blackcat452

'Does anyone know if and when  under the redcoat will take place this year? CW's website dosen't  seem to have any info.

I want one


http://blog.fidmmuseum.org/museum/2010/01/polonaise-bodice.html#more

So I've been kinda dragging my feet with my new gown, but I finally motivated myself to work on it.  I draped the back, but it dosen't look right for some reason.  On all the pictures I've seen, the two pleats seem to flow into one as it goes down the back, but mind are staying in two very distinct columns.
 
Is that normal, will it go away with pressing?  Do I need less fabric in the pleats, or is it something else.  So far its just pinned down.

Has anyone used simplicity 3637, the sack-back gown? Would you recommend it, and does it really take 20 yards?

Happy New Year! Hope 2010 is going well for everyone. It feels like ages since I picked up a needle. Part of that has to do with being too busy, and the other part is lack of motivation. Well, between Young Victoria, Cranford on Masterpiece Theater, and Poe talk, I'm really hankering for an 1840's dress. Today at Jomar I managed to find these Both are some sort of cotton blend I found in the $1 section. They're not nearly as shiny as they look in the photo. The one was a deep blue in the store, but looks greenish at home. Guess lighting makes all the difference. I'm thinking of something along the lines of these, but I can't seem to get better shots of the dresses. http://www.costumersguide.com/victoria/bluegold1.jpg http://www.costumersguide.com/victoria/plaid1.jpg

I need something small to get me out of my funk, I was thinking a hat like the one in the picture.




I want thinking Truly Victorian 550. Has anyone used it before. Good? Bad? Any ideas for a better pattern?
http://trulyvictorian.com/catalog/550.html

Spent all afternoon on this

Its an old straw hat that I've had since grade school in my closet, a Joann remnant and some silk flowers.  I used the directions from this video from the Oregon Regency Society. It was surprisingly easy.

And lazy me, I finally got my pics up from the Poe funeral. You can see them here.

I had such a wonderful time this weekend at Belvidere Victorian Days.  I haven't had a chance to get the few pictures I took up, but I did find a certain natural form cartoon that was discussed.  Just thought I would post it here.

" See I've dropped my handkerchief, Captain De
Vere!"
" I know you have, Miss Constance. I'm very sorry, I can't stoop either!"

It is now in wearable condition.  I might add some things to it later, but for now, I'm done.  I spent all yesterday finishing the ruffle on the bottom. I was unsure if I wanted it, but now that its on, I love it. Its so much fun to walk in :) 

( Pics below... )

The hat needs more work, so I'll post pictures soon.

I have not had much motivation to sew in the last few weeks, just too busy with looking for a house and now maybe going back to school.  But the polonaiseis mostly done, just need ruffles now.  I decided to change some things from the origional, I'm doing buttons down the front and organza rather then lace.  Last night I laid out the button holes and sewed them.  I thought I did 12, but after sewing them on, I only used 11. Oh well, now I have an extra.

I was debating about the white ruffle at the bottom of the skirt, and finaly I decided to do it, so that will be in the next few days.

Well, I finally started on my Victorian project.  TV201and 410,  came in, and so far the skirt was surprisingly easy to make. Only the petticoat is done, my machine was acting up.  Next week some time I should be able to start the blue skirt.  That should be even easier now that the pattern is fitted to me and there won't be a ruffle.  Here's some pics,

 

After getting away for a while, I'm ready to go back to work.  I think my next project will be this dress from Daniel Deronda



I have some blue linen  in the stash that I'm going to use for the skirt.  I wanted some orange/coral linen for the top, ideally with out having to dye it myself.   So I went up to Jomars to see what they had. No linen, but right next to the linen section was this lovely silk in the perfect color. It was like fate, and only 5 bucks a yard.  I bought it, thinking that it had to be at least part some poly or something. But the burn test showed nothing synthetic!! 


The Truly Victorian patterns should be here in the next few days so I can get started.

I am way behind on this, but I haven't realy had much of a chance to go through everything since Costume Con.  Now that things are setteling down, I can get my pics organized and get ready for my next projects.  Here are my pics, hope you all enjoy them
 Costume Con

2 to go.  Yesterday I finished my jacket for Fort Fred, which feels great because everything seems to still be in progress. Tonight I'm going the sleeves on the linen gown and hopefuly the silk one too. If not, I'll do that tomorrow, along with the petticoat to go with my floral gown.  I hope I get everything done soon, I don't want to be up the night before costume con.  At least the trim is minimal for them both. 

So I was planning on sewing the bodice to my chocolate round gown tonight, but I wasn't feeling too hot and didn't feel like fitting it just yet, so I hemmed my quilted petticoat and the floral polonaise.  I was going to work on the sheer petticoat for the polonaise, but I couldn't decide how to cut it.  The fabric came with this beautiful finish on the sides of the voile.  I want to preserve it, I want a full, fluffy skirt, and I want a ruffle.  However, I don't know if I have enough fabric.  So I spent almost an hour trying to figure out how I can make it work.  I think I found a solution, though it is a little complicated.  But such is life.  I don't have time to work on it tonight, but tomorrow, that is my goal. 

SIde note: I LOVE silk thread. It glides through everything, I think I'm hand sewing twice as fast  :)

Has anyone bought anything from B. R. Exports, or puresilks.biz before? Is it normal to take a while to send the stuff out? My order has been pending for a few days now, I'm kinda worried.

I was so happy because I finally had a chance to sit down and get work done on my polonaise.  I had just finished sewing down the en fourreau pleats on the back when I realized that I lined it up wrong.  So now I have to rip it out and redo it.  At least I have all Sunday to work on it, and there's no rush, I promised myself that I wouldn't buy the fabric for the petticoat till my next paycheck next week. 
BTW, I am now registered for CC27!

Well, I've been working on my blue gown all day, and I just can't get it to look right.  I really underestimated how hard satin is to work with.  So I have a few choices. I can
A- keep trying till I get it.
B- settle for the weird look I'm getting
C- get different fabric.

I'm not too far into the project, and I just got my refund check, so C is looking pretty appealing. I found some lovely taffeta that I think will work better then this stuff which unravels when you breath near it.  Looking at other peoples work,I think taffeta is the way to go.  I just don't want to waste all that duchess satin, but I'll just stick it in the stash and find a use for it later.

Wow, I am tired after this weekend.  First, there was the long drive down to Washington to see the Dumbarton House. It was so worth the trip, I had an amazing time and got to meet some really nice people.  The tour was wonderful, and the clothing was amazing. I think I want a regency gown, but that will have to wait its turn at the end of the line.  I've added a few things on my to do list now.  It was so nice to go out in costume and be around other people in costume that are just as into it, and know more then I do.  I realize that I still have a lot of learning to do, (and I need to work on my period hair)  I know I want to go to costume con now.  I just have to find someone to room with.
Here is the one picture that I took.  I was really slacking in the camera department.




I was going to get some work done tonight, but after all the chaos caused by the upcoming storm, I think I'll just relax and start tomorrow. 

I finaly got some pictures up of my new jacket.  Sorry for the bad photos, the bathroom is the only room in the house with decent lighting.