Posts (page 2)
Once they were felted (two runs through a hot wash, then a cold rinse) they shrank to fit. I got to pad around the flat smelling of wet dog for a few hours until they were dry. Sadly, they still don't keep my feet quite warm enough. I have put them away in favour of a pair of rubber soled slippers.
A gift for a friend's son, still awaiting his wee scarf.
Yes, you read that correctly. I've been knitting again. In fact, the hank of yarn featured in this photo is about 3 inches short of being a sock.
In other news, I entered Nipper's Booty Swap. Very excited. Hopefully this will move me to post to theis blog a bit more often. If only I could think it would do that much for my knitting...
The black bustle skirt, prior to finishing.
This is a very cleverly engineered pattern. It went together in about two hours, with another nine hours for adding the ruffle overlay (not shown).
Jacket back 2
Originally uploaded by tattycat.
Embroidery closeup
Originally uploaded by tattycat.
Jacket front
Originally uploaded by tattycat.
The bustle jacket was a right royal pain. It's slubby shot silk dupioni, and for some ridiculous reason, I decided to line it with striped China silk. Nightmare. Consequently, the back box pleats came out all wonky at the waist, so I decided to costume it up a bit more than I had intended. Also, despite cutting it out two sizes too large and doing almost dangerously narrow seams, it still came out too small. I had to add a button strip at the front just to make it close.
The decorations are iron-on embroidery transfers from Denim Details. I went all out, and used as many as I had (I do love a good sale at Hancock's). All that's left at this point is to hem, and add buttons to the front placket.
Steampunk Costume Progress
This weekend became a flurry of housecleaning and sewing. I finally got around to setting up the sewing corner in my home office, and yesterday was spent watching movies and working on the Norwescon steampunk bluestocking project.
The first stage was the combinations. I chose to make this garment from Truly Victorian's combinations pattern. Since I'm operating on limited time, drafting my own pattern would be a little more of a time expenditure than I can afford.
The garment is teal blue cotton sateen, self-faced, with white lace andsilver braid trim at the leg hems, and more silver braid at the armholes. I ended up having to shorten the shoulder straps quite substantially on the front pattern piece that was my actual size; this caused the armholes to bind up. Once I deepened the armscyes, the little cap sleeves no longer fit the opening, so I scrapped them.
The neckline is fairly deep; I estimate that the center front will sit just barely above the top edge of the corset. The garment buttons down the front with twelve flat faux mother-of-pearl buttons with engraved wreaths of flowers. All in all, it's very simple and very comfortable.
I'm most of the way through the construction of my Victorian corset, and it's almost scary how quickly the work has gone. Mind you, I have never considered three weeks of work to be "quick" before; however, I am told that that's pretty speedy. Of course, I still have to do all the flossing on the boning channels and about 15-20 sets of handsewn eyelets, because I'm nuts like that.
I'm tired of working on it now. I'm going to make myself sew down the last strip of binding tonight just so I can put it away for a while.
I also put together the bustle crinoline, and I am utterly charmed by the engineering that allows one to increase or decrease the size of the bustle. Still left to do on that: the ruffled overlay I have just decided I want, and the hook and eye fasteners.
This weekend is a holiday. On the list for certain is the bustle skirt; it's a simple black twill wool, flounced at the back. If I feel ambitious, I may start the mockup for the bustle jacket as well. I also need to run out at some point and purchase knitting needles and another clip on feather spray for the topper.
Here is the finished top hat. The thing above the netting is a pair of vintage swimming goggles. I'm still debating more ornamentation on the front.
Me in the Victorian onesie. I'm completely serious about making more of these just to wear around the house. So very comfy.
I used the Truly Victorian Combinations pattern, with the legs shortened to just above the knee. The fabric is a teal cotton sateen; it's edged with machine-lace and a strip of pale blue ribbon edged with decorative stiching in dark brown. The buttons are faux mother-of-pearls engraved with a scroll pattern.
Knitting? No knitting. I have, however, managed to safely store the new stash in a canvas laundry hamper. As is the way of all things, that hamper has now become the one thing in the house that most fascinates the cats.
Alice is not noted for liking to sharpen her claws on things, but she does love a string. She'll do anything to get a string. Consequently, the bottom of the hamper is looking a bit tatty, as she's managed to find a bit of string poking through a pre-existing hole. I'm torn between trying to find some fabric to patch it, and just slapping a piece of duct tape on it and calling it good.
What? I'm allowed to do that. I'm a geek. A tool using geek chick, even.
Kneazle, on the other hand, has a fervent desire for a place to sleep that he does not have to share with his pushy older sister. Once again, the hamper has proven the solution to all their problems. Now the nice flap top is all bowed down and stretched, because Kneazle spends his entire damn day lounging around like an odalisque. All he needs is a box of chocolates and some laudanum, and he could star in Mansfield Park.
Anyway. No knitting. Go read some of hte other knitblogs instead.
I'm finally gotten around to uploading the photos of the Victorian ensemlbe. The entire gift consisted of:
One plain bodice, partially deconstructed for patterning
One decorated bodice, intact
One decorated inner skirt
One plain outer skirt
Assorted trimmings
I've also included photos of an earlier bodice that has remained in the care of the amazingly generous Master Jose de Madrid of Calontir.
