HSF 2014 - Challenge Planning

Been working out how I can combine HSF '14 and my cosplay plans. And my fabric buying embargo. I've limited myself to only one visit to fabric shop per month....my fabric stash is getting too big. lol!

#1: Make Do & Mend – due Wed 15 Jan. For this Making do & Mending a failed project into a Dorothy dress.

#2: Innovation - due Sat 1 Feb.  Bustle pad.

#3: Pink - due Sat 15 Feb.  Pink bodiced petticoat. I know usually they are white but I like the thought of a pink one. Or a pink dress, or waist petticoat. I seem to have finally decided on finishing off a UFO my lady mary blouse for the pink challenge.

#4: Under it All – due Sat 1 March. A new chemise.

#5: Bodice - 15 March. Make a bodice – a garment that covers the upper body.  Bustle era bodice.

#6: Fairytale – due Tue 1 April. At the moment I'm thinking night dress...but that may change.

#7: Tops & Toes – due Tue 15 April.  Create an accessory that goes on your head, or on your feet.
I'm going to try and make some spats using festive attires tutorial.
I also have plans to upcycle a pair of plain ballet pumps into regency dance shoes. Sueding the soles, adding a buckle and ribbon.

#8: UFOs & PHDs – due Thur 1 May.
My green regency pellise (its a bit of an epic fail really the fabric was such a pain to work with). Or velvet belt.

#9: Black and White – due Thur 15 May.  Draw on the opposite ends of the shade spectrum to create something in black and white, or black or white.
Black foundation skirt maybe with white piping or ruffles? Or maybe a edwardian blouse. Not sure will decide for sure later.

#10: Art – due Sun 1 June.  Make your own masterpiece based on a work of art.
I hope it counts but I have this book and thought the dress on the cover was really nice. I think its 1928 so need to reserch the style I need.

#11: The Politics of Fashion – due Sun 15 June.
Will be busy so missing this one out.

#12: Shape & Support – due Tue 1 July.  Make a garment that changes the silhouette of the human form through shaping and support.
I could do short stays re-do....but I suspect I might be busy with other sewing at the time.

#13: Under $10 – due Tue 14 July.  Whip up a fabulous item for under $10.
$10....I think that's about £6. gonna be really hard to do. Might have to have a ponder.

#14: Paisley & Plaid – due Fri 1 August.
Always like a plaid...but I have had my eye on using some paisley in something...might decorate the white regency muslin shawl I made.

#15: The Great Outdoors – due Fri 15 August.
Mud in August?! Oh well, might be good oppertunity for my knickerbocker/plus fours to get made up.

#16: Terminology – due Mon 1 September.  Explore the etymology of fashion by make something defined in the Great Historical Fashion & Textile Glossary .
Need to do a little reserch and see what I could make there.

#17: Yellow - due Mon 15 September.
I have a yellow regency dress to make for a friend.

#18: Poetry in Motion - due Wed 1 October  Find inspiration for a garment in poetry and song.
Well there's a few folk songs I might be able to find something for... but I'm leaning towards something 'nautical'. There seems to be pleanty of folk songs where the gals run off to sea in disguise. Or maybe The yellow handkerchief form 'flash company'.

#19: HSF Inspiration - due Wed 15 October.  Be inspired by one of the challengers item from HSF ’13 or HSF challenges 1-18 to make your own fabulous item.
Something I'll think about nearer the time.

#20: Alternative Universe – due Sat 1 November.  Create a garment from an alternative universe: fantasy, steampunk, dieselpunk, etc.  Your item can be perfectly historically accurate within our own universe as well.
Mawhahahaha! Ok few ideas for this...I'll see what I need at the time. I'm thinking trenzalore skirt.

#21: Re-do – due Sat 15 November.
Will pick this closer to the time.

#22: Fort-nighliers Choice – due Mon 1 December.  This one is up to you!  In June I’ll ask for suggestions for a theme, and we’ll vote to pick the one you most want to do as our 22nd Challenge of the year.
Depends what gets chosen.

#23: Modern History – due Mon 15 December.  Make something historical or historically inspired that is wearable in an everyday context.
I do this all the time. :) So I will see what I need closer to the date. Probably a blouse or dress.

#24: All that Glitters – due Thur 1 January.
Sparkly, hmmmm....not really a sparkle person.

The People of Trenzalore (Costumes) - Random Musing

I LOVE the costumes they wear. The colours and embroidery. I can't quite figure out though what era they reflect closest?  There's something of the 'folk costume' about it.

I particularly like the coat and skirt here...along with the white petticoat (and is that a tartan apron?). Reminds me a bit of Romana's outfit from 'Full Circle'.
Its got me thinking how would you recreate that skirt...at least I know I could do that. Red felt like a poodle skirt? Or a wool mix? I wonder what wool is like to embroider.

What era would you say those outfits are from? The bonnet is Regency-ish. The waistline looks natural rather than empireline.
Could the 'coat' be a bedgown with apron?

HSF Challenge #22 Masquerade - Shirt, Waistcoat and Trousers

For this challenge its more of a challenge as rather than one item I wanted to pull together a whole ensemble of different elements from different eras to make my 'masquerade costume'. Which for those who know is actually a Doctor Who costume for a certain event in November.

I had originally intended to do a full Edwardian parallel to the eighth doctor's outfit, but found myself running out of time, funds and fabric. So I made some comprimises and adjustments. The jacket was taking me a long time to do. The skirt I'd done my wearable mock up in green but realised I wouldn't have enough matching fabric left so changes to high waisted trousers instead. My shirt would also be made by me and with a detachable collar.

So that left me with:
Jacket - Edwardian
Shirt - Edwardian
Trousers - 1930's
Waistcoat - Indeterminate but hoping it would fit 1930's or Edwardian
Cravat - Misc

Now so far I have completed the waistcoat for another challenge. The Shirt I completed but changed the 'style' of and the Trousers were using my TNT go to trouser pattern. The Jacket I have abandoned...in favor of something shop bought.

 

The Challenge: #22 Masquerade

Fabric: Brown Twill,  silk haboutai, white sheeting

Pattern: Trousers (Eliza M Swing trousers), Waistcoat (McCalls 6149), Cravat (No Pattern), Shirt (Simplicity Lisette 2246 modified, collar self drafted.)

Year: Various. From Edwardian to 1930's.

Notions: Polymerclay buttons (made myself), thread, zip, hook and bar.

How historically accurate is it? Well I wasn't going for absolute accuracy as this is meant as a cosplay outfit....it was more historically inspired.

Hours to complete: As there were so many elements it took me several weeks to do.

First worn: It will get worn at the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary at the excel in November.

Total cost: I've lost count. With so many different elements. 

Challenge 5 - Peasants & Pioneers

For challenge 5 of the historical sew a long I kept it simple. Working from what I had in my stash I decided to create an apron. I started with a 45" width of fabric marked dots an inch apart and then counterpane 'smocked' the waist area. I then used some left over bias binding to neaten the top edge and create the waist ties.

The Challenge: 5 - peasants and pioneers

Fabric: white polycotton 45" wide

Pattern: I didn't use a pattern it was freehand.
I was inspired by this apron.

Year: I'm not sure. It could probably pass for most eras I think (if you ignore the fabric content).

Notions: from my stash left over bias binding. embroidery thread.

How historically accurate is it? As its not tied to a particular year I'll let you tell me that.

Hours to complete: It was very quick I'd say roughly 15hours

First worn: erm...ages ago. I've forgotten.

Total cost: free as I used everything from my leftover stash

Petticoats and Ruffles (HSAL) challenge 3

So for the historical sew a long challenge no.3 'under it all' I chose to make a petticoat. After spending ages umming and aahring about what era it should be made for...I decided to go for a generic one that incorporated historical techniques but could be used for both modern and historical.

Firstly I used a basic A-line skirt pattern for my petticoat waistline then I cut two 45" strips of fabric, sewed them together. I then pintucked that strip of fabric to stop the petticoat wrapping round my legs or collapsing with weight. Then added them to the top half by pleating to fit.

Then having run out of white material used some of the pink to make a ruffle. As I sew by hand I used a technique I'd heard about where you sew over a chord to gather before attaching to the petticoat.

I then tried the petticoat on and pinned the waist darts I needed. Sewed them, pressed. Then sewed down the lapped seam at the side.

Finished the top edge with bias binding. Made a loop and button and a hook and eye.

The Challenge: Under it all No.3

Fabric: polycotton

Pattern:  Self drafted.

Year: No particular year although originally basing it on a shortened 'edwardian' inspired petticoat.

Notions: Self bias (stash) button (stash) hook n eye (stash) cotton (stash) string (stash).

How historically accurate is it? I'm not sure (you'll have to tell me). But I tried to make it as a historically inspired rather than commit to one era.

Hours to complete: not sure about hours only took me 4 days to complete by hand.

First worn: When I took the photo's on Sunday....found it comfortable and useful in the snow to keep me warm.

Total cost: I made it from my stash so technically it was free. But the polly cotton is £3.50 per metre and I think I used just over 2 metres.

Huswife, needle case or 'where do I put my scissors and thread when on the move?"

Huswife, needle case or 'where do I put my scissors and thread when on the move?" Yep. Looking for a project to do using my 'scraps' of fabric as I won't be getting to fabric shop for a while.
I have seen two types.

One booklike.

The others more like a long strip. rolled up



I have an idea to use my little crazy patchwork sampler.  Add another layer and wadding so there's enough padding so I can use it like a pincushion.

With some squares as 'pockets'.

I have made a start...not quite as neat as other peoples but its very...erm...me.

The back of the panel sewed up sides but left small gap so I could pull inside out.

I trimmed the excess first though.

Sewing in pincushion. Also added ribbon loop and tie next to it for scissors.

Added lots of different sized pockets. Including one that was thread reel sizes so I can use it for embroidery or general hand sew stuff.

Rolls up and ties with ribbon. Still got a few more pockets to add but its just about finished.

Finally Finished

Had pockets for cotton reels and embroidery thread. Pin cushion and a little scissor holder.