Current DragonCon To Do List - End of July

With about a month to go, my current DragonCon to do list:

Musts:

1. Confederate Vivandiere uniforms. -- My skirt is done. My jacket is almost there: just needs 'buttons' and more braid. Miss Von Stoup's skirts are almost done, and her jacket has been fitted. Next up is hemming it and doing the cuffs. I also need to sew in the currently basted sleeves. She's going to be handling the sewing of the snaps and braid.

2. My mystery costume. -- Everything is done except for the accessories: decorating the hat, getting some ribbons for my mitts and maybe making spats or straps for the boots. I still need to try Miss Von Stoup's petticoat idea...

3. Post apocalyptic costume for Miss Von Stoup. -- I have the jacket pattern, so I'll start on that when I get the time. And then the skirts once the hoops are done.

4. Ottoman vest and bustle improvements. -- I'm still slowly but surely making progress on the vest embroidery. As for the bustle, I'm going to work on it once I have my dressmaker's dummy here with me (I found room for it). It's probably going to get stitched into place.

Hopefullys:

5. Pants for the Persian costume. -- I bought the fabric and I have the tutorial, just need to sit down and do it. Should only take an evening.

6. Time Traveler hat band. -- I have the base materials, just need the watches from my mom to add to it.

7. Sleep shorts. -- I cut out a pair of shortened pajama pants this week out of the pin up girls fabric and started putting them together. All that's left is the hemming, which means deciding how long I want them. Originally I was thinking pretty short but (1) the pajama pant pattern I used doesn't really allow for that and (2) neither does the size of the pattern on the fabric. Right now they are a little below knee length, I'm thinking of taking them to just above the knee.

8. Pretty sure I'm going to be making at least one new bodice for a current costume. They have
two balls scheduled that I want to attend: The Grand Pirate and Time Traveler Ball and the Masked Ball. I'm thinking Time Traveler for the former (duh) and Diamonds are Forever for the latter. Miss Dashwood thinks the latter is okay with its current bodice so I may just add fancy accessories. And I realized that I have an unused ruffle from my Time Traveler skirt that could easily be shortened and used to trim a bodice...Current plan is the same bodice pattern I originally used but out of pink satin and trimmed with an off the shoulder ruffle of purple satin, white lace and green ribbon. I may even have some more green ribbon I can use as well.

As you may have noticed, a few things have been removed from the list: (1) Steampunk Rosetta to be worn with my Steampunk Tinkerbell - we decided to cross these off our DragonCon list because of time (and suitcase) restraints. (2) Pouch for my beau's kilt - the current plan is for one of his friends to help him with it. (3) Scarlet Spider is DONE. (4) Time Machine purse - I decided this was unlikely to be completed and so removed it from my list.

UPDATE 8/1/2011 -- Since we're having a hard time finding a leather jacket this time of year, Cover Girl is getting nixed for the time being. Both the beau and I would rather do it right than do it quick.

July 25th DragonCon To Do List Progress (updated 7/29)

1. Confederate jacket - Cuff have been attached: machine stitched the underneath to the sleeve then folded and handstitched the top over the trimmed raw edges. I started sewing on the snaps. The buttons will wait til more trim has been added which will wait until Miss Von Stoup purchases more.

2. Scarlet Spider. -- DONE!! Suit was taken in, trimmed and the zipper stitched in place. Mask was restitched completely and the eye pieces sewn on by hand (which for future reference was definitely not fun). So happy to be done with it!

3. Finished the Mystery jacket!! Now I just need to work on the accessories...

4. Ottoman vest embroidery. -- I finished all the spirals on the top / front section and started the pink outlines. Next up is more couching of the metallic threads in lines to finish filling in the space. I had a stroke of brilliance last night: I'm going to undo the outline around the bottom and forgo the bottom border for now. I'm pretty sure I can finish the top / front border and I will have to be happy with that. I've been forcing myself to work on it pretty much every day so I feel like I just might finish it...

5. Didn't touch the Persian pants but I did cut out a pair of sleep shorts! The orange / purple fabric didn't have enough to do them, but I had yards of the Halloween pin up girl fabric so I went to town. I laid out my pattern pieces to get at least one full pin up per piece. (Its a large pattern so this was not easy).

As for Miss Von Stoup: Her Confederate skirts are coming along nicely. We fitted the jacket and decided to hem it at its current length (mine what cropped several inches) and we also decided on the sleeve length. Now at least I feel like I can work on that for a bit. She purchased the jacket pattern for her post apoc outfit so I can work on that as well and she's also started the hoops that will go under the skirts I'm making her. So at least there is progress.

DragonCon To Do List - Week of July 25th

Progress on last week's to do list:

1. I finished stitching the braid onto my jacket cuffs and tacked down the facing inside. The cuffs were too narrow so I shortened them so they'd be wide enough to attach to the sleeves. I didn't get them attached but they are pinned and ready for sewing.

2. I finished preliminary work on Scarlet Spider. Then I set up and had a fitting with Professor Watt.

3. The mystery jacket is almost finished. I stitched the lining to the shell at the bottom hem, basted the other edges together, attached the collar, hand stitched the collar to cover the raw edges and pinned but didn't hand stitch the armholes.

4. I didn't have the chance to work on Miss Von Stoup's next costume but I did work on my vest. The top / front spirals are almost done. Next up is adding some pink, then more metallic but in lines instead of spirals. Then I have the bottom of the border left. I'd like to do more spirals but it may just get lines.

In other news, I picked out a couple cottons to make sleep shorts out of and purchased and pre-washed 2 yards of white muslin for my Persian pants. I also purchased belting for my Time Traveler hat band.

This week's to do list:

1. Confederate jacket - Attach cuffs. Then sew on snaps and 'buttons.'

2. Finish Scarlet Spider. It needs taken in, the zipper needs sewn in place permanently and the eye pieces need to be attached to the mask. Then its going to get packed up and be passed off to Professor Watt over the weekend.

3. Mystery jacket - Hand stitch lining in place at armholes.

4. Work on the Ottoman vest embroidery.

5. If possible, I'd like to start the Persian pants and cut out the sleep shorts.

Complete to do list:

Musts:

1. Confederate Vivandiere uniforms. -- My skirt is done. My jacket is almost there. I don't know where Miss Von Stoup is on her skirts and I can't do more work on the jacket until the skirts are done.

2. Scarlet Spider. -- This will be finished this week.

3. My mystery costume. -- The jacket is almost done. Then its just decorating the hat, getting some ribbons for my mitts and maybe making spats or straps for the boots. I do need to try a petticoat under the skirt to see if that makes the lining more visible...

4. Post apocalyptic costume for Miss Von Stoup. -- She's changed her jacket idea so I can't work on this til I meet with her. And she's making part of the costume, I can't work on the skirts til her part of the costume is finished.

5. Ottoman vest and bustle improvements. -- I'm slowly but surely making progress on the vest embroidery. As for the bustle, I'm going to work on it once I have my dressmaker's dummy here with me (if I can make room for it...). I'm thinking of just stitching it how I want it or using binder clips.

6. Pockets / pouch for my beau's kilt. -- I think he's gonna have a friend help him with this actually.

Hopefullys:

7. Pants for the Persian costume. -- I bought the fabric and I have the tutorial, just need to sit down and do it. Should only take an evening.

8. Steampunk Rosetta for Miss Von Stoup. -- Mostly purchased, put together by her probably.

9. Time Machine purse. -- No idea if this is going to happen.

10. Time Traveler hat band. -- I have the base materials, just need the watches from my mom to add to it.

11. Cover Girl from GI Joe. -- This is going to be purchased. I need a tan / khaki button up shirt and pants, brown boots, belt and bomber jacket, a shoulder bag and a leg holster. I have a pair of pants that might suit.

12. Sleep shorts. -- I pulled out a pajama pant pattern this week (I'll just shorten it) and some fabric: one with pin up girls and one that's purple and orange with stars on it.

13. Almost forgot! If Steampunk Rosetta comes together then we need to make fairy wings for that and for my steampunk Tinkerbell. If Rosetta doesn't happen, I probably won't take Tinkerbell. I'd also like to get some tools for Tink...

Countdown: 38 days.

In My Sewing Basket for Sewing Day

I'm sure I won't finish everything, but here's what I packed for sewing day at a friend's:

1. My Confederate jacket. -- Today: Shortened cuffs and pinned them on.
2. My mystery costume jacket. -- Today: Slipstitched the collar into place and pinned the armholes for hand stitching.
3. My Ottoman vest. -- Today: Worked on embroidery. Almost done with the front / top set of spirals. Next is pink then more couching down of the metallic thread. Then there's the bottom...

I didn't get to the rest:
4. Pattern and materials for making a pouch for the beau's kilt.
5. Fabric to cut out Miss Von Stoup's post apoc outfit. But she's changed what kind of jacket she wants so this probably won't happen today.
6. Fabric and a pattern to cut out a couple sleep shorts.
7. Fabric for Persian pants.

Along with various threads, needles, scissors, etc.

Here's hoping I get a lot done!

Updated Full DragonCon To Do List

Musts:

1. Confederate Vivandiere uniforms. -- As you know from previous posts, these are coming along well. My skirt is done. My jacket is approaching done: I need to stitch one more row of braid on one cuff, attach the cuffs to the jacket, tack down the facing, sew on snaps and 'buttons'. Miss Von Stoup has been working on her skirts, I do not know the current state but I do know that she had the underskirt mainly finished and had started on the bustle. Once her skirts are done, we'll move onto her jacket: it needs fitted, hemmed, the cuffs decorated with braid and attached, the facing tacked down, then finished with snaps and buttons. Both jackets may get more braid than just the cuffs but I don't know for sure yet.

2. Scarlet Spider. -- This has been put together and fitted. I just need to take it in and sew the eye pieces onto the mask and it'll be done!

3. My mystery costume. -- The top, corset and skirt are all finished. The jacket just needs some hand sewing. Then I'll see about the accessories: decorating the hat, ribbons for my mitts, maybe making straps / spats for my boots.

4. Post apocalyptic costume for Miss Von Stoup. -- We have a plan for this and patterns have been pulled out for her jacket. But I won't be able to start on the skirts until she does her part.

5. Ottoman vest and bustle improvements. -- I've been working on the vest, haven't touched the bustle. Part of me wonders if I could just bustle it with binder clips...

6. Pockets / pouch for my beau's kilt. -- I pulled out the remnants from making his kilt and the pattern today.

Hopefullys:

7. Pants for the Persian costume. -- I think I'm going to pick up some muslin this weekend and see about getting these done. UPDATE Bought two yards of muslin to use for these today.

8. Steampunk Rosetta. -- This will probably be a mostly purchased costume.

9. Time Machine purse. -- Don't know if this is going to happen.

10. Time Traveler hat band. -- I have a plan, I just need to pick up one or two things to use. UPDATE Picked up the belting that I plan to use for the innards. I'm thinking cover it in white satin, add some clock parts (which I should get next weekend from my mom) and there we go.

11. Cover Girl from GI Joe. -- Probably entirely purchased. UPDATE I have a pair of khaki cargo pants that might suit...

12. Sleep shorts -- I'll either make a couple pairs from my stash or buy some men's boxers.

July 18th DragonCon To Do List Progress II

1. Confederate Jacket: I'm almost done stitching the braid onto the cuffs. Next up is attaching them to the jacket then tacking down the facing.

2. Had a fitting with Professor Watt and took in the suit -- a lot. But that was expected and the plan! Finishing it will probably wait til next week, when I have an extra evening off!

3. Mystery jacket - Stitched the lining and outside along the bottom, then basted the two together along the front edges and attached the collar. Now all that's left is hand sewing the collar in place to cover the raw edges and handstitching the lining along the armholes!

4. AND I've worked on the vest a little.

Decent progress, no?

However...I'm adding to my to do list. I know I know I'm nuts. But neither will take long! I need to make a hatband for my pink straw hat to go with Time Traveler. I'm planning to wear it in the parade and I am not wearing the hooded jacket in that heat!! I'm thinking white satin over something substantial (belting?) with clock faces and a big purple feather. And it has to be removable / coverable so I can re-do the hat for my mystery costume. And the second thing is a pair or two of sleep shorts. I'll probably just raid my stash for those. Alternatively I could just go BUY a pack of men's boxers... But I do need the hat band.

Packed for the weekend at my beau's: Confederate jacket, mystery costume jacket, fabric and pattern for his sporran, and I'll have my vest as well. I may also grab the stuff for Miss Von Stoup's post apoc outfit.

July 18th DragonCon To Do List Progress

Scarlet Spider - Basted in the zipper. Also basted the rest of the front crotch seam closed since I'd left too much open. Now I just need to set up a fitting.

Confederate uniform - I finished stitching on one piece of braid to one cuff. I think each cuff will have two rows of braid.

I thought about working on my mystery costume jacket but that would have involved threading the machine and I just didn't feel like it tonight.

Bonne nuit dear readers!

PS I think I am now in full panic mode -- DragonCon is 45 days away. However I am also excited because panel and event information is starting to come out, plus all the guests!

DragonCon To Do List - Week of July 18th

Last week's progress (July 11th to do list):

I met with Miss Von Stoup on Wednesday and again on Saturday. Her new 'dress' uniform is well underway: an apron and bustle out of the original skirt fabric and an underskirt of a lighter grey silvery plaid. I also worked on my uniform jacket: it has been hemmed and the sleeves shortened. I cut out the cuffs, put them together, topstitched the edge and started sewing black braid along the edge. Miss Von Stoup's jacket will have to wait until her skirts are finished to be fitted with them to determine hem length.

Here's a shot of one cuff, topstitched but no braid attached:



And here's the other cuff - topstitched and in the process of having braid attached:



Yesterday, I put Scarlet Spider together, except for the zipper which needs basted in.

I worked on my mystery jacket -- I took apart the muslin to use for the interlining, cut out the silk and the lining (the lining is a wide pink / white stripe) as well as the collar. I stitched the interlining to the silk, and put both the lining and the shell together. The collar was also put together and topstitched. For the collar, I used left over black sateen from the skirt for the outside and the same black taffeta used on the corset for the lining.

Although I haven't worked on my beau's quilt, I did find a little time to work on embroidering my vest.

Although it wasn't on my list, I spent a couple hours this morning working on going through, sorting, organizing and rearranging my sewing stash. I'd like to sit down and go through the scrap box next, see if there's anything worth saving. Eventually, I'd like to do a patchwork skirt.

This week's to do list:

1. Finish stitching the braid onto my jacket cuffs. Attach cuffs to jacket. Tack down the facing inside. If all that gets done, start sewing on snaps and 'buttons'. And maybe more braid, but that will likely have to wait til Miss Von Stoup's jacket is more complete. I'm hoping to set up another sewing date with her this week, but she's working a lot of overtime at the lab, so I don't know if that will happen. Maybe on the weekend.

2. Baste the zipper into Scarlet Spider and fix the collar. Then set up a fitting with Professor Watt.

3. Finish my mystery jacket. I need to stitch the lining to the shell at the bottom hem (pinned already), baste the other edges together, attach the collar, hand stitch the collar to cover the raw edges and then hand stitch the armholes.

4. Extra time will be devoted to: Ottoman vest embroidery and maybe starting on Miss Von Stoup's next costume.

July 11th DragonCon To Do List Progress II

I haven't had the chance to work on Scarlet Spider again yet, but I have worked on my vest embroidery some while at work.

Miss Von Stoup came over this evening. Her uniform needs some drastic changes -- the gathered waist, mid 19th century skirt does not flatter her form at all. She suggested using the fabric to make a bustle instead, and then making a gold underskirt to match the gold braid and buttons we plan to purchase. So this evening, we completed the deconstruction of her skirt that she began earlier today and cut out the new bustle -- apron front and back, train and one poof, as that was all we had fabric for.

Our current concept is that she's a higher rank than I am so her uniform is more elaborate. Or perhaps she can be in 'dress' uniform whereas I am attired in the duty uniform...

We did solve the sleeve issue. We're going to take the sleeves to a three quarter length (a little deference to the Atlanta heat) and add cuffs so that we have a place for the braid.

And we're going to have a sewing day this Saturday as both of our beaus will be busy -- They're going shooting. Such a manly leisure activity, don't you agree? I believe the Captain will be joining them as well.

Miss Von Stoup also gave me a couple ideas for my mystery costume, for which I am rather grateful.

July 11th DragonCon To Do List Progress

I am in the process of hopefully arranging a meeting with Miss Von Stoup this week.

I've got the Scarlet Spider cut out and started pinning it together. The mask is mostly pinned together (left one or two seams free for ease of sewing), the sleeve seams are pinned and the first seam of the bodysuit is pinned. I feel well on my way for a fitting this weekend. But that will depend on when and if I meet with Miss Von Stoup.

I have my jacket and my vest with me today. I plan to work on them while at work.

DragonCon To Do List - Week of July 11th

First up, a quick review of progress on last week's list:

1. I was unable to meet with Miss Von Stoup to fit our jackets and figure out jacket and sleeve length.

2. And thus unable to finish the jackets and get them to the handsewing point.

3. I did finish my mystery costume skirt!

4. And also found time to work on my vest embroidery and start the jacket for the mystery costume.

5. Not only was a time arranged to shop for Scarlet Spider materials but we went shopping and I started working on the costume but cutting it out.

Now, for this week's to do list:

1. Meet with Miss Von Stoup.

2. Get our jackets to the handsewing point.

3. I'd like to have the Scarlet Spider basted together and ready for a fitting this weekend.

4. I'd also like to finish my mystery costume jacket.

5. As well as find a little time to work on my vest and the quilt.

Long term DragonCon to do list:

Musts:

1. Confederate Vivandiere uniforms.

2. Scarlet Spider.

3. My mystery costume. - The top, corset and skirt are all finished. Next up is the jacket, then the accessories: decorating the hat, ribbons for my mitts, maybe making straps / spats for my boots.

4. Post apocalyptic costume for Miss Von Stoup.

5. Ottoman vest and bustle improvements.

6. Pockets / pouch for my beau's kilt.

Hopefullys:

7. Pants for the Persian costume.

8. Steampunk Rosetta. - This will probably be a mostly purchased costume.

9. Time Machine purse.

10. Diamonds for HQ bodysuit. - This will probably get scratched. Although I'd like to be more accurate, I really don't want to mess with attempting to applique spandex onto spandex.

11. Cover Girl from GI Joe.

A little weekend DragonCon progress...and Ba-Con

I basted together the muslin of my mystery costume jacket and tried it on. The collar doesn't work, so I cut it down and still didn't like it. It's definitely going to need more work.

Last night I worked on Scarlet Spider! I took apart the Spiderman mask given to me by Prof. Watt and used it as a pattern to cut into the 4 yards of red spandex we purchased last week. Then I set to enlarging and lengthening the pattern I used several years ago when I made my comic book Harley Quinn costume. I estimated how much larger an extra large would be compared to an extra small and lengthened both the sleeves and the body to allow for Prof. Watt's height. The lengthening was accomplished by slashing the pattern pieces along the "shorten / lengthen here" lines and moving the pieces several inches apart. I'm hoping to baste the costume together this week and have a fitting, wherein the costume will be taken in to the appropriate snugness. When enlarging patterns, I always aim for having the result too large so I can take it in to fit.

In other news, Ba-Con was okay. I actually might have been happier just staying home for the weekend instead of going, but I did have a decent time. The highlight was spending a lot of time with my friend that paid for my badge. But since it was the first convention, you expect issues. I definitely think the programming needs some work -- too few panels and they weren't on particularly interesting topics, at least for me. However there was a horror makeup panel that was fascinating, even if its not exactly something I'm interested in because I could see adapting the techniques for other things. Like Joker scars. I wore Victorian pajamas on Friday (cream chemise and bloomers with my new corset turned black side out and granny boots), tried my hand at dieselpunk on Saturday (new corset pink side out with a black tank top and pencil skirt, strappy sandals, my black straw hat w pink hat band and a long pearl necklace with an old key my beau gifted me with on it as a charm) and yesterday I wore my friend's old Slave Leia bikini.

Not Much about DragonCon...

First of all, I made a little progress yesterday while at work - I tried to work on my jacket, but the cotton I'm using for a pattern / mock up / interlining despreately needed ironed, so I couldn't cut it out. I did however get a little bit of embroidery done. Progress!

There's been a lot of drama in Miss Wilde's life recently -- I didn't want to go to a convention. Then I decided I would go to hang out with friends. And just as I'm starting to look forward to costuming, I realize I don't have the money for a badge. So I decide I'll just stay home and sew all weekend. After all, just think of all I could get done! Start Scarlet Spider, have Miss Von Stoup over and work on our Confederate uniforms, clean my sewing area and maybe even work on my mystery costume jacket. So I make a little list and happily go on my way. Then my friend who was coming into town for the convention and staying at my house for the weekend calls and offers to buy my badge. So there went all my sewing plans for the weekend.

So when I got home from work, I readied the apartment for guests with a quickie cleaning. I did manage to get a little done -- I tidied my sewing area so its a little more controlled chaos instead of just chaos. And I ironed my cotton, which I cut out last night and pinned together this morning.

I'm already contemplating cutting out Scarlet Spider after work before I head back to the convention...

July 4th DragonCon To Do List Progress II

Miss Von Stoup was under the weather yesterday and unable to attend our meeting. However, Prof. Watt and I DID go shopping so I have yards of spandex with matching thread and zipper sitting on my table at home for when I have time. So at least some progress was made.

My mystery costume skirt is finished! Yesterday, I put the zipper in, put the waistband on and sewed on a hook closure. Then I finished the back edges of the top layer and attached a white grosgrain ribbon waistband that will tie in the back.

I tried on what I have together so far and Miss Dashwood commented that I need more green. My current thoughts are leaning towards just wearing a green cami under the jacket and leaving the blouse off. My reasons for this are (1) it would satisfy the need for more green (2) the blouse doesn't really allow a jacket to go over it very well and (3) I made the sleeves just a bit too snug and its not very comfortable to wear.

As for the jacket, I did make a post regarding it yesterday. And I have decided (I think) to go with the Victorian jacket option - shortened to make the most of what fabric I have, lined in black sateen (if I have enough) and with a collar made out of an as yet to be determined fabric. I like the idea of pink on pink, but the shades may not compliment each other. I could go black or white or I could go with pink and white stripes. I have a large pink and white stripe in my stash. Another option would be a black sateen collar and lined in the stripes. So we'll see how that turns out.

In other mystery costume news, I found some large jewelry charms on clearance yesterday and snatched them up as they matched my inspiration for this costume. I'm not sure where they will go yet, maybe a necklace, maybe on the hat.

So the mystery costume is approaching completion and I have the materials to start my next major commission for DragonCon. I feel pretty good about the current situation.

In non DragonCon news, I made a pair of sleep / lounging shorts. I used the Colette mini bloomer pattern (free for download) and cut out the largest size. The fabric was about a yard of this loud paisley print in bright pink, turquoise, yellow, black and white. I just did an elastic waist and hemmed the legs without any drawstring or elastic. However, they kind of ended up looking like a full short skirt. I think I need to take out some of the width in the legs... But they are pretty comfy.

And since its related to the blog, I'm wearing my walkaway dress today. I went between this dress and another retro dress. I like the other one just a little bit more (its more flattering I think), but the walkaway just just a touch more comfortable to wear.

DragonCon Mystery Costume - The Jacket

As promised, a look at my thoughts for the mystery costume jacket.

First up, the original inspiration photo. I love the sleeveless cropped jacket (if you haven't already noticed from photos I've posted, I love cropped jackets and have several of them) And the collar is just fabulous.



(http://mydisguises.com/2008/05/19/deconstructing-steampunk-designing-your-own-costume/)

Then I was browsing the FIDM Museum Blog (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) and found this amazing bolero style jacket from the 1890s. Again its cropped and has that awesome collar. What's even better is they show a back view so that one can see that the collar does not extend across the back but instead stops at the shoulders.





(Check out http://blog.fidmmuseum.org/museum/2011/06/bolero-style-jacket-1894-1898.html for the article)

So with inspiration taken care of, I started thinking about patterns. There are two contenders. First up is McCalls 3033, a standard that I've used for several shrugs. My worry is that it is too small in the front to allow for a large collar like I want.



Another option is Butterick 5232, which I've also used for several jackets. Its a historical pattern for a cropped Victorian jacket. And it has two collars to choose from! However, even in a sleeveless version, it requires more fabric that I have left of the pink silk. I could do it if I cropped the jacket by another few inches, which would probably be more of what I want anyways.

So my options are this: (1) I use the shrug pattern and enlarge the front to allow for a large collar. The collar itself would likely come from the jacket pattern. OR (2) I shorten the jacket pattern and use one of the collars.

If I go with option (1) I might be able to use the pink silk for the collar. If I go with option (2) I will definitely have to do a contrast collar, for which I have several options -- white, black or maybe even a pink satin that might look interesting.

The lining will likely be the rest of the black sateen from the skirt (I have about half a yard, maybe) and I will be interlining it with white cotton to give the silk some body.

Right now my plan is this -- once the skirt is finished, I'm going to try on the outfit (blouse, corset, skirt) and try a couple jackets with it to see how they look style-wise. I know I have a sleeveless version of the shrug I've already made (its the black and silver plaid) but I don't have one of the jacket. The next step will be cutting my chosen pattern out of white cotton, then fitting and adjusting it before I use it as my pattern and interlining.

I think the jacket may be the most complicated piece of this outfit. After the corset of course.

Speaking of corsets, you should check out this article on how to wear a Victorian corset: http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d7d7ea251b760f56e4afa10bf&id=3bd90b856b

That's all for now! Feel free to comment and give your opinion on my jacket ideas.

July 4th DragonCon To Do List Progress

Progress!!

1. I have arranged to meet with Miss Von Stoup tomorrow to fit our jackets and figure out jacket and sleeve length. I may have also discovered a solution to the sleeve issue in a pattern from my stash...

2. I have worked on my mystery costume skirt, in fact its almost finished. The bottom tier has been hemmed. In fact the lining was hemmed twice as it was too long the first time. All the layers were basted together and then the back seam stitched together, leaving room for the zipper and the lining was stitched separately to allow for it to cover the zipper on the inside. I also cut out the waistband. So all I need to do for the main skirt is put the zipper in, attach the waistband and sew on hook closures. The top layer needs the seam done, the waistband put on and a closure attached. I may just do a ribbon waistband that ties, might be easiest.

3. I've been contemplating the mystery costume's jacket. In fact, I may just do a separate post containing inspiration photos and pattern ideas. I'll try to post that tomorrow.

4. And I've arrange a time to fabric shop for the Scarlet Spider. It is tomorrow actually. Miss Von Stoup is going to accompany us and then she and I shall work on our costumes at the Shuttle.

I'm feeling rather on top it. I do however need to work on that Ottoman vest embroidery...that really needs finished...

And me being me, I'm already thinking ahead. There's a comic convention here in October. I'm wondering if I'll have time after DragonCon to make myself a new comic costume. I'd love to do a Rogue...

DragonCon To Do List - Week of July 4th

With DragonCon less than 60 days away, its time to start weekly to do lists again!

This week I would like to:

1. Meet with Miss Von Stoup to fit our jackets and figure out jacket and sleeve length.

2. Finish the jackets and get them to the handsewing point - both need hemmed, the sleeves need hemmed / shortened / have cuffs added, Miss Von Stoup's needs the sleeves stitched (they're just basted at the moment) and the topsitching done.

3. Finish my mystery costume skirt - the bottom tier needs basted together and hemmed, then all the layers need put together, the seam stitched, the zipper inserted and the waistband added. The top tier will actually be a separate skirt, probably with just a waistband and a couple hooks and eyes to close it. The reasoning behind this is that the rest of the skirt is washable, the top layer is not, so a separate skirt makes the most sense.

4. If there's time, work on my vest embroidery, my beau's quilt, and perhaps start the jacket for the mystery costume.

5. At least arrange a time to fabric shop for the Scarlet Spider if not do the shopping.

Long term DragonCon to do list:

Musts:

1. Confederate Vivandiere uniforms.

2. Scarlet Spider.

3. My mystery costume. - The top and corset are finished. I need to finish the skirt, then work on the jacket. Everything after that is all accessories - decorating the hat, ribbons for my mitts, maybe making straps / spats for my boots.

4. Post apocalyptic costume. - We have a plan for this already in place.

5. Ottoman vest and bustle improvements.

6. Pockets / pouch for my beau's kilt.

Hopefullys:

7. Pants for the Persian costume.

8. Steampunk Rosetta.

9. Time Machine purse.

10. Diamonds for HQ bodysuit.

11. Cover Girl from GI Joe.

DragonCon Progress Always Makes Me a Happy Little Steam-stress!

First of all, I've been working on the beau's quilt! I tie quilted it last night until my fingers couldn't tie another knot.

Today I made a lot of DragonCon progress -- Miss Von Stoup's jacket has the collar, facing and sleeves attached so its ready for fitting this week. The top for my mystery costume is finished and I cut out the bottom tier, the lining and the outside.

Not too shabby for a day's work, huh?

DragonCon Progress and Weekend To Do List

Well, I've been spending most of the past couple weeks working on my mystery costume because I left my thread at my beau's home across town and wasn't able to obtain it. So the bad news is I haven't touched Miss Von Stoup's Confederate jacket. The good news is, I made a lot of progress on the mystery costume.

As you already know, the corset is done. The skirt is mostly done - I gathered layer 3's ruffle and hand basted it before stitching it in place. Then I basted layers 2 and 3 together along the waist. Layer 1 is going to be a separate skirt because it is not washable and everything else is.

I also worked on the top. I've been looking at patterns, contemplating blouse versus peasant when I remembered that I have several peasant blouse patterns. So I pulled out one that has a collar as well so I could get that pattern piece for the jacket. The top is mostly finished. Tonight I cut it out, and almost finished putting it together. It just needs a touch more work.

Weekend To Do List

• Miss Von Stoup's Confederate jacket. This is definitely first on my list. I need to get it to a fitting stage so we can get together next weekend and try on our uniforms.
  
• Finish mystery costume skirt. I need to buy the fabric for layer 4, put it together, then sew the back seam and insert a zipper.
• Finish mystery costume top. I need to make the waist elastic casing, put in the elastic and then hem it. I may trim it in lace, but I haven't decided yet.
• Hopefully I'll be going shopping with Prof. Watt for Scarlet Spider fabric this weekend.
• I may see about fixing my beau's kilt.
• And if I get a chance, work on my Ottoman vest.
• As well as working on tying the beau's quilt
• I'd also like to go shopping for Cover Girl items.
  

We are swiftly approaching the 60 days to Dragon*Con mark.

Help.