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.

Fabric Shopping and Project Planning!

A dear friend and I went shopping Monday evening. I picked up several items for projects that I want to work on:

Three yards of a wide green cotton to use for the lobster tail bustle as well as lining for my stays. (sewing challenge Under It All)
A little under a yard of a heavy weight patterned cotton to use for the stays.
A couple yards of a blue swiss dot. No idea what that'll be, but I'm thinking Easter dress...
And five yards of a pink and white striped polyester to use for a petticoat. Inspired by this fantastic petticoat. Mine will be an earlier decade, probably with some ruffles. (sewing challenge Stripes)

I'm actually contemplating an entire little underwear set of pink and white --- petticoat, chemise (probably using a tank top pattern and not an actually full length chemise, or one of my night gown patterns I have. I think this one, sleeveless shortened and trimmed with lace would make a pretty little chemise to wear...) and white underbust corset. I've been meaning to play with the underbust pattern I have anyways...

DragonCon: Confederate Progress 1

I actually worked on my uniform last night! After trying it on again, I decided that the sleeves were just fine (and confirmed it with Miss Dashwood), so I set about topstitching along the collar and front edges. I need to handstitch the facings in place, hem and put on the snap closures. Then of course comes the braid and buttons...

And there's a bit of an issue - the sleeves are too short. Which leaves two remedies: (1) shortening the sleeves to 3/4 length, which then means we probably can't do any braid on them or (2) adding cuffs to lengthen the sleeves. Honestly, I don't like either option so I have no idea what to do at this moment.

In other news, I think I've decided to make an 18th century robe a l'anglais for myself when I get the chance. I was planning on a natural form Victorian gown, but I think I need a break from Victorian. The only major downside (besides needing YARDS of fabric and expensive patterns) is that I'll need proper undergarments -- a chemise, stays and pocket hoops. The chemise and pocket hoops I believe can be made via internet instructions, the stays will need a pattern. Fortunately, Butterick has a stays pattern so I'll probably just pick that up next time they're on sale and perhaps start on them in between other projects.