Current stuff in the works....

Finished most recent client project last week, and I also finished my retro skirt(s) for the wedding, so I've been working on UFO's, that is to say, personal projects that have been cut out and waiting around.

First up was a blouse cut out from a Butterick 'Retro' reissue from 1944 (pattern 6700, issued in the late 90s or early '00s, now out of print). I made it up in a bright blue-red iridescent satiny fabric. The blouse is a wrapover style that fastens with an inside tie and snaps on the left hip and at the centre front. It has a circular ruffle at the bottom edge and a bow over the snaps that can be made in contrasting material (I made the blouse all the same material) and could be made with short or long sleeves. I made it with short sleeves. The fabric was very slippery and fussy to work with, but the blouse turned out lovely, and will be nice to have for any incidental parties during the holiday season.

The UFO I'm currently working on is an Amy Butler pattern, the Betty Shopper bag that I cut out some months ago in Alexander Henry allover bats print (ivory/black) for the outer fabric and some black & cream hallowe'en print from Joann's for the lining, with black & white striped cotton for the pocket panels.

I've also started drafting up the patterns for my interpretation of an 1878 suit from Harper's Bazar that I'm planning to make up in a black/purple/white plaid and black velvet. I'm hoping to have it ready for 8th December. I may also make an evening outfit for 8th december, as that's the husband's work holiday 'do, and I've worn victorians to those in the past to good acclaim. If I commit to the 8th december thing for victorians, I'll need to stay with it for the entire day, and if I do 1878 during the day, I should think I'd want to stay with it pretty much the whole time. ;) So, maybe a dinner dress. I've got a lovely green brocade....

No longer working on the Big Project. That got cancelled a couple of weeks ago due to reasons beyond the clients' control (I don't hold this against them, they made it very clear to me that this wasn't my fault, and they felt terrible about it). The bride has found another gown, and we're still going to the wedding. The muslin has been disassembled and the larger pieces are going to be repurposed along with the leftover muslin, most likely for victorian underthings, since they'll be needed in lighter colours for summer/lighter coloured outer garments to prevent show-through.

Now I'm working on a project for a friend, deemed 'Edwardian Gothic Cupcake Dreams'. She came to me for a blouse, bringing me a lovely black on black striped cotton in a voile weight. We decided on a semi-fitted bodice shape with a high collar and large, leg-o-mutton sleeves with fitted long lower sleeves. She liked the skirts I was wearing that day, a full underskirt of silver silk dupioni with a gathered hem ruffle, with an overskirt of black & white pinstripe that had two drawstrings in front to pull the skirt up to show off the underskirt.

I decided I'd make her a similar set, using some black with pink pinstripe material I had in my stash. My pinstripe skirt was a purchased find in Philadelphia, so I made a pattern from it for my friend's skirt. For her underskirt we ordered from Silkbaron.com four yards of 54" wide dupioni in Roseberry, which is a GORGEOUS baby pink with fuschia crossweave, resulting in a gorgeous bright shock pink. I decided to make it a complete 'outfit', so I'm also making her a fitted waistcoat from the pinstripe, with lapels & welts of the pink silk.

She'll definitely have the blouse for Whitby, hopefully the rest of the kit, too. :)

For myself, I've got a skirt from a vintage 1958 Simplicity pattern, a pencil skirt that ends in a circular flounce at the hem. I'm planning to make it to wear to that wedding mentioned above. ;) I've got a killer fitted corset-back jacket to wear with it, that shows off the bird tattoos nicely (it's already been vetted by the bride & groom, no worries there!)- I just need to change out the buttons on the jacket, it came with gold-trimmed buttons, and I found some lovely victorianesque black jeweled buttons to use, instead.

Work on the anniversary project is going well, I may actually finish early. On the plate for today is to pipe the armholes & attach the shoulder caps, bag in the lining & attach the facings, and mark & do the buttonholes. If any energy remains, I'll try to get to the hems and attach the buttons, and then it'll be DONE! Possibly ready for client pickup as early as tuesday. Here's hoping, as I need to get on the next project ASAP.

Wedding client meeting went well. Got measurements & went to pick up muslin for the fitting toile. white muslin and a white on white print for the contrast so we can see how the contrast panels will look. The final gown is going to be most likely in a white silk dupioni with an embroidered dupioni or a lace for the contrasting parts, which are a bodice overlay and a skirt godet piece.

This project will be worked on in earnest once we get back from Kentucky, but the pattern will be drafted and the muslin cut before we leave, most likely.

Other biggish client project in the works is a sleeveless pirate coat, material tbd (provided by client). mid-september delivery.

What's going on this week.

Working on several client projects this week & next. Just finished a short handkerchief skirt for someone, glittered spiderweb sheer over black solid with a velvet waistband.

This week is all about pink. Two nifty vintage style dresses.

First up is a sundress from the Vintage Vogue 2902, in the wonderful Alexander Henry Astral Skulls print in the pink on white colourway. I'm doing view B with the top & bottom trim bands, and I've found the perfect candy pink solid cotton for the bands. This one will be lined in white. This is for a client out in California, hopefully we'll be able to get it done in time for her to have it to wear at Costume College.

The second dress is from the Simplicity Retro collection, #3780, another sundress. I'm making some modifications to the pattern at the request of the client, namely omitting the front seam from the skirt, and adding piping to the bodice seams. I'm also adding in-seam pockets to the skirt. The fabric for this one is a nifty stretch-woven cotton in pink with black cherries print. The straps & tie belt & piping will be black.

I'm hoping to get zoot suit 4.0, the great Perversity, cut when I get back from the quilt show. Wanting to have it to wear to the Def Leppard show on the 17th August. So I'll have to figure out how to do the bound lapel edges by then. We'll see! :)

hold this space.

holding this space because I'd like to see about joining SewRetro. :)