Gallery of In Progress Projects

[Valencia]

Non renwear, it's my halloween costume. I think I posted the corset and skirt in finished, but I just finished the chemise, and LOVE the way it turned out. This is for a mid 1800's victorian steampunk saloon girl costume. I still have to finish an underskirt, arm warmers, neck corset, and decorate the hat. But at least the chemise is done! LOL : )

[Auryn]

that is sooooooo gorgeous,
Im going to have daydreams about it while I am driving home.

You should post a pic of you wearing it.

[gem]

Half done with the Gimli binding!! It's sewn onto the tunic, ready to be trimmed, turned, and tacked down in back (and I still have to do the armholes).  Milord may actually get to wear this this year after all!

Here's a picture of the masking tape + paper clip method I used to secure the leather binding as I sewed. It worked really well.




And here's a positively *dreadful* photo of Milord wearing the (still unbound) tunic:



Even with the binding done, it still won't be done-done; there's quite a bit of leather work still to go, plus clasps/lacers. But it will be WEARABLE.

Taking a break to, um, do some work today.  After leather binding, revising Chapter 2 doesn't seem so nerve-wracking! Ha!

[Kathleen MacLeod]

DW, that looks great! Is he still going to wear the chains of office over it? I'd be afraid it would catch on the pearls and pull them off!

Lady Catherine, that's beautiful! I love those colors together.

Valencia... gorgeous! Is that taffeta I spy? I'm such a taffeta whore  I'm uber impressed by your corset skills!

Gem, it's looking good! I like polo hanging out from underneath the tunic; I think that really makes the outfit

[DragonWing]

Thank you ladies. I really like it too.  Kathleen, I am going to ware the chain of office. It's only made from braided gold trim and earrings on it as well as the necklace. So it's light. I don't think it is going to be much of a problem.

Lady Catherin3, what is visible is lovely.

Valencia, just gorgeous.

Gem, I can't wait to see that done and in full garb. He is going to look great.

[gem]

GIMLI IS DONE.

(for now, anyway. Sewn, bound, and wearable, if not totally complete.)

Pictures to follow.

[Valencia]

I sewed the underskirt today; it doesn't show well on the dressmaker dummy since she doesn't have any legs. The skirt is a black satin mini, with soft pleats draped across the front, and wide lace at the hem. It looks awesome with legs, lol... I decided that the top lace edged ruffle on the skirt was too long after I tacked up the bustle, so I cut off the lace today and shortened the ruffle. I like it better.  I also finished the hat today, need feedback. Does it look steampunk / victorian? Anything to add, take away, do differently? 

[Lady Rebecca]

Love that hat! I think it's perfect.

[Valencia]

Thanks, I really appreciate it. It's so hard to be objective after working on it all evening, I just see all the flaws. And I don't want to show up to my halloween party looking costume-challenged, lol : )

[Lady Isabella]

Valencia, it looks awesome!!!!

[Lady Rebecca]

Lady R, I would like to ask you a huge favor.  I'm fascinated by cartridge pleats, but I'm very timid when it comes to actually trying them.  Would it be possible for you to turn your overskirt inside-out and put it on the dressform so I can see what the pleats look like from the inside?  I'm pretty sure I have an idea of what they should look like once they are attached, and I've seen illustrations, but I'd like to have a visual reference before I attempt it.  Please?

Pictures posted in the cartridge pleating thread.

[Lady Isabella]

Just got started on my daughter Kendyl's new court gown. I am having too much fun!
All of you have inspired me. Here's some photos of my progress so far.






She has a small waist, 27 inches, and I'm not happy with how the cartridge pleats are fitting on the waist band.
The fabric is lightweight so I used felt to help keep their form. But I only took one inch stitches.
So now I'm gonna take two inch stitches.....hope this works better. I love how it looks after.
Just so time consuming. I'll post more pictures tonight.

[Lady Rebecca]

Love the fabric and the trim! Did you make the trim out of diamond fabric, or was it already done as trim?

[Anna Iram]

Really beautiful, Isabella.  It's always so hard to find the right trim. This is just perfect.

Valencia, that's awesome! Love it, and the hat is totally yummy. 

DW yes to the pearls! A proper Lord can never have too much bling.

[Lady Isabella]

Lady Rebecca, I made the brown diamond trim out of the fabric for the forepart.
The fabric is just hanging there for the picture.
I'll be putting the underskirt together tonight.
Anna, I still can't believe how well they go together!