1950's Tea Dress from a frankenpattern

Firstly a frankenpattern is a PR (pattern review) term for getting several patterns and taking elements you then combine to make your own unique item.
In this case it was butterick 5556 and lissette 2246. I made my usual adjustments to the bodice. Adding a little to the side seams usually doesn the trick. And then once that was sewn up added the skirt. It took me a long time as I was determined to hand baste and press every seam before machine sewing. I have to admit I struggled attaching the skirt to the bodice...then was horrified to see it was too loose fitting at the bodice back.

 But there was nothing I could do. Hence why I will probably wear it always with a belt to cinch in the waist so I don't look too frumpy.

Idea for a Doctor Who Cosplay

Ok so I was looking for a Doctor Who cosplay that would suit me. They needed to be blond, and a girl ideally wearing glasses but that's such a rarity in Doctor Who. After a long serch I came back to my original idea of romana.

 I love her pink outfit from Destiny of the Daleks.

 The boots I could match the style if not the colour. I also have a pink frock coat. I could just sew on some contrast piping.

I could reuse the shirt I made or make a new blouse with pintucks in the front and the ruffled sleeve cuff as in the original. I have my high waist trouser pattern to make the pink trousers. And the scarf is easily sourced...I can sew two normal white scarves together.

1950's Shirtwaist - needing a wardrobe staple

So I was thinking..I've got plenty of special occasion stuff I've made. But I need more staples, more basics to wear. I'm thinking shirts and trousers and casual dresses.

My first item is going to be a 50's style shirtwaist dress. I've got a choice of fabric.

I have the pattern in the image above...which I'll use the skirt part from...then use by 'go to' shirt pattern for the top half...as I'm not a fan of the dolman or kimono sleeve. I'll also have 3/4 length sleeves and pockets in the skirt.

 I did think about a blue dress but then if I added an apron it would be Alice in Wonderland. lol!

 I've also got red and purple to choose from...although maybe that's a bit too in your face colour wise?

I like the design above. I have enough of that fabric (I hope) to do my chosen design.

Doctor Who does Vintage Style

So which of the above is your fave? Butterick 5281 is my chosen pattern. Just trying to decide on colour combination.
Got me thinking about some other vintage styles you could 'who'-ise.....

 Or how about this for a sixth doctor 50s style outfit?

I have everything bar the shirt in my wardrobe.

 Yes genuinely the original pattern had that kinda hat on the model. lol!

3rd doctor 1930's outfit. Or even a 11th doctor one?

5th doctor 1920's outfit?

1920's 11th doctor outfit (the purple one)

or I could upcycle a modern dress to make it look like a doctor who costume from a 5th doctor episode.

Crochet - A few projects

Well some of you now my knitting is so slow it would make a snail look like it was doing the speed of light...so I've tended to stay away from those kinds of projects. Now last week I discovered crochet (thank you ravelry). Yes I know its always been there....I just never thought to try it.
It is sooo much faster than knitting. I managed to get nearly 2 meter scarf crocheted in 15 days!

Inspired by Osgoods scarf in the doctor who special.

Then in about 3 days crocheted myself a beret type hat. In TARDIS colours of course.

You may ask 'what pattern did you use'? But I didn't really use a pattern...I crocheted just by eye. Practiced the individual stitches, crocheting in the round and increase/decrease stitches. Then looked at images different stages of the items being made and kinda did it by eye. I used youtube to learn those stitches after the book I bought turned out to be less than useful.

My next project is a TARDIS roundel blanket.

 Circular crochet centre with maybe a 1YO or 2YO loopy stitch round the outside then finished off with a contrast chain.

Some Winterwear planning

My annual plan stuff for winter post. This time I actually have a clear idea of what I'm after. Plus fours. Well I have knee high boots (yes I actually found a pair that would fit). So I wanted some trousers that would show off the boots.

These ladies with boot friendly trousers and knitwear

I also have a cloche hat...well ok I have four. Two are knitted, one is felt and one is more spring weight. And I have my shirt I sewed.

I can wear with my tweedy jacket or a long coat. No more wet trouser hems. It's been pointed out to me it could look quite Romana-esque.

Now there's an idea...fairisle long socks.
I was originally thinking of it being more a reference to Matt Smiths Doctor. With the tweed and red hat.
There's a few patterns I've been looking at. Either my fave trouser pattern (swing trousers) or I have a mcalls pattern that's supposed to be steampunk in style.
My initial mock up (wearable) I made modifying the swing trouser pattern as I didn't want a front fly. I used some fabric from my stash cotton with a little lycra so it had some give, but not major stretch.

 I found I couldn't do the 'cuffs' up so left off any closures for them. The plus fours tucked into the boot...but I suspect too much walking and the cuff will work its way out of the boot. So definately needs more length added to each leg.

My experiment has shown me I need to tweak it further.
1) Add another cm on the hips for ease
2) Change the zip from back to side zip.
3) Cut the legs much longer than I expected.
4) Make the leg cuff narrower and add a button.

When I make it next I'll be using my real material which won't have that 'give' in it...hence the need to add more ease. (This is what happens when I don't go to dance class for a month. I expand. lol!)

HSF Challenge #23 Gratitude - Sleeveless Spencer

The Challenge: #23 Gratitude

Fabric: Gold coloured 'silk'.

Pattern: Well I started with the S&S Regency gown pattern as my 'base' and made considerable modifications. Which included shanging the shoulder seam to the back, and added a collar. Also changed gathers to darts.

Year: 1795-1820

Notions: Green ribbon. Gold embroidery thread.

How historically accurate is it? It was inspired by several blog posts by others about sleeveless spencers. This one. This one. And this one.

Hours to complete: about 5-6 hours. all hand sewn.

First worn: N/A

Total cost: I'm not sure it was made from my fabric stash. Can't be more than £5.

Above is my sketch I did of how I wanted it to look. I ended up dropping the peplum at the back I also changed how the closure worked.

I sewed the ribbon all round leaving a 'tie' on one 'flap' and a look on the other. It was pure lazyness as I didn't want to bother with buttons and hook & eye.

I'm fairly please with the result the fabric was a bit of a nightmare to work with...didn't like pins and kept sliding about and fraying....but managed to wrangle it. The only problem was pressing it. It didn't want to lay flat.

HSF Challenge #24 Re-Do - Bib Front Regency Dress

The Challenge: #24 Re-Do

The Challenge you are Re-do-ing: #4 Embelishment

Fabric: Muslin.

Pattern: I used S&S regency gown pattern as my bodice but with modifications (see post below). the skirts were based on the pattern in the janet arnold book patterns of fashion.

Year: 1800-1820 - Regency

Notions: Embroidery floss. Ribbon.

How historically accurate is it? Well I've taken inspiration from both patterns of fashion and costumes in detail. Everything bar the long skirt side seam was done by hand.

Hours to complete: About a week just doing little stints of sewing when I could.

First worn: N/A (its for 2014)

Total cost: approx. £25

The first thing I did was cut out the peices and do the embroidery. I'm really pleased with how the bluebells came out.

After I'd made up the bodice and fitted it...

I then attached the 'skirts' to the 'bib' and then the skirts to the bodice.

Then attached the ribbon 'tie' to the waistband.

I think next time round I will have the skirt further back so the overlap is nearer the sides than the front.

 The skirts were a little too long. So I added in a tuck.

 I then pinned up the hem and thought 'hmmmm....I might need another tuck in there'.

Being lazy I'm gonna leave it for now. I added a waist stay on the inside. Sewed up the hem and ta da! Finished.

HSF Challenge #24 Re-Do - Fob watch chatelaine

The Challenge: #24 Re-Do

The Challenge you are Re-do-ing: #19 Wood Metal Bone

Fabric/Notions: Blue ribbon, watch, 'pearl', hair clip, cameo (it was in a pack of cameos for card crafts).

Pattern: N/A

Year: Regency
 
How historically accurate is it? Well I have seen images of regency gents with fob watches on ribbons...and in the most recent bbc series of emma the title character had one on a chain/ribbon.

Hours to complete: 2 hours (glue had to dry.)

First worn:N/A

Total cost:£18 (most of that was the watch cost)

 Above is the original fob watch necklace I used as I can't make a watch. lol! I used 1 meter of ribbon - interfacing the 'point'. I attached the ribbon to the metal hair clip. then sewed the watch on one point and a small 'pearl' from another necklace to the other point. Then glued a 'cameo' on the clip to cover up my sewing.

Above is the 'regency' version and the one below is my 'cosplay' version with its additional TARDIS key. ;)

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary (Saturday) at the Excel

So I got tickets to the 50th Anniversary (yes its an anniversary like a marriage anniversary rather than a birthday. IMO) at the excel in London. The day started early...ever so early. I think I was half asleep and it was still dark outside. Even the train station ticket office wasn't open yet. Had to fight with the machine. The train trip was fairly uneventful...apart from accidentally taking a DLR train in wrong direction...only for one station easy enough to go back the other way. lol! told you it was too early. Sitting on the train I was playing spot the whovian. At first it was subtle things TARDIS bags or t-shirts then the more I looked there were 11th doctor cosplays everywhere.You've never seen so many fezes in one place. lol!
Joined the longest queue in the world...and that was just the queue for the queue to get in...

 Eveverybody move up...we can fit more in. ;)

Can you spot yourself?

 The queue in front....there were two queues to get in...one led you one side of the theatre the other to the other.

Looking back over at the entrance...the queue snaking back to the doorway. We seemed to be waiting FOREVER...then finally they announced we could file in, to a loud cheer.

I managed to get a seat. Although quite far back (which as I discovered was actually quite fortuatous - with some of the SFX). They had trailers and clips of the doctor's looping round on the screen as we filed in. It was at first amusing how every time David Tennant or Matt Smith came on screen in a clip some rather loud fangirls decided they would scream.

It was presented by Dallas Campbell (you know the one from bang goes the theroy...looks like Peter Capaldi). They exploded a Dalek and got a young boy up dressed as the doctor to shoot a cyberman with an oversized gun. There was also a question and answer section. With some very funny answers...Afterwards we were filed out a different door into a corridor. It was a bit confusing as to where to go next.

A lot of people like me just wandered up to the top floor...then realised it was the wrong place and had to walk back down. Took a photo of the map so I could find my way to the main hall where I wanted to be.

 As you entered the main hall (at this point there were queues again) the entrance was disguised as the scrapyard set from the original episode.

There was even a TARDIS in the corner....quite a few people had their photo taken in front of it.

Ahem

The first thing I did was wander round to familiarize myself with the layout.

There were peices of sets and costumes dotted around the 'Stages' and 'Arena's'. As a costume and sewing fan...I erm....took a lot of pics of the clothing.

It was a bit annoying I was on my own...would have liked more photo's with me in it...but felt awkward about asking strangers to take my pic.

 Queued in the queue for the queue to queue for the queue for the autographs (can you see a theme here?). Got my TARDIS journal signed by Colin Baker. I think I babbled like a mad person...lots of thank you's were involved. lol!

Was a bit star struck. There were some great cosplays around. There was a cute one with a father and son in matching 5th doctor outfit in the queue for Peter Davisons autograph.
There was a cyberman being explained at one of the areas.

Also so many people cosplaying which was nice. There was even a timelord -collar and all- walking around.

I managed to get my autograph in time so I could go to watch the Big Finish Demo. Which was good...impressed by the audience members acting. Then dashed off to queue...again to get in the theatre.

Didn't get that good a view this time. The disadvantage of being short. But the classic doctor's panel was brilliant and hillarious and at the same time quite poigniant. They were all on form and all got a standing ovation. Nick Briggs was a gem for continuing to take questions despite being told it there was no time for questions left.
After that panel there was about 10mins gap to allow people to go for comfort break but you kept same seat for the next panel. Which was the eleventh doctor panel.

Matt got a big cheer and a few screams from the fangirls...There was some interesting body language. They all seemed so scared about giving away too much at such a late date.

Moffat got a cheer from the audience when he talked about being fed up with people not letting them give the fans a surprise, because of all the 'leaks'. And also how he felt about when the show got canceled in the 80's.

The Q&A bit was funny...especially when they got a kid up who'd been sitting down the front and kept being shown on the big screen. Matt got him to sit inbetween him and Jenna and asked what his question was...it was more of a statement about what was withthe Fezes. lol! They had to agree to disagree about weather hats were cool. ;)

I then filed out with everyone else and went for one last look round the main hall. Bought myself from the Big Finish stand 'Dark Eyes'. I then went over to stage two to watch interview with 'Peri' and 'Tegan' which was quite interesting.

Then popped to the loo and got back just in time to watch the eighth doctor panel. Shame it wasn't *all* the leading cast. ;) But it was great anyway. In the Q&A session I was near enough the front to ask a question. (Yay!) Asked if they brought 'Grace' back from the TVM which of the modern doctor's would she like to work with...got the diplomatic answer of all of them. 

That was the last thing I could do before I had to dash across the excel to catch the train home. I jogged (I don't run...its not pretty) home and got in with 10mins to spare. Phew! Enough time to make a cuppa tea and warm up the TV.

p.s. only saw 4 other eighth doctor cosplayers...and I was the only 'femme' eighth doctor cosplay. Was hoping for more after the minisode.