side project

My daughter begged me for a tutu of many colors and after 5 hours of fighting with the netting this is what she got.

She is our techo colored ballerina!!!

Victorian/ Steampunk Jacket

Ok it is finished and it only took me 25 hours. Not counting the mistake that caused the starting all over.

I first started this jacket and managed to make several mistakes - one sleeve put on backwards, cut way to big and the sleeves were way to long. So I took it completely apart and started over. re-measure, re-cut and then together it went.
The jacket is made of brown suede with brass buttons. Mark seems to like it a lot so I will take that as a job well done!!!

Victorian Shirt

This is the Victorian shirt that was commissioned by my friend Geoff. It is actually a period pattern that after my sewing season clams down a bit, he and I are gonna sit down and tweek it just a bit. Like the collar is way to high (says Geoff). He wore it at the Steampunk Con up in Seattle. Someone told him that it looked like a shirt bought from a store. I think that is a compliment right?

On to the next project- Wish me luck.

Projects Projects and Projects

1. Victorian Shirt - had to start all over again, bought more fabric and everything. It is a period pattern and it is beyond confusing.

• Ok this shirt is basically done, I have to put the button holes and buttons in but it is done.  So since I hope to have this out of my sewing room tonight that it first on the list.

3. Steampunk outfits- cut out one jacket and started putting it together unfortunately it is not coming out right. So the plan is to take it apart- make sure all the pieces are right then put it together again. Then I need to cut the other out - hopefully by Halloween.

• One this project, I have got it apart and tonight I take his measurements again. Plan is to have this finished by the end of the weekend. The other jacket - my jacket- is on hold till I get through the holidays.

4. Tudor Gown - Late start on this but I am hoping to get started this week on a gorgeous Tudor gown that I hope to have finished by Dec 15th.  Material I choose is red and gold.

• This is on hold till after the holidays. Can not find a Dress form in my size and I would really like to have one to work on this project.

5. 6 Henry VIII style doublets - it is for uniforms for Govanen and his students. They will be black and green - not quite sure of the material at this time but this is another project to have done by Dec 15th. It was suggested linen lined wool. So I am gonna check that out this week. 

• This is the big one, I mean BIG.There are actually 8 jackets that have been commissioned.  Govanen came into the fabric store and looked at all the material there was and decided on black linen.  I added up all the yardage needed and it looks to be about 31 yards of black linen and about 80 buttons those I will probably find online a lot cheaper than in any store.  I started thinking of this project and since it is basically a Christmas present from Govanen and myself to the household I decided that it should be a bit more rounded out so I am making shirts with hopefully blackwork on the collars and cuffs for the senior members of the house and just blackwork on the cuffs for the juniors. Then I thought what about the bottom half. So the boys are getting pants and the girls are getting skirts. So this is going to be ALL that I am working on for the next 2 months. My plan is for the household to wear them to midwinter and look smashing.

So there ya go. My crazy ass plan for the rest of the year.

To Do List

1. Fencing Doublet
2. Reniassance Shirt
3. Victorian Shirt
4. Shorts for the teenager
5. 2 rompers for the grandbaby
6. Steampunk outfit- not sure yet of all the parts


So let's start again:
1. Victorian Shirt - had to start all over again, bought more fabric and everything. It is a period pattern and it is beyond confusing.
2. Shorts for the teenager - have yet to even start these. I think they might be put off till the spring.
3. Steampunk outfits- cut out one jacket and started putting it together unfortunately it is not coming out right. So the plan is to take it apart- make sure all the pieces are right then put it together again. Then I need to cut the other out - hopefully by Halloween.
4. Tudor Gown - Late start on this but I am hoping to get started this week on a gorgeous Tudor gown that I hope to have finished by Dec 15th.  Material I choose is red and gold.
5. 6 Henry VIII style doublets - it is for uniforms for Govanen and his students. They will be black and green - not quite sure of the material at this time but this is another project to have done by Dec 15th. It was suggested linen lined wool. So I am gonna check that out this week.


So there is the new list  - Wish me luck!! 

14th Century tailored Italian Doublet

The blue doublet I was commissioned to make. It is a 14th Century Italian Doublet, made a custom pattern just for Sorkhan - made 3 mock ups and then cut into the most beautiful blue linen. He spent the weekend fighting in it and only had two small repairs. Oh and one missing buttons.

I am so proud of myself!!!! More pics to come of when he is not fighting.

Con come and gone

this past weekend was Bubonicon - the main reason for the steampunk outfit. Well I did not get my outfit done so I wore the my outfit I made for my birthday back in April. It was a LONG weekend.
Now to get back on track. Like I said the outfit and blanket for the baby got done I still have to sew on buttons to the fencing doublet and put together the two shirts. So hopefully these will get done this week.

Crossing my fingers!

What am I doing?

OK last night I got the buttons sewn on a vest and the ties on the baby blanket done. However I did not get one ounce of sleep until this morning- I slept from 8:30 to 11am then woke up and went to grab some fabric for the Victorian shirt I am working on. I cut a couple pieces wrong and had to get more fab to get everything cut right. I still have to cut out and put together a Ren. fighting shirt before I go to work tomorrow at 3:15. I hope to get up in the morning and sew on the buttons on the fencing doublet, then get the shirt finished so I can hand them over to him and hopefully get paid.
If that was not crazy enough.....
This weekend is Bubonicon and there is a Steampunk costume contest me and my friend were going to enter and I have yet to start the outfits!!!!! I AM TRULY GOING CRAZY!!!!!
Well lets see maybe if I sew the buttons and get the shirt cut out tonight then I can sew the shirt in the morning and cut the coats out before work. After work I can piece the coats together and finish them on Thursday. Friday I work for only 5 hours so I should be able to finish the little details then.
Only other thing is my friend Jeff's Victorian shirt is still in pieces and even though he is did not ask for it for this weekend I will do my best to get it finished--no promises.
Well back off to the sewing room and if anyone knows of a cloning device, please send it my way!!!

Projects keep adding up

Well lets see the sewing room is still a complete wreck. But I got a new blanket put together for Noah (the grandbaby). Just gotta put the ties on - figured I would do it tonight while watching True Blood.
Also getting the buttons sew on to the fencing doublet.
Best get everything together so I can get that done tonight. I demand I get this done tonight!!!

somethings complete

So I did manage to get a few things done - it's amazing what can happen in a 24 hour period (and coffee). 2 rompers for the granbaby , just need to add snaps and buttons. The teenager's cheerleading skirt still gotta do the top. A fencing doublet - just need the buttons sewn on. And the shirt is cut out - just need to get away from the computer and go sew it together. But it looks like things are coming together.
I think after the shirt I need to clean the sewing room. There are pattern pieces and scraps of fabric EVERYWHERE. So I think cleaning is a major point that needs to be tackled!

With that I need to get this shirt done before I go to work tonight.

Well crap

Have yet to start any of those projects. The teenager came to me and asked for a cheerleader uniform for our Dr. Steel stuff. Cool idea I said, by Tuesday she said. So I dropped everything else and began a cheerleader outfit- oh yeah!! But hopefully by tomorrow evening I will be back on track and getting the other projects headed in the right direction. I better a couple of them are paying ones.

Projects for August

Items I would like to get made this month (Aug)

1. Fencing Doublet
2. Reniassance Shirt
3. Victorian Shirt
4. Shorts for the teenager
5. 2 rompers for the grandbaby
6. Steampunk outfit- not sure yet of all the parts

So there is a guideline for the month. I hope to get pictures up to.

Intro

Well I figured that I should start tracking my sewing projects, frustrations, and victories. I am a self taught seamstress and some days I have NO idea on how to do what I need to get done.
I started to sew when I was in middle school. My Home Ec class we had to make aprons. I think I still even have mine, red with white hearts all over it. I of coarse made clothes for my Barbies but other than that nothing else really. In my 1999, I joined the SCA (www.sca.org) and decided that it would be more economical if I made my own clothing for my time period, late 16th Century.  When I first started playing I began in the 11th Century - high collar long sleeves - now it's cleavage and corsets. I have yet to make my own corset but I do have all the parts to make one.
Well onto why I started this blog. I figured I would track my sewing projects for the rest of this year and see if my sewing skills sharped. I am completely self taught in this area and some of these instructions are beyond understanding.

With all that said... Let's get this started!!!