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.

Summer cottons are like candy...

Carrying on from my previous post... here are better images of the fabrics (shot with a dSLR and near an open window)... though I failed again because I forgot the flower-sun turquoise batik fabric and the orange seersucker that is an almost exact weave of the turquoise seersucker below (it's in the wash... because I wash all my cotton fabrics before use).

First up, the spicy red stripe on the left and the complimenting(?) poplin on the right. I am thinking of using these two together in a tiered skirt. What do you think? I have about four metres of each and want to retain or use the vertical/warp stripe to best advantage. Both fabrics are lightweight and soft handle.

The turquoise and cream seersucker: destined to go into a pair of Simplicity shorts as there's only two metres of this one. The orange version is four metres orange and yellow with cerise (a fancy name for pink that's kinda reddish) and might go into a tiered skirt or shorts... haven't yet decided, but I am open to suggestions. Sadly, the orange seersucker clashes with the pink of the stripe above or I'd have used it in that project. I haven't yet washed the turquoise, so it might alter in value a little after washing. This one is light-light-to-medium weight.

I'm wanting to call this 'Monet' for some reason but opted to label it as 'watercolour' because that's what it reminds me of and it's a tie-dye cotton fabric of turquoise, purple, fuschia; it came off the bolt this way... well, after I washed and dried it, this is what it looks like. I have about five or six metres of this one and I'm aiming for a circle skirt with it. However, I'm open to suggestions. It's somewhat heavier than many of the others and is light-to-medium weight.

This one is a lime-sage-beige with a gold lurex stripe in it, it's all cotton except for the lurex, it's kinda stiff and naturally crinkles up like this. It's more like a scratchy gauze. I dare not tumble dry it due to the lurex or I would to see if that'd have softened it up. Currently designated for some trousers as there's about four metres of this fabric. Other option if I can source a suitable green or cream-beige cotton jersey is for that Burda boob-skirt. It's beautiful to look at. It's lightweight yet a little stiff; I don't know if ironing it would help relax it any and I don't want to melt the lurex.

This one just makes me think of candy and Colombia and fruit; it's very cheerful to me. 100% cotton seersucker and I think I have about four metres of this one. It has red, pink, green-brown, green, lime, mint... It's relatively soft and lightweight. Options are a pair of pantaloons for belly dance class as I think I have four metres of this one.

Dressmaking... which fabric?

So this summer at John Lewis, there were lots of lovely seersucker cottons and batik prints. Today I came in and found lots of those more expensive cottons on sale for half price. This works for me. I also found a Burda 'Young' pattern, #7228 that appeals to me.

Yes, the colours are off, it's what I get for taking the pictures on my phone instead of using my decent camera and waiting for sunshine.

Anyway, the skirt pattern has a jersey 'waistband' that doubles as a boob-top so you can go from skirt to dress just by pulling up the waistband and straightening it out to cover one's breasts. Dual purpose, huzzah.

I also have a Simplicity pattern #2414 for a short-short 2-tiered skirt and an almost-as-short 3-tiered skirt as well as some long shorts, capris and nearly ankle-length trousers.

The turquoise seersucker warp-stripe, I'm pretty settled on using for a pair of the #2414 shorts.

The turquoise batik flower-suns is a slightly heavier cotton so I'm not sure if it's suitable for the Burda boob-skirt due to how thick it is and because the pattern picture suggests very lightweight cottons. The instructions on back just say 'cotton fabrics'.

I know I've placed the orange seersucker with the Simplicity pattern, but I admit, I'm just as tempted to use it for the Burda boob-skirt because it's a lightweight fabric. I only have 2 metres of the orange so I have to decide, one or the other.

Related to the Simplicity pattern, I picked up this lovely warm red-yellow warp-stripe cotton that is also lightweight as well as some un-pictured red (which works (coordinates?) with the red-yellow stripe fabric) cotton poplin that is very close in weight to the stripe. I am thinking of using these for the tiered skirt. Whether I do the 2-tier or 3-tier, I haven't yet decided... the 2-tier is only 15" or so in length and that won't cover my arse never mind act as a proper skirt if I wear it on my waist. It's definitely a 'shove it down to the hips if you want to go out in public and not get arrested for indecency' skirt. I'll probably end up with the 3-tier so that I'm not flashing everyone... that or I'm wearing leggings with said 2-tier. 

Yeah, I know summer's pretty much over with, but I'll at least have some skirts to wear if I find myself someplace warm between now and next May. I am learning that the size 18 is often just a little too large, so hurrah, I might be able to squeeze into the 16, which is a lot closer to my off the peg clothing size of UK14-16.

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.

Some progress on the project

Regarding this post, I finished cutting out all the fabric pieces for the cape including the lining and interfacing.

I still need to cut out the toile for the trousers and jacket; hopefully I can do that in class tomorrow or perhaps get sewing on the cape. However, with my own sewing machine broken down and needing repairs (I cannot wind bobbins on it, otherwise it works) I'm limited on what I can do at home. The overlocker has its limitations that I cannot ignore.

If I remember to post more, I will.

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.

a dangle

I make what I call "dangles", they can be worn in the hair or secured to a belt or handbag or whatever else. I've made several in the past and this one I made yesterday. It's pretty simple, but I wanted to start using some of the copious supplies of jewellery findings I'd purchased in the US. Mostly for my own amusement, but when I have enough of them for myself and friends, I'll be putting the surplus onto Folksy, Britain's version of 'Etsy'.

Old Costume bits

I found some of my old costume items, yay!

Laced black leather pouch - gifted to me by Otter. Black leather pouch and the carved leather belt - crafted for me by Daedalus Fortune (Leatherhead Regalia).



Detail on the laced pouch.



I did alter the laced leather pouch by adding these to it. Beads: comedy/tragedy; yin-yang, ankh, the rest are random beads, probably purchased at Friends in Louisville, Kentucky.



Soviet cloak pin, brass, purchased in the USA probably twenty years ago. Up until a few days ago, this was in two separate parts and one part was decorating a bag. I've found the second part and re-established the parts as one piece. I think it would do well on a hat.



I have misplaced the partner to this cloak pin along with the chain that once kept them together. Glass (plastic?) gems, copper metal. I probably picked this up in a thrift store.

Book Covers project - location search - Chafford

The other day I went out with the new camera to some local woodland. Several things inclined me to the task: 1) I hadn't been to the woodland and I like visiting nature; 2) I was hoping to find a suitably remote location yet accessable for the book covers project; 3) it was a sunny day and almost warm; 4) get used to using the new camera.

I think I succeeded.

Go go invasive species... the American grey squirrel is an aggressive nuissance, it has nearly driven the native red squirrel into extinction. In the fifteen years I've been here, I have yet to see a native red squirrel in the wild, they are that rare.







Yes, I know there's fence and a house visible in the background, however, careful choice of angle of view can solve that issue and if the model is willing to sit in the crux of the tree, even better.



Another spot where selective angle of view can make this work.







There's a lot of ivy at the moment, but not much nettle, nettle seems to prefer areas with a little more sunlight than one gets under the canopy of trees.

Antiques - the sewing box

I did not forget the sewing box, well, I did, and then I figure it's worth its own post.

Behold the sewing box, slightly damaged, but you can see the flower paper and where the hasp once was.



I'm not sure why she needed five pairs of scissors, but as you can see, they're of various sizes and blade shapes. The thread colours are still quite bright, go go chemical dyes.



The pieces of lace, what I thought was an elasticated edging turns out to not have any stretch at all, so it is just a simply decorated near-white edging.



Another look at the tray outside the sewing box.

Antiques - the photos

As promised.

First off, the WWII buttons...



The albert chain, yes, the clip functions, the spring still springs inside it.



As you can see, the bear has suffered some damage. I suspect the eyes once had little glass jewels in them. Poor bear.



I got too excited and failed to set it to manual focus so it would use the depth of field correctly.



The back of the football medallion.



The inkwell... bit too much camera shake and I failed to set up the lights and utilise them for this. Perhaps it would have made it easier. Oh well, you get the idea. The brass body is wrapped in soft, thin black leather with gold stamp.



The bottom of the inkwell with attached paper label.



Gently press the button on the front of the body and it pops open to reveal this:



Gently press aside the righthand clip and you can see inside.



With the little glass bottle removed so you can see it as well as the inkwell. The inner lid has a spring to help keep the ink inside the bottle and yes, the spring still works. It's a clever little object and the leafy scroll engraving in the brass is very nice.

Antiques

Today's adventure found me a few delightful objects, I'll have to take some photos tomorrow and add them here.

I found an early 1900s inkwell, brass with a leather cover, produced by 'Hawthorne - stationer, printer & co' on 36 Clumber Street in Nottingham.

Several military brass buttons and 'stay bright' metal buttons for various WWII uniforms. I figure they might go nicely on a hat or bag.

A sterling silver albert chain with a slightly crushed bear charm. It seems the bear is hollow and so its belly and muzzle were caved in. Still a delightful little charm about 2cm tall. Now to find a suitable pocketwatch to go with said albert chain.

Now, I'm not into football (either the US variety or the rest of the world's variety), but I did spot a medallion whose shape appealed to me. Sterling silver and engraved on the back...

I.S.F.A.
1936-7
N.E MANS

(hmm, "any man's"?)

I figure it would do for a charm on a bracelet or hat or some such.

The last and largest item was a sewing box. Three cloth-wrapped weights, a packet of Great Yarmouth sewing needles, four brass and nickle thimbles, several wooden spools of vintage cotton and Sylko, JP & Coats and another brand of threads, several plastic or metal crochet hooks and a needle (missing its partner), five pairs of scissors (all slightly different), 3 small squares of lace and two identical larger pieces of lace, some lacy and elasticated decorative ribbon. The box is wood with brass hinges, it's covered in faded decorative flower paper. Tempted as I am to try to spot-clean the paper, I can also see it has metallic effects in the paper and I'd rather not destroy it by trying to wipe it with a damp cloth. Admittedly, it's not in the best of shape, the hasp is completely missing and the corners and edges are a bit dinged. Still, it's a lovely box about 30cm long and about 15cm high. There's a divided wood tray inside. It's still quite servicable in its own way.

I probably paid too much, however, I'm delighted by the objects, they have an interesting feel. And now I just realised I genderqueered... a sewing box, but then an inkwell, albert chain, football medallion and WWII buttons... I guess I tilted towards the masculine...

Anyway, part of my reason for these is yes, I'm a creature for antiques with character, but also antiques I can use and... I think they'll be handy props for the book covers photography project ^_^ Go-go multiple use items!

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.