I am making TWO skirt structures. First, a lobster bustle in non-gigantic. I'll probably regret not choosing the gigantic size. But that ship has sailed. I have a pattern. I haven't had a pattern to use 'as-is' for a while. It's like a sewing vacation. I'm making them black because I have some strong black cotton that I have no specific plan for. (I totally forgot to take a picture of the bustle but will amend that error in my next post)
Second, I'm drafting pocket hoops for our 18th C court dresses. I'm using Nora Waugh BUT Robin and I are tall and we want BIG hoops. We chose pocket hoops for easy packing and the ability to sit down. I didn't resort to trigonometry, so there was some guessing and estimating. The plastic tubing was curly and didn't want to hold the proper shape. I had to stick it in boiling water to get it to behave. My fingers are still a bit angry about that.
Also, both of us are making two corsets. One for the 18th C court dress, and one for Regency. We had a sewing Sunday where we traced patterns, cut muslins and did first fittings. We are using the Butterick Making History pattern for 18th C. It is NOT a great pattern. Apparently someone added ease to a corset pattern. However we each have unique fitting issues anyway, so we worked around it. For Regency we are using Mantua Maker's long stays. Let me just say... big bust + Regency stays = laughs that go on for FAR too long. Kinda like stuffing an octopus in a fold over sandwich bag.
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| Patterns, paper, canvas EVERYWHERE |
I read at the computer with the cat in my lap, picture Blofeld in a Bond movie. The phrase "someone added ease to a corset pattern" made me laugh so hard the cat has leapt across the room. Plastic tubing has failed me in hoops of size (it sags) so have moved to metal. I wish you and the octopus all the best.
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