Challenge 6: Fairytale- Skipping This One

The next Challenge due April 1, 2014 is Fairytales. Lot's of fun ideas have come up but I have just not been able to find inspiration. So I've decided rather than force something, I am going to work on a different project. 

I plan to attend a Titanic Themed Tea in April and I really need something to wear.

So for these two weeks I will be creating a 1912ish tea gown. Here are some inspiration gowns.

 I love the tiers on this one along with the very feminine pinks.

 This one is more the actual style I am going to go for on my own gown that I am working on. 

These would be fun to play with, however I just won't have the time....

Step 1. Fabric choice: I had some lovely lace and embroidered curtains, I also owned a kitten, these two things did not mix well. So I took the curtains down and saved them, just in case.. It is the lace curtains that will be the over bodice and over skirt. I don't have enough that is not shredded to do more than one layer so my over skirt will be one layer. For the under dress I was determined to not buy new fabric but to use my stash. I found a little over 3 yards of some off white poly satin. Yuck I hate poly now, but at least it will be out of my stash and it should look the part. For the sash I found some dark green shantung. Voila, an idea. 

Step 2. Pattern choice: Well I have the infamous Titanic gown pattern from Simplicity and no time to order a new one so I will be practicing my altering abilities. 

Step 3. Finding the time: So far I'm chugging along. Megan thinks it's hilarious to sabotage my cutting attempts. I have also decided that the portion of my sewing area that I have for cutting is just too small, time to bring my smaller sewing desk up and to use the large table for cutting and detail work. 

Challenge # 5 Bodice - Completed

The Challenge: Bodice

Fabric: Silk Taffeta and Cotton Velveteen

Pattern: TV 405 Vest Basque

Year: 1872

Notions: Buttons, thread,

How historically accurate is it? 70%

Hours to complete: 15?

First worn: Planning to wear to the Easter Bonnet Promenade

Total cost: All from stash

Finished the buttons last night. I am happy to have completed this within 2 weeks. I will have to look at adding more details later but for now it looks pretty good. Here are a couple more pictures. I need to iron the skirts and I will need a correct petticoat. It doesn't fit well on m dress dummy but that's okay when I wear it I will get some pictures then. 

Side view of completed outfit.

Definitely need to add a bottom trim or ruffle. 

1870's Bodice, Almost There

I ended up working over a weekend so I took a week day off from the day job to relax. My day was spent pretty much sewing and watching Merlin. The results are that I may just finish this Challenge in time for the deadline which is tomorrow. 

Here are some progress shots. 

 Front view. I practiced my button hole feature on my machine for almost half an hour to make sure I got these spaced properly. I actually do like how the dark velvet plays off of the lighter silk. My one regret is that with the time restraint and my attempt to use stash items as much as possible I really didn't do any embellishments like I would like. I may go back late and add details to the collar and cuffs at least. 

 Back view. I am liking the tail. I need to put the skirt and bustle on my dummy to see how it will actually look though. 

Side view. I may make this pattern again and change the design of the bottom, I think it could be made to be a lot more fun over all. 

Since taking these pics all I have to do is the hand sewing including the buttons, so my Friday night is going to be split between time with my family and time with my sewing. Looking forward to posting the entire outfit. Then all I will need is a proper bonnet or hat.

Vest Front Bodice Progress

This project has been pretty slow going. Between running out of canvas for interlining, discovering that I don't have any boning in the sizes that I need, and just constantly being interrupted I am surprised that I am making progress at all. 

Here's the basic body, luckily it fits. 

 Front view, it's on my dummy a little crooked. 

Back view. I do love the back details. 

As with most of the Truly Victorian Patterns, this one is coming together fairly easily. I just finished up the sleeves and I do think I managed to make them in such a way that they don't actually match what the pattern called for, but they still look pretty good so I'm going to leave them. I just don't have time to fix them if I'm going to actually complete this challenge on time. 

Challenge #5 Bodice Planning Phase

Challenge #5 Bodice had many possibilities for me. 

Should I finally make my new 16th century bodice? 

What about a ballgown bodice? 

What events do I plan to attempt to make it to this year? 

Well I am planning on attending the Easter Bonnet Promenade again this year in Old Sacramento. My mother in law is very involved and it gives her an opportunity to show off her grandchildren.

So I have decided it is time to complete my Bustle ensemble. 

Here is the skirt and Apron that I have so far, now I need an appropriate Bodice for a Promenade.

I chose another pattern from Truly Victorian TV405

I wanted to do the main part of the bodice in the dark velvet, however I used most of that fabric for a pirate coat and pants for my son when he was about 12. So I fell down the rabbit hole that is Pintrest in order to justify the darker color for the vest portion and the lighter color for the body portion. Here are a few of the pictures that I found that I loved!

  Towson Univ. Dep't of Theater Arts 1870

Dress ca. 1880 From the Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum

Mine won't be nearly as lavish, but it's going to be fun to make and fun to wear. 

Challenge #4: Under it All

The Challenge: Under it All

Fabric: Linen

Pattern: Diagrams from The Tudor Tailor

Year: 1500's 

Notions: Thread 

How historically accurate is it? 80% machine sewn and poly cotton thread

Hours to complete: 6ish

First worn: not yet

Total cost: Everything was actually from my stash

This is my second time making one of these square necked smocks and I still managed to make the neck hole to big so I had to fix by pleating in at the corners. It did give me some practice at the box pleating for the sleeves which I plan to use again with another piece in the near future. 

This project didn't get a lot of attention but at least I still made the challenge. The next couple challenges are bigger and I'm hoping I can keep up.