SD Sized Petticoat - fin

I started sewing this almost a week ago now, and today I finally finished it. Took quite some time and perhaps I should have found an actual pattern for the various pieces, but I didn't. In any case, here's a little walkthrough of the various steps.

Started out with the bottom pieces, a row of ruffles and a piece of fabric underneath. Little over 3m of ruffles had to be attached on a 1,5m long piece of fabric.

 As I found the fabric a bit barren just like than I chose to add some lace.

And a bit of ribbon. I know you wont see the petticoat, but I like the little details here and there.

Sewing the waistband was a tricky part. Think mainly because the pattern I used was fit for a round crinoline cage. Actually did sew one on there but ended up having to remove part of it and re-do it. Was too big, and we can't have that. Also had to remove some of the fabric as there is a lot of it, reason for all of those pleats. Part of me kind of wants to take it apart again and have the pleats near the back be layered differently. Kind of.

 And there you have it in it's entire glory. It's truly something!

Next up: Main dress (skirt and jacket)

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Startup One Two

Elliptical Cage Crinoline One Two

Undergarments

Corset One Two Three

Petticoat

Main Skirt One Two

Jacket

Decor One Two Three

Jewellery

The odd ramble in between

Wig One Two Three Four

Shoes

Wedding Bouquet

Veil

SD sized Victorian'esque Corset - fin

This was about where I left of last time wasn't it? I do think it was. Anyway, got it all finished today as, surprise, surprise, I got my eyelet setter in the mail!

So off with me to do away with those pesky edges and have them look all nice and neat.

And why not, now that I'm at it, add some lacetrim?

Punching a lot of little holes adding one eyelet at a time until I could drag it out and give it a whack with a hammer.

Ending up with this very exciting point, at least for me it was! Had been waiting for this moment since Thursday which, in my book, counts as ages.

Laced it up and had the owner put in it and viola!

I'm very please with the outcome, overly I must say, and especially for my first ever corset! Definitely going to try and make some more in the future, it's a ton of fun though it takes a bit of time. Next up; Petticoat! (and I cheated a bit, already sown most of it, but will wait until tomorrow with the update)

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Startup One Two

Elliptical Cage Crinoline One Two

Undergarments

Corset One Two Three

Petticoat

Main Skirt One Two

Jacket

Decor One Two Three

Jewellery

The odd ramble in between

Wig One Two Three Four

Shoes

Wedding Bouquet

Veil

SD Sized Victorian'esque Corset - wip 2

Got a bit more finished on that corset today, it's not much, but it is something nonetheless!

Attached tubing on the other side along with support tape and got the front busk attached as well. All I need now it to wait for my hole puncher to arrive in the mail (silly me, why didn't I think of getting one home earlier).

Once that hole puncher arrives I can get the tube and busk attached and get some eyelets in there, add some edging, ribbon, and I can finally have Riku wear it! I hope that will happen Monday next week, but I am not entirely sure, depends on when the hole punch is shipped out.

So, while I wait for that, I will start making the petticoat, one step closer to finally being able working on the main dress! Even then I wont be entirely finished as I still have to make a wig, shawl, and shoes. The wig I can't start up as I'm waiting on a wig cap in the mail, the shawl I already have some faux fur home for, and the shoes will prove to be a challenge I am sure. Never made a pair of shoes before, but I bet it will be fun in any case! Oh, and there will also be some nice jewelry to go with the dress, waiting on some gorgeous crystal rhinestone chain trim to arrive in the mail, though that wont be before next year most likely.

-*-*-

Startup One Two

Elliptical Cage Crinoline One Two

Undergarments

Corset One Two Three

Petticoat

Main Skirt One Two

Jacket

Decor One Two Three

Jewellery

The odd ramble in between

Wig One Two Three Four

Shoes

Wedding Bouquet

Veil

SD sized Victorian'esque Corset - wip

A week ago I sat down and drafted a pattern for a corset, with the help of YourWardrobeUnlocked. Yesterday I got the pieces cut out, made a mock up to see how everything fit and today I got down to work a bit on assembling it.

My messy work table with the bits and pieces I'll be using as I go. Cut the stiffeners out from some plastic sheet I had laying around, they do the job quite nicely. They're not too thick, not too thin.

The blue grosgrain ribbon I will be using for the tubing and the flowery ribbon as the, that thing running horizontally inside the corset which I can't for the life of me remember what is called.

 So, after sewing all of the pieces together I went and flattened the seams (had already sewn in the modesty placket in the front, had to be done by hand because you can't exactly get a metal busk in SD size anywhere and will have to come up with your own ideas that will work in the end)

Cut the excess and flattened them to one side.

Started sewing the tubing and the support tape(?) in place.

Until I ended up with this! Not entirely finished , still need to fasten the busk in the back, on the one nearly finished piece, and add eyelets.

It's quite a lot of work, for such a small thing, but seems to pay off. I for one are very pleased with how it's coming together. Had anyone said to me I'd be sitting doing my best to replicate late 1800s attire, full with crinoline, undergarments and an entire ball gown on top I wouldn't have for one second believed in them. Feels kinda surreal for some reason to me that I'm actually capable of sewing stuff like this? Like, it's so fucking amazing!

Will see how much I'll get done tomorrow, not home for most of the day, else I will definitely have it finished Friday, so look forward to an update then!

-*-*-

Startup One Two

Elliptical Cage Crinoline One Two

Undergarments

Corset One Two Three

Petticoat

Main Skirt One Two

Jacket

Decor One Two Three

Jewellery

The odd ramble in between

Wig One Two Three Four

Shoes

Wedding Bouquet

Veil

Dress For Liam - Humble Beginnings

Inner

Chemise
Corset
Pumpkin bloomers
Long white socks
Hoop crinoline
Petticoat

Outer

One-piece dress
Cape
Muff
Spoon bonnet

Other

Box/boxes for everything

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Corset already made, bought secondhand, removed all of the decor on the front, dyed it in coffee, laced it back up and used purple grosgrain ribbon in the back.

Bloomers are currently being sewn together ever so slowly. The chemise will be made of same semi stretch, light purple fabric. Will either buy or sew some socks, not really sure yet.

The crinoline will consist of two hoops, really super simple, only want it to keep the skirt looking voluminous so don't really need more. Will be sewing a petticoat to drape over it.

The one piece will have puffy long sleeves, kept simple with not too much distracting decor, there will be pleated ruffles at the hem of the skirt. Will close with snaps at the back. Will be using this fabric for the dress:

Will either dye it in coffee or tea as I want it to have the air of being old even though it really isn't.

The cape will be made out of white woolen fabric with a removeable hood and holes for hands to go through. There will be a muff made out of fake fur fabric with a sting so it can be carried around the neck.

Spoon bonnet already made and currently neatly packet away in a self made hatbox.

Will bring updates along the way, hopefully I will manage to finish all of this before Christmas!

Wedding Dress - Finished Crinoline and Corset WIP

Finally finished sewing the crinoline here the other day. Had been my intentions to shoot pictures yesterday but it was so grey and dark outside that I dismissed it entirely and spent the day getting kips put in Riku's joints along with his spouse, Matthew. Made it quite a joy shooting these pictures really. But here they are, pictures of a project that's taken well over 12 hours to complete. Looks easy enough putting together, but it's not. Takes a lot longer than you'd expect and I have this awful habit of underestimating how long some things will actually get to take.

The crinoline, while it isn't entirely perfect and could have been sewn a lot better, I'm pretty satisfied. Never made a crinoline like this before so for a first this isn't all bad. Next time I will just be using a different type of fabric for the piping as the one I used went and unexpectedly got all stretchy on me. Guess it didn't do well getting cut into thin strips. Also the top 4 half hoops could have been positioned better. Perhaps next time I should work on this crinoline around a mannequin to get things just the way they're supposed to. Again, I'm satisfied and for a first I don't think I'd be able to make it any better than this. Good thing it's to be covered by a petticoat, huh? Nah, just kidding, could have looked like a trainwreck and it doesn't.

Which brings us on to the next garment in line to be made:

The Corset

Posted a picture yesterday of the pieces cut out and here I've put them all together with pins. It will get to look so very nice with that print and gorgeous dark blue lining. Have yet to cut out some fabric for the modesty panel and the modesty placket but I will get there. Thinking I will have to go buy some much thinner satin ribbon seen as the ribbon I have here is far too thick and I only have black. There wont be doing much of any decoration on this, going to be keeping it really simple. Just some lace at the top and that'll be it. It's a shame the snap clasps for the busk hasn't arrived in the mail yet, then I'd be able to finish it in its entirety. For now I will simply sew as much of it as possible.

Wedding Dress - Crinoline and corset WIP

So, just thought I'd give a small update of how things are going with the sewing and putting together and slowly having it look like something.

Got the piping sewn together and the steel wires put through them yesterday. Did start trying to put it together but that didn't go so well. Today I went at it again, got the hoops attached with a shitload of pins and attaching the waistband. Still need the little slip of fabric going at the top back of it (no idea what it's called even) and the small pillow, too. But this is it so far:

Also have the bag to sew between the bottom most three hoops, so plenty to be done before this is 100% finished and ready to be worn.

Also got a pattern down for a corset. Really simple to make, just wrap the torso in plastic wrap, then masking tape, then draw the various sections you want, cut it open slowly and carefully with sharp scissors, cut the parts out, transfer pattern to paper and there you have it. DoA's got plenty of tutorials showing the process I used here, so simple.

Need to see what I have of fabric for the lining, some satin preferably, and cut all the pieces out, put them all together with pins and have it ready to be sewn together. Can't entirely finish this piece as I need for some snap fastener clasps to arrive in the mail and they've only just been shipped. But I will sew as much of it as I can and work on a lace protector as well.

Next up: Crinoline and Corset WIP - Part 2