Shirt

All finished.  I cuffed the sleeves and put three rows of stitching on them.  I sewed in button holes and put buttons on.  I then make trim for the neckline from strips of the same fabric and put two rows of stitching on them.  Unfortunately, there was no way to get the trim around the neckline by using the machine, so I had to hand sew it on (yuck).  Here's how it came out.

Here is the whole thing.

Button cuff and stitch detail.

Neck line

Detail of stitching on the neck line.

Project List - Bloomers/PJ Pants

OK, the bloomers are done and I figure I can double use them as PJ pants so that a two for one.  I'm not going to go into any detail about bloomers.  Simple pair of knee length pants with an elastic waist.  No big deal.  So...drum roll please...time to start the Elizabethan Corset.  I don't have anymore excuses.

Project list:

1.   Finish two pair of pants for Scott.
2.   Perfect the pattern for an Elizabethan Corset.  Yes I know I've been talking about this one for a very long time but, it's time has come.
3.   Make Elizabethan Corset for Jenn..
4.   Make Purple 16th century gown with a non-boned bodice as the corset mentioned above is worn underneath it.  This will have set in sleeves that bell out and are lined in orange (silk if there is enough) and turned back.  It will also have a split skirt attached.
5.   Make Spiced Orange silk stomacher to go with above bodice.
6.   Make Spiced Orange gored underskirt. (Are you noticing the pattern yet)

Project list - Work basket gusset

I split the seam and put a small gusset in the liner.  All better.

Here is the pocket in the front.  I have some small things, like needle threaders, that always end up at the bottom so, a pocket.

Fits rather nice now.

Yeah, I keep some stuff in here.

Here's the back.  The ribbon holds it tight.

Next is a pair of bloomers, then I start the Elizabethan Corset.  The heavy linen is currently being washed and shrunk.

Project List - Basket liner

This is the basket liner I'm replacing.  It's a perfectly good liner, but it's not what you would call "Period Correct" for either the SCA or a Renaissance Faire.  I'm using bits of muslin left over from another project.  I cut the pieces using this liner as a pattern, with the addition of a pocket on the front piece (I love pockets).  Got everything stitched up and...it didn't fit.  Grrrrr.

Really easy fix for it, all I have to do is slit the back side seam and put a gusset in there.  I just don't understand where I went wrong.  Oh well.  I stitched a thin yellow ribbon on the sides and the back so that it will tie around the handles on the sides and the hinges on the back.  I'll decorate it with the tags I've collected from various SCA and Renaissance events.

So, project list now looks like this:

1.   Finish two pair of pants for Scott.
2.   Perfect the pattern for an Elizabethan Corset.  Yes I know I've been talking about this one for a very long time but, it's time has come.
3.   Make Elizabethan Corset for Jenn..
4.   Make Purple 16th century gown with a non-boned bodice as the corset mentioned above is worn underneath it.  This will have set in sleeves that bell out and are lined in orange (silk if there is enough) and turned back.  It will also have a split skirt attached.
5.   Make Spiced Orange silk stomacher to go with above bodice.
6.   Make Spiced Orange gored underskirt. (Are you noticing the pattern yet)
7.   Make another pair of plain bloomers.
8.   Make a pair of pj pants.

The bloomers are next.  Then comes the Elizabethan Corset.  This is a project that I've been putting off for a while now.  Yes, Jenn, I know.

Project List - Corded Petticoat - Finished

It's done.  I sewed in the channels then sewed up the side seam.  Then came one of the things I don't like doing, I had to fish stuff.  I fished 8 lengths of sisel rope through the channels and two inch wide elastic through the waistband.  I wrapped the end of the rope in duct tape so it wouldn't unravel.

I'm straightening the rope in the hem over the backs of two chairs.

This is the rope I used.

OK, here is the new list.

1.   Finish two pair of pants for Scott.
2.   Perfect the pattern for an Elizabethan Corset.  Yes I know I've been talking about this one for a very long time but, it's time has come.
3.   Make Elizabethan Corset for Jenn..
4.   Make Purple 16th century gown with a non-boned as the corset mentioned above is worn underneath it.
5.   Make Spiced Orange silk stomacher to go with above bodice.
6.   Make Spiced Orange gored underskirt. (Are you noticing the pattern yet)
7.   Make Spiced Orange sleeves, if I have enough material left from skirt.
8.   Make another pair of plain bloomers.
9.   Make a pair of pj pants
10. Make a new liner for my work basket.

I'm probably going to make the liner for my work basket next.

Project List - Corded Petticoat

I have some soft, soft, soft cotton/linen blend that I had washed and shrunk in my fabric stash.  It was just enough for a petticoat with a bit left over.  I'm making this for two reasons.  The first is for those skirts/gowns that I don't want a lot of poof but I would like a bit of shape.  The second is to go over the crinoline for added poof.  So I had to make it large enough to go over the crinoline.  So I put the crinoline on and loosely draped the fabric around and cut. 

Back at the sewing machine I put a 2.5 inch waist band on it and an inch and a half hem.  A piece of rope will go through the hem.  Then, well, I cheated.  I took another length of the fabric and sewed it to the bottom half of the petticoat.  I did this in two pieces do there would be an opening so I could fish the rope through the channels.  I then marked of the rope channels, 1.5 inches for the channel and two inches between.  The rope I'm using is a heavy hemp rope used as a laundry line.

I'll sew up the channels and the seam tomorrow.  Then I'll fish the rope through.

This is the panel of fabric I'm using to sew channels instead of using something like bias tape.

Here is the opening.

The channel markings.  I find that the marking pens and pencils fade way too fast.

Pictures of the finished product tomorrow

Project list - Crinoline

While I was waiting for Scott to come for his final fitting on his pants, I decided to tackle my crinoline.  I decided to use a white cotton petticoat that I had tried to turn into a hope skirt but it just wasn't working.  In retrospect I should have cut open a seam and taken the elastic out of the waistband before beginning to put the netting on.  Ah well, lesson for the future.

I had 10 yards of very wide netting so I did 3 layers of double thickness.  First I hemmed the skirt up so that it was ankle length instead of floor length.  Then I started with the first layer.  I had to put a running stitch through the netting because I don't have a ruffle foot for my machine (yet).

This is me hand ruffling 10 yards of netting.

So, once the ruffling was done I sewed on the first layer.  This was the bottom layer that matched up to the bottom hem of the skirt.

Bottom layer.

The next layer went about three quarters of the way up.  At this point it looked like the petticoat that ate the sewing table.

Lastly came the last layer.  This one went from below the waistband to the hem.  This was actually the worst layer to put on.  Here is why I say I should have pulled the hem and the elastic before starting.  It's not the prettiest crinoline I've ever seen, but it will make my skirts more poofy, especially with a corded petticoat on top.

Looks like a weird ballet skirt.  But no one will see it and my skirts will have more shape.

So, there you go, my crinoline.

My project list now looks like this.

1.   Finish two pair of pants for Scott.
2.   Perfect the pattern for an Elizabethan Corset.  Yes I know I've been talking about this one for a very long time but, it's time has come.
3.   Make Elizabethan Corset for Jenn.
4.   Make corded petticoats.
5.   Make Purple 16th century gown with a non-boned as the corset mentioned above is worn underneath it.
6.   Make Spiced Orange silk stomacher to go with above bodice.
7.   Make Spiced Orange gored underskirt. (Are you noticing the pattern yet)
8.   Make Spiced Orange sleeves, if I have enough material left from skirt.
9.   Make another pair of plain bloomers.
10. Make a pair of pj pants
11. Make a new liner for my work basket.


I'm going to wash and shrink the material for the corded petticoat tomorrow.  I know I'm not doing them in order, but I'm picking the quick projects to do while waiting for the final fitting.

Stay tuned.

Project list update.

I have a pair of pants cut and partially sewn.  Need Scott to come over and try them on for a fitting.  Have the fabric for the other pair washed and shrunk in the dryer.  I bought the heavy linen, enough for 2 Elizabethan corsets and I picked up the last of the netting for the crinoline.

I'm starting to draw out the plan for the Henry the VII Noble garb.  I also have the fabric and the boning for all the underpinnings.  I've been researching the cut and look, plus been looking at the hats.  I'll be attempting to cover a small top hat to match.  From my research it actually looks like the bodice and the split skirt are one piece.  The skirt is either gored or gathered at the waist to give it the fullness it needs to go over the farthingale (or in my case a crinoline) and a bum roll (not certain about making one of these). 

So the new list looks like this:

1.   Finish two pair of pants for Scott.
2.   Perfect the pattern for an Elizabethan Corset.  Yes I know I've been talking about this one for a very long time but, it's time has come.
3.   Make Elizabethan Corset for Jenn.
4.   Make crinolan and corded petticoats.
5.   Make Purple 16th century gown with a non-boned as the corset mentioned above is worn underneath it.
6.   Make Spiced Orange silk stomacher to go with above bodice.
7.   Make Spiced Orange gored underskirt. (Are you noticing the pattern yet)
8.   Make Spiced Orange sleeves, if I have enough material left from skirt.
9.   Make another pair of plain bloomers.
10. Make a pair of pj pants
11. Make a new liner for my work basket.

I know, the list is supposed to get smaller, not longer.  Ah well.

Project list.

Oy Vey, I have got to get organized or I'm just not going to get what I want done.  So, here I am writing down what I want to get done and in the order I have to do them no less.  The frantic need to get stuff done by some horrid deadline is now over (Thank you).

1.  Finish two pair of pants for Scott. 
2.  Perfect the pattern for an Elizabethan Corset.  Yes I know I've been talking about this one for a very long time but, it's time has come.
3.  Make Elizabethan Corset for Jenn.
4.  Make crinolan and corded petticoats.
5.  Make Purple 16th century bodice, not boned as the corset mentioned above is worn underneath it.
6.  Make Spiced Orange silk stomacher to go with above bodice.
7.  Make Spiced Orange gored underskirt. (Are you noticing the pattern yet)
8.  Make Purple gored split skirt.
9.  Make Spiced Orange sleeves, if I have enough material left from skirt.

If you didn't notice the pattern, I'm going for a Noble garb that you may have seen in Henry the Seventh's court.  I have a mini-tricorn hat in a beautiful antique gold that I may wear with it or I may make a cover for my Elizabethan tall hat.  Haven't decided on that yet.

Ideally, this will all be done for CTRF in the fall.  We are aiming for an October visit so, I don't see that this isn't possible.  Especially with my new "MOAR POWER" machines.