SP: Presenters

I kinda got a photo of my corset and undergarments (with me in them). It's not very good, but it will do for now. I'm on the far right.

What to make next?

Now that I've finished my corset, I've opened up tons of costuming doors. The corset ranges over a 60 year time span, meaning I need to make a skirt support to make a new outfit. But what to make? I'm defintely planning on:

- a new regency chemise
- finishing my corded petticoat
- hemming my chemise

I'd love (if my bank account allows it)
- making a new hoop skirt and petticoats (and then maybe a dress)
- making a bustle
- making a pair of stays and then an 1830's dress

We'll see how the summer goes. I'd also like to get a photo of me wearing my corset so I can post it here.

Oh and I'm also helping with Vokes' "On the Razzle" this summer so stay tuned!

SP: Closing

I presented my corset and undergarments at the presentation last night. I have to admit it was a mad rush to the finish - I worked almost all of yesterday hand sewing the binding, clipping basting stitches, gathering and seaming the corset and chemise (also finishing my slideshow). But now they are all done! The corset looks amazing - practically store bought. I can't believe I assembled it in 4 days!! There are a few blemishes, but that's typical for a first corset. It looks very pretty and is actually fairly comfortable. The chemise and drawers are made out of a lightweight cotton batiste that was a tad annoying to work with but it is so worth it! Batiste is much more comfortable than muslin from Joann's - they feel like pajamas! I want to make another chemise to wear to bed during the summer, but I need to use the remainder to make a new regency chemise. And now the photos (I need to get one of me in the garments, but I'm doing an in-school presentation on Thursday so a friend could take one then):

The Chemise

The Drawers

The Corset

Ella!

We're getting a puppy!! Her name will be Nutella (Ella for short). Here are some photos:

SP: More Goals for the Week

Goals:

- order corset brocade and coutil

- order bone casing, bones, busk, grommets and setter, rubber hammer

- purchase lace for drawers and chemise

- purchase twill tape for corset binding

- trace silverado corset

- cut out and assemble mock-up of silverado corset

- purchase cotton cord or hemp for corded petticoat

- wash batiste for drawers and chemise

- go to Vokes
- make either chemise or drawers

I know, a bit crazy, but the ordering will be done on one order

SP: Chemises, Batiste and Corset Mockups #1

I haven't updated in a while so here's what I did last week:

Monday I ordered fabric for the chemise and drawers. I ordered almost 8 yards, thinking that I could kill two bird with one stone (and pay less shipping) and get enough to make a nicer shift to wear under my regency gown. The one I have currently is a bit too big and awkward fitting. When I finally wash the batiste, I’ll have to make the Victorian drawers and chemise first and then see what material is leftover. After ordering, I set to work tracing the corset pattern onto interfacing. It wasn't all that hard to trace the pattern because I have done this before with the pattern for my Regency Pelisse. Tracing is good because then I can reuse the pattern in the future. After tracing the pattern on interfacing, I cut out the pieces.

Tuesday I went to Joann's to get fabric to make my corset mock-up and also purchased some muslin and yarn to make a corded petticoat. I figured it's a good idea to have the materials because I know at one point I will be waiting for corset supplies or have finished the drawers and chemise, so I’d like to have materials to make something else in the meantime. I browsed the yarn and finally picked a bright blue ombre one. I don't think it will really matter what color I choose because A) it will be sewn into casing in the petticoat and B) it will be under my gown. I figured a brightly colored yarn would be better than a white yarn because otherwise my eyes could strain against the white fabric. I washed the fabric and yarn because every sewing expert always tells you to preshrink anything otherwise when you wash it later, the garment (or whatever you are making) could pucker and misshape. To get it ready, I rolled it out of the prepackaged ball and wrapped in into a loop like a hose. I discovered the best way to do this was wrap it around a book. After rolling 150 yards of yarn, I tied it at four ends and sent it into the washing machine after advancing the fabric. When the fabric was dry, I folded it and advanced the yarn into the dryer. While waiting for the washer and dryer, I watched DVD I purchased about corset making. It was actually really helpful to see the techniques used live and understand the differences between different materials. That night I went and helped at Vokes. I was asked to bring a sewing machine, so my mom gave me a quick rundown of her older machine so I could bring it. When I got to the theater, Elizabeth had me pin down a seam to fit a bodice for the lead actress. Then I sewed the seam down with her machine. It was a bit disconcerting because it moved really fast when I pressed the pedal down. After that, I pinned and cut out a pattern for a skirt. I don’t mind doing this, but my back hurts from sitting on the ground and leaning over. Later the prop master came in and started musing about all the flowers and hurricane lamps and candles and letter carriers they needed for the production. He was actually pretty funny to listen to.

Wednesday I pinned and sewed the corset pieces together to make a mock-up. It looks really good! I finally have a fitted corset mock-up! I just need to order the correct fabric. It fits pretty well. I also started part of my corded petticoat. I think it will be fuller than I thought it would be, but that's okay. I like full petticoats. I also seamed the fabric for the corded petticoat, making a large loop that is about 107” wide and 48” long. I also sewed the placket and it looks very neat. It will come in handy when I finally put on the waistband. I also rolled the yarn I had washed into a nice ball that will make it easier to work with later.

Thursday I changed projects temporarily. Since I finished my corset mock up and needed to order the fabric and other materials for it, I started to work on a corded petticoat. I ordered fabric to make the chemise and the drawers, but it hadn't come yet. When I bought fabric for my corset mock-up, I also purchased some 108" wide cotton muslin for my petticoat. It is fairly light weight, but with cording and some starch, it should stiffen pretty nicely. I found instructions for the petticoat online and started the bottom cord. I have read on zillions of websites that you should do a corded petticoat by machine otherwise you will drive yourself crazy. The instructions said to use a zipper foot on the sewing machine so you could get really close to the cording (which makes the welts in the fabric, allowing it to stand up). So I found the one for my mom's nice machine (aka. $2000 that I'm not allowed to mess up at all) and got all set to sew. When I turned on the machine, I didn't realize that the needle does not automatically adjust itself to the left or right of the foot. So as I started so sew, the needle broke the second it hit the metal foot. Oops. So then I got out the other machine that was more stable (but much older and less complicated). I think it belonged to my grandmother. Anyway, when I looked in the box that stores extra feet and bobbins, I couldn't find it! It must be with a different machine or something. Then when I went back to the nice machine, I couldn't find the right size needles. After I finally found them, I tried putting a new one in, but it just wasn't falling correctly over the foot. I really don't like ruining a nice machine, so I figured I'd sew one cord by hand. Hey, it can't be that bad - yes it will take a while, but at least I'll know what I’m doing when I finally get the machines up and running. So I put on a movie and sewed the first cord of my corded petticoat. I think it looks pretty good, but I may change the color and material of the cording. I like bright blue, but I think many rows of blue cording will look silly (even though they will be under another petticoat and a skirt.) This weekend I will probably purchase some hemp or cotton cord to use in the cording. I don't think that using yarn as cording will be very stable and won't we very stiff (which is very important in a corded petticoat). So two and a half hours (and a lunch break and movie change) later, I finished the one cord on the bottom of my petticoat - yay!

Friday I had finished my hours, but I spent time working on my journal for this week. I also too some pictures and tried to re-fit my corset mock-up to myself, but had difficulty. Next week I may make a mock-up of the other corset pattern in the package because it is more suited to my figure. The one I made this week is a bit low on the bust and has a lot of overlapping fabric when I pin it together. I also want to get some hemp that is sturdier for my petticoat.