Tuesday, October 30, 2012

From now until Ohayocon To Do List

Before the end of the year:
  1. Embroidered quilt. Embroidery done as soon as possible so I can assemble the quilt top by Christmas. I'll need to purchase some fabric for the border. I already have 100% cotton thread for the piecing. 
  2. Keeper of the Keys corset. No deadline but the sooner the better so it's crossed off my list!
  3. Leggings for Pepper. Again, no deadline but sooner rather than later is the plan!
 Before Ohayocon, which is January 18-20th (earlier than usual):
  1. Wings for my airship stewardess costume. I have a pair of airline wings, I just need to add a gear or two...
  2. Suspenders for my femme Joker. Probably out of ribbon and elastic, likely with just clips because that will be a lot easier than buttons.
  3. Suicide Squad Harley Quinn
  4.  Harley Quinn pajama pants
  5. New bodice for my black and silver steampunk. And boy do I have plans for this one. I think it's gonna be pretty spectacular.
Pretty sure the new Harley collar is just going to have to wait, although I might fix the cuffs that are currently borderline unwearable.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Update on my "2012 Sewing Goals" and "Before the End of the Year" to do list

At the beginning of the year, I posted my "2012 Sewing Goals" and I figured it was time for an update to see how I've been doing.

I  haven't really fulfilled my blog goal of more photos, but I'm always trying!

Now for the sewing goals -- costuming.
  1. Finish my gypsy steampunk ensemble. DONE
  2. 1875 Square Overskirt (Truly Victorian) in black and silver plaid. DONE
  3. Pink and black steampunk ensemble. DONE
  4. An underbust corset out of left over key print flannel to wear with my Keeper of the Keys skirt and a blouse for steam casual events - Started and probably about halfway finished
  5. 1884 Wash Overskirt. Haven't even thought about this one. Maybe a new overskirt for Ohayocon?
  6. I do want to do a sari inspired head to toe Victorian ensemble. This hasn't happened either.
  7. Female Joker. DONE
  8. I'd love to a natural form Victorian costume. Also hasn't happened.
  9. I'd still like to do an 18th century costume. Not necessarily a 2012 project. Nor has this.
  10. And I also have a desire to do a French Huguenot costume. Or this
  11. A Victorian bathing suit. Or this
Costuming goals - only 4 out of 11 are finished

Other sewing goals:
  1. My two retro sundresses from my free patterns. One of these is DONE
  2. I'd still like to make a playsuit with removable skirt, the project that never happened last summer. DONE
  3. I have a throw I made from concert tshirts that I'd like to enlarge. Not done.
  4. I have some flannel I'd like to make into a quilt. Or this.
  5. I have some Spiderman flannel that wants to be pajama pants. DONE
  6. And some nativity printed cotton that wants to be a dress. DONE except it became a nightgown
  7. A circle skirt out of Halloween pin up fabric. DONE
  8. A high waisted skirt from my retro jumper pattern. DONE (part of my femme Joker costume)
Other sewing goals: 5 out of 8.


Other things NOT on my 2012 list that I've done:
  1. Commission for a friend.
  2. Summer shorts to wear around the house.
  3. Lots of embroidery.
  4. Sewing for my nephew.
To finish before the end of the year:
  1. My embroidered quilt. I hope to have the embroidery done and the quilt top assembled by Christmas.
  2. Suicide Squad Harley Quinn.for Ohayocon
  3. New collar and cuffs for my Harley Quinn bodysuit for Ohayocon
  4. Keeper of the Keys corset
  5. Leggings for Pepper
  6. Maybe some new steamy awesomeness for Ohayocon, like that wash overskirt...
  7. Harley Quinn pajama pants for Ohayocon 
  8. Suspenders for my femme Joker
  9. New bodice for my black and silver steampunk
Not doing too bad, am I?

Finished Projects so far This Year

  1. Miss Fletcher's Bodice. All materials provided by Miss Fletcher. (Finished 1/16/2012)
  2. Steampunk Gypsy Corset: stash fabric, trim, thread, eyelets, D rings, and zipper; purchased eyelets, trim and buckles (Finished 1/17/2012 except for the D rings)
  3. Stage One of Steampunk Gypsy Crazy Quilt Skirt aka Piecing (Finished 1/5/2012)
  4. Black and Silver Plaid 1875 Square Overskirt and matching hat: Pattern (Truly Victorian 304) purchased by Beau as a gift for me. Plaid fabric, black broadcloth, silver lace trim, hook and eye closure and thread (black and metallic silver) from stash. Purchased black ribbon, hat (on clearance), silver crepe backed satin and petticoat net. (Finished 1/14/2012 except for decorative pocket)
  5. Harley Quinn collar and cuffs (Finished 1/21/2012)
  6. Star Wars pillowcases: no pattern, stash thread, purchased fabric (Finished 1/21/2012)
  7. Star Wars nightgown: stash thread and snaps, purchased fabric and pattern (Finished 1/21/2012)
  8. Spiderman pajama pants: stash and purchased fabric, stash thread and pattern (Finished 1/21/2012)
  9. Finally finished the gypsy steampunk corset with two D rings. (March)
  10. 1886 Asymmetrical Overkirt for my Paris 1880s steampunk. (March)
  11. Roma inspired steampunk crazy quilt skirt. (April)
  12. Petticoat of Doom to be worn under the Roma inspired steampunk crazy quilt skirt. (April)
  13. Decorated a clip on pouch to wear with the Roma inspired steampunk costume. (April)
  14. Mask for the SES masquerade (that I never wore) (April)
  15. Muppets fleece blanket for Nick Wheeler of the All American Rejects (he loved it, btw) (April)
  16. Playsuit. Stash fabric, purchased pattern.(Finished 6/5/2012)
  17. Paris 1880s steampunk bodice. (Finished around 7/5/2012)
  18. Shorts for the summer - red knit, pink and black knit and black gauze. All purchased fabrics, one purchased pattern, the other was a stash pattern, stash thread and I don't remember if I bought or had the elastic already.
  19. Green and white sundress. Stash fabric and pattern. (Finished around 7/5/2012) and made a petticoat (Finished before 8/2/2012)
  20. Commission for my friend Kevy Kev. (Finished by 8/20/2012)
  21. Halloween skirt. Stash fabric and pattern. (Basically done by 8/27/2012)
  22. Bunting (Finished around 7/15/2012) and nursing cover (Finished around 9/10/2012) for my nephew. 
  23. Cream tour wear leggings. Purchased fabric and pattern. (Finished 9/10/2012)
  24. Femme Joker suit, blouse and tie. Purchased fabric and dye. Stash patterns and thread. (Pretty much done by 9/17/2012)
  25.  Helped finish an embroidered baby quilt that my cousin is making for my nephew. (Finished by 9/17/2012)
  26. "I Believe in Pink" tour wear tunic. Purchased fabric and zipper, stash pattern. (Finished by 9/24/2012)
  27. "Wilde Side" tour wear leggings. Purchased fabric and pattern. (Finished before 10/13/2012)
  28. Christmas nightgown. Stash nativity print fabric that was a gift from my mom, purchased burgundy broadcloth, stash thread, stash pattern that was purchased within recent memory (Finished 10/27/2012)

Weekend Happenings and Ohayocon Planning

This weekend I worked on the embroidered quilt - only three more blocks to go before assembly time! - and finished my Christmas nightgown! I may still add some lace to the nightgown, but I kind of like it as is. I also prewashed fabric for Pepper's leggings that I'm going to start for her. I bought fabric for the pajama pants that Harley wears in an issue of Gotham City Sirens (I think that's what comic its from...) And...started my Suicide Squad Harley Quinn.

Here's the plan for Harley Quinn:
  • Shorts using Simplicity 2317, with the left side black and the right side red. I may have to alter it a little, but not too much
  • Corset using McCalls 3636, with the front left side red and the right side black, colors reversed on the back of the corset. The corset is going to be drastically altered from the pattern, but I think it'll make a good starting point.
  • I'm working with left over spandex from my bodysuit, which will work perfectly for the shorts but the corset is going to be stabilized with some heavy sturdy fabric.
  • The corset is going to take some engineering and will likely contain interlining and lining along with boning and bra cups (once I figure out what kind of bra cups to use)
  • I'll also need to make a neck ruffle and gauntlets, one red, one black
  • I need to buy two pairs of socks, one red, one black
  • And figure out what I'm doing with my hair and my shoes...
I'm going to start by sewing together the corset out of the interlining and seeing where I need to alter it. I already know that the front is going to change, as is the back because the back dips lower than the front. Then I'll use the altered pieces as my pattern to cut out the spandex.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Sorry for the lack of posts, my friends. I've been rather busy.

Let's see....My last to do list is not done. I basically ran out of time.

  1. I did sew ribbon onto my "I believe in pink" tunic. Unfort. I used seam binding and it did not survive being washed after I wore the tunic so that will have to be replaced with actual ribbon.
  2. I finished the waistband on my "Wilde Side" leggings but left them unhemmed
  3. "Eat drink and be scary" tunic is STILL not finished. I ran into a lot of problems and ended up basically throwing it to the side. It was that, or start crying.
In other news, the cream leggings wore worn to the Cleveland AAR show with a green mini dress. And the "I believe in pink" tunic with the "Wilde Side" leggings were a hit at the Indianapolis show. The boys loved my outfit. :)

After throwing aside the tunic, I pulled out my Christmas nightgown. Which went together pretty much without any issues. All that's left is to hem the ruffle and I'll have a super old fashioned nightgown to wear at Christmas time. Woo hoo!

Next up is another attempt at the "Eat drink and be scary" tunic, then I'm moving on to Ohayocon sewing - Suicide Squad Harley Quinn as well as a new collar for my comic Harley Quinn bodysuit. And maybe new cuffs as well, because mine are almost unwearable.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

To Do List - Deadline October 13 2012

I need to get on the ball and finish my Tour Wear!

  1. Sew ribbon onto "I believe in pink" tunic. I want to do a black ribbon waistband that ties in the back, or at least just a little bit of ribbon tacked on the back to tie in a bow
  2. "Wilde Side" leggings need hemmed and need the waistband done.
  3. "Eat drink and be scary" tunic needs sewn together.
And I've got...like ten or eleven days. With doubles on T, TH and F, work on Sunday, dinner plans tomorrow and next Wednesday, bible study next Monday and plans all day Saturday.

Anyone know how we can add a few more hours to the day? 

(Mid) Ohio Comic Con Photos

 Day One - Harley Quinn bodysuit with my friend as TDK Joker

Day Two - Steampunk Harley Quinn aka Diamonds are Foever with my friend Jay, who loves Harley Quinn so much that he made himself a henchman costume

Day Three - the debut of my femme Joker with my friend as male Harley Quinn