Sewing Goals for the First Couple Months of 2014

Regency spencer using fabric from another project before January 15 for the HSF2014 Make Do and Mend challenge. Should probably work on this actually...

Pajama pants for my cousin before January 16. Should probably work on that too...

Aprons for my father and brother. Sooner rather than later, but no real deadline.

I've been thinking about things I could do for HSF2014 Innovations and Pink challenges (both due in February), but don't have anything firm yet.

Finish my Regency underthings before March 1 for the HSF2014 Underthings challenge


Teal silk sleeveless spencer before March 15 for the HSF2014 Bodice challenge

Regency ballgown before March 22 for the Regency ball I want to attend. I'm letting ideas brew of what Cinderella would wear to a Regency ball so it also fits the HSF2014 Fairytale challenge due on April 1st.


18th century stays. No deadline yet, but they might take a while so sooner rather than later is better I think. I've contemplated doing Cinderella in this style instead, but I don't know that I'll have the time. Or come up with a rococopunk outfit using the stays by April 25th for Pandoracon.

Black and gold corset by April 25th for Pandoracon to complete my airship 'uniform'

And my hand quilting of course.

2013 Finished Projects

• Finished Suicide Squad Harley Quinn for Ohayocon
• Embroidery portion of my embroidered quilt
• Keeper of the Keys corset
• Baby quilt for my cousin's little girl
• Quickie zebra print, elastic waist skirt
• Pink and white steampunk underwear ensemble.
• Green and gold corset and bustle.
• Green cotton lobster tail bustle.
• Comic print pants
• Striped corduroy skirt
• Teal pintucked taffeta underskirt 
• A new nursing cover for my sister in law in Dutch themed cotton prints.
• Red and black gingham shorts with matching bodice, sleeveless jacket and black circle skirt trimmed in the gingham. I finished the skirt sometime towards the end of July. I bought the fabric, but used a stash pattern and thread.
• Red pique pencil skirt.
• Pink and black plaid pencil skirt.
• Star Trek wrap circle skirt.
• White striped sateen wrap blouse.
• Paris printed cotton bodice.
• 60s shift dress in pink scroll cotton.
• Dotted swiss sundress and matching reversible jacket.
• Green knit shrug.
• Measuring tape printed cotton circle skirt.
• Brown capris.
• Commissioned Mad Moxxi costume!  
• Denim high waisted shorts
• Pink high waisted shorts
• Blue embroidered linen dress and cropped pullover.
• Converted a pair of capris into a skirt for my mother. 
• White eyelet 60s shift lined and trimmed in lilac cotton.
• Lolita commission for a friend: I made her three skirts for Teslacon.
• Jacket commission for my friend TerAnn that I started earlier this year.
• Black satin jacket and skirt, natural-form-esque for Pandoracon, trimmed in vintage gold satin.
• Turquoise corduroy 60s jumper from another vintage pattern.
• Striped pencil skirt, from the Echino fabric I bought in New Hampshire.
• Cream corduroy pencil skirt.
• Navy corduroy pencil skirt.
• Disney villains wrap skirt.
• I finished the quilt I started like a decade ago! 
• Purple corduroy skirt.  Purchased fabric and zipper, stash thread and pattern. This actually came out too big somehow, so it needs taken in. Finished by November 13.
• Christmas circle skirt. Purchased fabric and zipper, stash everything else. Finished by November 13.
• Christmas sewing: Scrub top for  mom, finished November 17.
• Pajama pants for my brother and nephew, out of matching Where The Wild Things Are cotton. Finished mid-December
• Pajama pants for my cousin's two boys, out of Veggie Tales fleece she was gifted. Finished mid-December
• Travel sized pillowcases for the boys as well, one of train printed cotton, the other out of dinosaur flannel. Finished mid-December
• Baby quilt and nursing cover for my friend Anna. Stash pattern for the nursing cover and stash batting for the quilt; purchased fabric, thread and D rings. Finished before December 15.
• Regency chemise. Machine sewn seams, hand sewn seam finishes, hems and drawstring casing. Purchased fabric (I bought an entire bolt of muslin, it was half off!), and pattern; stash cotton thread leftover from a quilting project. Finished December 29.

Full steam ahead for 2014 sewing plans!

Current Projects - December 2013

Just a few pictures of projects I've started recently:

Cut out my first pair of 18th century stays a couple weeks ago. It took a while: There's eight of each piece. The outside is a green and pink home decor print in heavy cotton, interlining is black target, and lining is green cotton.

Regency shift, using Sense and Sensibility's Regency Underthings pattern. Once the basic construction's done, I'm going to start on the short stays.

Regency spencer, from a coat I made for my former beau. I drafted my own collar piece while looking at pictures of a spencer I liked online.

And my quilt that I'm hand quilting. Definitely a long term project.

Christmas Sewing #2 - Almost Finished

Almost finished Veggie Tales fleece pajama pants for my cousin's two boys

Finished travel size pillowcases for my cousin's two boys

Finished Where The Wild Things Are pajama pants for my brother and almost finished matching pajama pants for my nephew

First Project for 2014 is....

REGENCY!

Is anyone else surprised? Because I kinda am. lol A friend (Dixie, you all know her!) wanted to start a historical costuming group and I said I was down, so we started one. Central Ohio Costuming Society, you can find us on Facebook. And then I read on one of the blogs I follow (The Victorian Needle) that there's a Regency Ball in Michigan in March 2014. I asked Dixie if she was interested and bam! I'm making an outfit in the one era I thought would be the last I tackled. I did a little research, and I could get away with a redingote or something (the ball covers 1790 to 1825, so I do have a little leeway) but I found and fell in love with the open gown so full on Regency it is! Albeit early Regency.

So, my to do list:

1. Regency undergarments: Short stays, chemise and a bodiced petticoat. I already have fabric for the short stays -- white 100% linen and 100% cotton canvas that I found in the remnant bin at Joanns. If I can get on it, I'll do the stays for the HSF 2013 One Metre challenge, if not it'll just go with the rest for the HSF 2014 Under It All challenge.
2. A gown, this will be in white as it seems to be the most common. Plus it'll be easy to dress up or down.
3. And an open robe, probably in pink (for the HSF pink challenge!) in a sari if I can find one I like.

I'm planning to purchase Sense and Sensibility's Regency underthings pattern as well as her Elegant Lady's Closet pattern for the gown. I'll use her tutorial to make the bodiced petticoat based off the gown pattern. And I'm not quite sure on the open robe yet. There aren't a lot of patterns for it out there, so I may have to learn to enlarge and or drape patterns. Eeep.

I also plan to make:

4. A spencer, by cannibalizing the aforementioned Joker coat. It's corduroy which I know they had, but I doubt ladies spencers were a common thing to make from it. But I really love the color so I'm doing it anyways. Since I'm re-using fabric, I'm doing this first to get it done for the Make Do and Mend HSF challenge. I'm going to use the Simplicity Regency dress pattern I have and figure out a pattern for this.
5. A sleeveless spencer, out of some turquoise dupioni silk I have. I don't have a lot left, but it should be enough for a cute little bodice to fancy up my white gown.

What's in Miss Wilde's Sewing Basket - Thanksgiving Edition

Here's what I'm taking home this week to work on over the holiday:

1. Fleece for the pajama pants for my cousin's boys (still need a pattern)
2. Pajama pants for my brother and nephew so I can put the elastic in and fit them. My nephew's look really small, I hope they fit :/
3. 18th century stays pattern along with material. I'd love to cut the interlining and do a fitting but don't know if that'll happen
4. Corduroy tailcoat I made for my former beau's steampunk Joker costume. I'm going to start ripping it apart so I can make myself something (details to follow on that!)
5. Oh, and the embroidery I bought in Plymouth
6. And I plan to have the materials for my friend's baby gift (which I need to buy today) so I can work on that as well. I was given little notice for the shower so it's gonna be a rush job!

I know I won't get to everything, but that's okay.

And of course, my mother's finished scrub top. I just hope she likes it.

Historical Sew Fortnightly 2014 - Edited 11/20

Okay, I'm really gonna do the 2014 HSF, I swear!

I hope!

The Dreamstress has announced the following challenges so far:

1. Make Do & Mend, due January 15. The idea for this one is to fix issues with something and get it ready for the new year, or to re-purpose fabric into something new for your historical wardrobe. No idea what I can do for this one right now, but I'm thinking about it.

2. Innovations, due February 1. "To celebrate the way inventions, introductions and discoveries have impacted fashion, make an item that reflects the newest innovations in your era." Not sure what I'll do for this one either, maybe something black, or white (innovations of dyeing and bleaching respectively) or one of those corsets I have to make (innovation of front fastening busk) or a hoop skirt because that was definitely an innovation...

3. Pink, due February 15. Oh I can definitely think of something pink to do. Maybe an 18th century petticoat.

4. Under It All, due March 1. How perfect for me! Since I need to make all sorts of undergarments. I'll just have to make sure something is done by March 1st!

Christmas Sewing #1

I finished my mom's scrub top yesterday!

I had issues with the neckline, and eventually just decided that it would have to do after the third try even though I'm still not happy with it.

The scrub top is penguin tested, penguin approved.

And I may have also made myself a little triangular headscarf out of left over fabric to wear during the Christmas season.

To Do List Update!

1. Hand quilting my embroidered quilt.

2. Purple corduroy skirt is DONE! Finished it yesterday. Actually, it's a little big (how the heck did THAT happen? cuz I've used this pattern more than once) but it's wearable. I do want to take it in though.

3. Christmas circle skirt is also DONE! It needed hemmed and a zipper. Took care of that yesterday, then tacked down the facing today, tried it on and took it in a little bit.

As for the Christmas sewing:
- Pinned the first set of seams on the scrub top for  mom
- Cut out my nephew's pj pants and pinned the first seam. Also pinned the first two seams on the pair for my brother.
- Haven't worked on the pjs for my cousin's boys yet (I don't know their measurements!), or the apron for my father (don't even have fabric for that one), or the apron for my cousin (no fabric for it either), or the pillowcase. I do have the fabric for that, but I need to buy the pillow first so I can make the right size pillowcase. She just wants a travel size pillow for him. I probably need to make her other boy a pillowcase as well, out of something interesting, maybe dinosaurs.

To Do List - Deadline December 31, 2013

1. Hand quilting my embroidered quilt. Obviously, I don't really expect this to be done, but I might surprise myself. Hand quilting is addictive, people! I sit down almost every night and do a few lines.

2. Purple corduroy skirt. This just needs a zipper.

3. Christmas circle skirt. I think all this needs is hemmed.

4. Christmas sewing: Scrub top for  mom (the deadline on this one is actually Thanksgiving). Pj pants for my brother, nephew (I'd like these put together by Thanksgiving as well, for fitting) and my cousins two boys. And probably an apron for my father, because Joanns has Clifford the Big Red Dog fabric! (his name is Clifford, thus my excitement). Oh and an apron for my cousin but that doesn't need finished til January. And a little pillowcase out of train fabric for one of my cousin's boys.

I think that's everything! Man, I really need to get on this Christmas sewing thing...Maybe I can get some done this week since I took time off from job number two. I want to get the house decorated as well.

Completed Projects as of November 12, 2013

• Finished Suicide Squad Harley Quinn for Ohayocon
• Embroidery portion of my embroidered quilt
• Keeper of the Keys corset
• Baby quilt for my cousin's little girl
• Quickie zebra print, elastic waist skirt
• Pink and white steampunk underwear ensemble.
• Green and gold corset and bustle.
• Green cotton lobster tail bustle.
• Comic print pants
• Striped corduroy skirt
• Teal pintucked taffeta underskirt 
• A new nursing cover for my sister in law in Dutch themed cotton prints.
• Red and black gingham shorts with matching bodice, sleeveless jacket and black circle skirt trimmed in the gingham. I finished the skirt sometime towards the end of July. I bought the fabric, but used a stash pattern and thread.
• Red pique pencil skirt.
• Pink and black plaid pencil skirt.
• Star Trek wrap circle skirt.
• White striped sateen wrap blouse.
• Paris printed cotton bodice.
• 60s shift dress in pink scroll cotton.
• Dotted swiss sundress and matching reversible jacket.
• Green knit shrug.
• Measuring tape printed cotton circle skirt.
• Brown capris.
• Commissioned Mad Moxxi costume!  
• Denim high waisted shorts (finished before July 29th). Purchased fabric, stash everything else. I may have bought the zipper, I don't remember.
• Pink high waisted shorts (finished before July 29th). Purchased fabric remnant, stash everything else.
• Blue embroidered linen dress and cropped pullover. No idea when I finished these. Purchased fabric and pattern (dress); stash thread, pattern (pullover), and I think I purchased the zipper for the dress. Oh, stash bias tape as well. 
• Converted a pair of capris into a skirt for my mother. 
• White eyelet 60s shift lined and trimmed in lilac cotton. The eyelet and thread were stash, and I used my vintage 60s shift pattern, everything else was purchased.
• Lolita commission for a friend: I made her three skirts for Teslacon. Finished before September 23rd.
• Jacket commission for my friend TerAnn that I started earlier this year. Finished in early October.
• Black satin jacket and skirt, natural-form-esque for Pandoracon, trimmed in vintage gold satin. Stash pattern and thread, purchased all the fabric. Also made a petticoat, purchased fabric and crinoline. Stash thread and lace. Finished early October.
• Turquoise corduroy 60s jumper from another vintage pattern. I purchased a zipper, but everything else was stash. I don't remember when I finished it.
• Striped pencil skirt, from the Echino fabric I bought in New Hampshire. Stash pattern and thread, purchased zipper. Again, I don't know when I finished it.
• Cream corduroy pencil skirt. Purchased fabric, thread and zipper, stash pattern. Unknown finished date.
• Navy corduroy pencil skirt. Purchased fabric, thread and zipper, stash pattern. Unknown finished date.
• Disney villains wrap skirt. Purchased fabric, stash thread and pattern. And OMG is it awesome. I wore it on Halloween, but I totally plan to wear it all year round. Finished before Halloween.
• I finished the quilt I started like a decade ago! I tied it on October 26 and bound it the next day. The quilt top, binding (which I made) and yarn were all stash, I bought the backing and some needles because I couldn't find mine.

2014 To Make Wish List

Okay, so I know its only November, but one of my sewing friends (Dixie) recently made a similar post so I figured I might as well start the thinking and the planning. After all, it's never too early for planning!! We're actually trying to start a historical costuming group in Columbus, so let me know if you're interested!

First of all, I think I'm going to start making a change from steampunk / pseudo historical dress into sewing more historically accurate clothing. This has been stewing for a while, so it's not really surprising that I'm making the leap.

So without further ado...

1. I still want to make an 18th outfit. Starting with a shift and stays, then an under petticoat (since a skirt is a petticoat when we're taking 18th century) and some sort of gown. I personally love the Robe a l’Anglaise for some reason. Or maybe a Robe a la Piemontasse. Or maybe just a jacket and a petticoat.  My indecision is why I figured I should just start with the undergarments!

2. I've been obsessed with the Civil War pretty much as long as I can remember. I used to doodle ridiculously full skirted dresses when I was in school. And had Civil War paper dolls, I think from when we went to Gettysburg. I blame my father for the obsession, by the way, because it's totally his fault Mr. I Have Union and Confederate Kepis hanging on my wall. Anyways, I've decided to finally give in and make a Civil War dress.  The full nine yards -- corset, shift, drawers, hoop, petticoat, and (again) some sort of dress. Also if anyone knows of any female reenactors in Ohio, I want to be friends with them. Connect us, please!

3. As some of you may know, I'm a genealogist. And I have a few favorite ancestors, one of which is my great great grandmother Minerva (Dupre) Fink. My mother recently gave me a bunch of old pictures (imagine the squee-ing the resulted), including what we believe to be their wedding photo. I'd like to recreate her wedding ensemble. They married in 1901, but since they lived in Ohio, I'm guessing she's dressed more in the late 1890s style: high necked, slightly poofy sleeves. Unfortunately, the picture is only from the waist up, so I'm going to be doing a lot of guessing. Again, this will be corset, shift, drawers, petticoat and then the dress / blouse and skirt.

Looking at this year's sewing to do lists, I'd like to finish a couple other projects next year as well that are already begun:

4. I cut out the overskirt for the sari ensemble that I want to do. I used Truly Victorian's 1886 Bordered Asymetrical Overskirt. I'd like to get that put together. And make some kind of bodice to go with it, I just don't know what yet. So it's on the to do list, but maybe not very high up on it.

5. I'd also like to finally make the 1884 Wash Overskirt (also Truly Victorian). I traced it a while back, but didn't feel like starting on it. It'll be out of grey satin to go with my Governess costume and trimmed to the nines in whatever I can find to trim it in.

Other things I'd like to do (also from my 2013 list, but not started yet):

6. I still want to do something Regency (another era I'm obsessed with). But again, I'll want to start with accurate undergarments. I actually know less about this era than others, so if I'm wrong in this forgive me, but accurate undergarments will probably mean a chemise, stays (but much different than 18th century stays), and a petticoat (or bodiced petticoat) and then a dress. And I still want a spencer because they are much too cute NOT to own one!

Added on 11/18:
7. I'd also love an Edwardian corset because they are so freaking beautiful, but I pretty much have no reason to make and wear one. 

The Airship Archon at Pandoracon!

This weekend, a handful of the Archon crew will be attending Pandoracon in Cincinnati and presenting three panels on steampunk:

• Steampunk 101 at 5 pm on Friday
• Steampunk 210 at 11:30 am on Saturday
• Steampunk on a Budget at 5:30 pm on Saturday

All three panels will be in Windsor Center. 

Pandoracon is a small sci-fi fantasy convention, so it'd be a good starter con for anyone who is new to this! I believe online sales are over, but I know badges are available onsite as well. The convention is at the Atrium hotel in the Tri County area of Cincinnati.

More information about Pandoracon can be found at their website.

As for me, I will be sitting on all three panels, moderating / leading as is usual. I started packing. Sorta. I have the costumes I think are going in my garment bag (black and grey with the square overskirt, teal skirt which I may or may not wear, Diamonds are Forever, Confederate Vivandiere, and the new black and gold ensemble will go as well...I think that's it...)  I'm also planning to take the green and gold saloon girl-esque outfit (to be worn with leggings or tights) and my cream and black Victorian underwear to wear on Sunday.

I really need to finish packing...

To Do List - Pandoracon

TerAnn's jacket:
1. Pin and then hand sew in the lining.
2. Fix the cuffs. They need a little handsewing and maybe some bias to finish the edges.

My new green and gold outfit:
1. Sew the gold satin bias onto the black satin for the ruffles. Iron it then hand stitch on the opposite side.
2. Then comes making it into ruffles and sewing said ruffles onto the black skirt.
3. Hem the black skirt. I'd like to use some horsehair braid on it, but I don't know if I'll get the chance to pick some up.
4. Skirt waistband. Closures if I have the time, but I can always safety pin it.
5. Pin and hand sew the lining into the bolero.
6. Trim the bolero sleeves in gold satin bias.
7. Whipstitch the crinoline train into the petticoat.
8. If there's time, sew a closure onto the petticoat. If not, safety pins.

The green overskirt is already done. As is the petticoat.

T minus NINE days and counting.

Sewing To Do List Updates!

The quilts are pinned!

This is the decade old UFO mystery quilt that I finally finished.

And this is my "look at the unfinished for a decade quilt top that I finally finished and pinned together for quilting" face

This is the embroidered quilt with border.

Close up of the embroidered quilt.

 Commissions:
1. Lolita - Done and passed off. I'm hoping to do a little more for her, but that'll have to wait til all the Pandoracon prep is finished.
2. Jacket -  This has been worked on, next step is to fixed the sleeves, get them attached, then do the ruffle and the lining.

My Pandoracon prep:
1. Natural form petticoat is basically done. It still needs a waistband and a little reinforcement.

Lace trim on the first train ruffle.

Putting ruffles on the train.

Finished train.

Almost finished petticoat.

2. Black skirt is cut out and put together, but I haven't started the ruffles yet.
3. Black bolero is also cut out, but I haven't started working on it yet. It'll need lining, I'm thinking gold satin.
4. And I started work on the green overskirt. It's cut out, has fringe and I've started sewing on the gold bias.

In progress green overskirt.

 "Real" Clothes Sewing:
1. The vintage pattern jumper is put together and has a zipper. I need to figure out how to do the neck and arms. I'm either going to do bias tape flipped to the inside (which I'll probably have to buy) or bias trim cut from the fabric, I just worry that would be too heavy since it's corduroy.
2. I cut out the purple corduroy skirt, I went with a full skirt from a Vogue dress pattern.
3. I also cut out the cream pencil skirt. The fabric's a little tight, because I really didn't have enough for the pattern so we'll see how it goes together. Since the fabric stretches, I'm hoping its okay. I don't have enough lining either, so that may end up cut shorter than the skirt. The lining isn't a stretch fabric though...Hmmm maybe it just won't be lined.
4. I didn't cut out the navy corduroy skirt, because I knew I'd have the same issue that I had with the cream - not enough fabric. And since it didn't stretch like the cream corduroy, I decided to use a different skirt pattern. Fingers crossed I have enough for said pattern.

Once all that's done, I need to start Christmas sewing...
1. Mom's new scrub top is cut out
2. And I get to make a bunch of pj pants -- my brother, my nephew and I think my cousin's two boys.

Miss Wilde at Wizard World Ohio Comic Con

FRIDAY - dark jeans (which you can't see), black tank and turquoise corset vest that is my new obsession. Also pictured: Prof. Torrey Tesla looking dapper as always and TerAnn. Picture by Brian Kollig.

SATURDAY MORNING: black lace blouse, black skirt with a petticoat, black hat trimmed in pink, pink corset (I was laced in by a Mando!), pink tights and ballet flats. Picture by Sally Van Eycke.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: I broke out the steampunk Harley Quinn (aka Diamonds are Forever) with the new wig. Isn't it amazing?! TerAnn wore her steampunk Ivy costume. Here we're with another Ivy and her Spiderman slave. I loved their costumes, thought it was a super cute idea. Picture by Sally Van Eycke.

Ivy and Harley (TerAnn and myself) meeting Jim Henson and playing with his Kermit puppet. I really love Kermit, btw. Best. Muppet. Ever. Picture by Corielle.

And then...I met Sheamus from the WWE. *swoons* Picture by his security guard.

Besides the costume fun, I also got to hang out with friends, make new friends, randomly run into someone I knew years ago back home and so forth. Our table was REALLY popular, we had a lot of interest and hopefully recruited a lot of new people for the Airship.

And that was MY weekend!

Wizard World Ohio Comic Con

As your Airship Archon Convention Liaison, I am happy to report that we've been granted a fan table at the upcoming Ohio Comic Con, September 20-22! The convention hours are:

 Friday, September 20 from 3 pm to 8 pm

Saturday, September 21 from 10 am to 7 pm

and Sunday, September 22 from 10 am to 5 pm

I'll be on duty on Friday afternoon and most if not all of the day on Saturday.  On Saturday, I'll be in my steampunk Harley Quinn if anyone wants pictures! Our First Lieutenant Sally will be on duty all of Saturday and Sunday and she'll be joined on Sunday by our lovely Education Officer, Gloria. We also have several other members who will be serving their airship at the convention. And we'll be at the Ace of Cups on Friday, promoting the convention!

So if you're in Ohio, and interested in comics and or steampunk, then you should check out Ohio Comic Con. We'll have all sorts of books, props, baubles and clothes for you to fondle, I mean examine, and we'll be ready, willing and able to discuss steampunk in general as well as upcoming Archon events.

Come out and see me! You know you want to. :)

To Do List Update - Fall Convention Prep

Since convention season is starting, and the weather will be turning cold soon, here's my current to do list:

White eyelet lined and trimmed in lilac cotton 60s shift - DONE

Two quilt tops and backs - DONE. Next up is the pinning this weekend.

Finished UFO mystery quilt top

Embroidered quilt, it now has a pink border.

Lolita commission. Deadline is mid October for Teslacon. - Coming along well.

Jacket commission I started months ago for a friend. Deadline is mid October for Pandoracon - This still needs worked on.

Finish my green and gold outfit - Natural Form, steampunk style. I need to make a natural form-esque petticoat and underskirt, both with ruffles, and also a long green overskirt trimmed in fringe. Deadline - Pandoracon -- I've started this. The petticoat is cut out and I've started construction. It's going to have a removable under section of crinoline with a ruffle to give it some extra ooomph. I bought black satin for the skirt (about 7 yards of it) as well as some black mirror organza, which will likely become ruffles on the overskirt. Currently, I'm working on the ruffles on the petticoat train.

Hand sewing lace onto the bottom ruffle of the petticoat train.

Purple corduroy skirt - This is prewashed but I still don't know what pattern I'm using. I'm tempted to do a full skirt over a pencil, if I have enough. It's a large wale corduroy and I just don't know if that'll work in a pencil skirt.

Striped Echino skirt - This is cut out. I went with a Vogue skirt pattern that has a ruffle at the bottom. So the stripes are vertical on the skirt itself and the ruffle was cut so the stripes start horizontal and get chevron-y towards the side seams.

Cutting this out made me nervous...I ended up basically cutting one layer at a time.

Turquoise corduroy - I cut out another 60s vintage pattern, a vneck jumper.

Vintage pattern and the turquoise corduroy. I even remembered to buy matching thread and zipper!

If possible, a new mask for Diamonds are Forever.




When I purchased the black satin and organza, I also picked up a couple other things...cream corduroy for a skirt along with lining (pencil skirt) and navy corduroy for another pencil skirt. There was a clearance sale. And I love corduroy. And I want to phase out wearing pants. Okay, I'm done justifying my fabric shopping. lol Also I somehow remembered to get thread to match the cream and navy, but no zippers for either of those or for my striped fabric.


And here's what I bought when I got the petticoat fabric --

L to R: pink flannel for the back of the mystery quilt, white crinoline, white muslin and Christmas fabric for my mom's Christmas gift - a new scrub top (she'll get it early, obviously)

To Do List - Deadline Mid October

Since convention season is starting, and the weather will be turning cold soon, here's my current to do list:

White eyelet lined and trimmed in lilac cotton 60s shift - I screwed up the hem, just need to redo it and this is done.


By September 8th, I want to have the embroidered quilt ready for pinning and maybe another quilt ready as well. The second quilt is a 10 year old UFO that I'm trying to get finished. I'm really tempted just to back it with flannel and tie quilt it so its a pretty lightweight quilt.

Lolita commission. Deadline is mid October for Teslacon.

Jacket commission I started months ago for a friend. Deadline is mid October for Pandoracon

Finish my green and gold outfit - Natural Form, steampunk style. I need to make a natural form-esque petticoat and underskirt, both with ruffles, and also a long green overskirt trimmed in fringe. Deadline - Pandoracon


Purple corduroy skirt - I'd like to get this finished sooner rather than later so I have it ready before the cold hit. If only I could decide what pattern to use...

Striped pencil skirt. Again, I want this done before the cold hits. I'm kinda excited about this, I plan to play with the stripes a little bit on a basic pencil skirt pattern.

I have some turquoise corduroy, I'm thinking either a skirt or a jumper if I have enough fabric. Before the cold comes.

If possible, a new mask for Diamonds are Forever.

Everything else is getting pushed back til after Pandoracon.

My Summer Vacation Wardrobe - What I Actually Wore

Day one - Standard traveling ensemble of jeans and a tshirt

Day two - Red top tucked into my measuring tape circle skirt so all the cute details of the skirt showed

Day three - Blue embroidered linen dress aka the cotton candy dress

Common Burial Ground in Newport, RI

Day four - Red and black ensemble

Pilgrim Hall in Plymouth, MA

Day five - Black v neck tshirt tucked into my Star Trek skirt

Hotel outside Concord, NH

Day six - Pink 60s shift dress

Day seven - Jeans and a tshirt again for the drive home

Of course, I took several things that I didn't wear, including my high waisted denim shorts and my brown capris.

For more pictures from my awesome vacation (mostly of Sigmund), check out my instagram!

Updated - To Sew Before the End of the Year

So far...

1. Finish my retro-inspired summer vacation wardrobe (black skirt trimmed in red and black plaid, pink shorts, denim shorts, blue linen dress, seersucker blouse) - DONE! Well, mostly. The seersucker blouse is still in pieces. It may be destined to be a UFO actually...

2. Finish the embroidered quilt top and get it pinned before cold weather comes. Then spend the winter hand quilting it. - Working on it!

3. Start my 18th century outfit, if I could have the undergarments finished before the end of the year I'd be happy. Heck if I could get them started, I'd be happy.

4. Finish my green and gold outfit. I want to make a longer overskirt in green trimmed in gold and a gold underskirt. By Pandoracon if possible. If not, then Ohayocon. Maybe use the wash overskirt pattern? - Current thought is to do this in a natural form-esque style. I have a fantail-ish skirt pattern (it's just a formal skirt pattern, but I think it'll do for steampunk natural form) and I think I can just wing a long, slim overskirt.

5. I have this idea for a new steampunk outfit, either in some train fabric I was gifted recently, or some clearance travel-esque fabric I bought a while back in oranges and yellows. - My friends all vote trains. And I do love trains. But I keep picturing this in the oranges and yellows...Maybe because I need some new colors in my wardrobe.

6. Finish a quilt top I started FOREVER ago.

7. And for lucky number seven, make a wash overskirt in my grey satin trimmed to heck with black and silver and red.

8. Oh, and make a skirt from the two yards of wide wale purple corduroy I just bought. Can you say winter work wardrobe?

9. And I'd really love to make a coat. I have a pattern in my stash that's only like 10 years old or so... It's Vogue 7634.

10. A head to toe sari steampunk using my asymetrical skirt overskirt pattern and a yet to be determined bodice. I  *may* have cut this out the other day when I was working on a different project...

11. And I just started another 60s shift -- white eyelet lined in lilac cotton. One last hurrah for summer sewing!

Summer Vacation Wardrobe Update - The Pictures!

Blue embroidered linen dress I'm working on right now. It's McCalls 6503.

Finished black circle skirt trimmed in black and red plaid.

Black and red plaid pockets for the above skirt.

Partially finished denim high waisted shorts.

Partially finished pink high waisted shorts.

Wearing the red pique pencil skirt to work. Aka my Dr Quinzel Pencil Skirt.

Wearing my brown capris and white bolero to work.

Partially finished red and black plaid bodice.

Weekend Success!

Denim high waisted shorts? DONE.

Pink high waisted shorts? DONE.

Black circle skirt trimmed with black and red plaid? Also DONE. The most challenging part of this skirt was piecing together scraps of the plaid to have enough bias for the hem. I mean, they were SCRAPS. Definitely one of the most frugal things I've ever sewn! I did go for the non-wrap skirt option, with a half elastic waist in the back. I used a Butterick reprint dress pattern for the skirt, and that's the way the dress is done so I figured it made sense to do the skirt the same way.

And my mom's skirt just needs the added bits to be hemmed, which shouldn't take long. Her skirt is difficult for me, because it's hard to imagine what it'll look like on when her body type is so different from mine. So fingers crossed it works out well.

I also: Cleaned my room. Cleaned the kitchen and did the dishes. And started packing for vacation.

Update on My Retro Inspired Summer Vacation Wardrobe

So far...
1. Finished the dotted swiss dress with matching reversible bolero. (unlikely to actually take on vacation since it's you know, white, plus it may be too fancy for vacation)
2. Red and black gingham printed bottomweight high waisted shorts with coordinating top and sleeveless shrug.
3. Red pique pencil skirt. (I still haven't decided if this is going with me or not, because it skirts that too dressy line)
4. Pink and black plaid pencil skirt (Probably not packing. The cotton pique I can argue being not too dressy, but not this skirt as its a little on the sateen side)
5. Star Trek wrap circle skirt
6. White on white striped cotton wrap blouse.
7. Black and white Paris printed cotton blouse.
8. 60s shift dress in pink floral. (Even though its a dress, this is going because I think its casual enough)
9. Measuring tape printed cotton circle skirt with pockets and tabs on the waistband.
10. Dotted brown bottomweight capris.
11. Pink plaid-ish shorts. Which gave me issues. Although it was the same pattern as the red and black shorts, these were too small, I think because the fabric lacked stretch. So I took the half done waistband off, took out the zipper, ripped out the center seam, resewed the center seam with a 3/8 inch seam instead of the previously used 5/8, put the zipper back in, tried them on. They were still just a touch snug, so I took out the back darts and made them into little pleats so the waistband is still the same size and they still sit where I want them, but the shorts themselves have a little more give. I'm also thinking that maybe I should have lined the shorts, but its too late for that now. All they need is the hook and eye closure, but I'm going to give them a laundering first.
12. Cropped pullover in blue embroidered linen.

On my to do list:
1. Finish the denim high waisted shorts. I plan to do some topstitching, redo the as of now basted zipper, put on the waistband and launder before I add the hook and eye, in case the fabric shrinks.
2. Finish the black circle skirt, which I still haven't decided if its going to be a wrap skirt or not. Leaning towards not and maybe even giving it an elastic waistband... I've started pinning the red and black trimming on. I had to piece the back piece of the skirt, so I'm going to emphasize that with a line of plaid, and echo it on the front as well. I also have pockets in the plaid for the front.
3. If I manage to finish everything else, I may try to get the blue linen dress finished, even if it doesn't go on vacation with me.

While not for MY vacation wardrobe, I need to finish the conversion of a pair of capris into a skirt for my mother, for HER vacation wardrobe.

This weekend, I need to finish that sewing, do some laundry and start packing.

PS There's pictures over on my Instagram (midnyghtsnow) but I'm on a borrowed computer and I can't get them posted over here :(

Radically Revised To Do List

Since my 2013 Sewing To Do List is obviously not happening, here's what I'd like to do over the next few months, in absolutely NO particular order:

1. Finish my retro-inspired summer vacation wardrobe (black skirt trimmed in red and black plaid, pink shorts, denim shorts, blue linen dress, seersucker blouse)

2. Finish the embroidered quilt top and get it pinned before cold weather comes. Then spend the winter hand quilting it.

3. Start my 18th century outfit, if I could have the undergarments finished before the end of the year I'd be happy. Heck if I could get them started, I'd be happy.

4. Finish my green and gold outfit. I want to make a longer overskirt in green trimmed in gold and a gold underskirt. By Pandoracon if possible. If not, then Ohayocon. Maybe use the wash overskirt pattern?

5. I have this idea for a new steampunk outfit, either in some train fabric I was gifted recently, or some clearance travel-esque fabric I bought a while back in oranges and yellows.

6. Finish a quilt top I started FOREVER ago.

7. And for lucky number seven, make a wash overskirt in my grey satin trimmed to heck with black and silver and red.

8. Oh, and make a skirt from the two yards of wide wale purple corduroy I just bought. Can you say winter work wardrobe?

9. And I'd really love to make a coat. I have a pattern in my stash that's only like 10 years old or so... It's Vogue 7634.

Completed Projects as of July 19 2013

• Finished Suicide Squad Harley Quinn for Ohayocon
• Embroidery portion of my embroidered quilt
• Keeper of the Keys corset
• Baby quilt for my cousin's little girl
• Quickie zebra print, elastic waist skirt
• Pink and white steampunk underwear ensemble.
• Green and gold corset and bustle.
• Green cotton lobster tail bustle.
• Comic print pants
• Striped corduroy skirt
• Teal pintucked taffeta underskirt 
• A new nursing cover for my sister in law in Dutch themed cotton prints (finished before June 3rd). Purchased fabric, stash thread pattern and D rings.
• Red and black gingham shorts (finished before June 13th) and matching bodice (finished before July 17th) Purchased fabric ribbon and zippers, stash thread and pattern.
• Red pique pencil skirt (finished before June 13th). Purchased pattern fabric and zipper, stash thread and lace hem tape.
• Pink and black plaid pencil skirt (finished before June 13th). Purchased fabric and zipper, stash thread and pattern.
• Star Trek wrap circle skirt (finished before June 13th). Purchased fabric, stash thread and pattern.
• White striped sateen wrap blouse (finished before June 13th) Purchased and stash fabric, stash thread and pattern.
• Paris printed cotton bodice. (finished before June 13th) I think I purchased a zipper, the thread pattern and fabric were from my stash.
• 60s shift dress (finished before June 13th) Purchased fabric and zipper, stash thread and pattern. Still ecstatic about my first vintage pattern sewn!
• Dotted swiss sundress (finished before June 13th) Purchased fabric (some may count as stash because I purchased it several months ago), stash pattern, thread, and elastic.
• Green knit shrug (finished before June19th) Purchased fabric, downloaded pattern, stash thread button and elastic (for the button loop)
• Reversible dotted swiss jacket (finished before June19th) Stash fabric pattern and thread.
• Measuring tape printed cotton circle skirt (finished before June19th) Purchased fabric, stash thread buttons and zipper.
• Brown capris (finished before June 21st) Purchased fabric and zipper, stash pattern and closure.
• Oh and a commissioned Mad Moxxi costume! (finished by the end of May)

EDITED

• Sleeveless jacket in the red and black plaid. Stash everything. (I think I finished this on July 21st)

Update on my 2013 To Do List

1. I set the goal to try out a couple tutorials I found online. I did make American Duchess' Lobster Tail Bustle, but I haven't gotten around to the Butterfly Bustle Drape on Your Wardrobe Unlocked

2. And I still haven't made my Alison swimsuit. It was going to be part of my summer vacation wardrobe but I just haven't gotten around to it.

3. Nor have I made the1884 Wash Overskirt from Truly Victorian. Although I did trace the pattern, so that's a step in the right direction.

4. The Natural Form Victorian dress hasn't happened either.

5. Or the 18th century costume, starting with the stays. Although I do have fabric for the stays, so that's something.

6. Or the Regency outfit, probably a dress and spencer, based off of Simplicity 4055


I have sewn a lot this year. It's just depressing to me that I haven't made much progress on my 2013 sewing goals.

What Has Miss Wilde Been Up To?

I started the lolita commission. The cream overskirt is ready for a try on and the grey tiered underskirt needs a little work, but it will be ready soon. The red overskirt is on hold because I don't have ribbon for the ties and its too hot to iron the seams. (90s all week + no central air = no ironing, among other things)

Other than that, I've been working to get things finished for my upcoming trip to New England! You know, that whole retro summer vacation wardrobe idea.

So far, I've made:

1. Brown capris (that I liked better when I actually wore them, in case you were wondering)
2. Red and black gingham high waisted shorts with a matching bodice (the bodice just needs ribbon ties on the halter neck before it's finished)
3. Red pique pencil skirt
4. Black and red large gingham plaid pencil skirt
5. Star Trek printed cotton wrap circle skirt
6. Measuring tape printed cotton circle skirt with pockets and I'm in the process of adding tabs to the waist to solve a little fit issue
7. White striped sateen wrap blouse
8. Black and white Paris printed cotton blouse
9. Pink 60s shift dress from a vintage pattern
10. White and blue dotted swiss dress

What I hope to make before I leave:

1. Finish the blue linen dress that I've barely started
2. A cropped pullover top from the leftover blue linen (it'd look great with those brown capris!)
3. Another pair of high waisted shorts, probably in denim
4. Black wrap circle skirt trimmed in the red and black gingham to coordinate with the shorts and bodice
5. Maybe another 60s shift dress (I definitely want another one, just don't know if I can get it done before vacation)
6. And if I end up with extra time, that 40s seersucker blouse. Which I have started, I just can't get up the interest to work on it

What's in Miss Wilde's Sewing Basket today? The measuring tape skirt and tabs. The blue linen dress with interfacing (okay, its really leftover poly cotton broadcloth from lining the Swiss dot dress because as you know, I really hate interfacing) for me to hand baste.

After all the sewing is done, then of course comes the best part -- the PACKING FOR VACATION.

Just a couple pictures...

Finished brown capris. Still not 100% happy with them, definitely like the pattern better as shorts.

And my measuring tape skirt now has pockets!

Update! Everything's Coming Along Nicely :)

I finished the green knit shrug. It's made from a remnant of my favorite knit, rayon spandex, that Joanns sells. I used a free shrug pattern from Tanit-Isis (one of my favorite bloggers, y'all should check her out), but altered it. Instead of a band all the way around and on the sleeves, I added a drape-y collar from a piece of left over material. The sleeves are unhemmed (for  now at least) but I did finish the back hem with a band. It's not super pretty looking but I think it looks well enough, especially to non-seamstress trained eyes).

The reversible retro swiss dot jacket is also DONE. Basic construction was done on the machine, then the two sides were machine basted together and I did the binding called for by the pattern in white, by hand.

I'm still working on the red and black bodice.

Close up of the red and black gingham I'm making the shorts and matching bodice out of.

The measuring tape skirt is DONE, except for the pockets. I feel like its a little too big, so I have have to rectify that at some point...Or just wear it as is. I'm planning to do buttonholes at a friend's tonight (my machine doesn't do them) and then hand stitch on the pockets and buttons. I have some red ones picked out!

Finished measuring tape circle skirt. I did all the hand stitching in red. Btw I used a vintage zipper!

And I decided that I needed my brown capris for this weekend, so I cut those out Monday night and put them together. The zipper's in, I need to finish the waistband and hem them. Before I hem, I'm going to give them another try on. It's the same pattern as the shorts, just a longer view, and somehow I'm not sold on the fit of these...

Speaking of this weekend, do you know how hard it is to plan four or five outfits that look nice, cover my tattoos (which if you are unaware cover a good portion of my body from shoulder to knee), and will be cool in mid to upper 80 degree weather?

So right now, I'm looking to:

• Finish the brown capris for this weekend (obviously)
• Get the pockets on the measuring tape skirt (even though its wearable without them)
• Finish the red and black bodice
• Finally make that 40s seersucker blouse
• Start working on the lolita commission I have waiting for me at home 
• And then cut out the blue linen dress and pink and white blouse
• I'd love to make another pair of the shorts I did in red and black, but in denim

June Steampunk Blog Link Party! at Steam Ingenious

I was just asked by Violet over at Steam Ingenious to join her monthly blog link party. So you should all go check out the great blogs involved!

Now to choose what to link to for this blog...

Retro Inspired Summer Wardrobe Progress

I've been up to a lot of sewing lately.

I finished that Mad Moxxi commission (and she LOVED it). And I've taken on some Lolita style skirts and vests for another commission. Fabric's in my car, waiting to be prewashed this weekend.

As for my summer retro-inspired wardrobe:

• The red and black gingham shorts are DONE, the matching top is maybe halfway there. The shorts ended up awesomely high waisted, totally need to make another pair, maybe in denim... The zipper, hooks and eyes and hem were done by hand.

• The red pique pencil skirt is DONE, hem and zipper by hand. I used some lace on the hem as hem tape to make it a little prettier.

• As is the black and pink plaid pencil skirt. Which I am very proud of, because it was my first foray into matched plaid.

• The Star Trek wrap circle skirt is DONE, with a hand sewn hem.
  
• I used my walkaway dress pattern to make a wrap blouse out of striped white on white sateen and trimmed it in the black Paris print. And that's DONE.
• The top I made using a retro Butterick reprint dress pattern out of said Paris print is DONE, the collar is the white striped sateen and so is the binding on the hem (by hand). 
• My 60s shift dress is DONE, my first use of a vintage pattern was successful! I took in the back darts a little, I think if I made another dress I'd mess with the front as well. Has some extra slack there.

The wrap blouse, red pique skirt and shift dress in progress.

• And the dotted swiss dress is DONE as well, hand hemmed the skirt and the lining.
  

In progress:

• A green knit shrug to wear this summer when I don't want my tattoos to show
• A retro style cropped reversible jacket out of left over dotted swiss - one side white on white, the other blue, trimmed in the white on white dots.
• The black and red gingham bodice.
• The measuring tape circle skirt - It's put together, and I made a couple pockets (lined w red pique); needs the zipper, waistband and hem.

• I have the 40s striped seersucker cut out, but haven't worked on it yet. And the brown capris, the blue linen dress and the pink and white blouse are still waiting til I'm done with what's already cut out. I think the pink and white might end up a Colette Sorbetto...