Overall, a very productive year for historical sewing because of Costume College, at least for the first half of the year. Sadly, no modern makes and not much done lately.
1880s Undergarments: Chemise, Corset, Bust Pad, Ruffled Bustle Pad, and Petticoat

( Read more... )

I put the skirt on the dressform so I can mark the hem and took pictures. And now I'm posting instead of marking the hem. :p This is my improved dress improver/ruffled bustle, the ruffled panel that gave me fits buttoned to my narrow 1910 petticoat, and the scaly Gala skirt.

( Read more... )

I got the flounce re-gathered and re-attached and ironed... But I couldn't help but notice that the flounce was too short. Wtf? Then I thought back to when I was marking the spacing as to where the flounces should go and realized that I mis-measured. So the flounce is off again. And sitting there. While I come here to whine and complain. Stupid ( Read more... )

I was sewing my ruffly petticoat panel and was nearly done, just finished removing the gathering threads having sewn the 3 flounces to the panel, when I discovered that I had sewn the last one with the wrong side facing outward. So then I had to rip that flounce off, which would have been annoying but not terrible if I hadn't also managed to put a ( Read more... )

I finished up my small bust pad, complete with buttonholes and sewing on buttons to my ruffled bustle. Not going to be able to paint today, though, because while making supper I managed to burn my thumb with hot oil and having ice off of it for any period of time longer than like 30 seconds makes it hurt, a lot. Ouch ( Read more... )

I started painting the scales on my skirt. It's a somewhat gruelling process and it also takes way more paint than I was expecting, though I'll definitely have enough for the skirt. I got the front and back panels done on Saturday. I was painting on the floor and my back is not pleased with me. But it looks interesting and shiny, and you can ( Read more... )

Looking at the profile picture of myself in my polonaise, I decided that my skirts just don't have enough back poof for the era. I don't really have the time, or the inclination, to make another petticoat right now. However, I've come up with a couple of stop-gap ideas that are quick and easy: a small, flat-ish bustle pad that I can button under my ( Read more... )

So I took a bunch of pictures of it all as it stands so far. Mostly my 1880s undergarments, but also an unhemmed skirt. The petticoat I'm wearing under my ruffled bustle pad is my Edwardian one. It's narrow (like Natural Form) but gives a little more volume than just one petticoat. I really like the ruffled bustle pad. Add a bit of extra junk in ( Read more... )

I sewed a hook onto my petticoat a while ago. Just finished sewing the eyelet. So that is now officially done!

The skirt is coming along too. It's all together and I just did the button and buttonhole. I'm taking a page out of jenthompson's book an putting elastic at the back to hold the front of the skirt back. When I tried everything on the other day it ( Read more... )

My petticoat is finished, minus hook and eye which is waiting until the corset gets done. The corset is the last puzzle piece in my 1880s underwear. Well, except that now I need to make a small bustle (maybe ruffles or a small crescent-shaped pad); you'll see why in the comparison pictures.
Standard front and back pics:

( Read more... )