Japonesque Polonaise

japonesquepolinaise
Originally uploaded by janetscostume.

I made this with the Truly Victorian Polonaise pattern and after sizing it according to directions, I may have to move the frog closures over and create a third dart on both sides. I still have to attach the back of the bustle to the underskirt with big hooks. The interlining while helping to hold the shape, did indeed make it very hot to wear.

I like the way it looks and it is nice to ba able to step into it. I may make another one in a lighter fabric in the spring of this year.

Victorian Mourning Gown

Victorian Mourning Gown
Originally uploaded by janetscostume.

I miss this costume. I finally outgrew it so I had to adopt it out to a slimmer person than me.

This was made in 1991 using the Past Patterns reform 1880's dress. I liked it alot because you could bone it a bit and it looked like you were corseted, but you weren't. The dress celebrates the dress reform movement where a doctor of the time decided that yes, all this corseting and heavy clothing may not be good for a woman's body.

argh, lost the blog

I really hate Ren Bodices Now, I just lost my blog. Argh, I lost all the work and I hate having to do it again.

So, the redo on the bodice was hell. I had to keep sizing it down. I had to convert to a back openning from a side opening bodice. I really hate that I went one way and the fit decided another. Grr. And I don't care if the piping is right at this point, it's a miracle it happened at all. I will have to hide a lot of mess with the killer trim of doom I got.

Argh, this was some mess. I hope if I figure out the picture upload on this I can get some photo's in the blog.

The Dicken's Costume idea I had seems a piece of cake at this point.

No Time to Sew, Sigh

It's a weekend that was stolen yet again. I have to somehow creep in some work on the bodice and cutting out Vaughn's doublet. The house finally got cleared of some debris from the evil kitchen that ate our lives, and sorted out some of the cyclone in the costuming room.

Now, I know I labeled and organized tubs full of the current project, but now I feel lost. Like, where is it, you labelled it, but I knew where it was before. Can you see why I watch Clean Sweep on TLC? Or is it the other network, whatever. It's good to see that other people can be worse at clutter than me.

Welcome To My Costume Madness

Faire-Ly Speaking, it's right into faire season and I am still slaving away at bits and pieces of my and Vaughn't costumes. Of course, everyting has just gotten in the way, life keeps seeping in, the main evil doer being the Ikea Kitchen From Hell. More on that terrible experience later.

So, where are we at?

The bottom portions of the costumes are mostly done. After re-doing catridge pleating twice, fiddly bits, and trying everthing on, I discovered I had already ripped a gusset just doing fittings. So, I have to go and fix that bit. If we make it to Northern or Folsom Faire with the bare basics not including sleeves, twill be a miracle.
J