How I Hate Button Holes, Let Me Count The Ways

So, yet again I have another fear blockage happening. I have got the skirt done for the new Steam Punk outfit for Steam-Con, mostly done. I guess I count done as all the main seams and just need to finish hemming. But I have been working on a shirtwaist, the 1909 Beatrix Shirtwaist by Sense and Sensibility, which so far has gone together fairly quickly. I only had to adjust on a seam a bit on the puffed sleeve, unlike other patterns of theirs where I have had to do a lot of adjusting.

Anyway, it's coming down to doing the bazillion button holes down the front. I dread this every time I have to do something like this. Why? Well, I have got a fairly new and good machine. It has a button hole feature. It is easier to do the button hole than on the old Pfaff. I guess it's the button hole gremlins. What is a button hole gremlin you may ask? It happens when you have done all the necessary prep for the perfect button hole. You find that after you have made up your practice pieces, you have perfectly wound up your bobbins so you can be consistent, go slow and all. And you will get a mutant button hole right in the middle of the blouse! Right where you will notice it. Or near the neck. The slubby monsters attack. The button hole mutates and then you must spend hours, if not days, picking it out.

So then, you procrastinate. You sew all the other bits that you can, you start several times, then walk away. I know, it is ridiculous. But it's blocking me right now. I only have a few weeks and gotta get it done. Now of course this migraine is not helping either.

Okay, I will practice with the practice bits, I will get past this road block. I will go forth.

Costume College 2009-Saturday Interview

Here at last with roomie Jennifer from Ruby Raven. Having a blast, finally got into a costume after being here 3 days. Just tee shirts and jeans, sewing, making wigs and general mayhem. So, the story so far....an interview with Jennifer

Janet:What has been the most exciting part of CoCo this year for you?

Jen:Being able to experience costumer's work first hand is an invaluable experience. You know many costumers from the net and actually seeing it, you can learn so much more seeing and feeling than just from photographs.

Janet: What is good about the classes, what needs improvement?

Jen:One of the things that could improve the costume college experience is if they would classify the costume college workshops by skill level. This would help keep the novice costumer from getting in over their heads in some of the more advanced classes. Costume College offers so many great classes, that they do offer plenty of opportunities for costumer's of all skill levels. It would be helpful if class descriptions included more information about pre-requisites.

Janet:Would this benefit new costumers by having them enjoy the experience? You and I have been doing this for a while, but there is something to be learned at all levels?

Jen: Yes, it would be helpful to everyone, at all levels to know what they need to know before the class.

Janet: Do you think it would be a good idea for CoCo to have more remedial or say skill building classes say on the first day, progress on the next day?

Jen:Yes, there was some programming for basic sewing techniques, but maybe break that down into over several days.

Janet: So, perhaps the answer is to have a structured class that would be like, the skills for " Before you take that Corset Class", minimum skills you should know before you plunge into the first corset class...

Jen: Yes, that would be great. The the student could enjoy the class!

So, we progress into the 3rd hot day here in L.A.

The LA Garment District, an experience not to be missed.

For as long as I can remember, in costuming all the costumers I have know have driveled on about going to the fashion district in LA. Streets filled with fabric, buttons, trim, you name it. I decided this year that I had to get there. I own a costume related business, I need to check out new suppliers, and really see what they have to offer.

So, it was hot, 100 plus and we were in trim mania land. Wow, what an experience! Exhausting to say the least. I need to come down again in like 6 months and do some more exploring for product to sell. I have also made some good networking happen so I am quite pleased. And...

I finally got the Caraco mostly done, enough to wear. And got some pictures of it. So I will have something new up here, hopefully this weekend!

www.costumecollege.org

BayCon 2009 Saturday 23rd May, 11:35

Here I sit, waiting for crazy costumes to go by. I have seen some fun ones. This morning, I met Glitch from "Tin Man". Hoping to see many more. Sales have been slow. I was not able to finish up the Tudor so that I could wear it today. Tragically bummed about that.

Operating on very little sleep. I zonked out early but woke up expecting fur kids to be bugging me. Took a while to realize I was at the Hyatt.

So, feeling a bit old today. missing wearing a costume, but getting some ideas on what to venture into next. I should finish up that Tudor, have a day or two to just finish the bloody thing up.

Hoping to make it to the masquerade tonight. I would like to see the creations. But getting so tired lately. It's just a hope I have that I can work on some costumes for the Costume College soon. I think once school gets out, there will be a little more time. I have to get brave enough to make the 18th Cent silk costume I want. Got the silk, just have to get brave enough. Hmmm. And then, English or French? Such things to decide.

Starry Steam Punk

Can't believe it's been two weeks, but we made it to the event, and went all over the place at Chabot, and met this really weird group of people. They seemed rather lost. So we chronicled how lost they looked. It was fun wandering the space center at night.

so tired, but want so much to just sew

Ever have a day you just want to sew or create and you have to wait and you just hate it? I have to do all my life chores and hope I can have 2 hours or more to sew tomorrow. Of course, I have to sew the mock ups for the bodice first and then there is just so much to do. Argh.

Okay, think positive. It's Steam Punky, so steam on. Well, I am also making it so if I just change up the hat to more historical, it can go that route. I need to look up pith helmuts, see if I can girlify it a bit.

Stash Splash

I have cut most of the bodice lining out of stash material last night and got the placket done on the skirt. Of course now to hem everything. Hate this part, think it's what keeps me finishing most costumes.

I hope to have the bodice done by the end of next weekend. Still aiming for a 98% of the costume coming from stash. So far so good. The mystery fabric is a bit hard to figure out how to best get the wrinkles out. I have the outer fabric for the sporting Basquine bodice to cut this week as well. So much to do.

So far the Beatrix Skirt from Sense and Sensibility Patterns is still one of the fastest throw together walking skirts. I would also recommend the 5 gore by Laughing Moon Patterns. The bodice will be from the Laughing Moon Sporting Costume. I decided I didn't want to tackle doing the bloomers just yet, there is still a lot of fabric and I could ideally get a pair out of that too, but right now the time crunch is at hand. Also, very facinated by the gaiters/leg treatments. Besides, I find it best not to learn a new pattern when under such a time constraint...as was evident with the Tudor costume. Which still needs finishing. Hope to have done by BayCon.

I Pledge To Use More Stash Fabric This Weekend

I will continue work on my traveler costume, and hopefully add some from the stash for lining!!!! There, I may also get my butt in gear for the Polonaise Victorian to get back to completion. Oooh, can I do it. As Obama sayz, Yes I Can....

Mystery Fabrics and Oh my Back

Yes, I have completed 80% of the skirt for the Steam Punk event next month. The mysetry fabric is definately some synthetics derivative. It's such a lovely shade of dull green herringbone. I have got the skirt mostly done. Now to plot and plan the sporting bodice. So much to do before the event in April. I am sorry I didn't get to go to the steam punk ball that is happening in this month. I hope to go to the chabot space center tour. Wish I could spend time on it during the week.

Hmm, the bodice sporting costume will use the pattern from Laughing Moon I think. Such a drab color, but perfect for traveling gear. I thought about doing the short skirt and I do indeed have the fabric for it as well I think, but the leggings gaiters have a bazillion buttons and I just don't have the time to produce that right now. Hope to have pictures of the construction up soon.

Then, I must sew some colonial stuff again....sigh. My back has been giving me grief lately, sewing not an option. Hmmm, speaking of back, to corset or not corset under this. Perhaps Boning is in order, lots of it. Hmmm, where is that pith helmut. Time for me to get a real one, the one I have is not what I would truly see as a pith helmut.