Embellishments, Constructing Victorian Detail (or, I'm gonna put trim EVERYTHING)

Say hello to my new bible. I haven't had the time to sit down with it yet, but after just skimming some pages, I'm already in love. (If you listen carefully, you might be able to hear my Victorian muse cackling gleefully somewhere in the distance.)

Costume making

Last year I visited the costuming department of Hålogaland Teater. One of my questions for the costumers there was, what's a normal day like for you? And they answered, we don't have normal days. After making costumes for a while, for myself and others, I have to agree.

One of the things I love most about costuming is the varied work you get do. Some days I make endless ruffles for period gowns and undies, then next I hand sew wool for a viking, and then I find myself with paint up to my elbows to add patina to an armful of garments.

During the last weeks I've happened to stumble upon the chance to make costumes for a short film set in a postapocalyptic setting. We got the clothes second hand, and then I set about painting and discolouring them (along with my hands, because in the end I gave up on using brushes).

Real quality pictures taken laaate at night.

The best part about this project was being allowed to set fire to some Gucci pants. Once upon a time they were expensive, I presume, so I got to it with great enthusiasm. Perhaps too much enthusiasm, 'cause I ended up setting fire to my own knee too, but that's what comes with playing with fire while having the attention span of a goldfish.

Mad Baggins

It's become tradition to sew by hand every Christmas. 'Cause I go home to my family, where the sewing machine is cruelly banished during the festivities, and if I don't have anything to do I get testy.

The Christmas Project of 2013 was not a costume, but clothing, which doesn't happen often. It's going to be a loosely fitted morning gown made from scraps, inspired from the one Bilbo Baggins wears while the dwarves invade Bag End. I also took inspiration from this antique piece from 1935, which I suspect might have also inspired the costume designer of the Hobbit.

I've seen Bilbo's robe criticized as an example of bad worldbuilding, but I love it to bits, pun not intended. The way I see it, Hobbits take pride in tradition and family, and it's not a stretch to imagine that there are some memories sewn into the garment.

My morning gown solves a few problems I've had. Finally I have a use for the fabric scraps I can't bring myself to throw away because they could be used for something, , and in addition I get to practice different embroidery stitches on the crazy quilt. And maybe, just maybe, getting up will be easier if I get to wear this every morning! (I don't think this is likely, but I can hope.)

To my joy, it's not turning out as dark as I expected. When I'm finished quilting, I'm going to find a nice flannel to line it with. Sorrowfully it's not going to be finished in a while, because I've two big outfits planned for a convention in April, and this project is put on the back burner until I'm finished.

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.

I moustache you a question...

How do I look with facial hair?


So, I ordered hairy stuff from maxwigs.com, and had to try on the moustache. Oh yes, instant Sabertooth right there.

I also got a beard for the dwarf lady, but I think I'll have to style/tame it before I can show it off.

Pretty hairstuffs

I attended Natsucon in Tromsø a few weeks ago and made some cute accessories to sell. In addition to the stand, I also talked about Victorian fashion and held a short crash-course in how to start sewing.

There were loads of awesome people. I recruited some people for a Victorian sewing group. I'm going to make a new Victorian outfit, underpinnings and all, so I thought people might want to join in on the excruciating fun.

One of my roomies works in a yarn store. It has resulted in a lot of knitting for all of us. This is my last creation, some simple legwarmers in super soft alpaca.

Costume plans

There hasn't been much sewing as of late. Life's gotten in the way. For the rest of 2013 I have two costumes I know I have to finish and a third I might get started on if I have the time. (The Edwardian gown from April has been taken apart. The insides were rather messy and there is no sense in working on something you'll end up hating and not wearing.)

Source

The first costume on my list is an actual cosplay, not an original costume. Captain Sabertooth might be going to Torucon in September. If not, he's going to be my Halloween costume this year.

For those outside Norway - the Captain comes from a series of pirate musicals for kids. Everyone born after 1989 will have gone through a "Sabertooth phase" in early childhood. When I was four I had a cassette from one of the plays and there were days I did nothing but listen to it. In the end I was only allowed to play it once a day because it drove my grandparents mad. (I still have that cassette. It's a wonder it's survived this long.)

The Captain is the most feared pirate on the seven seas, except he's afraid of ghosts and he's not that happy about girl cooties either.

I can't find my new costume sketch, so this'll have to do.
Enjoy my quality drawing.

There have been slight variations to his costume (the show has been put up each summer since 1989), so I'm mixing in elements from different variations. I'm using a period pattern from this site here and look forward to cursing about the differences of the modern vs. the rococo fit.

The vikings I've joined are going to shake things up at the Hobbit premiere in Tromsø. I'm going to be a generously bearded dwarf lady of awesome. I've six months, so I'm in no hurry. The jacket, shoes and bracers are even done, so I only need a tunic, pants and some weapons all the weapons.

The last costume on the list - I'm making a late Victorian gown inspired by a gown worn by the empress Elisabeth in the musical based on her life. I got a heapload of lovely, lovely fabric from aunt, and it's just perfect!

Only the golden fabric.

It's almost the same, more gold than red, but what the hey, it's vintage silk! I'm gonna use a pattern from Truly Victorian for the skirt and probably modify the heck out of BurdaStyle 7880, the same pattern I used for the brown bustle dress, for the jacket.