There are a few blogs I follow and they always seem to make sewing goals for the coming year. I think I need this or I'll get nothing done. When puppies put everything in their mouths it's hard to do anything you like. Pattern paper is fragile enough as it is, even more so when you have to pry it out of the most stubborn dog I've come across, my own.
I don't know if I've mentioned but I'm heading off to Bath for the weekend in May to attend my first ever Victorian Ball, organised/hosted by Prior Attire. The theme for this year's ball is crinoline, and this became a great opportunity to make something I've always loved...a crinoline. It is optional, but since I've made my attempt at a bustle I thought I'd go for something new.
I began with the corset...or the chemise, I can't actually remember. I think I did the mock-up for the corset with an old single ground sheet from a bed set, so no need to buy mock-up material. I fitted it to my new-ish mannequin.
I now definitely have a finished chemise on that mannequin now and no corset. In all honesty I got frustrated with the corset lining and in a fit of rage I pulled it apart. I had the same problem with matching the lining to the corset with my other corset, however somehow I managed to fudge my way through it. This time it wasn't so easily bluffed through. Needless to say I now have the parts for the corset lying on my floor, untouched since I got the dog. However, I do have a finished chemise, complete with bias binding, you guessed it, tartan bias binding on the puffed sleeve. Pictures to follow.
Still leaving the corset on the floor I turned instead to the cage. There are a few options for crinolines. There are 3 patterns that I could find, but the one I've always wanted is the 1865 elliptical one.
Before I left to go home for Christmas I was stitching the boning channels into the bag at the bottom. Despite some momentary confusion I managed to piece together the bag. After it's finished I'll return to the corset.
I bought this pattern as part of a kit. Usually I get my patterns either from patterns of time on Etsy, although the shipping can sting a bit, or Sew Curvy usually for corset supplies. In response to the ball Sew curvy began to do kits. Sorry, I wanted mine earlier so I got it from an undisclosed supplier.
Moving on. There is a corresponding skirt pattern for the cage.
After the crinoline is complete it will be the mock-up, or the petticoat since it'll be made of cotton and won't matter if I mess up, which I can almost guarantee I will.
Next will be the ballgown bodice, courtesy of Sew curvy.
Both skirt and bodice to be done in expensive dark teal silk taffeta, the most expensive fabric I've ever worked with, so it'll be interesting. I was toying with the idea of using Duchesse satin in a lighter shade of green, and I may still do that but it is really expensive, and the more reasonable ones just don't have that colour pop I'm looking for.
This project(s) will keep my busy until May, the deadline. After that I want to finish the fantasy gown I bought lovely burgundy velvet for. The following list are my sewing goals for 2016:
1.) Regency Day dress (with appropriate underpinnings; short corset, chemise, gown).
2.) 11th/12th century dress.
I won't add a third in case I don't make it that far. In between work and growing puppy I hope to get these done, because they've both been a few years in coming.
But first, Victorian Ball!
