Pictures from Weekend Sewing

First up, some corset pictures!

Corset flossing, day one or two. Its a learning process, as you can tell.

Corset flossing, halfway through the process

Corset flossing complete, time to start putting in the eyelets!

Eyelets complete, only thing left is to trim it out in some pink lace that matches the chemise and petticoat perfectly.

Next, I started putting together the comic pants! I decided to ditch the center front fly zipper for a simple side zip.  I was also worried fit (since the pants were cut out about ten years ago) so I did a 3/8 inch seam. I may go ahead and take it in to a 5/8, but I'm okay with the current fit. Next is adding the waistband, putting in the zipper and hemming them. And then I'll have a new pair of pants!

Comic pants, stage one of construction

Corset, petticoat and current sewing projects - Pictures!

Basting the layers together before binding

Binding a corset really kills your fingers

Corset with the binding finished!

Finished ruffle panel!

Hem ruffle on the petticoat

Pants the I'd like to finish - comic print fabric

Skirt I'd like to finish - black corduroy and floral corduroy. Adding the floral print because the UFO skirt as originally cut would be too short for me now - It would show the tattoos

A Little Update...

First of all, check out  my Instagram for lots of inprogress photos of current projects! My username is midnyghtsnow

Now, despite being sick last week (I caught some 24 hour stomach flu that I'm STILL recovering from), I managed to get quite a bit done.

1. The ruffled panel and the petticoat for my pink and white steampunk underwear are DONE. All that's left now is the corset...

2. Which I have worked on, a lot. It's put together, boned, and I finished the binding yesterday. Next up is the eyelets (once I fix a little problem - I didn't really leave room for said eyelets where they should go...) and then the flossing and probably the trimming. Contemplating trimming it out in pink lace that I have that is pretty much the exact some shade of pink to match the chemise and petticoat.

3. I also pulled out a few UFOs and some stash fabric to work on making some new clothes for work. In the picture above, you can see a pencil skirt pattern (I'm working on a black corduroy trimmed in floral corduroy version, and I may be making one out of the narrow stripe in the picture as well), another skirt pattern that is cut out of a taupe suiting, a dress that I made years ago that never fit (I cut the top and skirt apart, gonna add a waistband to the skirt and maybe repurpose the bodice as well), another dress pattern that was cut out of purple cotton, and a pair of pants out of the coolest fabric -- comic print. I also have some turquoise corduroy that I want to make a skirt out of and a white and black silky material that I think wants to be a blouse...

Weekend Progress

I did get the pink and white steampunk underwear almost finished.
- The petticoat still needs its closure. I'm tempted to add some lace to though...and maybe some ruffles...
- The ruffled back piece is almost done. I need to cover the raw edges of the ruffles and add the 'waistband' and some way to attach it to the petticoat of course. A tie is tempting...easier than the buttons I was originally planning. And would probably redistribute the weight better as well...
- The corset is pretty much put together. I need assistance from a friend to round off the edges of the corset bones and then it'll be pretty much smooth sailing from there. Round the bones, baste the lining and outer fabric together, bind all the edges, add the lace and then comes the flossing! I've got several shades of floss picked out, I think I knew which one I'm going with.

Once all that's done, I think my next project needs to be some work clothes. Because I am consumed with ennui over my current wardrobe choices. I think I need a few new skirts. Time to raid the fabric and pattern stash! Oh and an Easter dress...honestly I might not bother with that. Easter's so early this year that I can't wear what I would like to anyways. Maybe I'll just make a swiss dot sundress for the summer.

Work clothes ideas: I have some turquoise and silver corduroy. And an awesome pair of comic printed pants I started years ago. I could finish those...New work clothes AND a UFO!

Weekend Quilting

Post Dragon-Con and in the midst of moving plans and with my beau constantly mentioning it, I have decided that the first order of business should be finishing his quilt.

If you follow faithfully, you will realize that I have been working on this quilt for a long time. The first post concerning it was made last December. Hmmm, I think less than a year turn around for quilt is more than sufficient, don't you?

The quilt top has been put together. The batting and backing were pinned together with the top. I started the quilting a while ago, I'm going with tie-quilting based on the size of the quilt. After this weekend, I am happy to say that the quilt is more than halfway quilted. A large rectangular portion is finished, there are a little over two rows to finish from that portion to the right edge of the quilt and then a lower portion across the entirety of the quilt that is four rows deep left to quilt.

After the quilting comes the binding. At least a portion of that will be done on the machine, if not all of it. I haven't decided on color yet, or if I'm going to use pre-made binding or make my own. I lean towards the latter (less expensive) but pre-made would look neater. Although I do have a friend that has a binding machine...Perhaps I should send her a letter...

I plan to start organizing and packing my sewing room this evening. I may also pull out a UFO or two to work on, we'll see.

Fall / Winter Sewing Plans

Now that Dragon*Con has come and gone, it is time to start planning my fall and winter sewing.

First of all, I recently received the news that I will be leaving the Companion's Shuttle and moving to other quarters aboard the airship (perhaps into my beau's?). Obviously, I will not be starting or working on any projects until this move is completed.

There are four things I'd like to focus on over the next several months: 'normal' sewing for my wardrobe; working on an 18th century costume; working on a Mara Jade costume; and finally sewing for Miss Von Stoup.

(1) Wardrobe sewing: I'd like some new, professional but fun, clothes for work. I definitely want to make Simplicity 3673, which is already in my pattern stash. I'm thinking a cute plaid that would coordinate with a few of my blouses. I'm also tempted to use the same pattern to do a high waisted skirt with suspenders, a skirt that could be worn to work or as part of a steampunk costume. There's a cute little retro dress pattern (New Look 6000) that I really love and would like to make, maybe out of a nice suiting. And I have a skirt I start several months ago that I'd like to finish. Also, I'm sure I have several UFOs (unfinished objects) that I could finish as well. I may actually work on some of the UFOs over the next few weeks before I move. EDIT I remembered that I have some wide wale corduroy in a teal blue color. I'm thinking it would work for the jumper or for the high waisted skirt.

(2) 18th century costume: I am dying to make and wear a robe a l'anglaise. Of course, the first thing I need to do is make a pair of stays. Thankfully, Butterick has a pattern that is rumored to be fairly accurate so I can at least get one inexpensive pattern. I know I can make a petticoat without a pattern, and probably the chemise as well. Once the underwear is done, I'll move on to making the actual robe a l'anglaise. No idea what I'm going to use to make any of this, by the way.

(3) Sewing for Miss Von Stoup: I still have several lengths of fabric to use to make her some new costumes. Black and silver damask for a polonaise (probably), some more of the Asian print and of the cream,...that may be it.

(4) Mara Jade: I really need to buckle down and just make this costume, I just dread sewing with stretch material as well as doing the quilting and piping.

PS This may sound strange but I really want to make a Christmas steampunk outfit. Elf-punk? I have an old Christmas table cloth that I'm dying to make into a bustle. Its all white and red and green and has this awesome fringe on it. And I already have a red corset I could wear with it...