elizabeth_mn

All I managed to get photo-wise were a few really quick ones with my street clothes just before the corset was whisked off to work for display.



Reading about jenthompson's issues with wrinklyness in her corset, I should probably be ashamed of myself for calling this done, but I just don't have time in my life to make it (or anything, ever) any better than this.  That being said, I'm pretty happy with it!  It gives me a 2" waist reduction, the bust support is good, and the overall shape is nice and curvy.

( Lots more photos! )

Corset is cut out and pieces are labeled, now on to the sewing.  I plan to try the method in Truly Victorian's directions whereby the shell and lining pieces are joined at the same time, and each panel completely encloses the seam allowances of the last.  Previously I have preferred to create a separate shell and lining and stack them WS together, then either sew boning channels all the way through or apply bone casings to the surface.  That method works for me, but it's time to shake things up a bit and do something different!

I have a lot of chore/visits/obligations today so who knows if I will make it to the sewing machine until tomorrow, but here's hoping.

I've nearly finished V2 of the Simplicity corset (just binding left!) this time in bright teal blue cotton with satin spots.  

I tried it on yesterday after setting grommets and getting all the boning in, and it fits pretty well.  I made the bust smaller than the last one and also scooped some extra fabric from the underbust area for more support.  The waist is a little bigger as well.  I used to feel comfortable reducing by about 2-3", but now I get dizzy if I go over 2", and around 1" is really more comfortable.

I got a picture a couple weeks ago of the pink one and posted it on the Treadle blog to advertise the class.

If 6-years-ago me had heard that I would make a Simplicity pattern corset and bone it with plastic, I would have shaken my head in disgust.  But I like the way it's looking and fitting and the German plastic is surprisingly firm and supportive.

Still, I feel like I have been making the same corset over and over for years.  I have made a dozen corsets for myself just like this, or very similar, over the years.  Next time I really ought to try something new and different!

 Weekend's progress:

Went to a fabulous little yarn shop with undycatthat I never knew existed called 3 Kittens.  They are the only place I've ever seen locally that carries wool and silk embroidery threads, and they had a huge selection!  They had lots of cool knitting yarns, too.  It's in Lilydale, which is just south of the river from St. Paul, off 35E.  It's my new favorite fiber shop!



Now I'm determined to finish the squares and bars pillow so I can start something new with all my new threads!  I pulled it out and took photos of it just for the heck of it:


This weekend I also finally finished my red silk corset.

I finally got around to taking pictures of my mitten!


And I also made a little orange basket for the kitchen.

I feel so productive!  Today I still need to catch up on some mending and some more loose ends, but I'm still eager to start on a real new project.  Hopefully soon!

I've really been putting off working on the dance dresses this past week.  I really don't know why I feel the need to leave everything to the last possible minute.  Instead of working on them yesterday (which I promised myself I would!) I spent a few hours embroidering.  

I'm about halfway done now with the outlining on my new piece.  When I'm done with the outlining (read: when I feel I've accomplished something) I'll post pictures - I need some help finalizing my color scheme!

A few days ago I was fiddling with my beaded flowers project, the one I was planning on entering in the fair, and I think I've decided against it.  I almost entered it last year, but I mis-read the entry info and missed the drop-off time by about 3 hours.  (Of course, my little heart was broken.)  But I wasn't really happy with the piece anyway and so I shoved it in a bag for almost a year, and now (obviously) I'm still not happy with it.  I don't think I got the varegated colors on the petals at all right.  I was planning on re-making a few parts of it and reassembling it, but I think I'll leave it till fall and skip entering it yet again.  Too much work, too much "learning experince" type problem solving in too short a time.

I've put the busk in my new red corset and I've started stitching the boning channels.  I've also cut out most of my bustle and decided I don't want to bother with a mock-up (although that does have a sort of ominous "famous last words" sound to it).

Apart from the embroidered pillow and the corset and bustle set, I'm still planning on doing a couple little stuffed toys for my fair entries.  But today, I really have to work on dance dresses.  I can't wait until they're done and I can finish all my fun state fair stuff!  I think I have just a little over 2 weeks until the drop-off date!

Since I'm dumb, I didn't do a mock-up for this corset.  After I sewed it together yesterday, it seemed a little small, so I pinned the lining together in front, basted some lacing strips behind, and laced myself in.  Turns out it isn't too terribly small, but the front is weird; the CF drops too low on top, too heart-shaped and modern-looking.  And the bust gusset is not quite in the right place.  So I'm going to rip off the front piece and make a new one with a few tweaks, hopefully that will solve the problems.

I scold myself and say "you should have made a mock-up!" but when I think about it, I haven't really lost much time by having to go back and fix a piece, just a few inches of fabric.  Besides, I know I can't be the only person for whom the Law Of Mock-ups states that when your mock-up fits perfectly, your garment won't, no matter what.  There is some kind of tear in reality between the mock-up, the pattern pieces, and the garment fabric.  (Yeah, I don't like doing mock-ups much.)

Yesterday I finished writing my little documentation paper for my State Fair historic garment entry. They say they need documentation but they don't say how much or what kind, so I just wrote up about a page of explanation and included some photos (properly referenced. . . I hope) from fashion plates and costume museums.

So now I have a bit more of a guide for my project. I expanded the period I'm trying to represent, I decided it would be easier for me to just take into account all the years from 1870-1875, instead of just one specific year. It seems like corsets and bustles would be used for several years anyway. (I am so not a hardcore historian, so I'm just trying to do the best I can.)

Today I'm going to take the pattern from my black corset (please ignore the 'this is the 100th picture I've had to pose for" look on my face) and modify it, add bust gussets, lengthen the hips, etc. and cut out the new corset. I'm making a matched set, corset and bustle, out of some lovely red/yellow shot silk I have left over from Mr. Painting's project last winter.  I don't know how accurate that is, but I like having matchy underwear!

I also finally traced my new embroidery design for my embroidery entry so I can start doing the outlining tonight, yay!