Jun 11

Sheriff of Nottingham – school play 2017

How many parents make a fully lined jacket with a fitted fur cape for a school play? I must admit I was quite pleased with it. After SATs the Year 6 class do a school production. When it was going to be Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies, I automatically assumed my son (Robin) would audition for Robin…. He didn’t! And funnily enough the other Robin in the class didn’t either! No, my Robin auditioned to be the Sheriff of Nottingham!!

I definitely had an Alan Rickman version of the Sheriff in my head, and Robin definitely had a bit of an evil streak in his version too.

I adapted the previous ‘planes’ jacket I had made in black fabric and used some of the fake fur fabric (I had bought with ‘Time’ in mind) for a cape. I turned out quite well I think.

Here he is with the version of him that gets put through the wringer in the dungeon:

Jun 11

Lobster Bustles 2017

So one of the things with steampunk ladies seems to be competing to have the biggest bum!!! One of the other ‘Steamstresses’ had made this lobster bustle and I thought is was fab so wanted to have a go myself. Officially it is the Truly Victorian TV163 1887 Imperial Tournure rather than a ‘lobster’!!

Basic construction is again very easy – 2 front/side pieces, 2 back pieces, 1 inner back, a waistband and frill (or in my case – more pleats). Bias tape is sewn in rows to the inside of the back, and once constructed the wire is inserted, and hey presto you have a lobster bustle!

So, does my bum look big in this?

Jun 11

Reversible Bolero plus embroidery 2017

I used the Simplicity 1819 again for this, but made it reversible this time. To go with two different outfits. This would go with the Truly Victorian skirt I had just made (from charity shop curtains), and re-use the embroidery designs I had done for ‘Time’. The new challenge here was positioning the embroidery designs prior to sewing the pieces together. I also adapted the embroidery designs to make a better design for on the back. This side would go with the pocket watch lobster bustle.

Only a small design on the sleeves only for the other side. I struggled with this embroidery design as it was a bit dense, so only small. This was to go with my union flag lobster bustle (they are addictive!).

Pictures of the complete outfit with the lobster bustle blog.

Jun 11

Truly Victorian TV261-R 1885 Four Gore Underskirt

I acquired some bargain fabric in the form of some red curtains from a charity shop. I finally got round to washing them and unpicking all the seams and linings. Lots of fabric! The theory was that I could try a new pattern, and if it went wrong it wouldn’t matter much. I went for the Truly Victorian pattern for a change – felt a bit less ‘fancy dress’ than some of the other patterns. The basic pattern doesn’t have any trim at the bottom, but I am a sucker for some pleats – two rows it is then!!! This skirt is REALLY simple. Basically rectangles with a curved bottom. Pleated at the back to give volume. No zip, as Victorian, it just overlaps, and will be covered by an overskirt anyway. The plan is to do the ‘lobster’ bustle as an overskirt for this. In pocket watch fabric to link into Robin’s ‘Time’ outfit.

Jun 11

Alice through the Looking Glass – ‘Time’ – for Asylum 2017

This was probably my most adventurous make, and the first time as a known character – a cosplay. It seemed like a good idea at the time, when I was planning a ‘family’ theme. I managed to ‘sell’ it to Robin, but no-one else, and he still wanted to go as Time. For those of you who haven’t seen it:

How on earth was I going to do this? There were some relatively simple bits – a silver / grey waistcoat – which I somehow made a size too small. Too many versions of the pattern and I just selected the wrong one. Nightmare – but it just about fit! I had made it reversible (again), silver / grey outside and pocket watch inside. Proper welt pockets on both sides (I hate fakes). And matching buttons 🙂

The jacket was again based on the ‘planes’ jacket I had previously made for my son, but instead of the shaping at the back I added in some contrasting godets. The jacket is lined with matching pocket watch fabric and has silver / grey cuffs matching the waistcoat. Then came the more difficult bit, how to do those fabulous shoulders? The reason for these extra buttons will become apparent.

I bought some buckram which I thought would be stiff enough. I wasn’t sure how I would fix them to the jacket (or how it would fit in a wardrobe) so decided to make them removable. Lots of issues here!! Sewing through the buckram being one of them! I decided to try and button them on!! Why?? Buttonholes through the thickness was really difficult!! But it just about worked. I also added some silver piping to try and create the look of Time.

I had only recently got my embroidery machine, so I wanted to use that to add something, and to make it clearer it was Time in case it didn’t turn out well. I wanted to create something steampunky and time related…. erm maybe a cog / clock. Now there are PLENTY of embroidery designs you can buy on the internet, but I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted, and I had paid a lot for the design software so had to try it myself! I would re-use the design I created here for something else for me! Note that each cog has a different time on it!

I added a furry ‘cape’ for additional effect, and tried to create a similar chain. Parts thanks to Skewers Steampunk. The hat was difficult too, and involved buckram, trim and lots of hot glue!!

Overall I was pretty pleased with how it turned out, and Robin seemed happy:

Jun 11

Plane blueprint shirts 2017

So we were on a long weekend in Margate and stopped in Canterbury on the way home. And I happen to spot a fabric shop – this happens a lot funnily enough! As usual the family traipse in after me, but then youngest spots this fantastic fabric – he is planes mad! His Dad approves and decides they will have matching shirts out of it!! I guess how much fabric I will need for contrasting shirts, having never made a ‘man’ size shirt before!! It took me quite some time to get round to making them, but worth the wait I think!

There was definitely an element of how much the fabric cost, and not wanting to mess it up.

Sleeve plackets are the hardest part of making shirts I think. And I am not particularly keen on sewing pockets on either as they really need to be straight! As with my previous shirts, these all have fully enclosed french seams and lots of top-stitching.

Jun 11

White rabbit trousers and reversible waistcoat – 2017

I had had an idea to have a theme for when we went as a family to The Asylum in August 2017. It didn’t come off at all! But I did get my inspiration from Alice through the Looking Glass. I liked lots of Alice’s outfits, but I think my idea was based loosely around this:

I used all sorts of patterns to adapt to what I wanted… a bit of the Simplicity 8114, but I tried to make the trousers wider (I didn’t have enough fabric to make them as wide as Alice’s), a bit of this jacket too, but with a bit of the back of Simplicity 2172, but fuller! And because I couldn’t decide on which fabric to use, I made the waistcoat reversible!!

I virtually finished the reversible waistcoat on New Years Eve, just before our friends came round. These pictures show the lovely colours of the fabric I think. Officially, I think it is lining, but I loved it! I did make the mistake of interfacing BOTH parts of it, so the front is a little bit stiff!!

And then the trousers..with the waistcoat.

Close ups of the trousers.

Jun 11

Butterfly Jacket – Burda 6921

Having loved the mini butterfly 2172 I did for my daughter, I went and bought some more of the fabric for a jacket I could wear all the time. I chose the Burda 6921 pattern. It is fully lined, has pockets and is a lovely shape. I really do wear this all the time (in Spring/Summer). I keep meaning to find some suitable fabric to make a version for the colder weather. Watch this space!

  • Can you see the buttons!

Oh and I am rather proud of my buttons!! I know they are easy to do, but I do like a matching button. I haven’t extremely pattern matched them…. I probably would next time!!

Jun 03

Owl Dress – Simplicity K1699

I am loving sewing, and want to be able to wear things I make more and more! I have a fabric addiction, and buy fabric when I don’t know what I am going to use it for!! Like many other sewers I buy patterns without any fabric too. Eventually the two will come together!! I am useless at buying the additional ‘notions’ and always struggle to finish off an item while I acquire the buttons or trim etc. I will try harder in future!!

These came together.. a stylish dress and fab owl fabric. The pattern isn’t lined, but I added a lining to the skirt. I had added the lining just so it wasn’t see through in bright light (!) but I just used a black cotton. This was a mistake, as it means it actually clings to tights and doesn’t hang very well. I learnt from that, and next lined dress is lined with shiny lining – much better! But that is what sewing is all about – learning as you go along. Putting zips in with a lining too – I still haven’t mastered that!

Jun 03

Butterfly waistcoat – New Look 6914

I had made quite a few waistcoats for the boys now, and fancied one for myself. Again, that I could wear for Steampunk or normally. This was quite simple after doing the other waistcoats 🙂