Gallery of In Progress Projects

[Lady Rosalind]

I love it when you measure your person, measure your fabric, follow the directions and then come out with a waist that's only 24 inches when it's supposed to be like 32 inches...
Still not sure where I went wrong in that harem pant pattern.

I also love it when you look at the cuffs at the bottom and realize you did one completely inside out.

Yep... I usually do that with smock sleeves...

[Lady Rebecca]

In progress doublet bodice. Still needs buttons, sleeves, some sort of finishing at the bottom, and probably some embellishment trim along the front closure.


Close-up of the closure - every other loop in the trim will be a buttonhole


I don't know how I feel about the zig zag on the facing...

[operafantomet]

Ooooh! Looking awesome so far! Did you end up interlining/stiffening it?

I see what you mean about the zig-zag. What about adding a black trim over it? A velvet ribbon or a corded thread?

[Lady Rebecca]

No, I wound up just using the cotton duck. It seems thick and sturdy enough to me.

[Lady Isabella]

Change your bobbin thread to match the inside fabric?

[Kate XXXXXX]

After a hard weekend of frantic frocking, this is where some of my kit has got to:

The sacque needs hooks and eyes up the front, the hem of the gown turning up, the waistband putting on the skirt, and the sleeves need stitching in...  I also need to make elbow ruffles...

 

The caraco also needs the sleeves stitching in and the hooks and eyes...

 

My polonaise toile has had a first fitting:

 

I need to complete the first fichu...

 

Roger's coat toile was done:



Su's anglaise bodice was toiled:

 

And her sleeves fittied in her sacque:



So far all these have been a joint effort!  I can't do mine without the cutting help and the fitting.  She needs the same!  We end up sewing odd bits for each other as well...

[Valencia]

Gorgeous!!! I LOVE the trim on the neckline and sleeves on the caraco, it's just fantastic.

[Kate XXXXXX]

Thank you.  here,s a close-up of that and of the silver lace on the purple gown:

 

[Lady Rebecca]

It's almost done! I just need sleeves, plus I plan to add gold embellishment on the bodice and skirt (I just don't know if I'll have time by Friday!)











I'm not sure why it seems so crinkly, but it feels like it keeps wanting to ride up on top of the waistband/cartridge pleating/bum roll. Is there a way to prevent this?

[Valencia]

Lady Rebecca, WOW!!! I LOVE it!!!  I think the wrinkling is probably cause by not enough boning + the back is slightly longer than your back, so when the skirt is at your waist, it's pushing the back of the bodice up and making it wrinkle.  I am so in love with the bodice, it's a great change from the standard garments. Love, love love!!!

Kate, every time you post pics of your current projects, I am so amazed. Your work is impeccable. That trim is so fantastic. Thank you for the close ups!!

[Kate XXXXXX]

I'm not sure why it seems so crinkly, but it feels like it keeps wanting to ride up on top of the waistband/cartridge pleating/bum roll. Is there a way to prevent this?

The bodice is too long: you need to shorten it about an inch. This will cure the wrinkles.  Then sew hand worked loops at the join between skirt and the waistband, and corresponding hooks on the bodice.  Hook them together to prevent gaps forming in wear.

[Kate XXXXXX]

Kate, every time you post pics of your current projects, I am so amazed. Your work is impeccable. That trim is so fantastic. Thank you for the close ups!!

I have top admit to being in love with the trims!   

The sacque was such an absolute pig to get right!  Mine fitted reasonably well, but Su's was evil...  Very badly drafted in places, and graded in an appallingly haphazard way: there was 4" too little in one place, 4" too much in another, and the sleeves had to be abandoned and redrafted from scratch..  I'll never use another Reconstructing History pattern.  It was MUCH easier to draft the caraco up from Janet Arnold and then alter to fit my measurements!  So I see a LOT of faults rescued by 47 years of sewing practice!

The coat is JP Ryan's military coat, a pattern that fits together like Lego and is made for a human form!

[Valencia]

I knew I recognized that coat!! I am finishing up a JP Ryan 1770's frock coat, it's really similar. How cool!! And I think I like everyone else's trim because I am trim challenged.   I'm currently working on a TV 1880's fitted coat for a natural form dress; I have learned so much on this site about mockups and ironing and so on, and it's really paying off. Before, I thought you could just cut a pattern and it fit like magic; now I realize how much work goes into the actual fitting process. I'm so glad so many people are willing to spend the time posting pictures and descriptions and problems, it has been invaluable to me.

[Lady Leo]

This it the doublet I made my brother for 2010 I made it this spring.

[Lady Rebecca]

That's a lovely doublet!

Though I think you might be looking for the gallery of finished projects thread. http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=89.2385