Are you sewing anything right now?

[c4rdninj4]

Technically I'm not sewing it yet, but I'm working on a replacement to my duster jacket.  I have a couple patterns that I'm planning on combining to make a sort of super greatcoat-duster jacket.  I'm wanting to give it a rain-cape, a highwayman collar and a bunch of hidden pockets.  I've got my eye on some oilskin fabric and was thinking about leather/suede elbow patches.  If I can get a good deal on the price I'll add some more decoration along the buttons down the front.

[Siddons, the Incompable]

I've done the cutting out, and soon to start the sewing, for a jacket made from this Truly Victorian bodice pattern: http://www.venacavadesign.co.uk/Products/Victorian_Tail_Bodice_Pattern.html

Pictures will be forthcoming once it's got some sort of shape, and if it comes together nicely I shall try and put up some pics of me wearing it at the Blists Hill trip next month.

Also, if anyone's made this before and has any construction hints/tips, I'd be appreciative if you'd share them with me

Also to be made are 1 walking skirt, 1 flannel petticoat, 1 underbust, 1 muff and (if there's time and it's not tooooooo difficult) a hat.

(Yes, I like to take on far too much  )

[greensteam]

As I mentioned before, somewhere above in this thread, I am attempting a replica of Lady Mary's red suit from Dowton Abbey season 2 - the one she is seen in at the railway station on two occasions. Naturally there isnt anything remotely like it in any patterns so I have picked out a Simplicity suit pattern (2288 jacket view C, plus skirt). I couldnt afford wool so I am using a poly suiting and matching lining in maroon, total fabric cost about GBP25, except that I bought FAR too much!!

I have successfully made a skirt of suitable low-calf length, merely by extending the A-line skirt pattern by 9 inches, using newspaper to extend the pattern. The jacket is of course a LOT harder to replicate. I have added three box pleats at the back, extended the front so that the overlap will be a little more, almost double breasted, and have of course had to devise the pointy collar.

I started out by making a sailor collar shape out of sheeting and cutting it until it seemed to resemble the right shape. I then cut it across the shoulder line and added the lower part to the front panel of the jacket as an extended lapel. The rear part is a separate pattern piece from which 2 are cut - one to be added to the outer fabric as the underside of the collar and the other added to the lining so that it becomes the upperside of the collar. There will have to be a full belt with buttons too, more or less like the belt seen on many Norfolk jackets. I have decided to not use interfacing in order to keep the slightly unstructured look of that period.

I have now got nearly all the main pieces together. The collar comes next and will of course be the hardest to get right.

[Hez]

Haven't sewn in years so I was pleasantly surprised at how this turned out.  I couldn't find a pattern to match what was in my head so I used a favourite straight skirt to get the main shape and adapted from there.  The back poof is 3 layers of pleats getting progressively narrower and an improvised set of tapes and knots.  I finally got it finished and all the poofing tied up about an hour before the Steamcon Concert I planned to wear it to.
I haven't posted a picture before so i hope it works:


Hmmm, nope.  It didn't work.  Any one able to help me figure out how to post a photo?

[Miss Groves]

KNICKERS!
making bloomer/short/knickers out of taffeta
the prototype came out amazingly and were puffy and lightly frilly where it was gathered at the top and bottom
how i love historical books that tell you how to draft these things

[vampyresheep]

I've done the cutting out, and soon to start the sewing, for a jacket made from this Truly Victorian bodice pattern: http://www.venacavadesign.co.uk/Products/Victorian_Tail_Bodice_Pattern.html

Pictures will be forthcoming once it's got some sort of shape, and if it comes together nicely I shall try and put up some pics of me wearing it at the Blists Hill trip next month.

Also, if anyone's made this before and has any construction hints/tips, I'd be appreciative if you'd share them with me

Also to be made are 1 walking skirt, 1 flannel petticoat, 1 underbust, 1 muff and (if there's time and it's not tooooooo difficult) a hat.

(Yes, I like to take on far too much  )

I love that pattern, so will be interested to see how it comes out!  Have you made any Truly Victorian bodices before - if you have, the construction is pretty similar for them all.  If not, definately make sure you make up a toile/mock-up first!  Much as I like how they size the patterns, with separate measurements for front and back parts, I still always have to make sooo many adjustments for them to fit me.  Usually find that they are way too big on the shoulders for me.
*touch wood* i've pretty much got the hang of TV's skirt patterns but the bodice patterns, without fail, will stress me to no end. 

[Polaris]

Finished Just in time for Teslacon! Might still add a couple of black tassels to the side points of the overskirt....

[KABAR2]

Polaris ,

I have to say your gown came out great! until now I have never been a fan of strips.......

[The Corsair]

Just a note, this thread has hit over 100 pages. Could someone please start a Mk II of this thread and we'll lock this one.

[Mrs.Bevel]

Finished Just in time for Teslacon! Might still add a couple of black tassels to the side points of the overskirt....

Excellent work there. Well done. How long did it take you to make that?

[Polaris]

Finished Just in time for Teslacon! Might still add a couple of black tassels to the side points of the overskirt....
*SNIP*

Excellent work there. Well done. How long did it take you to make that?

Not as long as you'd think. Maybe about 40 hours or so? I'm pretty quick with the basics and I've made both those skirts before. The bodice was the bigger time consumer, and doing the trim held things up a bit as well because of cost. I also saved a little time by skipping any boning in the bodice. Since I'll be wearing a corset underneath I felt it was unnecessary to double up that much boning. Plus it keeps the whole outfit very relaxed and comfortable. I also used 100% cotton on everything to keep it breathable. It did take me almost 2 hours though to sew on the 13 tiny button up the front and 4 per cuff.

[Sgt.Whatshisname]

Not steam punk but related on the far periphery.

My son calls Friday night, he's going to a medeival LARP game, he doesn't like his armor, he askes if he can borrow one of my maille shirts.
Of course I say. He comes over to the house after he gets off of work.
He has duck cloth and other material and.... can we make him a LARP version of a coat of plates.... so he can have it for Saturday morning.

 And here we go....!!!!
 4 pots pots of coffee, 2 packs of cheap cigars, and all the ZZ TOP music anyone can handle, later...





In order to give it some rigidity, each square has a piece of plastic sewn in between the two layers of cloth.

Started it around 8:00 - 8:30 pm friday night, finished it at 6:00 am Saturday morning.

It's quick and dirty but its a Full coat of plates with "loricated" shoulder armour.
  I had to give him some static though,

I asked him, if, being a working engineer, if he had ever heard of the word "lead time:?
he gave me a funny look, and my wife , who is a QC/Production lead in the aerospace field said, " he's an engineer, their Idea of lead time is to hand you a sketch on a napkin and say " I need this in 4 hours."

  My sleep pattern is still all jacked up. But, if the worst thing in the world my kids will ever keep me up all night over is making stuff like this, then I'm lucky. ( I just wish I had had more time to make it look nicer.)


( Oh yea, and I stilldon't know how to set the time stamp on my camera, at last it doesn't read Sun 12:00 am)

[Wilhelmina Frame]

I fixed my problem bodice from the outfit I had to scrap for The Asylum. So it's mostly done now and will be ready for Tesla Con. Now to the hat an perhaps fixing another problem bodice. we shall see...

[Poppy Locks]

Husqvarna. Probably expensive cause some of them are still made in Sweden, as well as the computer embroidery. Oddly the brand also make chainsaws...

And motorbikes........

[The Corsair]

A MkII sewing thread has been opened, please begin to post there.

EDIT: The new thread is here
http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,33684.0.html