More about those summer fabrics and alterations of new clothes

Alright, here's a better image of the orange-yellow seersucker, it's actually got cerise in it as well, which is clearly visible in this shot. It's still cheerful and I think it'd be great turned into a skirt, shorts or pantaloons.

A better representation of the flower-sun turquoise batik. I'd like to find something suitable for this that makes use of the flower-suns that is still clothing-tied. I just had the idea of putting it on the back of a waistcoat and maybe highlighting the pattern with selective machine stitching... hmm.

As to the turquoise seersucker, it's washed, it's dried and the colour value hasn't changed to any noticeable degree. Course, I did wash it in cold water instead of 30C temps.

Below are two new items that arrived today from Nepal and elsewhere via the USA. The first one is an A-line skirt and I'd hate to see what their smaller sizes are like because the XL is more like an XS. I'm going to have to unpick the stitching at either side of the hips, remove the useless elastic and install two tapes at the waistband and then sew the side seams into Y rather than sewing them together because there's no way I can get the skirt over my hips. Pity, it's a lovely and very colourful and playful skirt. It's also very long, if I could get it over my hips, it's nearly floor length.

The patchwork wrap-around skirt (not pictured) arrived with it and fits just fine, it's almost ankle-length and I'm looking forward to wearing it.

Below is the shawl that came with it and has the lovely machine-embroidery with cup sequins add sparkle to it. I bought the shawl with the intent to use it for belly dance or general clothing spruce up. Most shawls you can use for a neck scarf, but this one? It'd be a shame to hide the wonderful decoration on it, so, shawl or hip scarf will be its destiny.

Almost there - the cape

Had to buy a new sewing machine, couldn't get the old one repaired.

I have the lining pieces sewn together, the collar attached to the body and the lining is sewn to the outer cloth. It's currently hanging for the night before I press the seams and close the slit that allows me to turn it inside out. I have a fur hook for the closure for the cape. I'll see about a photograph in the morning.

Next up is the hat... my search through my remnants didn't bring up anything suitable for this hat, so I acquired some other pieces of red fabric that nicely coordinate with the brick red wool.

More on the cape

I have half the cape sewn, the outside seams are all stitched, it needs the interfaced and stitched collar attached and the lining pieces sewn together. I think I can get most of this done in the next class and if I get my machine fixed, then I might even have the cape finished before the next term starting in January of the dressmaking course.

Tomorrow, I'll see about pinning the lining pieces together so they're ready to sew and pin the collar to the body so that's ready to sew as well. Pinning almost takes longer than the sewing does but the curves on this demand pinning so it's not shifting anywhere.

Need to decide if I'm going to attach any Russia/soutache braid or decorations to the cape, currently it's rather dull with just the plain black and bottle green. I'm open to suggestions. I'm trying to avoid the gears motifs because a) I don't have any suitable motifs and b) it's kinda overdone, even if this is going to be a garment for the steampunk/gaslight fantasy costume.

New project

Yes, it's been a while.

New steampunk project in the works as I'm finally taking a dressmaking course to assist me.

The hat:


The blouse:


The jacket:


The cloak pin:


The cape:


The trousers:


My intent is to create a gender-mixed, slightly military-flavoured outfit. My use of the red wool and green lining will remove confusion with any known military unit. The cape will end at buttocks. I intend to wear my All Saints Damisi boots. I'm going with 'antique gold' for buttons for the shell jacket. I'll have to look at creating some fingerless gloves.

You'll be correct in noting there are no mentions of gears or goggles. I do think I will do some Irish-style crochet for possibly the hat or the shell jacket collar, I haven't yet decided.

Suggestions, comments and whatever are appreciated.

score! pt 3

(really, almost finished...!)

I'm smitten with this waistcoat. I had to make a deal with the shop as it was missing one of the brass buttons at the waist. I received a discount but it is non-returnable; to which, I have no problem with as I finally have a waistcoat that has enough room in the armholes. The armholes being a frequent issue for me with store-bought garments. A size up was too big in the chest, a size down was too small in the waist for the waistcoat to button.

Somewhat masculine while cut for a female form, excellent. Cotton fabric with grosgrain ribbon and brass button trim and fastenings. The lining is a synthetic fabric. The pockets are just large enough for a pocketwatch. Superb.



Some of the details of the lower front:



Details of the upper half:



Waistcoat back:



Some of the nice little finds from the men's section of H&M:

Bracelets - in reclaimed leather and pewter hardware.



Stud-belt - in deep red-brown leather with brass hardware.



Black knitted armwarmers of mostly synthetic with about 20% wool.



Black viscose scarf that is about two metres long and close to a metre wide.

score! pt 2

Continuing on the finds and acquisitions from H&M...

Several cotton voile blouses, each one under £10, not bad considering that a) cotton clothing is usually hideously expensive here in Britain; b) finding cotton voile blouses in something other than white or cream or beige.

I did purchase two in white slightly different in cut to these shown below. The white blouses' necklines actually button at the collar rather than the plunging necklines of the coloured blouses. Otherwise, they're essentially the same. Also I acquired one in black that is in the same cut as the blue and olive blouses. All of the blouses allow the sleeves to be rolled up and secured with the button and tab at the bicep.







The black linen trousers:



Some waistband details:




The black linen trousers are quite long and did come with a belt, I forgot to show it with said belt and I also forgot to take a photo of the details in the back. The trousers do have side pockets and two rear pockets with button closures.

The blouses and trousers could be used for the steampunk/gaslight fantasy costume. However, they were purchased with the intention of me using them for Topping at Parties.

One might say these clothes are a little masculine, and yet, they're still feminine without the girlie-nonsense. As a genderqueer, I like the mixing of female and male elements; I especially favour clothes that have elements that do not heavily fall in either gender.