2014 Finished Projects - Final

I'm a little behind but here's what I made last year!

• Complete Regency ensemble from the skin out, including a reticule.
• 18th century stays, bum pad and petticoat
• Two Clifford the Big Red Dog aprons for my father and brother.
• Ohio State University pajama pants for my cousin.
• Commissioned jacket for a friend's Elizabeth from Bioshock cosplay.
• Edwardian corset, drawers and chemise. Officially finished the corset with some hooks and eyes in early May. Chemise was finished around mid May, and everything was from the stash! Well, kinda, I did buy the batiste for the project but it was purchased ahead of time so...but the lace and pattern were stash.
• Easter dress
• Airship Archon uniform corset version 1.0
• Some repairs: Replaced all the ties in my lobster tail bustle in early May. Fixed my skirt and petticoat for the airship uniform with closures and wrist loops, mid May-ish. Fixed a couple issues with my Governess bodice, mid May.
• Airship Archon uniform corset version 2.0.
• White petticoat.
• Silver, red and black wash overskirt.
• Gold polonaise and matching hat band. Original and repaired.
• Steam casual sundress and matching hat band.
• Summer scrub top for my mom.
• Several new things for summer vacation: black and red striped wrap circle skirt, train skirt, Audrey Hepburn skirt, funky kimono sleeved dress
• Halloween scrub top for my mom. Purchased fabric, stash pattern.
• Victorian swimsuit, purchased everything. Finished before Teslacon.
• Some improvements to steampunk Harley Quinn pre-Teslacon.
• Elephant baby quilt for a friend, all purchased.
• Grey and black plaid jumper, purchased everything.
• Star Wars print 1930s skirt, purchased everything.
• Knit tunic, stash pattern, purchased fabric.
• New Christmas scrub top for my mom, stash pattern, purchased fabric.
• Repaired another Christmas scrub top for her, purchased fabric.
• Christmas pajamas for me! Purchased fabric, stash fabric and buttons. 
• Those darned purple leggings that took me like a year to finish. Stash pattern and elastic, purchased fabric. Finished mid December.
• Christmas dress and huge 1950s petticoat, purchased zipper, fabric and petticoat netting, stash pattern and thread. Finished mid December.

Less than 40 projects last year, but several of those were pretty involved (Regency ensemble, Victorian swimsuit, Edwardian undergarments, etc).

On to 2015!!

Update on my Year End To Do List

Update on my Year End To Do List:

 1. Finish the elephant baby quilt - DONE

Finished baby quilt! And my friend LOVED it! :)

 
2. Finish the Teslacon stuff - yeah, didn't really finish any of this...
3. Finish a pair of purple leggings I started last winter - These aren't done either...but I did buy some knit for the waistband so I can hopefully finish them soon!
4. Grey and black plaid jumper -- DONE

Finished plaid jumper

Which I'm actually wearing today. It's actually a little shorter than I usually like (I almost always wear my skirts a little past my knee, or at least to the middle of my knee) but since I'm pretty sure I'll always wear it with tights (it's heavy flannel) I think it'll be okay.

5. Star Wars print 1930s style skirt -- DONE

Fabric and pattern

Finished skirt! totally love this pattern by the way, so I'm sure I'll be using it again

6. Knit tunic using my funky dress pattern from McCalls -- Cut out but haven't put together yet
7. Black 1950s dress with snowflake overskirt -- in progress, hopefully I can make a big post on this later with all the details :)
8. Black specialty mesh petticoat for said dress -- Haven't started yet
9. Fix my mom's Christmas scrub top and make her a new one -- DONE

Mom's new Christmas scrub top.  The other one was enlarged with gores of red and white dotted cotton on the sides.

10. 1940s hooded blouse and trousers from Eva Dress -- I don't think this will happen
11. Nightgown for grandma (if I have enough of the fabric that she wants me to use) -- or this
12. and start a cosplay for Ohayocon -- or this
13. Christmas pajamas that I somehow started for myself -- I just need to add cuffs to the sleeves of the top (they're too short) and this will be done

I bought the penguin flannel for new pajama pants and decided to make a matching top using left over fabric from enlarging my mom's scrub top.

Partially constructed pajama top.

So that's what I've been up to!  Sorry for the sporadic blog posts, my goal is to be WAY better with this next year. I hope. Fingers crossed.

End of 2014 To Do List

My to do list is probably too long, as always, with less than three months left in the year, but here we go:


First of all, where I am on Teslacon preparations:

1. Rococopunk: the stays have been done, the hoops are done, the jacket needs a lot of work, the stomacher needs finished, the knee breeches are almost done. I need to figure out / make a hat and probably (hopefully) make spats.

2. The Harley Quinn improvements are DONE

3. The fichu may or may not happen

4. I don't know if I'll bother fixing my time machine purse either

5. I still need to make a garrison hat for my main airship uniform, but at least I found a pattern

6. The braid onto my polonaise is DONE

7. So is the black bustle apron. 

Dream projects won't happen, except for maybe black drawers, just quick and easy ones based off of a pajama pant pattern with elastic. I'm really pretty much focusing on the rococopunk and the garrison hat, nothing else is really that important at this point.

Now for the actual to do list:

1. Finish the elephant baby quilt
2. Finish the Teslacon stuff
3. Finish a pair of purple leggings I started last winter
4. Grey and black plaid jumper
5. Star Wars print 1930s style skirt
6. Knit tunic using my funky dress pattern from McCalls
7. Black corduroy 1950s dress with snowflake overskirt, probably with a slightly narrower or shorter skirt because I don't think I have enough fabric
8. Black specialty mesh petticoat for said dress
9. Fix my mom's Christmas scrub top and make her a new one
10. 1940s hooded blouse and trousers from Eva Dress
11. Nightgown for grandma (if I have enough of the fabric that she wants me to use)
12. and start a cosplay for Ohayocon

Told you there was too much on it!! Most of it shouldn't be too hard though. I hope.

Current To Do List - Summer Sewing and Teslacon Prep

As you all know, dear readers, I'm attending Teslacon for the first time this fall.  I'm super excited (and a little nervous to be honest!) so here's what might be an overly ambitious to do list:

1. Steam-casual sundress for Toledo War, which I've already started because it needs to be taken care of and out of the way. Deadline: Oh let's say this coming Sunday, July 6th. It's already cut out and I've started pinning it so hopefully it won't take too long. Although I am going home this weekend and I no longer have a machine there because it's up here so...we'll see. Maybe I can do some hand sewing at home. 

Realization: I need to make my mom a scrub top too...*sigh* One for the summer and one for Halloween time.

2. Victorian swimsuit: I ordered the pattern today, so hopefully that'll get shipped out this week so I can start working on it. I anticipate that there will be some pattern work / sizing involved because the pattern was marked a 'medium' with no measurements included. Once I get that figured out, I can buy the fabric because right now, I have absolutely no idea how much I need. Deadline: August 15th. (hell, if I'm going to be ambitious, might as well go all the way!)

3. Black and Gold Rococo Punk: This is basically gonna be from the skin out -- stays, jacket, bloomers, panniers...You get the picture. Deadline for the stays: September 1st. Deadline for everything else: November 1st.

4. Fixing my gold polonaise: There's one or two fitting issues that need corrected, and then I need to add more black braid. Deadline: September 15th.

5. Green Sari Bustle Gown: This is another skin out outfit. I already have the overskirt cut out, and I have a friend that's letting me trace her copy of a pattern for the bodice, but I also need to make an 1880s petticoat and underskirt. At least I already have the lobster tail bustle, right?! I also need to decide what color underskirt I'm doing, because that may affect what I do with the bodice... I'll probably try to do the petticoat first, then the underskirt and actually work from the skin out. But the overskirt might happen first since it's already cut out and easy to throw together, especially since I've made the pattern before. Deadline: Before I leave for Teslacon

6. Make a garrison hat for my black and gold airship uniform

7. Revamp my steampunk Harley Quinn a little

All that in a little over four months. Why do I do this to myself? Oh, because I like it! lol

Thoughts on Remaining HSF Challenges

• #13: Under $10 – due Tue 14 July.  : I think I'm skipping this one. It's too soon, and I have no idea how much I paid for the majority of my fabric so...
• #14: Paisley & Plaid – due Fri 1 August.  : I'll probably skip this one too, mainly because of how much work the next challenge is going to be.
• #15: The Great Outdoors – due Fri 15 August.  : Victorian swimsuit! Wow that's soon, guess I better order that pattern...
• #16: Terminology – due Mon 1 September.  : Not really sure if I'll do anything for this one. Everything that I was already thinking of has been pushed back to next year so...Maybe my new stays?
• #17: Yellow - due Mon 15 September.  : I think this is going to be my gold polonaise, after I fix a couple fitting issues and add more braid.
• #18: Poetry in Motion - due Wed 1 October  Still no idea.
• #19: HSF Inspiration - due Wed 15 October.  : I need to look back over last year's entries as well as this year's to see if anything inspires me.
• #20: Alternative Universe – due Sat 1 November.  : Rococopunk!
• #21: Re-do – due Sat 15 November.  : I don't know whether it's strictly allowed or not, but there was a green challenge last year and my sari bustle gown that's on my to do list is green...
• #22: Fort-nightliers Choice – due Mon 1 December.  : This one hasn't been determined yet.
• #23: Modern History – due Mon 15 December.  : Hooded blouse and trousers from an Eva Dress pattern. Kinda excited about this one actually.
• #24: All that Glitters – due Thur 1 January.  : No clue.

Revisiting Goals and Wishlists - 2014 Sewing

Back in January, I posted about my goals and some wishlist items for this year. Since I'm taking a look back over what I wanted to accomplish this year as means of at least attempting to make my Teslacon sewing in line with said goals, and since it's been six months and is thus the perfect time for a check in, here's a little revisit to that post with what I've done so far this year:

On the projects I'd like to finish front:

Grey / silver, red and black bustle gown: 
I said that I needed a wash overskirt. And I made it! So that's DONE.
There's still the long term goals of a new bodice and a parasol.

Sari Bustle Gown: I haven't done anything but I think this is going on my Teslacon to do list

Now for my 2014 goals:

Regency Ballgown: I finished what I needed! DONE!
There's still the long term needs: A spencer or pelisse and chemisette so I can wear the dress as a day dress as well. (This may also go on the Teslacon to do list)

Eighteenth Century Jacket and Petticoat
I have finished: the stays (which don't fit very well), the bum pad and the under petticoat.
I still need: An accurate chemise. Jacket using a pattern from Nehelenia (I think, not 100% sure). Petticoat. And a hat, probably a bergére. But this may mostly get pushed back til a later date. The black linen petticoat might happen to go with a rococopunk outfit I'm planning for Teslacon.

Civil War Day Dress - Haven't done any of this!
What I have: Nothing.
What I need: Chemise (can use Regency one if I need to). Drawers. Corset. Hoops. Petticoat. Skirt and bodice, or a dress. Maybe a Swiss waist.

And my Wishlist projects

1890s Gown based on a photograph of my great great grandmother - Haven't done any of this!
What I have: nothing
What I need: Corset. Chemise and drawers. Petticoat. Bodice and skirt.

Civil War Ballgown - Or this!
What I have: Well, as long as I finish the above Civil War goal, I'll have all the undergarments.
What I need: A ballgown. Or maybe just a ballgown bodice to wear with my day dress skirt. And probably a head dress of some sort.

Edwardian underthings - But these are DONE!


I could be doing better, but I think that I'm doing relatively well. With Teslacon happening this year, I'm pretty sure that the Civil War sewing along with the wishlist 1890s project are going to get pushed to next year.

Right now I'm working on the Teslacon to do list, because I only have FOUR months to get ready! Eeep!

Teslacon Musings

For years, I've been saying "I can't go this year, but next year I'll go to Teslacon, I promise." But that hasn't managed to happen. So this year, I basically said screw it, I'm going even if I have to take unpaid vacation time from work. I talked to my boss last week, and emailed him a formal request off which he approved. I immediately bought tickets, then managed to arrange a room share with some friends, so now all that's left is a carpool. Unless I can manage to get a cheap flight because if I can, screw it I'm flying.

So, now that I'm thinking about my first Teslacon, my first trip to an award winning convention and pretty much the premier convention for at least half of the US, I'm understandably a bit nervous. What do I take? What new pretties do I make? What improvements do I make to the pretties I already have?

Here's what I'm thinking so far:
- The black underskirt goes, obviously
- The new gold polonaise, which needs some more braid added and a couple fitting issues fixed
- The naturalformesque airship uniform goes because I need to represent, I need to make a hat
- All of my grey / red / black things because I can mix and match them
- Harley Quinn probably, but I'd like to revamp it
- Maybes: Airship Stewardess. Time Traveler. Roma. Pink Paris.

So the to do list:
- fix and improve the gold polonaise
- hat for my uniform
- Victorian swimsuit (if I can ever pick a pattern!)
- black and gold rococo punk with Dixie
- maybe my green and white bustle dress
- maybe a brown silk underskirt with something to go with it
- maybe something in the YARDS of pink stripe I have
- maybe my green sari overskirt that I cut out but never finished and a bodice to go with it

Of course, this is all just musings, so we'll see what happens! I do after all have around four months or so until the event.

Current sewing plans? A steam casual travel themed sundress for Toledo War!

What's In Miss Wilde's Sewing Basket?

Also known as: What sewing projects are on my living floor / couch / ironing board right now?

1. I started a 50s style dress for Easter.

I'm making the green one, option C, with a white collar, probably out of batiste.

2. I've been working on my black and gold corset and vest combination for my airship 'uniform'

3. And I decided that I needed my Edwardian corset and drawers for SES as well

I'm using the corset from Festive Attyre. I had issues enlarging it on a copy machine (it lost all detail) so I bought a yard of quilter's grid and enlarged it myself. I felt quite accomplished!

In other news, I just ordered a whole bunch of sewing supplies! I am now the proud owner of nine yards of cotton plaid for a Civil War dress, one yard of cotton (maybe - gonna do a burn test) for a Civil War corset it if is indeed cotton or a work skirt if it's not, a boxful of corset and hoop making supplies, and a boxful of Truly Victorian patterns! I got the polonaise, the 1870s and the 1880s underskirts, the Victorian petticoats, the Civil War darted bodice and the ballgown bodice, and a hoop cage pattern. I think that's everything...

 And I attended the Regency Exhibition Ball last weekend, with a friend from the Archon. I'll post more about it next week. :)

Update on HSF Planning

#1: Make Do & Mend – due Wed 15 Jan. Regency spencer using fabric from another, unfinished project. Status: partially completed, needs lining, closures, hemmed, etc. UPDATE This honestly  might never be finished... 

#2: Innovation - due Sat 1 Feb. Did not complete. 

#3: Pink - due Sat 15 Feb.  Coral pink 18th century stays. DONE! 

#4: Under it All – due Sat 1 March. Regency underthings. Chemise, strapped petticoat and short stays. DONE! 

#5: Bodice - due Sat 15 March. Regency sleeveless spencer out of teal silk, hopefully handstitched....yeah that didn't happen. Maybe for a later challenge? I did start a steampunk black and gold corset and vest combination thing.  

#6: Fairytale – due Tue 1 April: Regency Cinderella. UPDATE Well underway! 

#7: Tops & Toes – due Tue 15 April.  Bergere hat for my planned 18th century outfit. I need to buy a hat and decorate it.

#8: UFOs & PHDs – due Thur 1 May.  Use this opportunity to finish off something that’s never quite gotten done, or stalled halfway through.  Check out the post from last year for more information on how to interpret this challenge. This might be finishing the Regency spencer. Or any of the other above challenges. Or my green sari asymmetrical overskirt that's been laying around for months.UPDATE I think this is going to be the black and gold airship corset, since I need it for SES at the end of April. 

#9: Black and White – due Thur 15 May.  Draw on the opposite ends of the shade spectrum to create something in black and white, or black or white. Black linen 18th century petticoat. Maybe the matching jacket, if I can. 

#10: Art – due Sun 1 June.  Make your own masterpiece based on a work of art. Edwardian undergarments based on a painting. 

#11: The Politics of Fashion – due Sun 15 June.  World affairs have both affected, and been affected by, fashions.  Craft something that demonstrates the interactions between dress and political history. Still no idea here. Maybe something related to the Civil War? 

#12: Shape & Support – due Tue 1 July.  Make a garment that changes the silhouette of the human form through shaping and support. I'm sticking with Civil War undergarments, a corset, or hoop, or both. 

#13: Under $10 – due Tue 14 July.  Whip up a fabulous item for under $10 (we’ll use US$ as the de-facto standard) I just bought tatting supplies, so hopefully a little tatted collar. Or some tatted lace for trim somewhere. 

#14: Paisley & Plaid – due Fri 1 August.  Plaid is the most universal pattern, found in the textiles of almost all cultures and periods.  Paisley is more unique and recent, but has had a lasting impact on design.  Make something that utilises one or both of these patterns. Still not sure. Definitely still eyeing that lovely plaid taffeta (but it's polyester!). And leaning towards a plaid overskirt for my bustle era wardrobe.  

#15: The Great Outdoors – due Fri 15 August.  Get out into the weather and dirt with an item for outdoor pursuits. Nothing firm, but swimwear or Regency outerwear are a possiblity. Maybe finish the spencer I started?

 #16: Terminology – due Mon 1 September.  Explore the etymology of fashion by make something defined in the Great Historical Fashion & Textile Glossary (new terminology posts and items will be added throughout the year). No real plan, but some ideas: balmoral petticoat, corselet / swiss waist, chemisette, pierrot jacket...leaning towards either a Swiss waist for Civil War dress or a pierrot jacket since a similar jacket is already on my to do list and it'd just be a matter of altering the pattern a little. UPDATE leaning towards the pierrot idea, but the issue is that I need it for an event in July so the due date is an issue...Maybe I will go with a Swiss waist... 

#17: Yellow - due Mon 15 September.  Embrace the sunny side with something in any shade of yellow. No real idea, but maybe something for the Civil War...

 #18: Poetry in Motion - due Wed 1 October  Find inspiration for a garment in poetry and song.   No idea. 

#19: HSF Inspiration - due Wed 15 October.  One of the best things about the HSF is seeing what everyone else creates, and using it to spark your own creativity.  Be inspired by one of the challengers item from HSF ’13 or HSF challenges 1-18 to make your own fabulous item. There's already been SO much to inspire me! We'll see what I end up deciding on. 

#20: Alternative Universe – due Sat 1 November.  Create a garment from an alternative universe: fantasy, steampunk, dieselpunk, etc.  Your item can be perfectly historically accurate within our own universe as well. A steampunk outfit, of course. Or maybe rococopunk. 

#21: Re-do – due Sat 15 November.  Pick any previous challenge and re-do it (or do it for the first time).  It could be one that you didn’t finish, one that you wish you’d had more time for, or any time for, or one where you loved the theme so much you want to do it again. UPDATE Originally, I thought more underthings, but I've got most of that already on here other places so...I don't know. 

#22: Fort-nightliers Choice – due Mon 1 December.  This one is up to you!  In June I’ll ask for suggestions for a theme, and we’ll vote to pick the one you most want to do as our 22nd Challenge of the year. Obviously, planning for this one will have to wait until we pick the challenge! 

#23: Modern History – due Mon 15 December.  Make something historical or historically inspired that is wearable in an everyday context. UPDATE I found the perfect thing for this challenge! Eva Dress has a hooded blouse pattern! I mean, it's hooded and a blouse, what else do I  need in my life?! Plus it comes with high waisted slacks too, both of which I would wear the heck out of. 

#24: All that Glitters – due Thur 1 January.  Celebrate your completion of HSF ’14, and the New Year, with a glittery, glitzy, sparkly, shiny, something. Still leaning towards the Civil War ballgown. There's a CW ball here in January, usually.

Sometimes You Just Need a Break

Dear readers,

Have you ever just needed some time off from sewing? I rarely do, but this weekend was not a good weekend.

First of all, I was supposed to go Friday night, wearing my new 18th c stays with a cream linen petticoat over a bum pad and matching little shrug I made last minute. But it was snowy and I didn't have a ride, so I stayed home. But I was halfway dressed when I made the decision to stay home, and it wasn't very pretty. The stays don't quite fit correctly, the straps cut in at the shoulders. Part of it may be that they weren't laced properly so fingers crossed that fixes the problem. Also, the bum pad's ties leave an unsightly bulge on my stomach when the petticoat is on and tied. Needless to say, I was okay not going when nothing seemed to fit right!

Secondly, since I already had on my Regency chemise, I decided to try on my short stays and almost finished petticoat, so I could (1) get the strap length for the petticoat straps and (2) measure myself so I could cut out the proper size for my ballgown. And I couldn't get the stays to work. I'm not very well endowed and instead of lifting, the stays just seem to flatten everything.

After TWO bad experiences, I decided to take the weekend off from historical sewing, even with my ballgown / open robe deadline looming over me. So I quilted and I brainstormed the corset I need to make for Symposium to go with my airship uniform (the black and gold natural form-esque outfit) and I finished my cousin's pj pants. I meant to finish my father and brother's aprons and make a pair of leggings (cut out last week), but spent almost the entire weekend with a close friend, bc it was her birthday.

So, this week's goals:
1. Finish the aprons
2. Put together the leggings
3. Buy some bust enhancers for the Regency stays (I'm going to cheat!)
4. Take measurements over Regency undergarments
5. Iron fabric and cut out ballgown
6. Cut out a muslin for the airship corset (gonna have to basically make my own pattern)
7. Take pictures and write a blog post about my stays for HSF

And this weekend will be pretty sewing free because my friend Laura is visiting! :)

Oh, I also went fabric shopping on Friday! I got black linen for an 18th c petticoat, blue taffeta for an Edwardian corset, black denim and white denim for corset interlinging, and cream linen and cream lace for a shrug and mask that ended up not being worn Friday since I stayed home. I also picked up a few notions for projects. 

January 2014 - Project Update with Pictures!

I've decided to (try and) post an update at the end of each month about what I've been working on and (hopefully) what I've finished. So, here's the first one: January 2014!

1. I started a Regency spencer for HSF #1 Make Do and Mend but never finished it. The pattern I used to base it off of was a very poor choice, and the spencer ended up with several pleats instead of being smooth to fit right. And I don't have enough fabric to recut all the pieces so...
2. I made a pair of Regency short stays to go with my previously finished Regency chemise. I used Sense and Sensibility's Regency Underthings pattern and they came out pretty good I think. They'll be for HSF #4 Under It All, along with the chemise and the last piece, a petticoat with straps (which I have cut out but not started construction on).

Pretty hand stitched bust gussets

I hand quilted the short stays, with just a little boning because I don't really need that much support.

Finished short stays!

1. I worked on a pair of 18th century stays, started forever ago (it feels like). I think they're coming along reasonably well, I'm up to the binding portion. In case you've ever wondered, binding the tabs on stays SUCKS. It's a horrid, but necessary, stage of construction. However, once I'm done with the binding, all I have to do is put eyelets at the shoulders and pick up some ribbon to tie the shoulder straps in place. I splurged a little bit (and used a coupon) on a 1/2 yard of cream silk for the binding. Totally put in metal eyelets though, cuz I am NOT dealing with handworked ones.

Stays, after I was finished with the boning.

Stays, in the midst of lining

Stays, while putting in the metal eyelets.

Stays, the top edge while binding.

Stays, approaching the end of the binding.

1. I started an 18th century bum pad, just looked at a couple other seamstresses versions and drew up a pattern. I need to sew the two sides together so I have sections, then stuff it, close it up and put ties on it so it's wearable.
2. OH! And I had a last minute Ohayocon commission for a friend -- a bolero jacket for her Elizabeth from Bioshock cosplay. Definitely put that one on the DONE list. Finished it on January 24th.
3. Also in the works are two aprons for my dad and brother (I really should finish those...) and pajama pants for my cousin (which I also should finish...)

Apron fabric, because my father and brother are both named Clifford. I couldn't resist!

I've been brainstorming and planning and shopping for several other projects as well.

1. I picked up 3 yards of cream cotton linen blend linen for an 18th century petticoat. Originally I was going to try to dye it pink to match the stays for the HSF #3 Pink challenge, but I'm terrified of ruining a not very inexpensive fabric purchase by attempting to dye it so....the stays will be for the pink challenge and the petticoat will be cream, which will coordinate with the stays.
2. I also bought fabric for my Regency ballgown which'll be for HSF #6 Fairytale. It's a super lightweight cotton shirting white on white with a silver metallic pinstripe. I got an amazing deal on that fabric by the way, I only hope that there's enough for the dress! It's 50 inches wide so I *think* I can eck it out, I just really wanted elbow length sleeves. So we'll see. 

Regency ballgown fabric. A steal at $2.50 a yard!

1. I've been 'window' shopping for fabric for the Regency open robe that'll go over the ballgown, but haven't purchased anything yet.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Goals and Wishlists - 2014 Sewing

I was inspired by a post made over on A Girl Anachronism of her plan for HSF 2014. To keep herself on track, she listed a couple goal outfits and a couple wishlist outfits including what she already has in her wardrobe and what she would need. I decided this was a brilliant idea! Even though most of this is already scattered across my blog, I figured it'd be nice to get it all in one place. So without further ado:

First up, projects I'd like to finish:

Grey / silver, red and black bustle gown: What I have: Bodice vest (probably not that historically accurate, but it's one of my steampunk outfits so...) and an underskirt.
What I need: Wash overskirt.
Long term: New bodice. A parasol would be nice.

Sari Bustle Gown:
What I have: A cut out overskirt. Black underskirt I can use in a pinch. Lobster tail bustle.
What I need: Bodice. A better underskirt. 

Now for my 2014 goals:

Regency Ballgown
 What I have: Chemise. Partially finished stays.
What I need: Petticoat with straps. Ballgown. Open robe. Reticule.
Long term: A spencer or pelisse and chemisette so I can wear the dress as a day dress as well.

Eighteenth Century Jacket and Petticoat

What I have: Pretty much nothing. Stays are in progress, and I can always use my Regency chemise in a pinch.
What I need: Chemise. Bum pad (I'm going for more of a late 1780s-early 1790s look). Under petticoat. Jacket using a pattern from Nehelenia (I think, not 100% sure). Petticoat. Hat, probably a bergére

First on the list: Finishing the stays. Making the bum pad. Making the under petticoat.

Civil War Day Dress

What I have: Nothing.
What I need: Chemise (can use Regency one if I need to). Drawers. Corset. Hoops. Petticoat. Skirt and bodice, or a dress. Maybe a Swiss waist.

And my Wishlist projects

1890s Gown based on a photograph of my great great grandmother
What I have: nothing

What I need: Corset. Chemise and drawers. Petticoat. Bodice and skirt.

Civil War Ballgown
What I have: Well, as long as I finish the above Civil War goal, I'll have all the undergarments.
What I need: A ballgown. Or maybe just a ballgown bodice to wear with my day dress skirt. And probably a head dress of some sort.

Edwardian underthings
What I have: nothing
What I need: Chemise and drawers or combinations. Corset.

Planning my Historical Sew Fortnightly Sewing

Previously announced challenges and my plans:

• #1: Make Do & Mend – due Wed 15 Jan. Regency spencer using fabric from another, unfinished project. Status: partially completed, needs lining, closures, hemmed, etc.
• #2: Innovation - due Sat 1 Feb. No plan.
• #3: Pink - due Sat 15 Feb.  Pink 18th century petticoat (aka skirt) to go with the 18th century stays I have in progress. I'd like to do linen if possible, either purchased in the right shade of pink to match my stays or dyed.
• #4: Under it All – due Sat 1 March. Regency underthings. The chemise is already completed, and the short stays are coming along nicely I think. I'm also going to make a petticoat with straps, necessary since my planned ballgown will be rather sheer.
• #5: Bodice - due Sat 15 March. Regency sleeveless spencer out of teal silk, hopefully handstitched.
• #6: Fairytale – due Tue 1 April: Regency Cinderella.
• #7: Tops & Toes – due Tue 15 April.  Bergere hat for my planned 18th century outfit. 

Newly announced challenges and my current thoughts on what to make:

• #8: UFOs & PHDs – due Thur 1 May.  Use this opportunity to finish off something that’s never quite gotten done, or stalled halfway through.  Check out the post from last year for more information on how to interpret this challenge. This might be finishing the Regency spencer. Or any of the other above challenges. Or my green sari asymmetrical overskirt that's been laying around for months.
• #9: Black and White – due Thur 15 May.  Draw on the opposite ends of the shade spectrum to create something in black and white, or black or white. Black linen 18th century petticoat.
• #10: Art – due Sun 1 June.  Make your own masterpiece based on a work of art. No idea.
• #11: The Politics of Fashion – due Sun 15 June.  World affairs have both affected, and been affected by, fashions.  Craft something that demonstrates the interactions between dress and political history. No idea here either.
• #12: Shape & Support – due Tue 1 July.  Make a garment that changes the silhouette of the human form through shaping and support. Hmmmm, maybe a Civil War corset? Or hoop? Or both?
• #13: Under $10 – due Tue 14 July.  Whip up a fabulous item for under $10 (we’ll use US$ as the de-facto standard) This one will definitely take some major planning to stay under $10!
• #14: Paisley & Plaid – due Fri 1 August.  Plaid is the most universal pattern, found in the textiles of almost all cultures and periods.  Paisley is more unique and recent, but has had a lasting impact on design.  Make something that utilises one or both of these patterns. No real idea yet, but there is some lovely plaid taffeta at the fabric store that I've been eyeing for months...I will probably try to make a plaid overskirt for my bustle gown wardrobe...
• #15: The Great Outdoors – due Fri 15 August.  Get out into the weather and dirt with an item for outdoor pursuits. No firm ideas, but a friend suggested swimwear. Another thought I just had is a better Regency spencer than the one I'm working on, or a Regency pelisse.
• #16: Terminology – due Mon 1 September.  Explore the etymology of fashion by make something defined in the Great Historical Fashion & Textile Glossary (new terminology posts and items will be added throughout the year). No real plan, but some ideas: balmoral petticoat, corselet / swiss waist, chemisette, pierrot jacket...leaning towards either a Swiss waist for Civil War dress or a pierrot jacket since a similar jacket is already on my to do list and it'd just be a matter of altering the pattern a little.
• #17: Yellow - due Mon 15 September.  Embrace the sunny side with something in any shade of yellow. No real idea, but maybe something for the Civil War...
• #18: Poetry in Motion - due Wed 1 October  Find inspiration for a garment in poetry and song.   No idea.
• #19: HSF Inspiration - due Wed 15 October.  One of the best things about the HSF is seeing what everyone else creates, and using it to spark your own creativity.  Be inspired by one of the challengers item from HSF ’13 or HSF challenges 1-18 to make your own fabulous item. Another one that will have to wait, until I'm inspired by someone's work!
• #20: Alternative Universe – due Sat 1 November.  Create a garment from an alternative universe: fantasy, steampunk, dieselpunk, etc.  Your item can be perfectly historically accurate within our own universe as well. A steampunk outfit, of course. Or maybe rococopunk. Or maybe I'll just wait to make my new black and gold corset and do it for this challenge.
• #21: Re-do – due Sat 15 November.  Pick any previous challenge and re-do it (or do it for the first time).  It could be one that you didn’t finish, one that you wish you’d had more time for, or any time for, or one where you loved the theme so much you want to do it again. Probably more underthings, for either 18th century or Civil War.
• #22: Fort-nightliers Choice – due Mon 1 December.  This one is up to you!  In June I’ll ask for suggestions for a theme, and we’ll vote to pick the one you most want to do as our 22nd Challenge of the year. Obviously, planning for this one will have to wait until we pick the challenge!
• #23: Modern History – due Mon 15 December.  Make something historical or historically inspired that is wearable in an everyday context. Hmmm, maybe a 1940s dress or skirt...
• #24: All that Glitters – due Thur 1 January.  Celebrate your completion of HSF ’14, and the New Year, with a glittery, glitzy, sparkly, shiny, something. Civil War ballgown. Maybe. 

Projects that I'd like to fit in somewhere:

• 18th century jacket out of flocked cream and black taffeta 
• Wash overskirt, grey and trimmed in black and red 
• If I finish the asymmetrical overskirt, I'll need to make a bodice to match. 

 

Historical Sew Fortnightly and Other Historical Sewing Plans

So far, The Dreamstress has posted seven challenges for this year:

1. Make Do and Mend - I've been working on a Regency spencer made from an old project, but it's not turning out very well. I'm going to finish it, but doubt I'll post in on HSF

2. Innovation

3. Pink - I have a couple ideas rolling around in my head right now, mainly because I need something to wear to a party on Feb 14, the day before this is due. lol  Idea #1: 1920s dress, either the Vionnet 20 minute dress on Reconstructing History or the Magic Dance Frock from Dressmaking Research. Idea #2: A pink 18th century petticoat that would match my stays I'm working on. I'm leaning toward this idea, but I worry that I don't have time to finish the stays before the event, let along the hip pads or pocket hoops I'd need as well. And probably a little pink shrug or something as well. (Will work as a rococopunk outfit that way!)

4. Under it All - Still going to be my Regency underthings, which are coming along well.

5. Bodice - Still planning on the teal silk sleeveless spencer.

6. Fairytale - White Regency ballgown with some type of blue open robe for my version of Cinderella.

7. Tops and Toes - Probably a bergère hat

Other Historical Sewing, that I can hopefully work into a yet unannounced HSF challenge:

1. 18th century jacket out of cream and black flocked taffeta with a black petticoat. This is what I'd wear the
bergère with. I'll also need to finishe my stays and make the chemise and underpetticoat as well, plus hip pads or pocket hoops if I haven't already made them. I'll need this by July, my historical costuming group is planning a Bastille Day picnic.

2. I'd love to get some more accurate bustle era things done as well, because said group will also be doing Bustling Through the Park events, probably in the spring and the fall. Maybe my wash overskirt...

3. Civil War, with all the appropriate underthings. Maybe by the fall, my mother and I will be going on vacation to see some Civil War sites, it'd be fun to go in dress.

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.

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.

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.

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.