In other progress... I finally dug into my sewing project for the Stormwatch Coat. I pulled out
Kass' RH Kontusz pattern that will be used for the CostumeCon Fashion Pattern competition, and started in on tracing my size out, and getting it refitted for me, shortening in a few areas, especially the sleeves. I did that for a couple of hours last night, and a little on it this afternoon.
I am glad I measured out the pattern physically before I cut into it... as I based it on my measurements and the measurement chart on the back of the pattern. Kass, I presume it is meant to give a fitted to the body style? As the numbers came out nearly dead on for the pattern, and I am used to having a few inches extra room for ease in modern patterns, which I take is not in this pattern. So, I am trying to figure out how much extra ease I want to put into the pattern for my own needs, as I am going to use the mockup as a fall coat, too. It doesn't help me that I have no idea how much room I will automatically get in the fall from my weight loss, so maybe I won't worry about extra ease. Or maybe I will just put in a little extra at the waist, which is where I am worried about the fit.
[ETA: Ok, so I marked the wrong size line at the upper chest & shoulders, which is why those numbers came out very close to the size numbers, but only by one line. Which was a good thing anyway, since my upper chest area is what I normally size my upper chest area from, and I forgot to do that, so I only had to go down one more line at the shoulders and upper chest, then went out to the larger bust and waist sizes to fit a bit looser.]
I have some decent pinwale cotton/poly corduroy that was in my stash from ages past that will be the mockup/future coat, but I only have 4.5 yds; so I may have to piece it together a bit. I think I want to make the collar from black velveteen or velvet that I may still have scraps of, and the lining will be a turquoise blue cotton I also have in my stash, which I was originally going to get rid of (lots of yard of that, or I may go pink... hmmm).
Anyway, I haven't gotten very far today, since little 'Elle won't take a nap anymore (she did fall asleep playing with her playdoh in her high chair, but woke up when I tried to get her into bed). But my creative side is now awake with this... my mind has been playing out different applique ideas, different ways of doing the trees, and more; so I will get more done on the pattern tonight after the kids are to bed. Oh, and my fire quilt fabric came in... boy is it BRIGHT! Very bright, which should look interesting with the other fabrics. Oh, which reminds me I need to dye the base fabric in the blue dye I bought, and soon.
I stalled for a good long time on this... mainly because it really will be totally different way of doing costumes than the historical ones I am used to doing; and my mind just shut down and didn't want to even try. But I tricked it... I told myself it is just a pattern, and I've done lots of patterns before, this is no different really... just a pattern, just a sewing project, I've done appliques before, I've taken the class on creative decorating techniques from the woman who has done CostumeCon and it was fun... really, it isn't *that* different, etc. I know I've gotten past the first hurdles, it's time to just do. Now if only the kids would nap again (hah!) I would have a little time to do something. {sigh}
I should just go do some laundry folding, and maybe get the dye job going with the silk. First step there, to clean it with some Synthrapol.