Red Robe Update
Yesterday I was hit with the sudden urge to sew something, so I got cracking on the red robe. So far it's been going like a breeze. I did a mock-up on the serger (machine still broken) and it only needed a bit of tweaking to fit. I then cut it out in the fabric and lining. Since my Mum's machine hates me, I decided to g for it and hand-sew this entire sucker. It's actually not bad since the skirt is simply one width of fabric and only needed to be hemmed. The bodice is so tiny that's it's really just a few short seams and finishing.
Anyway, here's some proof.
I'm not showing you the front since it looks awful pinned to my dressform and I want to save myself the embarrassment. I don't have my corset to make it fit properly over the bust and Frauline has much larger shoulders than I so it doesn't really sit well. But the back looks nice, and that's the most important part. :-D
I used the lining pieces from the open robe in Patterns of Fashion, but cut the back piece on the fold since I love the look of the diamond-shaped backs. It especially looks nice with the stripe in the fabric.
I re-did the pleats in the back three times before I was happy with them, first as knife pleats, then box pleats, and now as double box pleats, which I think looks smashing.
A few construction photos.
The bodice is lined in white linen. I made the bodice in the outer-fabric first and sewed it to the skirt, then I made the lining. I then mounted the lining in the bodice and whip-stitched the edges together. I'm not sure this is a totally period technique but it was what I cobbled together from looking at Costume in Detail and koshka_the_cat's website. It works, anyway, and was very relaxing to do in front of Big Fat Quiz of the Year on my lappy.
A close-up of the hand stitching.
In other news, I had a planning session with MR and the twins about our trip to Europe this Spring. *yay* We're flying into Paris on the 26th of April and staying in a flat that belongs to my Grandmother's friend. (Free accommodation, woo!) We're then taking the Chunnel to Dover and spending just over a week in England, staying to Brighton (pubbing, w00t), Salisbury, Bath (Costume Museum, OMG!), and London. Then we're flying back. Should be wicked.
The only thing I'm upset about it that I can only take one back-pack, which means there won;t be much dressing up and hanging around historical buildings. Although I was thinking that since we're staying in a flat for the first five days and not hopping from hostel to hostel I might be able to get away with bringing a regency dress or two for Paris and then mail it back home before we leave for England. Although I don't know if I trust the postal system with my costumes. I've had bad experiences in the past. Grr.
I may just have to leave costume-traveling for when I'm slightly richer.
Anyway, here's some proof.
I'm not showing you the front since it looks awful pinned to my dressform and I want to save myself the embarrassment. I don't have my corset to make it fit properly over the bust and Frauline has much larger shoulders than I so it doesn't really sit well. But the back looks nice, and that's the most important part. :-D
I used the lining pieces from the open robe in Patterns of Fashion, but cut the back piece on the fold since I love the look of the diamond-shaped backs. It especially looks nice with the stripe in the fabric.
I re-did the pleats in the back three times before I was happy with them, first as knife pleats, then box pleats, and now as double box pleats, which I think looks smashing.
A few construction photos.
The bodice is lined in white linen. I made the bodice in the outer-fabric first and sewed it to the skirt, then I made the lining. I then mounted the lining in the bodice and whip-stitched the edges together. I'm not sure this is a totally period technique but it was what I cobbled together from looking at Costume in Detail and koshka_the_cat's website. It works, anyway, and was very relaxing to do in front of Big Fat Quiz of the Year on my lappy.
A close-up of the hand stitching.
In other news, I had a planning session with MR and the twins about our trip to Europe this Spring. *yay* We're flying into Paris on the 26th of April and staying in a flat that belongs to my Grandmother's friend. (Free accommodation, woo!) We're then taking the Chunnel to Dover and spending just over a week in England, staying to Brighton (pubbing, w00t), Salisbury, Bath (Costume Museum, OMG!), and London. Then we're flying back. Should be wicked.
The only thing I'm upset about it that I can only take one back-pack, which means there won;t be much dressing up and hanging around historical buildings. Although I was thinking that since we're staying in a flat for the first five days and not hopping from hostel to hostel I might be able to get away with bringing a regency dress or two for Paris and then mail it back home before we leave for England. Although I don't know if I trust the postal system with my costumes. I've had bad experiences in the past. Grr.
I may just have to leave costume-traveling for when I'm slightly richer.