Time Traveler Entry #20

Dears,

Today I - basted the purple ruffle onto the bustle, gathered pinned and then basted the white ruffle onto the bustle and started pinning the lining to the outer bustle. Unfortunately I ran into a couple problems and so decided to set it aside for the evening - as it is fastly approaching midnight, oh dear! - and head to bed for some much needed slumber.

I also purchased the first two components of the prop that will accompany this costume. So excited to actually make a prop!

I feel quite productive. Despite the lost argument with my bustle. Tomorrow is another day after all.

A bientot!

Miss Leah J. Wilde


Ruffle attachment in progress. I was amused by the image of my bustle stuffed into the drawer of my desk.

Time Traveler Entry #19

My dearest darling readers,

Progress has been made! I finished sewing the green ribbon onto the second ruffle today. I also hemmed the white satin bustle ruffle and stitched gathering stitches into the white and purple satin bustle ruffles. I trimmed the white ruffle so it narrows at the end - that way the ruffle can taper out on the ends and not interfere with the gathering of the bustle to the bustle waistband. I also started pinning the purple ruffle onto the bustle.

Next up:
finish attaching ruffles to bustle
sew lining to outer bustle
sew ring tape onto the underside of the bustle
attach bustle waistband, add hooks
attach waistband to underskirt, add eyes
attach ruffles to underskirt
sew hooks and eyes onto the apron where it fastens over the bustle pillow
finish sleeves of jacket

I am going to do my utmost best to finish this costume this week! Then I can begin the lovely Miss Dashwood's 'conductrix' costume!

Bonne nuit, mes cheris. Dormi bien.

Miss Leah J. Wilde

White satin ruffle in progress:














Purple and white satin ruffles in progress:

Time Traveler Entry #18

Hello dears,

Good news - I have finished stitching the green ribbon onto one of the ruffles for the underskirt! And started sewing on the second.

I also cut out purple satin and white satin for the bustle ruffles. Both have been stitched together into long strips and the white has been pinned for hemming. I think I'm going to have a wide white ruffle w a narrow purple on top of it. I shall also have to 'play' w the ruffles when I attach them to make the bustle work right.

That's all the progress I've made - And time is getting short - MARCON is next month! Yikes! Better get to sewing!

Bisoux

Miss Leah J. Wilde

Time Traveler Entry #17 and an updated to do list

Hello dearests,

I hemmed ruffle #2 and sewed on the lace. I left the top unhemmed because I'm planning to gather it to match a ribbon and then sew the ribbon onto the skirt. I started hand stitching the green ribbon over the lace on ruffle #2. It is a little time consuming but not horribly so. It'll just be my carry with me project for a while.

Bustle - I cut out the petticoat netting and pinned it to the lining of the bustle.

Next up
1. finish sewing on green ribbon
2. make ruffles for the bustle
3. attach ruffles to bustle
4. sew lining to outer bustle
5. sew ring tape onto the underside of the bustle
6. attach bustle waistband, add hooks
7. attach waistband to underskirt, add eyes
8. sew hooks and eyes onto the apron where it fastens over the bustle pillow
9. attach ruffles to underskirt
10. finish sleeves of jacket

My time traveler is getting there! At least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, however faint that light might be! THEN I get to worry about my prop. Because the costume will not be complete without it. And I had another idea for a simpler prop that I'd like to add.

Notes on my latest to do list:
Miss Dashwood's costume - I found brown and white striped fabric. Hopefully I have enough for the bloomers. I'll be starting on her costume once mine is finished.

Harley Quinn - I don't expect the hat to give me issues. The only obstacle I might encounter is when I attempt to attach blond pigtails to the hat. I should also acquire some goggles.

ANH Princess Leia - I need to get the boots from my parents' home. And then make the belt. I checked and the costume specifications allow for a vinyl belt which will be cheaper and likely easier than leather. I should also split the sides of the dress to about my knee.

The above are the things that I absolutely MUST finish by Marcon. I have about two months to do it all. If possible I'd like to make Miss Dashwood and I matching pajamas, since we are sharing accommodations and all. If I finish all of the above and have the time before Marcon, I might attempt to make myself an imperial officer's uniform from Star Wars. More than likely, that - along with a similar costume for my beau - will have to wait until after Marcon. Yet another project to add to my list.

A bientot!

Miss Leah J. Wilde.

EDIT photo added



One of the ruffles with the white lace attached and the green ribbon in the process of being sewn on.

Updated To Do List

Again, this is mainly for my own purposes. I would write it all down on a piece of paper but I am dreadful with losing things so posting it online seems the better idea.

Time traveler - Finish trimming underskirt ruffle #1. Hem and trim ruffle #2, then apply both ruffles to the underskirt. Finish the top of the underskirt. Cut out petticoat netting for the bustle. Put the bustle together, including stitching Roman shade tape to the underside for bustling purposes. Use bright pink narrow ribbon to bustle. Trim bustle with layered ruffles - white satin, either purple brocade or satin, white lace, green ribbon. Finish jacket: shorten sleeves, maybe trim w white lace and green ribbon. I also need to pick up some white gloves, I'd like to make or find a white fan and I plan to make a matching parasol.

For Miss Dashwood - brown bustle skirt and striped bloomers, provided that I can find striped fabric. Maybe a blouse.

Harley Quinn - aviator-esque hat

ANH Leia - Belt

I am hoping to have those four costumes done before Marcon in May. It is a lot of sewing to do in just a couple months.

Pink and white outfit (no real deadline on this)

Simi costume for Dragon*Con

Group costume for Dragon*Con - coordinated dresses for myself, Miss Dashwood, Miss Van Eycke and Tailor Made. Will also probably be helping the Captain with his costume.

For the masquerade in August - steampunk Disney fairies with myself playing the role of the adorable Tinkerbell. So excited about this one.

Mara Jade from Star Wars - I'm planning to make her black jumpsuit costume. Hoping to do one jumpsuit, two costumes. One will be 501st acceptable so I can join. My dear beau is a member and has asked me to join. At first I balked because I don't like the Imperial uniforms but then I realized that Mara was an acceptable character. So now I am excited. The second costume will be a steampunk version of Mara Jade, I'm still thinking up ideas for it. While I'd like this done asap, there is no real deadline. Perhaps Dragon*Con?

Time Traveler #16 and a sewing commission

Hello darlings!

First of all, I finally purchased some dark purple satin to make ruffles for the underskirt of my time traveler costume. I got a little over two yards of fabric, folded it in half and cut it into strips. So I have two lengths of satin about 4 yards long and 9 inches wide. One strip has been hemmed on both sides and trimmed with white lace which I sewed on my machine using a zigzag stitch. I started pinning on the green ribbon but didn't finish it. Now the decision comes of whether I hand sew on the ribbon to match the rest of the dress trimming or if I just machine stitch so it'll be faster.

I'm also working on a sewing commission. It's for a contest so I can't give details but yesterday I cut out the pattern and today I sewed it together. Its knit fabric so I used a ball point needle and a zigzag stitch.

That's all for now! A bientot!

Miss Leah J. Wilde

Time Traveler #15

Sorry for the delay my dear darlings. I have new real life employment that is keeping me from my sewing love. But said employment has allowed me to buy a few things for my costume so I say it all works out in the end. I picked up more green ribbon - one spool of the narrow I've been using for trim and one of a wider width to use for the waistband of the underskirt. I also purchased some white petticoat net to use in the bustle. The pattern calls for crinoline but I personally feel that crinoline would be much to thick. I believe that the netting will give it some nice shape. I need to purchase some fabric for the ruffles at the bottom of the skirt. I've decided I don't like the one semi narrow ruffle that I have now so I'm going to attempt to match the color of the purple brocade so I can have a couple layers of wider ruffles at the hem.

I cut out the lining for the bustle. I decided to just use the clock print cotton because I did not have enough of either white fabric I was thinking of using. The white fabric will likely become ruffles along the edge of the bustle. I'm also contemplating covering an umbrella and making it into a parasol. Maybe some of the white fabric will be used for that. The apron has been pinned to the underskirt but I have not stitched it into place yet. So a quick look to the future - stitching the apron in place, cutting out the netting for the bustle, putting the bustle together, removing current ruffle from skirt and adding new ones. Oh and I eventually need to shorten and hem the sleeves on the shrug. I'm thinking elbow length would work well.

I've had some more prop ideas but I think that what I want to do is beyond my meager prop making abilities. Fingers crossed I either figure out something or someone else helps me.

A bientot!
Miss Leah J. Wilde