Gallery of In Progress Projects

[Kate XXXXXX]

Thank you. ladies.  It was a serious fun weekend!  We got masses done.

Gem I drafted the pattern for the stays (and the stays Su made) from Drea's corset pattern generator, with the help of this really nifty set of instructions by Mara Riley http://www.marariley.net/stays/staysinstructions.htm, and some advice from a couple or three more experienced corset makers.  I'll flag up the posts I made about them when I get the weekend story up.

[Kate XXXXXX]

The weekend's exploits documented! 

The stays:  http://community.livejournal.com/corsetmakers/1805536.html

The Big Fat Gowns! http://community.livejournal.com/dressdiaries/464819.html

[DonaCatalina]

That green corset is just - wow!

[Kate XXXXXX]

Thanks!  The process is fun.   

[LadySeasan]

here is my bodice that I worked on yesterday, made from my old but trusty bodice pattern. Simple, 3 pieces, but holds the girls in and does the job well!







Here is the first version of the bodice, which like I said, does the job very well

[Tink]

Lady Seasan, what pattern did you use?  (or did you draft your own?)

Everyone's projects are looking wonderful!!!

[Lady Isabella]

LadySeason,
I am loving the black and white. Can't wail to see pictures of it finished.

[LadySeasan]

Lady Seasan, what pattern did you use?  (or did you draft your own?)

Everyone's projects are looking wonderful!!!

i drafted my own. i recently tried butterick 3906 and it came out so horrid and ill fitting that i went back to my own pattern. 

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

On Lady DeLAney's ensemble, there are a few things to finish up.

I have been working my fingers to the bone on Toki Bloodaxes's project. The slops are finished and I have the back piece to the Doublet finished. Photos soonto come.

[Lady Rebecca]

My frankensmock (to borrow Gem's term) is mostly there! I have one sleeve that just needs to be gathered into the shoulder, and the cuff needs to be attached, though I'm having trouble figuring out the best way. I will be posting pics later to ask for help! The body of the smock is done, but I feel like it's fitting just a bit loosely, so once I have the sleeve in, I might wind up taking it in if it doesn't change how it lays. Then it's just collar and hem and done!

Also, I was finally able to put my stays on that I started last year (with the help of my friend). I have pics to post of that, too, because I feel like it's riding up to my shoulders. It's just the interlining, but eventually I'll have the whole thing done!

And I'm about to start a pair of pirate breeches for the Pirate Days at John's Pass.

[Lady Rosalind]

Busy working on my new court gown that needs to be ready by the 25th (Yes, June 25th!!! And we leave for vacation next Wednesday!). I wanted to post some in-progress pics, because it's been years since I've made a new gown. The gown is black dupioni silk. I can't wait to not be wearing heavy velveteen and corduroy in 90°F heat!

Cartridge pleating 5 panels of 45 inch wide silk:



I used a 2 inch wide strip of wool felt to pad the pleats. I butted the ends of the strips together and zig-zagged the seam, so that I had a flat seam.



Pleats stitched to the waist band:



Trim - embossed ribbon trim from Hobby Lobby. I removed the wires from the edges before sewing. After getting the trim on the fronts and hemline, I felt it looked a little plain.



So I made my own trim out of bias strips of red changeable taffeta leftover from my new underskirt, some brocade trim from eBay, and some tiny gold braid from JoAnn Fabrics.



Tomorrow, I need to finish sewing the brocade trim and braid to the rest of the bias strips, but for now, the trim for the front is finished. I can't wait to finish this!



Tip: I was dreading pressing the seam allowances for the bias strips, and was delighted to find heat-resistant mylar sheets at JoAnn Fabrics. I cut out a strip of the mylar, and pressed the seams over it. Worked great, and I was able to get a ton of the bias prepped in a relatively short time.

[Lady Rebecca]

Beautiful pleating!

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Very lovely, Lady Rosiland.

[Kate XXXXXX]

Very smart!  Love your trim.

[Genievea Brookstone]

That is lovely work!  I am with Kate, that trim is beautiful.

What a great tip too.  I hate pinning itty bitty fold of fabric like that. How did you keep the mylar centered?