I love when mockups work!  I just mocked up my court gown bodice,  basing it off the underbodice from my robe a la turque from last year. All I changed in making the pattern was to take in the lower back about an inch,  and elongate the front point about 3". And then in the mockup,  all I had to do was take about 3/4" out of the armseye in the back ( Read more... )

I made a mid-Victorian mantle today. Other than the tassel for the hood, 11" of fur trim provided by theladysarah, and a new spool of thread, it was an entirely stash-sourced project. It is made of ivory wool, and lined with black silk habotai (both left over from last year's riding habit), which I quilted with some random batting I found in my stash. The ( Read more... )

After one bent hand needle, one broken hand needle, and holes in two fingers and one fingernail, my bonnet is done! I still have to figure out where I want to place flowers/feathers, but all the buckram/fabric/rest of trimming is complete. And once again I'm reminded why I don't like to make hats from scratch.

On the other hand, I love trimming ( Read more... )

I know it's silly, but I love having a deadline. Since my last post, I have taken in the neckline on the chemise, and made the drawers from the same simplicity pattern (I learned though, and made them one size smaller). I also took in the frock coat that arrived for my boyfriend, and sewed on the stripes on his pants (thank goodness my Quattro can ( Read more... )

All the trim is on the sleeves, and I started the binding on the neckline. I really want to finish all the binding tomorrow, and figure out how to bustle up the overskirt. Then on Wed, I can try everything on, mark for hooks and eyes and sew them, figure out the shirt collar thing, and sew the patch on (since it's due to arrive Wed). I can do this!

( Read more... )

I've been sewing a ton over the last two days, which means at this point, thus is all I have left to do:
-figure out how to get a fake collared shirt look at the neck of my bodice
-bind the bodice edges
-hook and eye on skirt and overskirt waistbands
-figure out how exactly to bustle up overskirt
-make the waterfall pleat section. The fabrics have been ( Read more... )

I sewed all day today, and got a fair amount done. The bodice now has sleeves (I had no sleevils!), and the overskirt is done except for the waistband and figuring out how I'm bustling it. But it's all trimmed up and everything, too, with the pleated wool, rabbit fur, and metallic braid. And the underskirt is about 2/3 together. Tomorrow, I want to ( Read more... )

Despite work and trivia night tonight, I did get a little work done on my Ravenclaw bustle. I sewed on all my buttons to the bodice, and I cut out the fashion fabric pieces for the skirt (there's going to be additional pieces where the fashion fabric attaches up to the waistband, since the fabric wasn't wide enough). I'd love to get sleeves done ( Read more... )

Yesterday, I drafted out the mockup for my Ravenclaw bustle bodice, based on my old Jane bodice. After struggling with how to take a pattern from a bodice with darts, I wound up winging it and just hoping it would work. And it almost did! So this evening, I cut out all the interlining and outer pieces for the bodice, and flatlined them. Of course, ( Read more... )

The bustle petticoat is almost done! All it needs is a waistband and a hem. The rolled hem on the bottom two ruffles came out so nicely that I'm tempted to do it on the rest of the hem, too. (If I have another chance to do it at work, that is, since the Babylock Imagine does a way better rolled hem than my Brother serger.)

I love the look of the ( Read more... )