50s Dress

So I'm not quite sure where the cord to connect the camera to the computer is... But I've been working on that 50s dress for my new buddy T, and it's going fabulously. I popped together a mockup Monday and had a quick fitting on Tuesday. Modified the pattern and sketched out the lining and had a second fitting today. Luckily, T isn't enough of a costumer to see where I screwed up the lining part for today. :-P It also was only 4.5 yards of fabric and it was TIGHT getting all of the pieces out, so the next lining layer is going to be a bit fuller. I also received in addition to the fabric T bought, the ripped out skirt and tulle from a wedding dress. As that's fairly stiff I will be using that inside the dress for T as well. It'll have to be lining as the wedding dress is white and T's dress is black... but that's not a problem! I actually feel pretty comfortable with where this dress is and how it's shaping up. I just have to NOT screw up the skirt pieces for this next piece!

Costuming Round Up

So, the project is over, the con is done. I made two corsets, a vest and skirt combo, and four bustle skirts based upon this incredibly easy pattern.

The one thing that I would say about the instructions is this: don't worry about it. The designer is apparently overly fussy. That, and I didn't bother to pin the bustle flat -- I pinned it on a form, as any sensible person should do (rather than pin it flat, put it on a form/person, and futz with it for a while).

K -- could we have you and/or mom put on the bustle and just take a snap shot of the back and side views? That'll be quick and easy. Thanks!

Costuming

So I've been "commissioned" (a.k.a. volunteered) to make an outfit for my mother. As some of you know, my mom, sis and I are going to the Steampunk World's Fair! in PA at the end of this month. When discussing costuming for it, my mother kinda went "oh... well... y'know... I'll just wear anything... put me in whatever you want!" To which my sis and I went "oh dear".

So I'm making her a lovely two piece skirt and vest combo with a corset as well.

The preliminary sketch of what it'll look like (ignore the feet in the drawing):



In the midst of creating the pattern:







This was the first project that I used my chalk holder for, and I have to say that I'm pleased with it. Cutting out along a line is infinitely easier than cutting around the pattern. The fabric shifts, and the pattern shifts, and the act of cutting creates valleys and mountains in the fabric... just draw a line.



A shot of the mock-up of the vest. It fit my mother beautifully, with two changes needed: make the arm scythes a little bigger, and have it cover less of the chest, so as to show off the corset.



A shot of the mock-up of the corset. It needs an inch taken in at the top center (half an inch from each side) and larger seam allowances (as it currently has the edges extend beyond each other). It fit my mother much better than it does the dressmaker's form.

You'll have to take my word on it that the skirt is thrown together as well, as any shots of it involve it draped on a chair or something.

I have now put a call out to a friend to have sewing nights at her house, as my machine is unreliable and I KNOW it would love to eat my beautiful cashmere woolen.

After all this is done, I get to throw something together for myself! Yay! :-P

Also, for those who enjoy sewing, tailoring, or historical costuming, Vintage Sewing is a FABULOUS resource. They upload vintage sewing books, and the amount of detail that is gone into... I mostly worked with a book from the 40s for this project, called Modern Pattern Design by Harriet Pepin.