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Weather
It snowed this morning! Ack! And not like just a few flakes that melted. The ground is well-dusted and it's cold enough that it'll be sticking around for a little while. Apparently it is expected that we will get some more snow too. I suppose I should be glad that it's just snow in April, rather than snow in May, which happens sometimes. I hope my ( Read more... ) -
Little by little
I sewed on the silk piece in the middle today. I still need to add a frill of the silk under the net strips to finish off the neckline trim, but here are some pictures of the bodice so far. Plus, the dime buttons!
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Moving right along
My ballgown bodice is actually progressing, slowly but surely, with few hitches (so far *fingers crossed*). After dealing with the mock-up and it's misfortunes, I was able to get the silk taffeta layer and muslin lining cut out Saturday night. Sunday morning I sewed the pieces together and, heading off to a living history sewing day gathering, ( Read more... ) -
Bodice pattern, finally
Yesterday I had some serious issues with my ballgown bodice mock-up. It was somehow much worse than the previous mock-up. Ugh. So I was apprehensive today. But I think I finally got a good ballgown pattern! Trying to figure out the off-the-shoulder bodice/neckline was the tough part. Here are some things that worked for me to get a good fit:- really ( Read more... )
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Not getting as much done as I'd like
I managed to get a mock-up done today of my ballgown bodice. I had to make a number of small adjustments, but didn't have time today to get to mock-up #2, which will also have a sleeve draft. I think it's looking good. Fitting the off-the-shoulder bodice is a bit tricky, though. I had the strap hitting right at the shoulder point, but after looking ( Read more... ) -
Slowly getting stuff done
Finally got my silk skirt finished (minus optional flounce), ie. it is totally wearable. It has a broadcloth hem facing that nicely weighs down the hem. And I added rings to the inside to bustle up the train and I tried it on and it actually works. So good stuff there. I wanted to get to patterning the bodice today, but I don't think I have time. I ( Read more... ) -
I sewed some
I've managed to get my skirt to where it should have been before my snafus. It still needs a hem. And preferably a flounce, but I'm waiting on the flounce until I finish the other parts of the gown to make sure I have enough fabric. For the hem, I'm doing a hem facing and I need to put weights in the train because it doesn't seem to want to lie ( Read more... ) -
Pocket Question
I need pockets. I was looking at all the pockets in Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion Vol. 2 for the dresses 1866-1877 and they are pretty much all the same, a pocket that sort of looks like an 18th century pocket but it sewn into the seam of a skirt. Except, that Arnold gives NO explanation about how the slash is sewn to the seam. Anybody here ( Read more... ) -
Bustlin'
I finished my lobster tail bustle, finally! And it gives a very good early 1870s shape, so I'm happy. I got worried for a moment when I was comparing the silhouette to 1875 silhouettes and it was way too round, but I realized that my large bustle pad (which I've been using for early 1880s) actually gives the right shape for 1875, if I make sure ( Read more... ) -
I think I'm in love
With the John Bright Costume Collection! Seriously, check it out. You can search by era, garment type, and categories. The pictures are beautifully zoom-able. And it's a bunch of stuff that I haven't seen before. It's gorgeous and glorious! Why are you still reading this? Go! Explore! Enjoy!