Corsetry...aka changing directions, AGAIN..

I started sewing again!!!  I'm working on a practice corset, since I've never made one before.  It's not looking too shabby for a couple days' work so far...







A detailed look at the channels that the boning gets forced through...

All sewn together and awaiting a lining and some structure =)

My progress on the dress up I made up to last night...I still need to do the zip on the side and hem the skirt and lining, but I pinned it on to give an idea of what it'll look like when it's finished =)

knit dress progress

What I've been working on so far tonight...the lining is in the top soooo now I just need to assemble the skirt and throw that on too....who knows, maybe I can kick this out by the end of the night! =)

Changed directions...started on coif instead

I guess this would be a good time to tell you that most of the things I'll be constructing for my Ren-Fest costume are from Margo's Patterns, specifically from her Tudor Lady pattern suite.  She is not a commercial pattern maker, but her creations are extensively researched and about as historically accurate as you can get, realistically.  She gives you almost 200 pages with her patterns on not only how to sew the garments, but also fabric and trim advice, how to wear things, history of the garments, and her reasoning behind her methods.  The total cost of this pattern ended up a little over $50, but it's worth every penny.  You also get access to a blog and message board, and she has a Facebook page....lots of support if you run into trouble!  I've made a lot of stuff from commercial patterns, and that kind of help and inspiration just aren't there.

Anyway, instead of jumping right into doing a mock-up of the smock like I originally planned, I decided to aim for something a little simpler on my first try with Margo's directions-- the Tudor Coif. I just made a copy of the pattern pieces for this project (after cutting out every piece and putting them all in their own envelopes to stay organized) and I'm about half-way finished.  This is what it's eventually going to look like, and what I have done so far:

I've already kind of put this project off for a minute until I finish a project that I was working on while I was collecting supplies and waiting for the pattern to arrive.  It's a knit dress, which I have no idea WHY I'm making it since I don't know when I'll ever wear it, as all I ever wear is a work uniform, sweats, or casual stuff for school.  But I love dresses, and I've been wanting to use this fabric for a while now =)  Soooo....in an effort to finish what I've started, I want to finish this before getting into the Renaissance thing..


    The pattern                             My fabric

I have the bodice front and back done, but I still have to do the lining and sew everything together.  It'll be a few days, since the weekend is coming up and I usually work a lot Friday through Sunday.  But hopefully it'll be done by next weekend, then I can finish my coif and post pictures, then start on the big stuff =)

Fabric Ideas

A general idea of what I might do for the main body fabric...

<  Before

<  After gridding with gold

Still in the beginning stages...

Well, I feel like I've been to Joann's a dozen times so far this month. I've been taking stock of everything I already have that I can implement for this project, and I've been making cost lists of everything new that I buy so I can have a good idea of how much this endeavor is going to cost me in the end (Do I WANT to know??!). I got all of the tissue pattern pieces cut out and organized, I just need to start copying them with my alterations to regular paper so I don't ruin the originals. I found a bunch of muslin to make my first mock-ups with; hopefully I don't need to make more than one (or two) of each piece before getting it right for the "Real Deals".

I still don't have the main fabric for the gown and kirtle, BUT I need about 17 yards of the stuff so I don't feel too bad about not having found a worthy specimen of the right amount, color, material, and most importantly, PRICE RANGE, in the first two weeks after deciding to do this. I have been scavenging around in the red tag section of Joann's home dec fabrics, to no avail. I'm also keeping a close eye on craigslist for estate sales, and pretty much every online fabric supplier that pops up when I Google "cheap" and "fabric" and "brocade" and "silk" and "jacquard". Nope. Nothing yet.


I have some stipulations to keep in mind as I search, though:

First of all, even though this IS my first time making a Renaissance costume, I want it to be as authentic as possible...so this means cottons, linens, hemp; no Spandex or rayon or polyester if I can help it. Which adds a lot more difficulty to the search, since almost EVERYTHING is mostly one of the three nowadays. Apart from the authenticity issues I have with polyester, there are other reasons I don't want to use it. It doesn't breathe well, and on a hot September day, it's hardly a cool and comfortable prospect. Additionally, it looks fake, especially out in the sunshine. Polyester sparkles when in direct sunlight, and so do most other synthetics.

Then, it has to be kind of heavy fabric, soooo I'm looking in home dec just so I can avoid having to flat line the outer layers, which just takes up more of my fabric stash, time, and $$$. HOWEVER, I'm starting to get a little antsy and I found a good cotton sateen finish bottom weight fabric that would be gorgeous, especially if I quilt it with gold thread in a diamond pattern and sew freshwater pearls where all the lines meet...just a thought...a lot more work, AND I'd have to flat line, but I have a year right? And putting extra effort into the details would make it even more special...we'll see what happens =)

I'm going to start my project with a smock, so I need to start measuring and copying the pattern pieces for that. Then hopefully I can get into the interesting stuff and maybe I'll find my dream fabric, and I can start posting pictures!! =)

Ren Fest Jess!

Hello! I'm Jessica, and welcome to my blog =)

Basically, I'm creating this page to document my journey of creating an as-authentic-as-modernly-possible Tudor costume to wear at the 2012 Renaissance Festival in Holly, Michigan. I'll try to include as many pictures and updates as possible throughout the process. Here are a few things about me you might be interested in:

* I'm a 24-year old University of Michigan student.
* Sewing has always been a part of my life. My mom made me the only stuffed animal I still have, a rabbit named Sara. I didn't seriously start sewing on the machine or doing anything other than little projects until about a year and a half ago, which is when I really fell in love with it.
* I've never been to a Renaissance Faire, let alone made a gown....eek!
* In the short time I've been really sewing, I've improved A LOT, so if you're apprehensive about starting, don't be overwhelmed; it IS possible to come a long way in a short time span =) You just have to have a lot of patience, and don't be afraid to make mistakes! Every time I mess something up or take a while to get the hang of something, I learn a ton from the experience.

I'll be working on other projects too as I go along, and post about those too probably, as well as the RenFest dealio =) I love comments and would like feedback if you are willing to offer it! This is gonna be fun!