Button button...

So, I'm a lazy blogger. I didn't end up getting my 'Steampunk Summer Costume' finished in time for the tea party, but I did get it mostly finished. See above. I'm not sure if I like it now that all the panels are in - its a bit too flamenco dancer-y - so I may take them out and cut them down.

For the boned waistband, I followed a tutorial at Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing. I was loosely working from an existing pencil skirt pattern that had a high waistband, but I drafted the more 'waist cincher' shape that I wanted over the original pattern piece. I used more boning in my waistband then Gertie - I had some six inch bones lying around, so I used one of those for the CF bone, and zip ties for the rest, so I choose to double every boning channel since the zip ties aren't that sturdy.

See, it looks like Gertie's! I even bought silk organza like her tutorial says.

Now, the reason the skirt is mostly finished is because of the fastenings. I wanted to do buttons with loops because I thought it would be cute, so I scoured the internet for tips and tricks on the best way to do button loops. I traced my pattern piece on to tracing paper, drew guidelines, taped my loops in place, stitched them down, stitched the tracing paper to the garment, and tore away the paper. I thought everything was great! I finished my placket and facings, and sat down to sew on the buttons. I sewed on one, and thought I would test it out, and my loops are toooooooooooooooo small. :( I am probably just going to get some different buttons, because I really don't want to take it apart and re-do the loops. Probably I won't get around to it until the next Steampunk picnic or tea party is planned.

So, here's what I got done today:


So, I sewed together the skirt panels. No waistband yet. The gores are just pinned in, I wasn't sure if I liked the look of a full circle or if I wanted less. I think I'm going to go with the full circle. Not as much as I had hoped to get done, but I've still got three days.

Hats and other things

Look, pretty! Not quite done, I'm actually still stitching the brim on, and I have to line it, but I am excited to decorate it. You can see there are some bubbles in the fabric on the brim. My millinery teacher swore by spray adhesive to prevent such bubbles, and I used it, but still bubbles have appeared. I am hoping once I shape the brim it will stretch them out a touch.

Cole's hat isn't as far along. Honestly, because its not as pretty, so I'd rather work on mine :p And I want to wear mine to an event this weekend, which he is not attending. Also, his is a full size hat, not a toy, and I find everything takes so much longer on his. So working on mine is more instantly gratifying. You can see the 'wrinkles' on the top of his - these aren't a mistake. The fabric has heat set wrinkles in it, which add to the textured look he wanted, so I didn't stretch them all the way out. And last night I started on a new project, my "summer costume". Its actually just a skirt, but I have enough fabric to make a jacket at a future date. Its a linen blend with a metallic stripe, and I'm hoping to get the skirt done by Saturday to wear to tea. The fabric is not quite what I was hoping for, the dark stripe is a little too dark, and I was thinking a crinkle cotton, but this is what I could find. Its going to be a six panel pencil skirt, and I'm going to insert gores that end just above the knee. Never really done such a thing, so I'm going to do some experimenting with the shape of the gores. Also, high waist band with boning. Have a tutorial on how to do that, and I'm not worried about it, expect I still have to draft the waistband. The shape of the one that came with the pattern I'm working from is much too dull.

So, plan for today - its now already 11 am. I want to get the rest of the skirt cut out, and sewn together. I have to go to Sears for some machine needles, and the grocery store. And I'm supposed to meet the boyfriend at the gym at 3:30. Better get to it.

(You may have noticed that none of these things is the under bust corset I mentioned. I guess I'm bored of that project, before even starting it :S I was planning on wearing it to the Antique Corset Exhibition at Hycroft on Sunday, but now if the skirt turns out, I will wear that instead. Its only Tuesday. I suppose in some universe I could finish the skirt and the corset, but I'm not going to stress over it.)

Paper mock ups

Here we are looking oh so fly in our craft paper hats.

My hat is inspired by a hat worn by Glinda in Wicked (which Cole took me to yesterday for our anniversary <3). I will be covering it in a faux duppoini in a light gold shot with green. Its interesting. I think the crown is too shallow for a band, but I am thinking a nice bushy ostrich plumb.

Cole's hat is inspired by a hat worn by a young James Caan in the John Wayne movie "El Dorado." Not to be confused with the John Wayne movie "Rio Bravo" which has an almost identical plot, and a cast which closely resembles each other. Anyway, James Caan's character Mississippi inherits his hat from a river boat gambler. Cole choose a dark mottled grey for his hat, and he wants to do some large silver decorations on the band.
I will leave you with a picture taken at a steampunk gathering a couple of weeks ago. We were at a local cafe called the Prophouse which was really lovely. Every inch of it was cover in antique/retro lighting and mirrors and art and knicknacks. It was perfect for a steampunk get together. Also, the chocolate chip shortbread was delicious. I am sporting my first attempt at a covered buckram hat, which I made during a millinery class at Capilano University.

I just spent $250 at the fabric store! Bought fabric for a frock coat, vest and top hat for the boyfriend, lining and buttons as well, a ton of boring old interfacing, and a couple other fun fabrics for covering hats. I might start with some paper mock ups of hats tonight - I'm planning a low top hat for boyfriend, a little perchy hat for myself, and a mini top hat just for fun. My big sewing project for the next two weeks is an under-bust corset that I want to complete in time for the Antique Corset Gallery June 19th. Also, there is a tea party on the 18th. Only once that is complete can I start on the other projects.