Adventures in Costuming

8-15-2010 007

Originally uploaded by norselordspanishlady

I put the final whipstitches in the fussy linen cap today, completing the 4 piece outfit.

I’ve gotten all the machine stitching completed for Lizzie’s dress. It’s for use in a living history setting, so no machine stitching can be visible when worn. The bodice is piped on all seams, save for the side seams. Here it is:

The skirt, sleeves, cap, and apron have to be hand-stitched. They are all pressed and ready to go to the couch to be stitched while I watch TV.

The piped facing on the bodice neckline has been tacked down by hand, and the apron hem is underway. Up next, gathers on the skirt and sleeves.

Muslin mockup of doublet, sleeves, and trunkhose are complete and ready to try on!

I really need a male dress form–pardon my lumpy dial-a-dummy. She’s layered with fabric scraps to check for major flaws in the shape of the peascod belly, but that nowhere approximates a human figure…

Embroidery has commenced and with any luck, I’ll be finishing up by week’s end!

Patterns are finished, now that I’ve secured more Swedish Tracing Paper. I love this stuff!

Jean Jacques’ outfit

1840s dress and daycap pattern

I have managed to get some mobility back in my hand! I worked on a commission for heidipay on DOA this past weekend, but my camera batteries were all too low on juice to keep it awake through an upload. Now, I’m home with an ear infection and strep throat, unable to to much of anything, save for type.

The pattern is drafted for the corset bodice, overskirt and underskirt on this outfit, and i’ve made the fingerless gloves (I’ve given up on gloves, as the seam allowance on delicate fingers makes them look way too chunky–I may try again with exterior seaming when my thumb is more mobile, but I have little hope that the process will succeed). I was pleased to discover that the Senior Delf body and the Elfdoll body are almost identical in their measurments, so I’ve been able to make a few very minor changes to the pattern (literally, millimeters of difference in some spots) to get it to be just right. The same pattern will fit Elfdoll, I’m pretty sure, with a bit of a gap in the laced-up back.

I’ve cut out the muslin and as soon as I’m not contagious, I will stitch it up for a fitting before I take scissors to velvet. Stay tuned!

Sorry for the ridiculous silence. I’ve been house-hunting, moving, and waiting to hear back from the bank regarding our loan. All this while also having a broken finger. The splint was removed last Monday and I’m on a strict “move it even if it hurts, but don’t re-break it” therapy. Yeah, it’s the strangest medical advice I’ve ever recieved. In any event, it’s a little easier to stitch without my thumb now, as the splint isn’t getting caught on stuff.

I’ve finished a Regency gown for Puki. After many failed attempts to stitch the snap on without my thumb, I discovered that I can actually pinch again, if only lightly. A small triumph, but a triumph nonetheless:

I’ll begin my next commission soon, a gown for another DoA member. It’s vaguely historical.

I’m off to source some fabrics this morning. More on this one soon!

I’m pretty behind on the updates. A quick recap of my past few months of sewing:

I made a Lolita outfit for Eby, with a nifty applique of her cat, who has a cataract:

I finished some swaps for the Doll Clothes Exchange on DOA:

And, I made my dolls a slew of new clothes:

italianren 032

Originally uploaded by norselordspanishlady

I’m nearing the finish of this commission. All the machine-stitching is complete, so tomorrow I’ll put all the snaps, buttons, eyelets and ties, etc. on.

I’ve made a set for the most recent photos here.

Here’s what you’re looking at–

Romeo outfit [please excuse it--it's a bit ill-fitting as it is made for an ED boy and my boy is taller and a bit bulkier]: Cross-gartered hose with codpiece, 16th c. style smock, skirted black velvet doublet lined in silver silk. Not shown: collar on the doublet, shoulder wings, false sleeves (silver silk).

Juliet outfit: Silk chiffon chemise with adjustable neckline, gown (closes at side, split skirt), detached sleeves and matching detachable bust inset. There’s also a little cap. All the gold brocade is waiting for tiny pearls to be sewn on tomorrow.

There have been many small disasters in my work life lately, nearly all of them resulting in increased duties and paid time to work. I have had a bit of a windfall, though. This morning, I’ll be accepting a full-time position with my current employer. This is going to result in a lot less free time on my part, and a great deal of change to my long-term commissions schedule. I will have more personal sewing to do in the future, because there may be costumed interpretation in the future of the museum where I work, and I’m feeling ready to become involved in SCAdian pursuits again. I will, of course, share those projects in my sewing blog.

What this means for people I’m currently working with: Signed contracts are signed contracts. I will complete commissions currently in progress with no change to the deadlines, except in dire circumstances, and even then, I will give you warning. In short–no change.

What this means for people on my list who have yet to sign their contracts: We may need to re-negotiate the timelines we discussed, but I will still happily complete the commissions that are currently on my list. Those commissions that are still to-be-determined might need to be refused–depending on the scope of the project once clients have decided what they want, it may no longer be feasible for me to deliver in a timely fashion.

For those who are contemplating requesting a commission, I’m not going to stop altogether, but I am going to have to be very selective in order to ensure that I’m able to produce quality items in a timely fashion. Chances are I would love to work on your project, so don’t hesitate to ask. Please be aware, though, that I may not be able to get to a project immediately and may not be able to say yes to something with a very near deadline (i.e. please plan ahead).