HSF Challenge #8: UFOs & PHDs (or, what I wore to Banzaicon)

This challenge might need some explaining. In sewing terms an UFO is an Un-Finished Object.

Apparently there are some lucky sods who don't have UFOs, because according to the challenge, you could choose a project you've put off. I was looking for a way to fit this into HSF, so I jumped at the chance. (This outfit has been on The List since early October.)

I didn't finish it completely for Banzaicon. (Skirt needs more trim, I'll need to make a bigger bustle and maybe redo the bodice?) So, as proof of some cosmic irony or whatever, I managed to make a UFO for this challenge. Go me.

Challenge: #8 - UFOs & PHDs
Fabric: Silk, polished cotton, linen.

Pattern: Truly Victorian, 1870s Ballgown Bodice (TV4I6) and 1875 Parisian Skirt (TV216).
Year: 1870-75.
Notions: Thread, eyelets, satin band, cotton ties, wired satin band, decorative bands, netting.
How historically accurate is it? Materials are period, except the polyester thread (silk one didn't arrive in time.)
Hours to complete: Worked on this for two weeks.
First worn: Banzaicon 2014.
Total cost: Not gonna tell, cause I don't wanna shock anyone with how expensive this hobby is when you live in Norway...

Photos (c) Malene Richter Lien. 

HSF Challenge #1: Make do and Mend

I did the first challenge of Historical Sew Fortnightly, which the unitiated can read more about here. I know I'm not going to be able to do all the challenges this year, but I'll do some of them.

So, starting very small, I've made a choker for evening use. In the fashion of make do, the glass stone is from a repurposed bracelet.

The challenge: #1 - Make Do & Mend 
Fabric: Velvet, satin.
Pattern: None.
Year: Late Victorian
Notions: Velvet band, satin band, thread.
How historically accurate is it? Not very, but it (hopefully) looks the part.
Hours to complete: 0,5
First worn: Not worn yet.
Total cost: 2 USD.

Blue Corset

This is my second corset. Last time I followed a Simplicity pattern, this time i drafted my own based on this this tutorial. It was interesting to see the pattern take form - I didnt' understand the maths behind the patternmaking, but it resulted in a pattern and the corset fits. Magic!

There are a couple of things I'm not entirely pleased with. Next time I'd like to add hip gores and use spiral steel for a more flexible piece. And it's going to be in silk and coutil, not cotton.

This isn't my messy room. Blame the roomies.

I couldn't find any foolproof guide to how many bones you should put in, so I had one at every seam. In hindsight, that wasn't enough. I found this article yesterday, where it says the more bones you add, the less pressure there'll be. When this corset is tightened a lot, the side bones poke into my hips. Other than that, I'm very pleased with it.

Itty bitty fashion show

Last weekend three of my outfits were showed at a local fair. They sort of stuck out between the knitwear.

It was really fun. I wore my brown Victorian bustle dress, and had models for the mid-Victorian red skirt (now with a corselet top to go with it), plus an Edwardian ensemble I haven't written about on this blog yet because I don't have proper pictures of it.

My models were sweethearts and looked lovely. It was sort of strange seeing my creations on other people, though.

(c) sylvilel

The local newspaper has me listed as a designer for some reason. Not that I object.

Late-Victorian Ensemble

Kitteh's helping me.

I planned to wear only Victorian clothing for an entire month - which is no longer happening as I don't live in a place where a thing like that is accepted - but I started easy, with BurdaStyle 7880. Later I'm going to use either Laughing Moon or Truly Victorian patterns.

This jacket was only meant to be a mock-up before I cut into the expensive fabric. However, I grew to like it, and planned a whole ensemble to go with it. Fashion fabric is cotton, skirt is cotton satin. As much as I love the idea of a silk gown I use my costumes at conventions and that involves a lot of walking. Any long, sweeping skirt is covered in dirt at the end of the day.

A proper lady would need a hat, so I made one. It's just cardboard covered in fabric, feathers and paper flowers. I've promised my hot glue-burned fingertips I'm going to sew a hat out of buchram sometime.

Costume got its first proper outing at Banzaicon 2012. I didn't intend to, but I ended up looking rather steampunk. I also won the outfit competition.

Red Victorian Skirt

A mid-Victorian skirt fashioned after what the main female character in Tanz der Vampire wears to the midnight ball. For some reason costume designers love dressing up vampire victims/lunches/girlfriends in red.

I followed this tutorial.

In time there will be a whole ensemble, but I'm procrastinating on the bodice. It's been in my to-do-pile for nearly two years. My cat loves it though.

While it was in progress. Mau fell asleep on it.