New projects on the horizon

I’ve had many projects going, both physically, and mentally. I think it must be a combination of the weather, and the exhaustion of growing a baby. I am reluctant to leave the comforts of my cozy home and would much rather, say, learn crochet, or teach a friend to make ruffles, both of which I’m doing.
I am what is called an animator for a group of Jr Youth (12-14 year olds) and we have embarked on the joys of loom knitting. They seem to be enjoying it, and I enjoy teaching them the skill. I hope to build up their confidence in it enough to convince them to join in the next knitting for homeless event, as one of the purposes of the group is to help them find ways that they can find joy in helping others.  
I’ve made a couple skirts to accommodate my changing figure, the easiest of which is drawstring. I had fun working with the stretchy material for the printed skirt; I know folks have difficulty working with stretch knit, but I seem to work fine with it, which makes me happy as I will be chopping the top off of a couple pairs of jeans to add a stretch panel to those.

A full length skirt with a stretchy
panel to accomodate the belly

Close up of the fabric

On the learning crochet front, I am rather enjoying the craft. My stitches appear to be pretty even, although I seem to be having trouble keeping the length of the scarf I’m working on consistent.  I think it must have something to do with the difficulty I have in reading a pattern, oh and the dropping of stitches. Thankfully, the further I get in the project, the more I seem to be regulating myself, so I must be learning something. And the fact that it’s wider at the end then the rest is ok, since I can widen the other end to even it out. Fake it till you make it, right?

This one is going to my friend Analeigh, as
she like quirky things. Which it certainly is.

 I’ve also acquired a scroll frame and lap stand, which I hope will make embroidery easier since I won’t have to grasp the hoop for those projects - which brings me to one of my mental projects. I’ve had the notion to start thread painting, which is basically a multimedia type of artwork on canvass or fabric. My idea would be to take Regency images, most likely from our events, translate them into a simple drawing which I can then transfer onto my fabric. From there I could line stitch and fill in with thread and/or silk embroidery. I can embellish with lace or fabric bits. I have grand ideas about this medium, you see. One of my first projects will likely be a scene translation from the next book in a Regency series written by a friend of mine. I took her up on the opportunity to read the next two (unpublished) installments and the scene will be from the one that is being published in, I believe, March. She’s moving away in May, and I hope it will make a lovely going away gift and something for her to remember us by. Unless by some crazy chance I get it finished in time for the book release (haha). Deadlines are good for me, otherwise, nothing gets finished!

Speaking of deadlines, perhaps I should set a few in order to finish some Regency projects. I have one purple suede boot complete, a matching set of gloves started, and I’ve purchased a length of red silk to make a robe from, since I couldn’t bring myself to steal Nora’s robe.  I would set a goal for next Saturday, as that is a whist party, but I think I might only have time to finish the other boot. Although I really need to finish the gloves as well as they would be most helpful in this chilly weather. And they would look lovely matched with my boots. I’ll try and finish them both by next weekend. I have a whole week, what could possibly distract me from the task?



Oh what a list!

I have successfully completed the nightgown!

It really didn’t take me that long, per se, I just didn’t work on it straight through, taking breaks from sewing as that seems to be all I do in my free time lately. Even though that can’t possibly be true… But it will be soon. Miss Nora has reminded us that there are just over 60 days left until the Regency Retreat, and the following list I have for what I need clothing wise seems a bit daunting.

4 shifts - need 3

2 corsets - need 1
4-6 pair stockings - need 3-5
Apron
3 white petticoats - need 1
1 black under dress - need to finish trim
1 ball dress - need to redo sleeves
2 evening dresses; grey silk and purple sheer
4 day dresses - finish pink, need 3 more
Gloves, blue and white
Slippers
Boots - need to make new ones for Nora and I
Dress shoes - would be nice to have another pair
Reddingcoat
Parasol
2 mob caps - need 2
4 bonnets - need 2?
1 fishu - need 1
2 nightgowns - need 1 maybe
1 dressing robe - need 1
Shawls

Last week Nora and I dyed some muslin for day dresses for me. I like the green we came out with, but the red is just not Turkey red yet. And a Regency girl must have her Turkey red! She has been experimenting with more color combos and I think we’re going to try again soon.  I think my next steps on accomplishing this list will be as follows:

1. to finish altering the pink day dress I wore on the ship in Albany; I’m changing it into a wrap around
2. to finish the trim on the black dress (yes I know, this should have been done directly after the haunted summer eve, but what can ya do?)
3. take Nora’s advice and get my short corset made up, since we will be sitting around a great deal at the retreat and really a short corset will be most comfortable.
4. Alter my ball gown to change out the white poly for some white silk, fix the weird puckering issue (that probably only I can see) on the bodice, and replace the pearls on the outer sleeve.  This dress was done a while ago, not sure if I have pix up of it, so when I start that redo I will post before and afters. I’ll probably do that for all of the redos.
5. Make my green day dress, not sure what pattern to use yet…
6. I’m assuming by this point we’ll have successfully turned out a Turkey red, so I can make my red day dress in the style of an extant gown I’ll post pix of at that time.
7. All the underthings, maybe I can just whip em all out in a couple days since they’re not too complicated…
8. The shoes!! Oh and I must must must make a viable pattern for the shoes and boots as I will be teaching a workshop on making them at the retreat.
9. Dressing robe. I’ll probably need to make this pattern up at some point. I see viewing a bunch of regency era movies for ideas in my future.
10. Mobcaps and fischu
11. And lastly, if I have time and the inclination, another nightgown and more bonnets. I will however be making some of Stephanie’s new bonnet patterns at the retreat, so maybe it will be ok if I don’t have time for this now.

Hmmm, feels slightly better to get that planed out. But the 60 days seems very short at this point too.

Onward and sew!!
-Charlotte

More Drawstring progress

I had a minor setback of setting my sleeves slightly off kilter (which I do

more than I'd like to admit - it's not that I put them on the wrong side, I

just rotate them slightly off) and after the ensuing panic that "it fit without the

sleeves, what's going on?!?" I realized my mistake, then went through

the painstaking process of removing french seams, resetting them and

now they are good again. As you can see, I've attached the skirt to

bodice, added two drawstrings and it looks pretty good. Except for

my enevitable issue of the back being too big, right in the top center.

Which is so weird, because this is the exact same pattern that I used

for the purple sheer, and that back fit beautifully. Sigh. Well, I should

be able to get some pleated ruffles made and I suppose I can tuck that

 in when attaching the trim. I'm so close to being done at this point. And,

happy day, I have plenty of the linen left over, so I made myself a simple

drawtring skirt for daily wear.

Drawstring gown

Time to start a new Regency gown. I have this lovely black linen stripe that I will wear this weekend to an event hosted by Le Bon Ton.

I started out thinking that maybe I would make another bibfront, since I now like it much better with my new long stay underneath giving me the proper shape. But, like I've stated previously, I'm still not sure about this design. I almost feel like it's the Regency version of overalls, and frankly, overalls are no one's friend...
See why one should wear a petticoat ladies? Muslin is rather see through.

So, the mental debate rages on. I've attempted the drawstring previously, and failed to make one I particularly like. Nora has given me a few tips that give me hope and so I am altering a patten from two that I currently like. The back of my new purple sheer...
(This is just showing my alterations of the original Janet Arnold pattern.)

And the front of my bodiced petticoat.

So far, so good.

I've actually gotten a bit further than this stage, but have failed to take pictures yet. Have I mentioned how much I love this fabric? The stripes are subtle yet give it visual interest. I have the notion to add box pleat ruffles around the sleeve and neck line. We'll see if I have time. After the event this weekend, It will make a nice under dress for sheers to go over as black was not an oft used color unless one was mourning, or (gasp!) worked for a living.
Cheers,
Charlotte

mundane to enlivened

We started out this weekend with no plans whatsoever. Then, we started cleaning. Granted, my in-laws are visiting next weekend and we would have needed to clean anyway. About half an hour into the downstairs, I remember their impending visit and the fact that my sewing room is also the guest room. And how incredibly messy and uninhabitable it is. So, I proceeded to that room. I had, for a couple months now, been toying with the idea of clearing out my old crafts in that room which were mostly abandoned or otherwise unused supplies. In place of said supplies, I could organise my ever growing pile of material. This seemed like a good time to commence with that project. And it was! I gave away to some neighbor kids my student grade chalk pastels and paints, and some candle making supplies and a never attempted kit for making paper. The first 2 I have just upgraded to more professional versions and did not want to waste the student grade stuff, the last 2... well, they seemed like a great idea and lots of fun, but I never got around to it, and I have been in a decluter mode over the last six months or so. We also moved my sewing desk downstairs to the living room where I can sew while my darling plays his games. This will also force me to keep it somewhat clean. I rearraned the guest room, and we moved the fish tank and movies over to accomodate the sewing desk. I am utterly pleased with the outcome. The living room actually looks more open as we were able to move two other tables out and a chair to the other end of the room.
Oh, and somewhere in there I was able to finish my stay!!! I'm calling it my dreamsicle, due to the color combo. I am also working on a new day dress and I just got some new material for a new evening dress, and some material and a pattern for a modern purse. Oh! I'm really excited about a shoe pattern I saw in Butterick. I think one of them will be perfect for Regency and I cannot wait to find the pattern and try it out (the store was out of them, or I would have purchased it right then!!)
Cheers, and Blessings,
Charlotte

Embroidery work

I decided to try my hand again at embroidery, and do a little work on the stay that I'm making. Aside from a little buckling, I'm pretty happy with it. I've finished seam ripping on the old day dress, and have yet to start over on the new pattern. I think I will keep the skirt from simplicity pattern and go with the bodice from La Mode Bagatelle, incorporating the drawstring capability from Simplicity. This will be my first foray into mixing patterns. Seems simple on the surface... I'm sure it will not be though :)

So, since all of my readers were actually at the Mid Winter Ball aka Her Odysey's birthday bash, I don't feel to bad about not updating until now. :)
It was a lovely affair, I only wish I would have thought to step outside to view the lake which we were apparently next to. It was so dark by the time I arrived that I did not realize the vicinity. I also wish I had made the decision to wear my pelisse as it was much cooler there then when I left home! Since I did not get to show it off there, I will show it off here.


And the cake! Soooo beautiful and delectable and I only tried 1 piece, but I belive there were 3 or 4 different flavors. Not enough dancing, but that was an attendee decision as the caller tried numerous times to get people involved.





More classwork to post. We have a new model and I'll show the initial drawing, as I know the progession I made this week is leading somwhere good, I just dislike how it appears now.


Cheers, and I hope everyone's week is going well.

My painting class is still going strong. The 4 week pose we were working on is finished, although the painting is not. I intend to continue with it from memory, but here is my progress so far.


Yes her face is deplorable, but it is actually just a foundation for the shadows, as opposed to actual features. I'm quite happy with the progress of the legs at this point.

I've created a sort of braid for my pelisse front. I can't decide if I want to create buttons to go through the 'leaves' of this, or just hook and eye. I think the buttons would be nice, if they don't look out of place if the coat is worn open.


I'm very excited about a ball to be held next weekend. It's in honor of my friend Stephanie and is the perfect remedy to the drabness created by the rain. I'll be in my same gown, but I think I'll find some new accessories; maybe a bandeau with a feather? My mother finished my pearl choker so I'll be wearing that. And of course I'll be finished with my pelisse, right?
Much love,
C

Country hours, indeed

A lot to recap over the last week. New Years Day, my mom and I went to see Raphael's La Donna Velata (The Woman with the Veil) before it left Portland. She was so beautiful in person that I honestly teared up while gazing at her. This is a paltry example, but it may give some idea as what I was looking at.


I also made fair progress on my Regency coat. I've decided that the term 'pelerine' was incorrect. I believe this is actually a redingote or pelisse. In any case, it was quite functional enough to wear to the Feast of the Twelfth Night held Saturday last.

This event was by far the most elegant of my experiences with our Regency group to date. We began with a Whist and conversation. I made several new friends and was able to catch up with established friends. I was once again moved to watery eyes while listening to the lovely Lady Lauren sing. Again, so much more powerful in person than as recorded. We progressed on to a full 3 course meal that was beyond sumptuous, with much gaity amongst the guests. Brava Stephanie for the evening and Brava Stephanie II for the meal. It was incomprable to any meal I've yet partaken in and not likely to be forgotten soon, especially since I'm pretty sure I was still full the next morning and did not become hungry again until the next afternoon! We danced afterwards, strolled the park and then a few of the party progressed on to Ms Connie's lovely home for more dancing and parlor games. All in all a most enjoyable week.
Also, I am starting a figure painting class today, so more on that soon, I'm sure.
Cheers and Blessings

cording and cookies

So, let's see... I am deciding on the designs for the frogging on my pelerine; I like the 2 I've posted here. I might try to incorporate both of them. I've finally cut the wool for the pattern, and I think I'll be cutting the lining tonight. 2 weeks should be enough time, although I wish I had started way earlier so that I could do a bit of embroidery like on this one

Patrick and I spent Friday night baking a lot of cookies to give to family and friends, and here is a sampling: they are oatmeal cranberry; virgin rum balls and peppermint decadence. And they are decadent.

Winter Ball

Such a beautiful event! I only helped with a small portion of setting up, and can't imagine the effort put in to create such a night. Brava Steph! I had such a fun time that I didn't realize how exhausted I was until the drive home :)

Sleeves

Sleeve teaser!

Reticule

Lots on my plate costume-wise. I've finished my reticule, and even thought the color combination is not entirely Regency, I think it is otherwise perfect! I'm almost finished with my fan and dress, and mom is building a necklace for me. My shoes arrived last week, and I'm walking around the house in them to break them in. I'm debating about the fan, I really want to add lace on top of the solid color, but I'm afraid it will look Victorian and not Regency.
Thanksgiving was pretty nice this year. Very quiet though. We had dinner with Patrick's mom and Aunt and my mom. His sister and cousins joined us for dessert. Oh yeah, and 5 dogs all together. Dessert was much more lively than dinner! At least there was no fighting :D

gloves and dressforms and petticoats, oh my!

So, I've had a busy couple of weekends. My darling husband surprised me with a very useful gift; a dressform! I was floored and am still quite excited about it. Last weekend, I went to a couple of antique stores with my mom and lo and behold, I found a pair of opera gloves that fit perfectly. For $10. So I snagged them. I'll most likely still work on making some, but these will work in the meantime as I am working towards some bigger projects too.
I also found a little footstool which I will eventually be sanding down and repainting to be used for sitting on at Regency picnics. And, I purchased some costume pearls that mom will be using to make me a necklace. Fun fun.
I just finished making a petticoat, and am glad to be done with it. I made too many mistakes to count, but will hopefully be able to put what I've learned towards the other items in this pattern, the next of which I shall be starting this week.

So, I'm happy with this mock-up. I can alter my pattern to fix a few things and start working on a nice pair. I'm simultaneously working on a petticoat and gown for a Regency ball coming up in December. More on that later...