Kali's costume for The Gathering of Rebels.

I wanted to take pics of this as I worked on it, but I was so rushed with everything I really didn't have time. I used a Simplicity pattern which I redrafted to make the pieces a bit more historically accurate, though I didn't go overboard with this. It is not something I intend on keeping, or figure I will even get much money back on so I didn't complicate things too much.

I used a white/gray print cotton I have had in my stash for YEARS and then a gray eyelet I found and Goodwill for $3.00 for 5 yards (not period correct I know, but looks nice and was cheap). I used the cotton for the jacket, and then the eyelet for the skirt and trim.

Except for the outer sleeve ruffle shown here, I used the eyelet. I decided for sake of time and my sanity--and because I have always wanted to try it--to pink all the edges instead of hemming it. It looks okay. I know the fraying is natural, even with the pinking, and you see real examples of 18th Century gowns with the same thing happening, but I am not sure I am crazy about it. Sort of makes it feel 'unfinished' to me so I don't think it is something I will do again unless I want that as a specific design element.

I did not want to have to mess with a corset for her so I boned the front of the bodice with the ever handy weed-trimmer line. Worked great! I added a small modesty panel at the front and the hand-cast eyelets (not my best work on these I can tell you) are hidden by the ruffles. Only thing I can say is I wish it would have been a bit tighter so she had that 'lift'. When I first fit it I was afraid it would end up being too tight, but I think she lost some weight before she actually was able to wear it. I was going to take it in but decided it was just too much work for something she was only going to wear the one time.

I forgot to charge my camera, which is actually an old cellphone that I use, so I did not get pictures on the day. A few people at the event took them so I am waiting for them to get posted up to Facebook. There should be quite a few full length pics from that. What I have right now is the one of them sitting down, and then the one Kali's dad took right before they were going to change. After 6 hours they were a bit of a mess as you can tell (I have NO IDEA what the heck is going on with the front of the kilt there lol). I hope to get more photos up soon.

The TARTAN has arrived...

Well after some mix ups, I got the fabric I ordered from Amazon. There was only 2 tartan prints that were in the old fashion so those were what I chose. They are a lot brighter than what I wanted, especially the blue and yellow, which was supposed to be blue and olive. I am going to over-dye it to darken it, but I don't have time to do it before the 26th. Aside form that though, I really like the fabric. It is a nice weight and does look and even feel like wool.

18th Century Corsets

I ended up taking the 18th Century Butterick Corset Pattern and redrafted it. I cut the back lower, added 6"s to the waist reshaped the side piece a bit and changed the boning pattern. I cut it out of a beautiful piece of Goldenrod colored silk (though it doesn't show right in the photos) and did the channels in blue thread to mimic the inspiration images. For interfacing I used some cotton canvas. I will line it in white muslin.

 

 

 

For my daughters little corset I modeled it after an original example I found on Pinterest. I will have to try and look it up again. I cut hers out of a small piece of purple silk I had and am doing it with 2 layers of muslin. I don't want it tight or uncomfortable so it will also be very lightly boned and nothing like the original in that regard.

 



The Gathering of the Rebels progress...

Today I drafted and cut out my corset and my chemise. I also cut out my petticoat. I cut out Elaina's Carraco Jacket and skirt, as well as her little corset and then sleeves for her chemise. She has a Regency chemise she outgrew, so with some fiddling, I think I can get it to work, then I can just add the new sleeves. Tomorrow I will cut out Kalysta's dress.

And the winner is....Yellow!

I need to make different 18th Century stays to go with my outfit for The Gathering of Rebels. I looked at patterns and read reviews and just decided to draft my own. I am not sure yet if they are going to be fully, or half-boned stays, as I could do either with the particular design. All I know it that I will have them lace both in the back and the front and they MUST be in yellow. I have seen so many pictures of yellow corsets from the 18th Century, and was inspired by these two. What I have on hand is a bit more goldenrod, but it still should work.

Gathering supplies for The Gathering...

Still not sure what I am making but I DID buy some tartan material from Amazon. Do not have the funds right now to buy the real thing, but I thought this looked nice. Seems to have a bit of lavender going through it, so I will see once it arrives. The bottom one I ordered for my son Stephen's Great Kilt. I think it will look nice.

The Gathering of Rebels.

Looking through all sorts of pictures and Pinterest trying to decide what to make. So far the only absolute decision that has been made as far as style goes is this one for my son's girlfriend. She got to pick out something, and has never done anything like this before so I wanted her to have something she felt she would be comfortable in. I am not sure what I am doing for fabrics yet, I just know this is the style. Kali is this cute, tiny little thing, so I think this will be a good style for her.

 

 

 

For my daughter, I am thinking of making her a more age appropriate version of the above design. For myself...there are too many possibilities. Still looking, but am leaning towards a sort of Redingote. But not the style that buttons way up. I have to have my neck and upper chest bare or I feel claustrophobic. Oh and I really liked this.

 

 

 



Whoops...

Well as per the norm, going to the Regency Tea did not work out. Now we are setting out sights on The Gathering of Rebels on October 26th. Loads of costume stuff to do for that one, and I have yet to get started. The fabrics I need have been alluding me! I thought I was set with my Stays, but they did not work either. I had adjusted the length from the waist but they are STILL way shorter than I wanted them, so it sits in a pile where I threw it, with about 2 feet of binding left to go. I will finish it later but right now I am too mad. So I need an outfit for me, my son, my daughter, and my son's girlfriend. Yikes!