mala_14: (Default)
I'm too lazy to put pictures into this post, but click on the links to see all the entries tagged. I actually made a pretty decent amount of things this year and I also actually like all of them, more or less, so this year was definitely a win on the sewing front.
  1. First up, it took me all the way until April to finally finish something, but I did: charcoal pants to wear to a conference that I was going to in Texas. The fit is not good, but it's not terrible either. Fitting bifurcated garments still eludes me because, to quote myself, "Crotches are weird, man."
  2. In early May, I had finally finished my pink linen 1780 stays, which I had started in April. They're boned with reed and really comfortable to wear. I was happy with the fit and how they ended up looking, especially with the narrow binding. They're still not lined, and they probably never will be, whatever. ;p
  3. Another UFO that I finished up was a quilted petticoat. This was a great multi-use undergarment, because I wore it under my 1840s dress and under my 1780s stuff. It's awesome. Adds a nice amount of loft in the skirts and keeps them off the legs. It was just some pre-fab quilting stuff from Joann that I bound at the hem and the pleated top.
  4. I made a white striped 1845 dress in about 2 weeks start to finish. I was so impressed with myself. Of course, I neglected pretty much everything else in that time, but whatever, I made a dress and now have a good bodice base for that era. It turned out pretty well, but it totally needs a different corset with a higher bust point, and then I'll have to adjust the darts in the lining, but that shouldn't be a problem whenever that time comes. It needs accessories too. And for me to not drop blackberry juice on it when I'm wearing it.
  5. I finished up another UFO: a fichu. A very useful accessory for the wardrobe, but not very exciting. Although I did tambour embroidery on it when I first started it many years ago.
  6. I painted two silk fans in 18th century style but with dog portraits as gifts. It was a fun project and a nice change from the sewing.
  7. I made a super cute and twee corset cover 1870.
  8. My 1870 sheer dress might be my favourite out fit of the year, consisting of a bodice, overskirt, and peplum. It's ruffly and trimmed with lace and currently in need of repairs. I used my 1840s bodice as a starting point to make a new 1870 bodice block, which was used for this and my corset cover.
  9. I made a feather/down stuffed bumpad out of an IKEA pillow. Feathers EVERYWHERE!
  10. To go over it, I made a white linen-rayon 18th century petticoat.
  11. And to go over all that for my trip to Virginia and DC, I made a pale yellow linen-rayon 1780 gown. I wore it to Colonial Williamsburg, where I had a wonderful stay! I got a good pattern base for this, although I want to make some important changes to it at the back so that the sleeves are set in deeper and the back is narrower, but it fits and the look is acceptable.
  12. I also made a white voile (my 3rd white cotton dress of the year!) 1780s roundgown with en fourreau back to wear to The Lady Detalle's birthday tea. For some reason I didn't take any detail pics after I I finished it, but got some great pics at the tea taken by [personal profile] quincy134 . I really like the back pleats on this. I had made some very slight alterations to the fit of the pattern I used for the yellow gown and some worked (like getting a better fit in the back) and some didn't (like having the neckline dip too low and showing the very top of my stays).
  13. I made a silk organza 1780s cap to top everything off. I didn't entirely finish it for my trip and had to temporarily sew part of the caul the band, but it is done now.
  14. After all that summer sewing I needed a break. But I knit up a pair of legwarmers for [personal profile] elizabeth_mn and had fun dyeing them from off-white to pink. Made out of worsted-weight wool, they were a quick and soothing project during a stressful time.
  15. I also cut out and started sewing a silk 1920s slip, but that will be my UFO going into 2019.
My goals for 2018 were: 
  • keep on trying new things with sewing, new techniques, new materials, etc.
  • get a couple of solid bodice patterns figured out, ones that fit really nicely and that I can just use whenever I want to make something from that era
  • get some 18th century things made, especially finishing up these stays and other undergarments and making some gowns and millinery to go over them
  • make some modern clothes, preferably of a professional-looking nature for when I have to look like a grown up
I think I was pretty successful with most of these. I tried out new eras that involved different techniques and styles as well as new materials like reed. I also made bodice blocks for 1840s, 1870, and 1780s that aren't perfect, but that fit well and only need small adjustments to be right. I definitely made some 18th century undergarments, gowns, and millinery (cap and fichu!). The one I fell down on the most was the modern clothes. Just made a pair of mediocre pants. I'm hoping that getting to this blazer soon will help out.

Plans for 2019:
  • keep on upping my sewing game by trying new techniques (like tailoring!), improving fit, and making accessories for outfits
  • make some modern clothes
  • get some good pictures to document all my hard work
  • let go of plans and lists and make what I'm feeling at the time to help with productivity (but no creating UFOs! gotta finish things!)
  • use the stash (it's starting to get out of hand)

mala_14: (Default)
OK, this is really late, but I've been busy and preoccupied. I really like doing these recaps though. And I sewed some things last year that I am really proud of and that I love.

To start with, I finished up my 1883 plaid and velveteen ensemble. This involved making the skirts, a bonnet, and a faux fur capelet and muff.


Then it was time to get started on sewing for CoCo. I figured it would be smart to start with the stuff for the Gala first so I'd have that done and out of the way and not have to worry about it. It's a good thing I did. It took me forever. I made a lobster tail bustle for the first time. The gown involved an underskirt, a bodice, and an overskirt. My work was documented by the talented [personal profile] llyrafantasyfae and I'm so happy to have nice pictures of this gown, like this photo below:


Undocumented was a white Regency petticoat that I made to go under my striped chemise dress. It has tucks at the bottom and twill tape straps.

I also made an ensemble to go with the suffragette group at CoCo. It involved a green silk-cotton underdress, a lace and net overdress, and a REALLY big hat.


The rest of the year was kind of a bust for sewing. I made my boyfriend a pair of pj pants that I never took picture of, but that involved some creative piecing because I hadn't bought enough yardage. I also have most of a pair of grey shorts put together that will probably get finished some time this year.

Things that worked well for 2017:
  • upping my game by focusing on details in order to get a better overall look, this included making time for accessories, hair, and trim
  • trying out draping to figure out the 1883 plaid overskirt
  • getting some good pictures of some of the things I made

Thoughts for 2018:
  • keep on trying new things with sewing, new techniques, new materials, etc.
  • get a couple of solid bodice patterns figured out, ones that fit really nicely and that I can just use whenever I want to make something from that era
  • get some 18th century things made, especially finishing up these stays and other undergarments and making some gowns and millinery to go over them
  • make some modern clothes, preferably of a professional-looking nature for when I have to look like a grown up

mala_14: (1882 Little Mermaid)
Overall, a very productive year for historical sewing because of Costume College, at least for the first half of the year. Sadly, no modern makes and not much done lately.
1880s Undergarments: Chemise, Corset, Bust Pad, Ruffled Bustle Pad, and Petticoat

Felt very accomplished in making all of these. Not pictured is the little ruffled panel that I made to button on my Edwardian petticoat that I wore underneath. This corset is pretty and kinda fancy (gives a very curvy shape) and fits almost just right, but I still need to finish the flossing on it and want to make a new corset this year that is more comfortable and fits exactly right.

ExpandSee the rest here! )

Altogether about 12 individual items. Not too shabby and definitely a productive year for me. My 2015 goals were to:

  1. Make clothes to wear over historical undergarments

  2. Focus on fit

  3. Make accessories

  4. Use the stash

  5. Figure out hair

I definitely made clothes, 3 outfits/dresses! I am pretty happy with the fit on all of the things I made, although there are a couple of small tweaks that I can and will make in the future. Did better on accessories for some things, although still weak in the hat department. All 3 outifts used stash fabrics (print cotton, green silk, purple synthetic, black chiffon). Hair was OK, but nothing to brag about. Mostly curling and some braids. Having bangs was definitely key with all the bustle stuff I was doing.

My goals for 2016 are looking pretty similar. I want more clothes, especially since I have so many undergarments now, although some more are on the list. Fit will always be a priority with me and something that can always be worked on. I want more comfort (range of movement in arms, waist placement) and I know how to do that, so I can put it into work this year. More accessories, for sure, especially hats but also a couple of other things that are on the docket. I got a bunch of straw hats for Christmas that I can cut up and take apart to make new hats! I bought a lot of fabric this year, so next year needs to be about using them! (A problem you can all sympathise with, I know.) Hair, well mine's getting longer, so some styles should be easier. Also, I have Kendra's 18th Hairstyling book, so that may come into play some time.

Whew! So that was sewing in 2015!
mala_14: (iris)
Things I made in 2014 (some still need a bit of finishing, but are mostly done), with comments:
1. Smooth Sailing grey wool trousers: need hemming, nice wardrobe staple, will be good for when I have to look professional or something like a grown-up ;p

2. 1790s plum silk stays: technically need tape over the seams, but wearable as is, SO GLAD to finally have these done!

3. 1790s cotton-linen shift: practical and useful
ExpandMore behind the cut! )
I did a terrible job on my 2014 goals, but don't care at all. I ended up wanting to sew different things. It happens. :p

On average I managed to sew one thing per month. Not bad for me. I also tried out a lot of new techniques and made a wide variety of garments. 2015 will mostly be CoCo sewing: lots of 1880s stuff and possibly a couple of other eras thrown in, plus many more accessories! :)
mala_14: (iris)
I think I used up all of my sewing productivity in 2012. I only have four items for 2013:

1. Muppets (Animal) pajama pants (anniversary gift for my BF)
2. 1960 forest green wiggle dress (to wear to a wedding)
3. Dorothy pinafore skirt (Halloween)
4. Star Wars pajama pants (Christmas present for my BF)

Pretty sad, but I have good plans for 2014. I'm going to try and do the half-marathon Historical Sew Fortnightly, so a Historically Sew Monthly. I will be doing all the even challenges but I'm throwing in an extra bonus one at the beginning, just so I can line up with the challenges that I want to do and to get my stays out of the way. My first couple of projects for the first few challenges are:
1. Make Do & Mend: 1790 plum silk stays (UFO)
2. Innovation: 1940 grey wool pants
4. Under it All: late-18th century shift
6. Fairytale: Snow White-inspired white, striped round gown to wear over my 1790 underthings (not entirely decided yet)

Other projects that I hope will fit in with some challenge throughout the year, some modern/retro garments that I also want to make, and some things that I hope to eventually get around to some day that are possible for this year:
- 1790 habit shirt
- 1790 brown redingote
- 1790 embroidered voile gown
- 1790 overgown
- 1790 riding habit
- 1880 corset
- 1880 petticoat
- 1908 corset cover
- 1908 blouse
- 1908 skirt/jumper dress
- 1920s robe de style
- 1930s sweater (UFO)
- 1942 green shirtdress
- 1949 charcoal shirtdress
- 1960 plaid shirtdress
- retro tan houndstooth pants
- 2 baby quilts (for friends' babies expected around April/May)

It's unlikely that I'll get all of those things done (or even half), but I have my heart set on the ones in bold and will prioritize those ones. 2014 should definitely be more productive than 2013. I was rather burnt out from all the sewing in 2012 and also had to spend the last part of the year getting used to the immense amounts of reading for grad school. I just have to hold myself more accountable and I think the HSF will help me push through the procrastination.
mala_14: (iris)
So I'm a bit late on the 2012 sewing recap, as well as on posting to Livejournal in general, but I've been crazy busy these last two months and haven't been doing anything other than schoolwork, work, and holiday festivities. Now that everything has slowed down, I can get back to being productive on sewing and updating here.

The recap for 2012 sewing:

January - 1912 corset
- 1912 petticoat

February - emerald shirt

March - hunter green shirt

April - Hollywood/Veronica Lake dress

May - jeans
- cardigan embellishment

June - baby blanket (knitting)
- 1908 corset

At this point, I stopped keeping track of which months things were done in.
Summer & Fall - 1960s cotton print dress
- Snow White costume (pictures will eventually appear at some point. Hopefully before next Halloween.)
- fox Robin Hood costume: pants w/ tail, shirt, and hat
- Little Mermaid tail
- Aladdin costume: pants, vest, sash
- Esmeralda costume: skirt, overskirt, and girdle/belt

Some things that I did last year that I fixed or put the finishing touches on this year:
- tucked petticoat was re-hemmed
- 1840 corset: grommets were set
- 1940 knickers: snaps were added

Projects that were started but not finished (a list that actually isn't too long):
- corded petticoat
- sweater (knitting)

Overall, I think I was pretty productive for most of the year. I burned out a bit with all the Halloween sewing and never got back on track because of all the busy-ness that followed soon after. But I think I'll be able to get a lot done in 2013 and have some good plans for that. I really enjoy having things in my wardrobe that I can wear every day and so some pants and a blouse are on the list, as well as a couple more cotton print dresses made from some older, awesome prints that I found in my mom's sewing room (Power Rangers and Peanuts!). I want to finish off my unfinished projects that I started this year, as well as the plum jacket and plum stays that I started the year before and never finished. And hopefully, finally, get one real historical outfit made. That would be awesome.
mala_14: (Default)
Here it is, the stuff I sewed in 2011. I didn't do any knitting like I wanted to, but I was far more productive than usual. I got done, on average, just over one project a month, which was my original goal for the year. I think I can up my productivity for next year a little bit. I have some new strategies, like to just force myself to get started, because once I've started I have no trouble continuing. So...

Grape dress- which I want to re-fit in the waist section before I wear it



ExpandThe rest )

Whew! That was a lot. It seems like this was a pretty productive year for everyone on my Friends list. See you all in 2012! Happy New Year! And best of luck with all your future sewing projects!
mala_14: (Default)
This was my list from last year. It's funny; I did do sewing, but I didn't really work on any of these.
For 2010:
Finish plum 1790 stays
1860 corset
Some kind of shift or chemise
Bumroll
Gold striped petticoat
Red brocade jacket
Red cotton dress
Finish chocolate knitted mitts

What I actually got done this year:
1860 corset (actually morphed into a green fairy costume for Halloween...) and green fairy skirt (no pics of that)
ExpandAnd more! (Well, a little bit more...) )
mala_14: (Default)
I did actually sew stuff this year, but not much of what I was expecting. So here goes:

Finished:
Green stays (finally, it only took like five years... and I don't like the fit lol)
Scarf for my grandmother (knitting counts!)
Bridesmaid dress for my friend
Pink and chocolate cotton dress
18th c. style Halloween costume for my friend (Unfinished bodice Front, Back, and Side)
Ancient Roman Halloween costume (Front, Back, Fabric that I pleated)
Red satin skirt
Teal dupioni dress for my mom

Started:
Plum 1790 stays (currently whip-stitching the pieces together)
1860 corset (working on the mock-up, which has begun to co-operate, version 2 was much improved)
Chocolate knitted mitt (making up the pattern as I go, which is actually working surprisingly well so far)

For 2010:
Finish plum 1790 stays
1860 corset
Some kind of shift or chemise
Bumroll
Gold striped petticoat
Red brocade jacket
Red cotton dress
Finish chocolate knitted mitts

So, what I've learned is that I get more sewing done if: a) It's for someone else, 2) there's a deadline, and c) it doesn't take long to put together. Almost all the stuff I made for myself only took a day or two. And making things for other people forces me to finish because they need it. And while it's not always fun, it is when the person just trusts you to do what you think is best. I was going to do pictures today, but I got up way to late and now the sunlight is all gone. However, I just downloaded some old pictures. So the Halloween ones are new. And here's a bit of summer for you. Pictures of my rose garden. :)ExpandPretties this way )
mala_14: (Default)
The year in review. Well let's see:

- 1920s-esque Hallowe'en costume
- Birthday scarf for my mom
- Dress for a friend that needs to be fixed

And that's it. Hm... pretty sad after looking at everyone else's. And I had such glorious plans. I did do a fair bit of work on my stays. Sort of. Well, they're almost done anyways.

So, um glorious new plans for 2009 (hopefully it actually involves finishing something):

Knitting:
- Scarf for my grandmother
- Scarf for my grandfather
- Fingerless mitts for me
- Birthday mitts for a friend
- Socks for a friend
- Lace (as a general, all-year, pick-up-when-I-have-a-moment project)

Costuming:
- Finish stays
- Shift
- Bumroll
- Random under-petticoat
- Brown linen petticoat
- Red jacket
- Unsure-as-yet Hallowe'en costume

Those are the things that I want to for sure get done this year. Think I can do it? Maybe. And if I miraculously do, well, there's always last year's lovely list to pick things off of. (Last year's list was so lovely. It had things scheduled by date with wide margins for deadlines, and written out in my best handwriting. ;) ) Hey, just noticed that it could be an item on the list per month. Although, I don't think it'll quite work out that way...
mala_14: (Default)
Okay, I didn't have a 2007 To-do List, so I can't post one. But here's what I did in 2007:

- finished black & white cotton dress
- red & gold stays
- bumroll
- red petticoat
- started green stays

Not too bad, but I'm hoping for more this year. So here goes:

- finish green stays
- shift
- bumroll
- brown petticoat
- red Pierrot jacket
- learn silk and whitework embroidery (so probably some sort of embroidery project or two)
- purple gown
- a different, undecided corset or pair of stays (I guess it depends on what era I'm obsessing about at the time.)
- (maybe) a Hallowe'en costume (if I can think of a good one)
- a cotton summer dress for a friend (Last time I'm sewing for somebody else though, I'm thinking. I'm too selfish to be sewing nice things for other people when what I really want is pretty, pretty princess dresses for me! ;p)

I think I'll write out a nice detailed schedule of my costume plans for the year now. So I can TRY to keep on track. Because that always works. ;)
mala_14: (Default)
I actually did way more sewing than I've ever done before and thus I am very proud of myself. However, I think that next year I can get more done on the costuming front, so here goes...

This year:
-White cotton summer dress
-Pirate costume (stays, shirt, riding coat, all of which should, in theory, be reusable for other things)
-Red crepe nice dress (this went through the wash and the stupid lining fabric frayed SO much that it went past the seams that I sewed and serged. Unbelievable. I think it's fixable by hand, but I'm just glad it's just the lining so nobody can see those parts.)

Next year:
-18th century: stays, shift, caraco, petticoat (my mom bought me a really nice chocolate brown, silk/linen blend)
-Poison Ivy costume for Hallowe'en: corset, skirt, leggings, and arm thingies

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mala_14: (Default)
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