Actual work done!

So, I left for fall semester, and without a sewing machine or any real lengths of time (not to mention the fact that the materials all remained at home), there was no work done on the dress. I left it in pieces, with the bodice done but overall unfinished.

But big news! I finally finished the outerdress... well, all except for the eyelets. Those I haven't gotten around to, but I may well do it this week before I head back for school next week. I got a lovely mini sewing machine from my grandmother, but I have my doubts about what I can actually do with said machine, especially in the face of handling upholstery fabric, which the Kenmore I've been using has enough difficulty getting through. Anyway, any work I get done will have to be done this week, or else saved for Spring break in March or summer vacation.

Anyway, I got a blouse and a simple cap done, too: what can I say, I can get a lot done when I put my mind to it! All that's really left is an underskirt and (maybe) a farthingale. I haven't yet decided if I'm going to make a farthingale, so I'm going to wait until I put the underskirt on underneath to see if the proper shape could be achieved without. It's not that I'm against hoops: wearing a hoop skirt is one of those life-long dreams for me. I just don't know for sure if I want to go through the trouble of making one, much less if the thing would even work under the outerskirt. Given how close I'm cutting it with the hem, I'm a little hesitant to add extra 'oomph' outwards, which could pretty well screw up my skirt bottom. This is one of those rare instances that I curse my height. Given that most women back in the day were maybe 5', my 5'8" would be pretty awkward. Oh well: I found a pattern (free!) for a farthingale, so we'll cross that bridge when it comes.

Unfortunately, my underskirt is on hiatus until I find a good fabric for it. Given the little spots of red in my fabric, I think that a crimson front panel on the skirt would look the best, and also help to bring out the red. Yet all the fabric I look at is either a) not the right kind or b) wickedly expensive. What can I say, I have good taste? That, and home decorator weight fabrics are ridiculous. I spent all Friday visiting all the fabric stores in the area, and found fabrics that were, to my utter chagrin, recockulously expensive. Even at 40% off, I couldn't really afford it (what with Christmas being just over), so I passed over a $30 fabric purchase for now. I don't need the dress done until about late May, so I'll have time when I get home to finish: the underskirt won't take too long.

In other news, my brother's joined the bandwagon for Renaissance, and I'm now proceeding to make him a cloak and tunic (Simplicity 9887). Since Hobby Lobby had their Simplicity patterns for $.99, I figured what the heck? While it almost killed me to get this polyester/rayon blend thing (polyester??? AHH!!), I purchased 5 yards of it for his cloak, and so it should be done fairly soon (since it's an easy pattern). The tunic was at least broadcloth, so while it's red (....) I'll be happier about it.

Anyway, I've got a trip planned now to Hobby Lobby for jewelry making supplies. What for? Well, I need a belt of sorts for my gown, now don't I? So taking some pre-made ones as inspiration, I've got a design in mind. Turns out that jewelry making is far easier than I previously believed it to be, so it should be fairly simple to make my belt. :)

With that, I'm off to Hobby Lobby: wish me luck!