Gallery of In Progress Projects

[Cori]

Since I won't be able to finish it by this weekend for TRF I'll work at making the recommendations I have received so far and post pictures again when it fits a little better and I don't have to work so hard to keep it on.    Thanks so much for all the suggestions.

[gem]

HUZZAH!  

Not terribly much by way of progress, but worth celebrating anyway: After more than a year of fussing over the fit, and with just one weekend to go at KCRF this year, I have FINALLY cut out the lining to Milord's Gimli tunic!

It's just a first step, but it feels huge! I'll try to get it sewn together tonight, and the rest (wool) cut out tomorrow. Then it's just sew the two together, and bind them. That's IT. Easy-peasy. There is no reason it should have taken me this long.

Wish me luck! And good sewing karma!

***
ETA: And... the lining is sewn together! Next step fitting, then on to the wool! Woo-hoo!

[Lady Rosalind]

Go for it, gem!!!! You can do it!!!!!

[DonaCatalina]

I really need to get my chip reader fixed I am so behind in posting pics... I finished some sage green sleeves with gold embroidery for a doublet, some emerald green sleeves with pearls for a gown and now I'm about 80% finished with a pumkin velvet doublet with layered gold trim.

[LadyStitch]

I am taking on a challange I havn't done in a while. I'm making another cloak, but this one is velvet and satin.  It is to be a gift for our director.  Originally we were going to make it out of microsude and bridal satin.  Because I had some GREAT 50% off coupons from Joann's the only cost differnece between using crep back satin, with black royal velvet (TTL COST $75)  vs the microsude with regular bridal satin ($70 total)  which do you think we went with?  Needless to say I'm grabbing a minion and they are helping me lay out 5.5 yards of velvet this week.  Wish me luck!

[gem]

The Gimli wool is cut!!

(This is a pretty big deal; it's fabric I've had in my stash for three years, since my 18th Century project; a beautiful swath of heathered brick red wool flannel. And I just blithely took my shears to it with only a couple deep breaths!!  )

Next: Sew wool together.
Then: sew lining to wool.
And finally: bind the edges with leather.

That's it.

[Rani Zemirah]

I'm finding it's far more difficult than I thought it would be to actually convince myself to take that first step and make a cut in the high end fabrics... even though I'm just making pouches.  Particularly since the fabrics I'm using for the front panels of the pouches are all highly patterned brocades, damasks and jacquards.  Figuring out where I want to cut them is proving to be even more tricky than drafting the patterns!  

[ArielCallista]

I've had that issue before Rani...I found a solution that works for me! I took the pattern piece or at least the shape that the front panel would be and traced it onto poster board...I then cut out the shape and used it like a stencil...I layed it on top of the fabric and moved it around until I found a piece I especially liked...it really helped envision what it would look like in the end...

[gem]

I've done the same as Ariel--very helpful!

***
Gimli wool shell is sewn together. Next: attach lining to shell. Onward!

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

I've spent the last 2 Tuesday evening at my friend's house sewing a green jerkin for my husband Steve.  So far, cut out, seams sewed up, the shoulder pieces sewed last night. 

Grrr, I am the queen of rip-outs!  I couldn't get a smooth line on the first shoulder piece until I ripped it out two times to redo.  The third time worked, and on the other side, the first time produced a smooth line.

Next week, sew the bias tape around the front opening and the armholes, then hem the bottom.  I am not lining it, because the material is heavy enough that it has a nice drape and hangs well, plus it's so hot in the summer, that I want Steve to be able to wear it.

I am becoming well acquainted with my new friend, the iron, but I doubt I'll ever love it.

[LadyShadow]

I am becoming well acquainted with my new friend, the iron, but I doubt I'll ever love it.

I'll agree with that one. I only iron while sewing. The rest of the time it can sit there and collect dust. But even during sewing I only do it when I have too, and not because I want to.

[DonaCatalina]

Yes, the iron.
I Iron while sewing.
My husband brought home a 100% linen dress shirt and he mentioned it came out of the wash very wrinkled.
I told him he knew it needed constant ironing when he bought it.
It still hasn't been ironed.

[Rani Zemirah]

I've had that issue before Rani...I found a solution that works for me! I took the pattern piece or at least the shape that the front panel would be and traced it onto poster board...I then cut out the shape and used it like a stencil...I layed it on top of the fabric and moved it around until I found a piece I especially liked...it really helped envision what it would look like in the end...

I've been doing that with my patterns for the front panel pieces, but the fabric pieces I'm using are all either 16" x 16" or 18" x 18" samples, none of which have the same pattern, and I'm trying to get either 2 different front pouch panels or one panel and one flap out of each of the patterned pieces, to go on differently shaped pouches (like life isn't already complicated enough, right?).  So I'm having to make it up as I go along, with each piece.  It's a little nerve wracking!    heheh


DonaC, perhaps you should introduce him to the iron...? 

[gem]

I *love* my iron! It's my favorite household appliance. Ok, I definitely never relish ironing 4+ yards of just-washed linen (or anything), but I find it immensely satisfying to watch wrinkles vanish beneath the heat and steam, and to see how a really good pressing can turn a project from OK to fabulous. I also love how versatile it is, and all the things you wouldn't think of ironing--I had a ball of hemp cord that was so crimped and twisted that it was unusable for boning (or anything, I'd guess!), so I ironed it! It was brilliant watching it go from unusable to smooth and perfect again. A costumer pal at KCRF this weekend remarked on another improbable thing that was ironable, but I can't recall what it was! Will have to ponder and get back....

[Rani Zemirah]

I have a travel steamer that I truly appreciate... but ironing is right up there (or maybe down there...) with mopping, in my book.  Not a fan!