Rehearsal, Recital, Reception

This weekend we mark the end of spring dance season with a recital and Regency performance, and the beginning of summer break. We've all been getting the three R's mixed up: Rehearsal, Recital, and Reception.

Blue-themed bowties for the FEW

Next week we travel to Texas for the First Ever Sibling Wedding. It's kind of weird, because First Ever Sibling and Bride are moving in across the street, and Second Ever Sibling and Spouse are moving states away. I'm still not sure if I'm gaining two and losing one, or just losing all of them together.

Besides the First Ever Wedding(FEW) I'm planning to visit the Texas blankity-blank Museum in Ft. Worth(you all know I hate referencing that conflict). There's a neat looking collection of Victorian clothing that I very much look forward to inspecting.

Lace, Grace, and Alterations.

Last week I had a working vacation with the F gentlemen. They are so cute. It was nice to have a break from my normal nanny job. I nannyed extra days through the month of April, and I found it so wearing. I know I have a good position(now that the dog is gone), but I so wish I didn't have to depend on childcare for income. I would quit my job and sew, if I could. Add into that thought the drama currently going on in our house: God seems to be pruning my family. Beginning with our move almost exactly one year ago, our first move in twenty years, followed by Grandma and her many moods(she's mad at me right now, and I don't know why). Two family marriages in the works and as many international trips just behind us have done not a little to change my outlook on the future.

 Mud hole. The boys had to change clothes three times that day. We had a fun week together. I took my quilt along and worked on that after bedtime(8pm bedtimes are the bomb).

I finished this blouse today: Thrift store save does victorian twist. it's a soft sheer fabric, likely a rayon/cotton blend. I have a bag of old lace scraps from garage sales and such, so I used a length to embellish the sleeves and front.

I also finished up the three-piece Victorian suit for a customer. It's black cotton twill, which is a good sturdy material for this project, but it requires a lot of pressing and shows every speck of dirt. I used Simplicity 2895 for the vest and coat, and Truly Victorian trouser pattern. The simplicity pattern, as usual, seemed overly complicated, but went together fine. 

 Button fly.

Truly Victorian pattern seemed expensive for such a basic item, but came in three different printed pattern size ranges: slim, mature, and portly. It has a button-fly, which was simpler than I expected to put in. The pattern has four optional welt pockets, which I left out to save time. Beyond that, I've finally got the costumes from Ren Faire(all those petticoats!) washed and put away, and some basic alterations conquered.

Cuteness and squishy cheeks. Let's end on that thought.

April Showers Bring May Snowstorms

We had a wonderful break in the cold weather, followed by an abnormal May snowstorm and a great deal of romance(which was mostly unrelated to the weather). I've been preparing for the two upcoming dance performances at the Midlands Renaissance Faire, getting the costumes, and washing, repairing and sewing what's needed. What with the cold weather there's a lot more to plan for when spending the day outside, in the weather, with no electrical outlets. 

 Our 17th Century themed outfits are slowly improving. This year I added three waistcoats and knit hats for the gentlemen. I love the costume colors we get to wear to Ren Faire! Everyone looks so much more austere when we go Regency, but Ren Faire brings out the colors.

Performance, day one: the weather truly was miserable. It was less than 50F, cloudy with a breeze. We had a tarp-encased canopy for in between performances, but we got fairly cold I still got a headache from being out in the weather all day. We ended the day with an interesting interlude at MacDonalds, with a passed-out drunk being awakened by the EMTs. Who knew Bellevue was so interesting?

Edwardian Outing

I finished the Past Patterns Edwardian waist this week in preparation for our first costumed folk dance performance of the season. The pattern came in sizes 10+. I usually use a size 6 for myself and then alter it to fit, so cutting down from a 10 created a little more work. However the pattern is pretty basic and came together fine, until I ran out of matching thread. I also fiddled around with the shoulder pleats more than I would have liked, mostly because of the sizing change. The shoulder pleats are the same width all down the front of the blouse, but they taper to an end down the back. One of the pleats rippled as I sewed it down the back, so I had to rip it out and re-do.

Anyway.

Ladies from dance group: I'm the one on the far right, looking like I'm in a a straight jacket.What I'm really wearing is my wool trumpet skirt, pleated petticoat, and Gibson waist. The lady on the other end used the same pattern, only the alternate collar and cuff pieces and in a lighter-weight white linen.

The gentlemen also looked great, and with way less work, too.

Knit together

This is me. I'm not smiling because my brother, the giggly one, only took two pictures of me and they both happened to be of me, not smiling. Anyway, I managed to make this knit skirt over the weekend. It's a dark grey rayon blend fabric with pinstripes. I ordered it from Fabric.com. I like it that fabrics-store.com posts the actual weight of each fabric; fabric.com only posts general terms: "lightweight," "medium" or "heavy." This knit was a "heavy." Is this knit had been anything less than "heavy" it wouldn't have worked well for a skirt.

I had too much fun with the stripes. Besides the triangle top and pocket I added three crazy-quiltish patches at the hem. Knit certainly doesn't have that tailored look, but it's super comfortable and practical for everyday wear, and easy to sew. For the waistband I sewed a sturdy band of elastic to the knit with a zig-zag stitch, and then folded it under. I also used a zig-zag stitch to finish the hem.

I did order this knit from fabric.com (I was already ordering something else, anyway) and was satisfied overall; however, for knits specifically I'd like to try Girl Charlee someday. Like, someday very soon. This week, maybe. Eeek!

Blogging about Blogs and Sewing Recently

Sewing Recently: A baby bag, for putting babies in. Babies are spreading like wildfire at church right now, so it's time to hone my baby-bagging skills.

I love reading sewing blogs and seeing neat garments I could never think up on my own. It's inspiring, educational, and fun. I'm so bad about keeping up my bloglist, but here are a few sewing blogs I've recently discovered or have long enjoyed:

We Sew Retro is just a neat blog. Since anyone can post there's huge diversity in projects. And if you like retro, here's a similar European site called Fintage.

I've really enjoyed Confessions of a Seamstress since I discovered it this winter. I found Elizabeth's blog while looking for more on costumes from "Once Upon a Time." I admire her gumption in having her own costume business: something I might enjoy someday, if I get serious.

I found 19thC Costuming last year when I was making the fake bustle skirt. I generally try to avoid any garments between 1830 and 1900, but this lady's blog has some really great posts relevant to any era of sewing.

The photos posted here are amazing: Let's just call it "Oh That Dress."

Ok, yes, I read Romantic History. Doesn't everyone?And the Dreamstress, and American Duchess, and all the other greats, too.

Sewing Recently: Bow ties are ALL THE RAGE. So are cute gentlemen.

I bought two new patterns this week, just because. Simplicity 4923, the Jack Sparrow ensemble, because I just want someone to order this coat from me. It looks like fun. Butterick 5832, a new pattern of a romantic era dress. Will I ever make it? What a lot of material.

Been sewing this dress recently: One armhole and two pockets away from completion. I know, my photos lack quality. You'd think with a family of nine(wait, eleven? or is it twelve now? With the current epidemic I keep expecting the boys to come home from work and say they're married) in residence, it wouldn't be so hard to find a model and borrow a camera. But it is.  

Sheer pleated trim: I remember now why I didn't like sewing with this sheer before. It's stiff, so if you handle it very much it gets infinitesimal slivers in one's skin. You have been forewarned.

Sewing Recently

For the past month we've had varying numbers of overnight guests almost every weekend. It's good training for running a hotel! I'm looking forward to a bit of quiet this coming weekend, when the situation will be reversed with most of the family away. I feel like my sewing has gotten behind; however, I somehow managed to finish:

Vests.

Five ladies' vests and two men's waistcoats that had been languishing in my pile. Some still needing buttons and hemming, but mostly done.

Waistcoat: can't you see the guys falling over themselves to fight over this wool and flannel warmer?

For the local Renaissance Faire in the spring.

 As far as paid orders, I finished a tailcoat ordered by a gentleman to wear to events. Thankfully it fit without needing any altering. I attribute this to the miracular, since even though I was working from good measurements I still miss getting the right fit without an in-person fitting. I have two other orders this month. A 1950s tea dress and a Victorian men's three piece suit. A satisfactory amount of work for the rest of March and beyond.

Hats: I finally got around to stitching on a hatband and stiffening the two black felt tophats I blocked last month. I still hope to improve, but I feel these two are a good start. And they're for sale! I'm not sure if I want to do hats long-term; I have enough to do with sewing, and to set-up to do hatmaking well is a fair investment. But my goal is to sell half of this batch of hats to cover the cost of expenses. Thus, I have tophats for sale. Wool felt with a plain ribbed band, ready to be trimmed or worn as-is. Someday, when I get motivated and the weather is good, I'll take pictures!