than that :/  Usually I can kick myself out of a slump but I can't seem to do that this time.  Maybe it's stress, or the after effects of stress?  Maybe it's menopause from my surgery?  Whatever it is, it stole my mojo and I want it back (sniffs, reaches for a tissue). 

Vote for My Coat on Sewer's Choice

Here's the link.  Make sure to click on the "sewer's choice" link at the bottom of the screen.