Sewing Goals for 2012

[gem]

What is everyone planning for the 2012 Fair season?  (See here for last year's thread!) I love to read everyone's lists, and it's fun to go back and report on what we accomplished.

Last year, I was very focused on making a kirtle, or else (which I did! And I also finished my curved-front gown!). This year I don't have such specific goals, alas, just a LOT of ideas flitting through my head:

--Robin Hood ensemble for Milord (if he ever tells me what he wants)
--something new for Milord's dad (if I ever figure out what I want)
--fitted English gown from grey wool
--Elizabethan waistcoat/Jacobean jacket of teal velvet
--work on the St. Catherine camicia
--finish the refit of the RTW medieval gown
--fix the hat I bought
--remake sleeves for purple kirtle (?) and finish accessories
--work on draping the Promenade kirtle (so excited about the high necklines in The Queen's Servants, which bear out everything I've been saying about this style for the last several years!)

I also need to decide what to do about my linen win, and I plan to continue my research and experimentation into hairstyles/false hair (bah).


That is a *ridiculously* huge list for me! Plus I have no idea what else might pop into my head this year! [There will be some mundane sewing, as well. I'm signed up for--gasp!--a zipper class at the end of this month.] I'm really glad I wrote all of that down; it will be easier to focus on what I really want to work on now.

Everyone else?

[operafantomet]

What I WANT to make - without a promise of actual making it:


A Roman styled outfit, with black dress and golden veil. The cut of the dress correspond with that of Florence, but they had a more muted palette, with little jewelry, and seems to always have worn the big, golden veil.



An new Venetian dress, preferably red. The golden/green one I have is cool enough, but the construction isn't the best.



A "Slavegirl" costume from Phantom of the Opera, in the US style. The beading is so funky.



The red second act dress as worn by the role Carlotta, in Phantom of the Opera, European style. But it'll demand so many meters of fabric I doubt it'll happen anytime soon...



A bodice for an authentic Phantom of the Opera costume I own. Or rather, I own the skirt. Not only do I know who wore the skirt, I also have a picture of her in it! Which is mighty cool. It would be nice to recreate the bodice, but in my size, so I complete the costume and can wear it. But it'll be just as much for the sake of research.

[flidais]

Wow already so many wonderful ideas for the new year.  I don't think I ever managed to make anything on my list last year, so I am hesitant to make a new list.  I have been on a pretty long sewing drought.   I made a few things last year, but not much.  And as I said, nothing that I had hoped to make.   As I sit here typing this I have great hopes of compleating some things that I have been longing for.  So at this point, I think I will really think about what I'd like to accomplish this year, and then post a list. 

Happy Sewing in 2012 Everyone!!!!

[Rowan MacD]

  Really get started on the Margo Anderson Elizabethan noble costume projects for Hubby and myself.
  I need to make a Duct tape dress form.   
  Due to the unexpected loss of my sewing room in December (son moved back in with us when he lost his job) I have bolts of fabric and bins of trim stacked in random corners. 
  To cut everything out I will need to take over the dining room for my big folding table and sewing machine and figure out a way to keep the dogs out of everything.

[Adriana Rose]

For me I want to revamp my Belle costume, make a one peice gown ( they look so comfy) the usual let down of the kiddos costumes. And hopefully some others if I have time.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

In addition to the Custom Orders that I have on my 2012 sewing shcedule, I hope to make some time to make garb.

My soon to be 15 year old Granddaughter wants a Corset made for CONVergence in July.

-New Elizabethan Corset for me
-Another Victorian Overskirt and Coat Bodice(in Red and Black) with fringe this time
-new victorian Hat with plumes

My main goal is to shed some excess weight through Weight Watchers and get back to the Health Club to work out so that my garb that I do have fits better. Should I lose more than my goal, I will surely need  a NEW gown for 2013!!!

[isabelladangelo]

http://isabelladangelo.blogspot.com/2011/12/dress-university-plans.html

I've already changed the Mad Hatter Tea Party idea (I found a cupcake that matches some fabric I have in stash...so the cake hat changed and the dress changed to match it!) but everything else is still the same.  I'm also making new outfits for my nephews (pirates!) and my middle brother -their Dad.  He's going to be in a doublet this year at the renn fest.   

I just finished the trim on an old green 18th C gown.   I've been wanting to change the trim for a while.   It's now a lovely red silk trim all along the front opening of the green silk dress -perfect for Christmas and 12th Night parties!  I'm also going to finish my new 18th C stays.

I need to make a pet en l'air jacket out of this fabric:



I also need to make a robe a la francaise before the end of the month!

Two Edwardian gowns are in the works as well as a new Elizabethan.  By the end of this month, I need to make a Spanish Surcote/Loose Gown for a friend.   

So, umm...yeah!   Lots of sewing projects already!

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

I have been lusting after these two gowns from THE DUCHESS that I want to make. One a day dress and the other for evening. I have the patterns already.

[Auryn]

ohhh I love this thread, maybe this year I will actually do most of it - maybe I should print out my post and put it up on my wall.

I finally have my own dedicated sewing/crafting room so no more excuses.
For this year
- Make at least 2 victorian corsets
- I need  to make knee length breeches for my steampunk character to wear to Megacon and to the first Florida steampunk con in April.
- come up with and make a victorian gown for the masquerade ball at said steampunk con- any suggestions greatly appreciated.

All that by the first week of April
and working around my leather and accessory commissions
Im sure I will be working on a masquerade piece for my boy toy as well.

After that, I haven't given any thought to the rest of the year yet.

[Kate XXXXXX]

I have been lusting after these two gowns from THE DUCHESS that I want to make. One a day dress and the other for evening. I have the patterns already.

I have seen the top one, and I have some close-up photos I took of it.  There's a lot of raw edge finish on the trim, and it has frayed mightily (but prettily).  I have a decent pic of the back.  Yell if you want copies.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Kate....YES, YES, YES!!!!

There was a lot of usage of Pinking shears back then in the 18th Century that gave that fraying look to ruffled pieces. Along with cutting in a scalloped edge design. Many of those early gowns were made out of Silki Tafettas and Silk Brocades.

[Kate XXXXXX]

This one is a slightly ribbed taffeta, pinked in scallops.  No attempt has been made to seal the edges as S and I did on her Mm de Pompadour.

I think I have your email address somewhere, so I'll dig the pix out of the files and buzz them along...

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

You did and THANK YOU!!  I saved the photos in a file for future referrence.

I also have the Book you sent me, The Art of Dress,  as well as Historical Fashion In Detail:The 17th and 18th Centuries. All the hand sewing is absolutely incredible. No wonder it was the Upper Noble Classes and Royalty could afford such beautiful clothing.

[Kate XXXXXX]

I went here recently: http://www.fairfaxhouse.co.uk/?idno=1  Their exhibition at the time was this one: http://blog.fairfaxhouse.co.uk/?page_id=671

It was great to be able to see the garments up close and personal, even though we couldn't take pix of them.  It was very comforting to see that Su and I do hand finishing that is as good as some of the best of these originals! 

[amy]

Well I agree with Lady K.  I would have a whole new wardrobe if I could fit into my older outfits!  So I am on the wagon with you M'Lady.

1) Fun Borgia TV style Italian Gown with stash of sari's I have in the closet
2) Deep Blue Court gown with Fabric I received as a gift in 2009 (shame on me) need a design with tall collar using a supportase
3) revamp or remake my 1400s gown for more practical use.

New Commissions!   (yeah me!,  so proud that others would like to wear my work)
1)  Black Warrior Kilt for Dan at TNRF
2)  Black "Pirate Coat of AMAZEMENT"  for LadyHawkontheHill's beau Jim (going to take 100% of my creative energy)
3)  SteamTrek jacket for Peter BeerSlayer who will be co-host/MC at Starbase Indy in 2012.  How exciting!