Truly Victorian Wish List...

...comes to $70. Without shipping.

Ouch.

Well closer to $60 really, because I'm not completely sold on the one bodice pattern I have on there right now...But still, that's rather a lot.

What I would like to buy:

• Victorian petticoats. It comes with four petticoats - early bustle, natural form, late bustle and belle epoch. Definitely a good investment.
• 1870s Underskirt. I need this to go under my square overskirt. I'll make it in the pretty grey taffeta I got for a steal.
  
• 1885 Four Gore Underskirt. Eventually I would like to make this to go with my asymmetrical overskirt, probably in pink satin.
  
• 1873 Polanaise. Not a good investment, doesn't go with anything I already have but I WANT it. It is so freaking pretty.
  
• The only bodice I have is the 1884 French vest and I'm not completely sold on it. So that can definitely wait.
  

I think the most important are probably the petticoat pattern and the underskirt patterns. Even though I really REALLY want the polanaise, I have plans for the others that go with costumes currently in my wardrobe or under construction. So I can justify (somewhat) the underskirt patterns, and the petticoats, but I could wait for the latter if necessary.

And now, it's bedtime. Bonne nuit!

Truly Victorian Pattern Sewing Plans

1886 Bordered Asymmetrical Overskirt: This needs to be done in a bordered fabric. I'm thinking of using a sari-esque brocade. If I can find one that coordinates with some stash fabric, then I could make the vest basque to match. This is going to be an expensive undertaking, because most brocades are around $10 a yard, and I'll need 4.5 yards just for the overskirt, more if I use some as part of a matching bodice.


1884 Wash Overskirt: I have a few ideas for this one. I could do pink satin trimmed in black to go with my plans for the vest basque. Or I could use up some other stash fabric like a white and black floral or the purple linen.


1875 Square Overskirt: I really want to use up some stash materials on this. I want to make it out of my black and silver plaid, trimmed in silver lace laid over black ribbon so it doesn't disappear against the plaid. If I don't have enough plaid, I could do the back poufs in a coordinating fabric, like black or silver satin or even black flocked chiffon like the underskirt I'll wear this with.


1872 Vest Basque: Again, I have several ideas. Pink satin trimmed in black. Or if I can find a sari brocade to coordinate, maybe use my purple linen here.

Of course, all of these plans depend on how much yardage I have of everything, because I have no idea.

A little progress, A little more planning

First of all, I just sat at my desk at work and made a pattern for the Harley Quinn collar. All I did was pull up a picture of Harley and draw until it looked right. Yeah for progress!! I may even take the white taffeta home with me this weekend to work on.

Also in my sewing box for the weekend: Elf Punk bustle. Pink jumper. Navy jumper. Keeper of the Keys skirt. I won't really be able to sew any of it except the bustle, but I can at least start pinning all those freaking darts. I think there's twelve total on each jumper.

I did a little shopping today, mainly notions (needles, elastic and hook and eye closures, you know the necessities) but I also bought six yards of white tiny pompom trim for the Diamonds are Forever jacket and a pattern for my homage to the 18th century.

I purchased Simplicity 4092. Now I know its not really very accurate, but I'm just not much for historical accuracy: that's why I do steampunk. And I think some of the construction details can be altered to make it more accurate, like taking away the back zipper and putting buttons down the front. It was also the closest I could find to this dress (that Beau likes), from Sleepy Hollow. I might make it in the cream and black flocked satin for the bodice with a black petticoat, perhaps trimmed in cream.


Photo from Maggie's Costume Wardrobe.

As for the gypsy steampunk skirt, I've decided to go the crazy quilt route. This is going to be a labor of love my friends. I plan to buy about 4 yards of broadcloth to use as the base fabric and I'm going with a circle skirt style, probably based on the skirt of Butterick 4790. I need to sort through my scraps and even my fabric, picking out the best fabrics (I'm thinking deep rich colors, colors that coordinate with the blouse, and fabrics on the richer end of the spectrum). Once the skirt is put together, I'll start on the embroidery and maybe even the beading. I told you it'd be a labor of love. I'm also contemplating the high backed corset vest out of teal silk dupioni that I have in my stash. If I have enough and if its a good color with the blouse.

I may even take my steampunk Harley Quinn jacket home this weekend so I can start on the trim, thus giving me time over Thanksgiving to devote to the crazy quilt skirt.

A bientot!

In Me Made March news...

I'm wearing my City Bluescape skirt today. I discovered that I had a blue cardigan that matches relatively well, so I paired the skirt with it over a black tshirt. I'm also wearing white tights and black flats.

I actually rather feel like Alice in Wonderland with the blue and white skirt worn with white tights and black flats...

In other news, I have another commission! A friend needs a corset by MARCon and since Kevin postponed his ROTJ Han Solo vest, I decided to take it on. And I have sewing related plans this week -- First up is fabric shopping with Miss Dashwood this evening for lace for her bustle. And tomorrow I have tentative plans with a friend to help her on some sewing projects. She's a relatively new sewer, and I just can't help myself, I want to guide her along.

A bientot!

Miss Leah J Wilde