Diary of a Costumer

2011 was a pretty productive year for me, especially in the first few months.

January: Pre-Raphaelite-inspired linen dress and bodice (which I still haven't worn for anything)
             Chemise a la Reine, with short-sleeve shift, and matching sash and petticoat
           
February: Fully boned stays, which had been a ufo before this because I had never finished the binding
               My 1660s Restoration gown, with accompanying 17th c chemise
               Two pairs of crocheted mitts
               18th c floral striped petticoat
               Refurbished 17th c shoes

March: The beginnings of a hand-quilted petticoat, which I never really worked on again after that month. Maybe someday.
           Petal-shaped bum pad
           16th c escoffion
           Chemise-dress (faire-wear) commision
           I think I also made my short-sleeve chemise blouse in March, but since I never blogged about it, I can't remember.

Nothing in April, since I was busy moving across the country.

May: Floral robe a l'anglaise, with matching floral petticoat, and belt

June: Burgundy 18th c petticoat for the robe a l'anglaise,
        18th c hat (from scratch!)
        18th c cap, fichu, and pockets
      
July: Finally finished the 1950s Jean Desses cocktail dress, with matching shrug
        1940s romper suit w/ skirt
        Jacques Doucet-inspired early Edwardian chiffon and lace gown

August: Late Victorian walking skirt for my mom, w/ shirtwaist blouse
            Huge Edwardian hat
            Laughing Moon corset, started in the class at CosCol
            Short bustle, for Jane costume

September: Petticoat and skirt for Jane
                  Commissioned fish doublet and collar, with matching pants
                  Spats for Jane

October: Jane bodice, with detachable collar and tie
              Dyed the umbrella for Jane, and stitched eyelet lace to the edges
              Refurbished Regency-style shoes
              One black velvet muff and one white furry muff

November: 1860s black lace and ribbon cap

December: Pagoda-sleeved bodice for my mom for Dickens, with matching ruffle and trim added to her skirt from last year


Overall, not too shabby. Tomorrow, I'll post my list of everything I want to make for 2012. Happy New Year!

I did all the eyelets in the bodice today. I've never made an unboned bodice before (or, for that matter, a bodice that only laces up the back - that was a little tricky!), and I don't know how to get rid of the wrinkles in the back. Is this normal/does it look okay that way, or should I attempt to add some boning to get rid of that?







Also, I'm leaning towards doing the Chemise a la Reine next. I like the fitted back, like the one demode did (PS - anyone know what happened to her site?), but I also like the gathered back, like in this painting. I know I want the fitted sleeve and the ruffled lace at the neck. Any suggestions?

The blue chemise looks completely done. I need to tack down the bottom of the trim underneath the bust, and hem the sleeves and bottom (all I'm doing is turning up the serging and machine stitching it). I haven't made any progress on the bodice, but I did buy the gold cording for the sleeves on the over-chemise. I'm trying to decide if I need to stitch it to the fabric in some places, or if just wrapping it around when I wear it will work. Anyone have any experience with something like that?

Anyway, here's the pics!

I have my computer back, so uploading pictures will be a little easier. So here are a few to begin with.


Showing the sleeve of the blue chemise. I still need to do the other sleeve, and hem this one, but I like how it came out. I used the same blue cord for the button loops that I used to lace up the backs of both chemises. I love how the trim looks! There will also be trim underneath the bust, but I'm waiting to do that until I have the other sleeve done.


Both chemises worn together. When I can next get to Joanns, I will be picking up some gold braid to wrap around the upper sleeve.


All three layers. The bodice still needs eyelets (hence why it looks so wonky, since I'm holding it closed) and I still need to turn over the edges at the armseyes.


A detail shot of the chemise sleeve. The red buttons were inspired by the red under-chemise in John William Waterhouse's painting of Ophelia

This is my mockup of the sleeve. I think I like it, but I'm not positive yet. Any opinions?

I put together all the pieces for the purple bodice of the Pre-Raphaelite outfit. It's done out of the same linen as the chemise, except dyed lavendar, and it has a cotton canvas lining. Now all it needs is to be pressed, to have the little caps over the shoulders put on, the trim (the same as for the chemise), and I need to bind the bottom and at the arms. I'll try to get some pictures of it tomorrow afternoon - the color doesn't show with the lighting in my room.

My new dress form arrived today! She's wonderful - and I've decided to name her Antoinette.

Here she is:


And here is a picture of Antoinette wearing my progress so far on my Pre-Raphaelite chemise (which will from here on out be referred to as my blue chemise).


Right now, I'm in the process of sewing on the lacing rings in the back, and the sleeves are cut out and ready to go together. Though I will probably have to move on to the bodice or overlayer of it, since the trim I'm waiting on hasn't shipped yet.

I have decided to create a dress diary blog - both so I can remember what all I do with each of my projects, and to share and connect with other costumers. Hopefully, I will remember to actually post as I go. And hopefully, I will figure out how to use a livejournal in the first place. Wish me luck!

To begin with, I'd like to share my current state of Project ADD. I've never had it this bad before. I started my pre-Raphaelite outfit for Costume College last night - I cut out all the chemise pieces except the sleeves, and I put it together, and did the gathering I needed for the empire waist, and a sleeve mockup. But now I have to wait on trim and buttons from Pillaged Village to get here so I can do more.

And the whole while I've been thinking about that, I've been looking up info on the Chemise a la Reine, and I ordered 8 yds of cotton lawn on fabrics.com so I can start on it, and I'm trying to figure out how to make it from a pdf pattern posted online of Norah Waugh's book.

But I still haven't done all the hand-binding on my stays yet, either, which is lurking in the back of my mind.

And I'm doing all the research on my 17th century gown, which I've had the fabrics for for a couple years now, and now finally have the page on that shape from the Period Patterns for Stage and Screen book. But I also can't decide if I want to do that project next, or the Chemise a la Reine (which is probably going to be significantly easier)

And I keep thinking about a Polonaise, even though that won't be happening until all the other projects are done.

I feel like I'm going crazy! I just want everything I've ordered from online (dress form, fitting system, cotton lawn, 18th century shoes, buttons, and trim) to get here so I can work on everything.

Anyone else experience sewing project ADD? I'm blaming my first visit to Costume College (which, I know, isn't for almost 7 months) for mine...