Gallery of In Progress Projects

[Lady Gryphon]

Isabella:  My dream sewing room is floor to ceiling cupboards that I can organize everything into and then a 6 x 4 foot island set on cupbards that I can walk completely around to lay out a pattern, or work on multiple projects.  Oh and a place to set up a coffee pot and mini fridge.   I may not come out for weeks. 

I hope you get everything to your liking. 

Lady Kate you can feel the tension around here.  SKWEEEEEEEEE!

[Rowan MacD]

Everything everyone has done looks beautiful.  I love looking at this thread and the Finished Projects thread.  So much talent in 1 place!

Rowan, where did you get the fleur de lys fabric?  It is stunning.

Hancock's and Joanne's both had/ have TONS of it.   It is really easy to work with too; good body and little fraying. I paid $9.99 yrd in the home dec department while it was 50% off (Still is!).          
  Both places also have that lovely material I used for hubby's cape lining. The black with fleur complementary pattern satin is $7.00 yd.  also Home Dec.   I plan to make 2 foreparts: one in all gold and another panel in the black with gold fleur though I'm worried it may be too much black. We'll see.  I'm trying to think of a good material for skirt guards that isn't really expensive but will compliment the material.....

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

Thanks to the replies on where to get the fabrics.  We don't have a Hancock's by us, but I am going to Madison, WI next weekend, & there is a Hancock's there.  Also, the Joanne's in Dubuque, IA, where I work, is the poor stepchild of Joanne's.  They have NOTHING.  Never even had that beautiful white fabric with the black embroidery that people on this thread were buying up to make chemises.

Thanks again.

[Rowan MacD]

 oooooo.  Black embroidered white fabric?  How did I miss that?

[Merlin the Elder]

Kathy, Lady Kett & Sidekick are going to look amazing, I just know it. I'm adding a weekend to our season schedule just to get to see them in it!

I guess that means I need to save you a spot... <duck> Kidding! Trust me you have a spot! <starts warding off evil wizard spells>...

You don't have to save me a spot. A slight blemish will suffice.  But then again, you already threatened me with an invite...   

[isabelladangelo]

oooooo.  Black embroidered white fabric?  How did I miss that?

It was a year or two ago.  It was a wonderful heavy weight linen that was perfect for skirts, jackets, ect.   I'm wearing it in the picture below after I made it into a skirt. 


At the Friday Social by mykeyII, on Flickr

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

As for where to get fabric, fabric dot com is always awesome.   They've just had a wool sale followed by a linen sale.  I'm told their raw silk is now on sale but I'm allergic to raw silk.  There shipping is never very much and they almost always have some sort of coupon when you sign up for their newsletters.   I remember back when it was just 8 people working for fabric dot com, now I think, it's over 100! 

[Rowan MacD]

  The first fitting on the almost finished black and gold Fleur de lys bodice did not go as well as I hoped.
I spent the day tweaking it in Sunday, which turned into a major deal with smoothing seams and tacking piping.
    I decided to use some of that ultra firm double sided fusible interfacing I used for a hat to reinforce the velvet center section, since the velveteen is thin enough so that the plastic boning is obvious.  Turned out nice, but I am a bit worried about the 'crease memory' this stuff is supposed to have.  The bodice lies exactly over the corset, so the point is supported well for when I lean over.  I had to take in the waist 2 inches (which is almost exactly what I added to the pattern).  Wow, I'm learning soooo much from this project. Once I get a pic (hopefully wearing it) I will post here...

[Wickedvox]

Stunning Rowan! All that gold rope trim must've been very tedious!

The silk piping I got on sale at Hancock's for $2.98 yd.  I bought all they had.
  It was slow going, due to the fact I couldn't find my zipper foot for the machine.
  I gotta get more organized.

Ugh. Zipper foot. It's my one weak area. I purposefully avoid piping for the simple fact that I suck at it lol. I have a saloon girl outfit I made last year...looks great...except for the squirrelly piping. Yours is much better--good job!

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

There is a trick to doing Piping.

Piping has to be well pinned so that it does not shift. Using an older model Zipper Foot works the best in that you get close enough so that when you turn it, you do not see strip it is attached to. When sewing the lining, there is a sewing guide already in place because you turn the piece on the other side and follow your stitches.



Sewing on Piping takes a little practice. Be patient with yourself, wickedvox.

[Kate XXXXXX]

For flanged piping I tend to machine baste it with a long stitch, then pin the lining to it and sew the final row all in one.  And yes, a zip foot is a boon!  Several needle positions can also help get really close.  I get a much neater finish doing this than using a piping foot.  As far as I'm concerned, that's only for covering cord in bias strips!

[Lady Gryphon]

I have a zipper foot that I can move to either side of my needle.  I'm still not as proficient at pipping that you lovely ladies are, but I even us it to attach some of my trim.  I can see where the needle is going easier and therefore keep the seam straighter.

You all do such lovely work. I'm embarrassed to show mine here.  I could never compare to the wonderful work I see here.  Keep teaching from example please.  I learn something new almost daily. 

And Thank you for the lessons I am getting better, in my opinion.  LOL

[amy]

Here I have the start of what is going to end up as my Borgia (TV) dress ....  The idea of a comfy high waisted gown which is worn with NO corset and a lovely chemise underneath really seemed like a good idea.   But I went off without much planning and I am very short on fabric. I have two 60 inch panels to do the skirt with so I am ok there (albeit a bit skimpy)....   Never thought too much about the adornment of the front of the bodice.  I have sleeve ideas, but no clue what to do on the front of this part.  I really like the medalion in the fabric so I don't want to cover that up.  I would love to give some kind of illusion of the V front, but it will be very short, and not contrasting.    Remember this is a "fantasy" type dress... not HA at all.  Just for fun to dress up and "play" Italian.  WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO DECORATE THIS BODICE??
Thanks!

Please ignore the blue lining showing... I am cutting every corner with fabric.  I was glad to find some blue/grey in my stash.. Oh and the binding is contrasting for the same reason but will not show much after sleeve is tied on and trim attached after skirt goes on.

[isabelladangelo]

I'm not sure it needs adornment.  You could have the entire dress open on the sides and wear another dress beneath it in a silver color.   Add the adornments to the sleeves and the hem of the skirt.  Wear a necklace with this (pearls!) and it will look fine. 

[operafantomet]

You know, I wouldn't really add too much trim or deco on it, because the fabric is lovely in itself. But if going purely fantasy, a narrow, but rich silver lace inside or along the neck and sleeve opening would be cool. Pearls would also be nice. If you put them on a string, and then tuck this string down, the work will be much quicker and easier to get straight.

As for the V shape, this is where "The Borgias" failed. The V shape was created by a V necked overgown worn over a higher necked undergown. It was the layering which created the defined V shape. Like here:



So if I were you, I would concentrate on making a smashing "plain" dress, and then later add a contrasting overdress with V shape. This means you get two different outfits. You can also make the sleeves tie-ons, so you can make two or three different pairs and change the "feel" of the dress. Maybe a matching one with lots of piecing, one with an embroidered emblem, and a contrasting pair? Like here:

EMBLEMATIC:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze1/baldovinetti1465.jpg

MATCHING, WITH SLITS/TIES/DETAILS:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze1/tornabuoni1488a.jpg

CONTRASTING:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze1/florschool1500ladymalarz.jpg

[amy]

Oh those sleeve ideas are so beautiful!   I just never thought about leaving it plain to enjoy the lovely fabric.   I already have the underdress cut out.  It will be a lovely iridescent slate green/grey which compliments  with the outer fabric and will make the puffs to pull out at the shoulders and elbows.  AND, Isabella you read my mind that the sides will both lace and be open to show the underskirt.  I really like the idea of some pretty pearls  and a pendant to dress up the neckline.  Thank you!