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Lady Annalisa's Blue Gown:
| without flash |
| with flash, alternate underskirt |
August 4
Using McCall 2806 as my pattern basis. Right now, the fabric I have for the skirt
of the overdress is navy blue crepe, but I might replace it if I can find something
more suitable. The bodice and sleeves will be the navy velour, which is actually
a top that was too small for me, which I cut up. The red and blue paisley
brocade will be the underskirt, with the gold brocade as an alternate.
Using McCall 2806 as my pattern basis. Right now, the fabric I have for the skirt
of the overdress is navy blue crepe, but I might replace it if I can find something
more suitable. The bodice and sleeves will be the navy velour, which is actually
a top that was too small for me, which I cut up. The red and blue paisley
brocade will be the underskirt, with the gold brocade as an alternate.
I have started the bodice, despite having lost the pattern I had planned
to use. I do have Simplicity 5836, however, which I am using to
make the chemises. I altered the pattern pieces for the tunic bodice,
(view B) which is working well so far. I'm going to slash the sleeves
so the chemise shows through, either along the top or the back - I'm
not sure which yet.
to use. I do have Simplicity 5836, however, which I am using to
make the chemises. I altered the pattern pieces for the tunic bodice,
(view B) which is working well so far. I'm going to slash the sleeves
so the chemise shows through, either along the top or the back - I'm
not sure which yet.
August 5
Finished the petticoat today, and took pictures of it with the chemise I made a couple weeks ago.
Finished the petticoat today, and took pictures of it with the chemise I made a couple weeks ago.
The chemise is for Gretchen's costume, and I think the off-white color will work well with her
green and gold gown. The petticoat can go with either costume, as it won't show at all. Want to
know how I got the pretty decorative edge around the bottom? It's the top of an old sheet. :p In
the back, I just folded up the other end of the sheet to the same width, which gives it a nice even
weight all the way around.
green and gold gown. The petticoat can go with either costume, as it won't show at all. Want to
know how I got the pretty decorative edge around the bottom? It's the top of an old sheet. :p In
the back, I just folded up the other end of the sheet to the same width, which gives it a nice even
weight all the way around.
August 22
This past week I worked on the overskirt for my blue gown, mainly. I replaced the original fabric I
had with a lovely navy blue satin. I am using Butterick 6391, which I also used for my first Prom dress.
I really like the pleats in the back. Of course I modified it since it won't have a zipper, and it'll lace up
in the front center. I tried it on with the chemise, bodice, sleeves, safety pins, and the underskirt fabric just held in place.
This past week I worked on the overskirt for my blue gown, mainly. I replaced the original fabric I
had with a lovely navy blue satin. I am using Butterick 6391, which I also used for my first Prom dress.
I really like the pleats in the back. Of course I modified it since it won't have a zipper, and it'll lace up
in the front center. I tried it on with the chemise, bodice, sleeves, safety pins, and the underskirt fabric just held in place.
I also bought five yards of gold cord for trim. The bodice still needs to be lined, the sleeves need to be
slashed, and the overskirt needs to be hemmed. I did also work on the underskirt, but I don't have pictures
of it sewn up yet. I haven't entirely figured out how it will attach to the rest of the dress, but I am going to
try to do everything with grommets and laces. I bought a grommet punch, and I intend to use it.
slashed, and the overskirt needs to be hemmed. I did also work on the underskirt, but I don't have pictures
of it sewn up yet. I haven't entirely figured out how it will attach to the rest of the dress, but I am going to
try to do everything with grommets and laces. I bought a grommet punch, and I intend to use it.
I worked on the green/gold underskirt, too. I need to take some pictures of it, but first I need to find some gold satin.
See, the green fabric is not wide enough to make a full skirt, which doesn't really matter since it'll only show in the
front where the overskirt opens. So I decided to sew the green and gold fabrics together to make one skirt, which can
be worn with either the green or the gold in front. But I accidentally cut the gold too short, so now I need to do the
same thing as I did with the green fabric - add a coordinating strip at the bottom and cover it with trim.
See, the green fabric is not wide enough to make a full skirt, which doesn't really matter since it'll only show in the
front where the overskirt opens. So I decided to sew the green and gold fabrics together to make one skirt, which can
be worn with either the green or the gold in front. But I accidentally cut the gold too short, so now I need to do the
same thing as I did with the green fabric - add a coordinating strip at the bottom and cover it with trim.
August 31
I've finished the green/gold underskirt this weekend, and today I worked on the blue bodice. For the gold side of the skirt,
I first bought a remnant of a heavy cotton broadcloth, since I couldn't find any satin that matched the color of the brocade.
But I am happy with how the cotton turned out. I also combined two gold trims to make a pretty braid to cover the seam.
I've finished the green/gold underskirt this weekend, and today I worked on the blue bodice. For the gold side of the skirt,
I first bought a remnant of a heavy cotton broadcloth, since I couldn't find any satin that matched the color of the brocade.
But I am happy with how the cotton turned out. I also combined two gold trims to make a pretty braid to cover the seam.
Today I cut out a lining for the bodice out of navy crepe. Since the bodice is stretch velour, I cut the lining
on the bias so it could stretch with the outer fabric. It was an adventure getting them lined up correctly, to
say the least. One side ended up longer than the other in the front, but I'll even it up when I sew the
overskirt on. I used my new eyelet punch for the first time! With great success, I might add.
on the bias so it could stretch with the outer fabric. It was an adventure getting them lined up correctly, to
say the least. One side ended up longer than the other in the front, but I'll even it up when I sew the
overskirt on. I used my new eyelet punch for the first time! With great success, I might add.
I also pleated the middle sections of
both sides of the skirt, and the sides
will gather up so it's adjustable to
both me and Gretchen.
both sides of the skirt, and the sides
will gather up so it's adjustable to
both me and Gretchen.
Laced it up to check the fit, and I'm rather happy with it. I need to
turn the armholes in and tack them down.
turn the armholes in and tack them down.
September 3
The sleeves are finally looking like how I envisioned them! :) Excuse the poor quality of the pictures, but I
have discovered that trying to take self-portraits of your own right arm is rather difficult when you're
right-handed. :p All the pictures are of the same sleeve; the first two are just in a mirror. The wrists will be
tighter, and there will also be grommets at the top to attach them to the bodice, which I am not wearing in
these pictures, obviously. I may also be adding some decoration, as time allows.
have discovered that trying to take self-portraits of your own right arm is rather difficult when you're
right-handed. :p All the pictures are of the same sleeve; the first two are just in a mirror. The wrists will be
tighter, and there will also be grommets at the top to attach them to the bodice, which I am not wearing in
these pictures, obviously. I may also be adding some decoration, as time allows.
Leaving for Michigan tomorrow to attend the Festival at Holly with Melissa! I still have
a lot of work to do on my gown, mostly hand-sewing trim and tacking down facings on
a lot of work to do on my gown, mostly hand-sewing trim and tacking down facings on
the sleeves. But I have some new pictures I just had
to share!
I finished the bodice and attached the overskirt, and
now I'm working on hand-sewing the trim all around
the front opening. I'm almost done, in fact. It's
shaping up!
to share!
I finished the bodice and attached the overskirt, and
now I'm working on hand-sewing the trim all around
the front opening. I'm almost done, in fact. It's
shaping up!
September 9
My complete gown! It came out so perfectly! I couldn't believe it was just how I had been envisioning
it for months - that so rarely happens to me!
My complete gown! It came out so perfectly! I couldn't believe it was just how I had been envisioning
it for months - that so rarely happens to me!
We had to take full-length shots at the faire, of course. I went with my cousins Eric and Melissa, and
her friend Meghan. All us girls made our own dresses, and Melissa made her brother's cape, as well.
her friend Meghan. All us girls made our own dresses, and Melissa made her brother's cape, as well.
Melissa also did my hair, and a lovely job she did, too! We're best friends, and should have
done something like this years ago. :p
done something like this years ago. :p
Some good cousin shots, and one of me in a "costume contest" that I don't want to talk about.
We had such fun being noble ladies, and even played at being damsels in distress, or something like it. :p
I braided Melissa's hair, but
she made her awesome tiara.
she made her awesome tiara.
We decided that my rings were gifts
from the Duke of Kenilworth and the
Earl of Wembley, respectively.
from the Duke of Kenilworth and the
Earl of Wembley, respectively.