For All Newbies To Sewing

[Lady De Rue Rue]

Lady De Rue Rue - good luck in finding another machine when you are ready. What kind of machine did you buy before? We had a brief discussion on here a while back on sewing machines.  I'm not sure if that will help you at all.   

It was a Singer and the company admitted the machine was defective from the start.

I did read past threads on recommended sewing machines and that was very helpful.  But, in terms of time and hassle of driving back and forth getting the machine repaired (I did get a full refund on the machine), it is just time to move on and start over. 

But, now I know where I can post newbie sewing projects.  Thanks for all the great information.

[Lady Gryphon]

I'll post this here, not that I'm new to sewing, but I am new to anything pre-20th Century.

This is a long vest that I'm going to wear with my Pirate Garb.  I got the idea from the red over dress seen in my photo.  But at least this one the waist, (what there is of one) fits in the right place.  I bought the fabric for $3.00 a yard at Hancock on sale.  (the lining and trim cost more of course).  I took a man's pattern ,Butterick B4574, and Lengthened it to 46" from the shoulder seam.  I added the patch pockets, because I always need a pocket sometime during the day.  I am almost done with the Bodice, just a little more fished work on the ribbon, and I found some real nice red  facbric at 54% off today for a skirt.  Yeah, you'll see me coming.  When it's all done, I'll put it on and let Dragon take a photo.  Until then here is the vest hanging in my workroom.


BTW Hancock is having a huge sale on all their decorator & home fabrics for their 54 Anniversary.  It's all 54% OFF if any of you were eying a particular piece.

[auntiegiggles]

Wonderful work!  You will have to post a pic when you have your pirate garb all together 
Thanks for the tip about Hancock - I may have to check and see what they have in stock 

[Ms Trish]

I'm putting together my very first bodice (with a little adult supervision)! This is very exciting for me since less than 6 months ago replacing a button was a major task. I've got the inside pieces stitched together, boning channels made, and tonight I started measuring out the cable ties for the bones. Was hoping to have it done by this weekend, but I don't know how realistic that is considering the rest of my life I'm trying to juggle in there too. I'll post pics later when there's something to see (and they will be from a distance you won't be able to see how very not straight my sewing is!).

[Rowan MacD]

  Question...Do I need a dress form to make a noble dress?  The ones I've seen are are expensive... This will be my first attempt at a full set of noble garb (female) I'll be using the Simplicity 3782 which does not have the separate bodice/skirt. I can't tell if it requires cartridge pleating or not....

[LadyShadow]

Rowen,

I was able to make Simplicities 3782 view A without the use of a dress form. The only problem I had was when it came to hemming. But I have that problem on whatever I'm making. This is the same dress that I am wearing in my profile pic. Though I still need to finish my bum roll, hoop skirt and a corset for this one to be completely complete. But the dress and underskirt are done 

[Rowan MacD]

Rowen,

I was able to make Simplicities 3782 view A without the use of a dress form. The only problem I had was when it came to hemming. But I have that problem on whatever I'm making. This is the same dress that I am wearing in my profile pic. Though I still need to finish my bum roll, hoop skirt and a corset for this one to be completely complete. But the dress and underskirt are done 

How hard was this, and about how long did it take?  I have done an outfit for my hubby, but never tried a dress...I want to make this to match his doublet.  I have a farthingale, corset and bumroll from one of my other outfits that will work for this.

[auntiegiggles]

Good luck Ms Trish!  Can't wait to see pics 
Rowan - I've never used a dress form for any of my noble garb (even though I would love to have one).  And it doesn't look like you need to cartridge pleat the skirt. Good luck and I am excited to see your pics when it's done 

[Rowan MacD]

Thank you so much for starting this thread.  I guess I could say I am a newbie to sewing but, I have a lot of past experience sewing and tailoring that I have lost over the years, from completely stopping sewing.  

I just went through a whole sewing machine situation only to find out the machine was defective and it was not me.  Not sure if I am ready to buy another machine yet, just due to the stress of dealing with a bad machine.

I hope to start a small project soon when I am ready to buy a new machine and start over again.

My hubby bought me a new machine and it has a needle threader.
The old Dorina I had was a money pit, I put it on free cycle and now it's someone else's problem.
  Something was bent, and would cost more to replace than a new machine.  

[Rowan MacD]

 Lady shadow, that is great! I can't find the trim I want so now it looks like I may just manufacture my own. Layering sections of ribbon and lace side by side should do it.

[LadyShadow]

How hard was this, and about how long did it take?  I have done an outfit for my hubby, but never tried a dress...I want to make this to match his doublet.  I have a farthingale, corset and bumroll from one of my other outfits that will work for this.
[/quote]


The only hard part I came to was the tabs and attaching the skirt. But I had sewn the few spots of boning a lil long so it was fun trying to get the sewing machine to go through all the layers (boning and all) and not break a needle. It did take me a few tries at getting the tabs to line up like I wanted and lay right. But once the skirt was attached they laid down a lot better. And attaching the skirt... I had to rework the front a few times so that the skirt would just right and repleat the front so that it was right. But the back half I want to say was gathered. But it has been a few years and I'm to lazy to go pull the dress out right now. 


It took me awhile to make the dress, but that is with constant long breaks (kids and hubby). But really from start to finish I think I spent more time cutting than sewing.

[LadyShadow]

Lady shadow, that is great! I can't find the trim I want so now it looks like I may just manufacture my own. Layering sections of ribbon and lace side by side should do it.

I know how that goes. It took a while for me to find what I wanted and several stores later. Though I am thinking about undoing mine and redoing the trim. Thankfully mine is hand stitched on so I wont have to take the whole thing apart.

[Rowan MacD]

   My hubby has decided he wants paned slops with his proposed new doublet.
I am once again using the simplicity pattern that I used for the red and gold doublet and pants.

http://www.simplicity.com/p-2089-men-costumes.aspx

The new project (only my second attempt at this style)  will be in a black and gold Jacquard.  

http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Fleur-de-Lis-Upholstery-Fabric-Chair-Pattern_stcVVproductId138362630VVcatId539385VVviewprod.htm

We have decided the basic slops will be black velveteen.  I have plenty on hand.
 I find I am a bit paranoid about making changes to the pants pattern:

1) the pants pattern has the legs gathered into a yoke at the waist.  Will this be a problem?
2)The pants have pretty full legs, but hubby wants them fuller (so that he can stuff them) this will require a lining of some sort to accommodate the stuffing. Can I get away with just lining the legs with satin, leaving an opening somewhere to insert stuffing?  Will I need to cut the legs longer?
3) Paning is not included with the pattern.  How hard is it to add? How should I space them, and where should I attach them?  I want to make the 'ribbons' from the doublet fabric.

[DonaCatalina]

I make leg cuffs.
Then I make enough panes to go all the way around and the fitted pieces for the center back and crotch and sew these to the leg cuffs.
Next I make the big lining pieces double wide and sew them to the leg cuffs.
Then the inner lining is fairly fitted with shorter leg pieces so that the  panes and linging can poof outwards; and these are sewn to the leg cuffs.

Now I fill the pants with tulle netting between the inner lining and the center layer of fabric.
The upper edges of all of these are sewn down to hold in lining.
Last of all I sew on the waist band or yoke depending on the exact style.

[Rowan MacD]

  So make the poufy leg part of the pattern double wide and possibly 'rounder' ;like a pumpkin in stead of a sausage?   How much shorter should the lining be?
 

 I like the tulle stuffing idea, I was worried he would be uncomfortable using batting.  


By fitted pieces, what do you mean?  Some of the slops I have seen have a sort of g-string fitted part in back bisecting the poufs of the legs,  sort of looks like a 'whale tail'. should I look to make a codpiece for the front?



Edit: I was snooping around for more information on this style.  Apparently the style my hubby wants were more like 'round hose' -(Definition snagged from the Tudor Shoppe site)

~"Round Hose : Very full short breeches which varied in length from the upper thigh to just above the knee, giving a rounded look to the hips and showing off the leg.

~Slops: Wide, loose fitting breeches, similar to round hose.

Looks like both styles were paned.