Elf fantasy fair 2009

These photo's where taken at the Elf Fantasy fair at the Castle Haarzuilen.









I have been working very hard to get my new ballgown bodice finished. All the beadwork that I have used on the front and back is antique, some even victorian. It was a lot of working sewing it on and repairing it, but I think it was worth the effort.



I met several ladies who had made lovely victorian costumes and some of them used the patterns from Truly Victorian. This lady was kind enough to have her picture taken with me.

Ofcourse more information about this ballgown version will be added to my Victorian Wardrobe and my Historical Wardrobe.

Ball Gown Bodice

The shawl project has had several problems mainly with the tension of my warp threads and my cat chewing on a lot of them so that they had to be replaced. It left me terribly demotivated, so I haven't done anything in quite a while.

But I have kept my hands busy. I am making a red velvet ballgown bodice to go with my 1885's bustle skirt. I would like to wear it to the Elf Fantasy Fair, but I am not sure if it will be finished in time. I would like to make it properly instead of rushing things.

The pattern is from Truly Victorian, TV460 1885 Cuirass Bodice. I am making the Ball Gown Bodice option this time. The fabrics I used for my wash overskirt come I have also used for the small pouf sleeves. The description calls for a separte lining to put into it. I have seen several orignal pieces where the outside fabric, the interlining and the lining had been threated as one. As I always have problems getting my lining in neatly I thougth I'd try this for a change. To finish the seams neatly I have sewn satin band over it.




Here you can cleary see the three stages of a seam.
(l) seam with boning in casing, (m) finished seam,(r) seam with zigzag finish and sewn flat.

This is how far it is at this moment.



All boning has been sewn in and only three seams need to be finished with the red satin band. The top of the bodice is to wide and has to be taken in. Alas this also alters the neckline which is already in place. I would prefer to close the bodice with hook and eyes, but I am not sure if it's going to work. If it doesn't work, I hope to be able to use original victorian metal and horn buttons that I have purchased on Ebay.



Also on Ebay I purchased this amazing victorian beadwork. I think it will look amazing on the red velvet.

Corset Cover Finished

The corset cover made with Laughing Moon pattern has been finished for over week, I just haven't had time to post here or answer my email. Over all I think it worked out well.

Currently I am working on a ball gown bodice for my 1885's bustle costume. It's sewn together and the neckline has been cut, so that means that there is still a lot to do before it's finished. Due to lack of time and energy we are doing all projects in very small steps. It takes longer, but we'll get it done anyway.

Busy

The last month or so I haven't had the energy to post messages here, that doesn't mean however that I have been sitting stil. Here a short and mainly pictorial update.

Regarding the shawl project.

We did try warping the heddle loom, but the wool warp stuck together and was to elastic to creat a gap large enough to weave with.
Than my husband, reluctant to give up, deciced to creat a very basic and crude looking warp weighted loom.

Here you can see him making the heddle




And here you can see me weaving.


At this moment there are to many projects buzzing around in my head for me to be able to focus on just one.

So I've almost finished my victorian corset cover. It only needs buttons and buttonholes and maybe some lace on the bottom hem.





While looking around for nice and affourdable buttons, I've started working on a ball gown bodice to wear with my red velvet four gore bustle skirt and wash overkirt, for a more glamorous look than my current cuirass bodice.

Adventures in Victorian hat making

This is the basic structure of my Late Victorian Small hat, made with a pattern of Lynn McMasters
http://lynnmcmasters.com/LateVictorianSmallBonnet.html

The hat still needs to be decorated. The hat head pattern was purchased from Victorian Elegance http://ve.enterharmony.nl/epages/enterharmony_nl.sf/nl_NL/?ObjectPath=/Shops/enterharmony.nl/Products/hatheadpattern

Laughing Moon pattern

I just now remember why I really do'n't like Laughing Moon patterns! The paper is really really thin and tears easily, it is folded in way that is impossible to repeat, the paper has crease all over which makes it hard to race on to pattern paper. The paper is brown and the pattern is light grey, so it not visible thru pattern paper ! AAAARRRGGGGGGHHHHH !!!!! Not to mention that some of their directions have errors.
I just spend an hour tracing the pattern with a black marker to make it visible.

I'd much rather work with Truly Victorian patterns, nice thick white paper, clear and strong black lines and good sewing directions. Unfortunately they didn't have this costume piece in their collection of patterns, so I am stuck with LM.

Current Mood: Tired and Unhappy!

Tape woven garters

I finally finished my tape woven garters today. I still learning how to weave, so it has it's flaws, but never the less I am really proud!



As, almost, always the wool is dyed with natural dyes, the brick red is done with madder, the orange with union skins and the yellow with weld.