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.

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.  

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.