The evasive farthingale

Dear reader,

I tried to find a good model for my Spanish farthingale, but I have finally decided to use the original design (Alcega's design).

Boy oh boy. Want to see my preliminary cutting and sewing patterns? This is the relatively cleaned up version...


Then I thought about how to go about the boning (there's no less "that's what she said" way to phrase that). I've decided the most historically accurate (and best looking) way to do it will be to make my own casing and line then hem-6-5-5-5. I'm planning on buying however many yards of 1/4 inch tubing from Lowes (or Home Depot) and using that since willow reeds aren't exactly falling from the sky.. unless you're standing under a willow tree. Then I suppose my past statement wouldn't' be true.

Anyway! I'm off to do such, then figure out what supplies I to do the boning. Heh. Cough. Sorry.

Love and hugs,
Ashley

An Evening of Stitches

Dear reader,

Best. J'Fab visit. Ever. I was "woe is me"ing to my mother while picking up a few million yards of home decor fabric <3 liquid bandage on the finger you're pricking constantly, it acts as a feel-able thimble! My problem was that my stitches are so small, I was killing myself and bleeding on the fabric! Now, I can feel the needle to maintain a small stitch, but I'm not hurting myself. I smiled even through paying.

Farthingale's are for geniuses

Holy. Cow. Making a farthingale from scratch is like... like... rocket science! I'll update this later this evening after I've pulled out the rest of my hair.

Love and hugs,
Ashley

Beyond the Crinoline

Dear reader,

I saw the light! It was lovely... It was a tad hazy because I saw it through 5 yards of crin, but I saw it all right.

Finishing the Crinoline



Boy did I feel proud when I stitched those last few zigzag stitches along the hem. After gathering, then pinning, then gathering, then basting, then gathering then stitching... I was near ready to throw up my hands in defeat. But I did it. Using linen as a waistband and crinoline as the skirt, my lovely shape making skirt was complete. Granted, there is one blood spot from a night of angry poking, but other than it, it's nigh on perfect. If you ask me, of course.

Where to next?

At first, I considered working on my hoop skirt as the next piece, but put it aside in exchange for my Renaissance style chemise (for now!) The pattern will be easier to cut out and I need to get rid of the pattern copy paper I have now so I can justify buying more this afternoon at J'Fab.

Doth... thou... thee... uh. yeah.

So I'm in love with the Renaissance and Elizabethan era. Nothing do I love more. So I designed a pretty cool outfit last night (which I will scan and color and such later) and I'm plotting it's building. The skirt is going to be paneled with extra bits to make it come off more poofy. I'm using the same green from my corset (it's duck cotton, but that's ok) and this GORGEOUS pink brocade that make me melt. I'll probably throw in a petticoat, just so there's some definition to the skirt. I'm debating what material to make the petticoat out of, and a lot of references I'm reading say the best fabric for this vein is actually using home decor fabrics! They're nice and long and always of a heavier, more durable, more period look. Pretty cool, right?

Alright, I'm off to cut out some more patterns!

Love and hugs,
Ashley