My corset is complete!!! I'm excited, can't you tell? I finished the last of the grommets last night and I just had to try it on. I was so happy, I'm still wearing my work shirt in the pictures, I couldn't even take the time to pull out a proper chemise... The fit is perfect in spite of all my self made pattern adjustments (or maybe because of, dare I hope?). Now I do plan to buy the appropriate corset lacing, the brown lace is just a shoe lace I ran out to buy so I could try it onlast night, but you can see the grommeting and lacing better this way anyway, I guess. Now, I know the criss cross lacing pattern is not exactly HA, but no one will see it but me so who cares. It is also supposed to lace completly closes, which it will with the correct undergarments and once I break it in a little. All said, I am very pleased with the way it turned out.
You may recall from my 'General' blog the medley of trappings I am to prepare for this season's faire. To jog your memory here is the list again:
Reminder- For ease of remembering I have named the various sets of garb. You will notice the repeated use of 'Celtic Ensemble' because it is the outfit designed to wear on Celtic Weekend, it is really an Irish or Scottish ensemble but Celtic is shorter.
The Lady Selwyn Underpinnings (corset and corded petticoat) Celtic Ensemble (chemise, underskirt, front lacing overdress, and shoulder sash) 'Court' Gown- which is not really a court gown but sounded better to me than calling it 'really pretty dress' and it is by far the fanciest I will have thus far- (chemise, underskirt, overdress, full sleeves, and some form of head gear)
My Lord Husband Celtic Ensemble (great kilt and shirt)
My dearest friend, Lady Taylor Celtic Ensemble (chemise, skirt, and strapless bodice) 'Italian style' gown (underdress/smock, half bodice with attached overskirt)
Our beloved sister, Lady Stephanie 'Italian style' gown (chemise and gown w/underskirt) Celtic Ensemble- as yet TBD
So, what have I completed you ask? Remember- you asked for it!
Completed Items
Lady Taylor's CE chemise and skirt are complete. The ribbon pictured below was sewn down the chemise sleeves, over the channels that allow the sleeves to be rutched up by the cord inside (as soon as I get a good pic of it withthe ribbon added, I'll get it up here). The chemise was made using McCall's #4091, view C out of unbleached muslin. The skirt was made out of plaid upholstry fabric using McCall's #4090, view A, and knife pleated evenly from the front at the hip to the back.
My lord husband's CE shirt is also finished. Although not period (it's really more a victorian era drop yake shirt...) I 'renned' it up by adding grommets and leather lacing. I used McCall's #4862, view A, then added 4 pair of grommets at the V-neck. It is made from unbleached muslin
My own chemise is done as well, it is the exact same as Lady Taylor's only without any ribbon (In other words it looks exactly like the picture above). It is also of unbleached muslin, but it was a different manufacturer so the color is a little different.
Currently Under Construction
My corset is 3/4 finished. I used (loosely) McCall's #4861, view C. I say 'loosely' because I eliminated the princess seams and the side lacing. I also used trigger poplin instead of interfacing and duct ties for boning. The exterior is a heavyweight unbleached muslin. As I mentioned in my general blog (GB) I had to hand sew the bias tape around the edges to finish it off because my sewing machine went on strike until I promised it I would do it myself by hand... I'm in the process of grommeting, see GB for further comment on that. Hope to have the grommeting done tomorrow, then I can try it on... Oh, and a lady on the R/F forums said she put a little bit of glue when setting her grommets for added security. I'm all for that, so I'm giving it a shot. We shall see...
Lady Taylor's CE strappless bodice is in the midst of construction. I used the same pattern as for my corset, but view A. Again there were some modifications. I eliminated the princess seams as before, but left the side lacing for reasons of adjustability (she lives an hour away so I didn't feel I could accuralty gage how much to alter it). As this is a bodice and not a corset, I have opted to leave the fashion fabric exterior off until the "corsety insides" are finished, then apply the pretty sueded material neatly to it at the end. What you see below is the remaining 3 layers. Like my corset, the innermost layers are trigger poplin. The lining is a tan twill, which is actually the side shown in the picture. The plan is to bone it lightly with duct ties and finish the edges with brown bias tape, just like I did above, then fit the exterior fabric and secure by stitching in the ditch at the seams and folding a seam allowance in flush with the bias tape edge and sewing around the edge.
That is all I have so far. I will update it as I complete more steps and items...
After pounding (literally!) 13 grommets into/onto my corset, I am done for the evening. I was beginning to feel the hammer strikes in my brain (hmm... sign to stop? DUH!). So instead I will bombard you, good people, with my random (and somewhat vague, I'm sure) thoughts...
I have made a separate blog category where I can detail all the design type stuff for the garb I am currently under commission to produce. Check 'Garb Under Construction' (heretofore referred to as GUC) if you're interested in that. Now I have a place to put serious garb related stuff and a place to pontificate like the loony I am. Huzzah to my organizational abilities! (I hear people in the peanut gallery yelling 'DORK!'- "Be quiet you!" says I) Now where was I, oh, right, pontificating loonies... I think, due to my pounding headache and the callous on my finger, which by the way has eliminated my ability to feel the keys as I type rendering my typing skills akin to that of a 3 legged race horse, I am going to stop here and get some info up on the GUC blog... Peace
The weekend meeting was a big success. Sister has finished purchasing the necessary fabric for her first dress and I have fitted a few items for Lady Lisa. I know, I know, I promised pictures... Well, some of them are in the gallery as we speak (or rather, as you read). There are more and I will get the rest up as soon as I can, but my fingers hurt! See, it all started with this brilliant idea to make a corset for myself this year. All was going well till it came time to sew across the boning channels to secure them and then bind off the edge to finish. My sewing machine complained a lot as I was securing the boning channels so I decided if I have any prayer of making this cursed thing wearable I would have to sew the bias tape around the edges by *gasp* hand *followed by string of curses.* Now both thumbs and my right pointer finger are in agony!!! I did, however, finish the binding this eve! Huzzah!
Before my run in with the needle and thread, I did completely finish a few pieces. My lord husband's shirt was completed Friday night, Lady Lisa's chemise and skirt are trimmed and hemmed to completion, and my own chemise is done. All that is left to do on my corset are the grommets, but I've decided to let my fingers heal a few days before I go there. My dearest Lisa's strapless bodice follows the same pattern as my corset, so I'm afraid I'm going to have to back burner it fro a couple weeks as I expect there will be some hand sewing *gasp, followed by yet another expulsion of filthy language* involved in that one too.
Alright, I am too tired-and my fingers hurt (I only type with the first 3 fingers on each hand, you know, and so half of my typing fingers are injured at the moment...)- so I am off. I'll get more pictures up and some detail about what fabrics and patterns were used for what and so forth, you the point...
Well, the fabric I bought on ebay arrived this week. The beautiful blue for sister's dress turned out to be even grander than I had hoped! The price was fantastic and the shipping infinitely reasonable. The 'muted caramel gold' for mine turned out to be a taupe, but it is still very pretty... $15 for 14 yards of fabric, what else is there to say :)
The work week has been rather nightmarish, so not much sewing happened, but I'm not feeling real guilty about that because most of the items require the presence of their wearer in order to complete and I couldn't finish my corset till my ladies show up tomorrow, as one of them comes bearing the sandpaper to smooth the ends of the boning. See I wasn't lazy, I was at an impasse, not my fault *sheepish grin*. I did get up off my arse and cut the fabric for my lord's shirt last eve. The plan is to finish that tonight, then tomorrow... the shopping! The ladies and I plan to invade Fabric Warehouse in addition to the local JoAnn's and Home Depot. Yes, I said Home Depot, they carry lots of garb making essentials, they just don't know it... Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, the shopping... Next up will be some fittings and related miscellany. There will be pictures taken, I swear! I have given my ladies assigned items to bring, hence the waiting for the sandpaper, one of which is a digital camera...
So, that is really all there is at this point. Over the weekend I will put up pics and describe materials/patterns/methods used in case it interests anyone besides myself... Happy Friday everyone!!!
