tag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-02:227225totchipandaLife, cats, knitting and sewingtotchipanda2022-04-07T15:55:20Ztag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-02:227225:629464I'M FREE2022-04-07T15:55:20Z2022-04-07T15:55:20Zpublic2On Tuesday I was still really congested until later in the day, and Wednesday I had a normal amount of congestion, so I was cleared to go back to work! WOO HOO! Yesterday was also the first day I had enough energy to get through my whole day in a definitely-upright position. Man it feels so good to not be sick anymore!<br /><br />My German friend, with whom I share another fandom with, was interested enough with my talk of Bridgerton to watch it. She said season 1 was boring (that it was a long lead up to answer the question of whether or not to pull out, and also that lovely little sexual assault -_-). I opined that season 2 was better, and I wanted to watch it again already, so I would watch it with her. We watched 6/8 eps before I went back to work, and we are both deeply invested in it. There was much keysmashing. It was wonderful to share that with her :3<br /><br />We have now gone on to writing a Regency AU of our shared fandom, and it's just hilarious lol. I have never written a Regency anything before, it's fun to try and mix canon with the AU. I'm hoping to keep it more in the 20-30k range rather than the 65k behemoth I'm also working on. <br /><br />I haven't (obviously) made any progress with anything sewing wise. My whole 9 days of bedrest was dedicated to <i>resting</i>. I napped a lot and watched a lot of TV, ate when I felt I should, drank a whole lot more, read a book (<i>The Viscount Who Loved Me</i>, unsurprisingly), and just generally lived in my plague cave. But my two friends with whom I have travelled with and am closest to, sewing-wise, and I have decided we need a Bridgerton picnic, full of all the sparkliest, shiniest and most over-the-top clothing we can possible manage. I thought a very fun dress, but then I immediately thought that I wanted to make menswear in the most foppish colours I can scrounge out of our stashes. Satin breeches, a velvet coat. Yesssss. <br /><br />But I think I'd like to do a beaded or spangled dress for our next ball. I loved the way the one dress moved in episode... 5 I think it was, because I talked to my friend about it and she hasn't seen the last two episodes yet. Yeah I could just raid my friend's stash for her pretty embroidered fabric that she specializes in for her custom work, but I'm me and I want to challenge my skills ;) Have not spent much time looking for that, just because it was yesterday afternoon, and then we were talking about the fanfic au. <br /><br />I can't watch the last two eps with her until Saturday, but I told her that if she wants, to watch them and text me EVERYTHING as she does so. I've watched them multiple times at this point so I won't need to be watching along for context. I'm so feral for these two characters and their slooooow burn eye-fucking denial of everything until the last moment and also can we talk about that scene at the end of ep 7. Good lord.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=totchipanda&ditemid=629464" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-02:227225:587626Another weekend2020-01-20T19:26:17Z2020-01-20T19:26:17Zpublic3That I am going to call "productive". It was still Ridiculously Cold (warmest was about -25C) so I said "nope!" and stayed home again.<br /><br /><ul><li>Thought I had solved the fit of the Costume Close Up stays (I didn't)<br /><li>Found the wool remnant I wanted to use for the outer layer<br /><li>Marked a bunch of the holes and weak spots in said wool<br /><li>Pulled out a box of "in progress" items (at least 6 years old)<br /><li>Actually solved the fit of the stays (they were fine)<br /><li>Sorted the 6+-year-old "in progress" items<br /><li>Actually made progress on one of them! It's at the "just needs closures" stage and how the hell do I put eyelets through 4 layers of linen (which I now think is a blend as it got real shiny under the iron) without doing them by hand?<br /><li>Cut out the wool and linen layers of the stays, and basted them all together<br /><li>Cleaned out my sewing desk drawers (side note: does anyone out there want a bunch of vintage rick-rack and bias tape?)<br /><li>Sewed the bodice of my red Regency gown together<br /><li>Finished up a small sample of reverse applique<br /></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></ul><br /><br />For the gown, I am SO STUCK on design that this has been on my list for OVER THREE YEARS. I was thinking about it already before going to CoCo in 2017 and had decided to wait so that I could buy fabric in LA. I can't remember if I posted aboit it already so here it is (again, maybe)<br /><br />I am "recreating" Caroline Bingley's red gown from P&P 2005. I'm not dead-set on a fully accurate movie reproduction. The gown is:<br /><br /><ul><li>the most beautiful shade of red <3<br /><li>Floor-length<br /><li>closed-back/front opening<br /><li>true wrap-front (the opening goes all the way down)<br /><li>has a small it of closure around hip-level so it doesn't gap open<br /><li>pins or otherwise closes under the right bust<br /><li>long sleeves that are rather close-fitting and come down over the hand but do not slouch there<br /><li>more columnar - not transitional; the front skirt is flat and narrow, with the fullness in the back<br /><li>soft-looking (but I'm making it out of taffeta cuz that's what I have and so that's what I'm gonna use!)<br /></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></li></ul><br /><br />I cut the bodice lining and fashion pieces for the back and side/fronts ages ago, mistakenly using gilded linen (oops). I got immediately stuck on how to pattern the front bodice, and the skirts. It sat forever, definitely didn't get worked on during my break, and then yesterday, when I was optioning out my projects, I had even gone so far as to get the pocket hoops out to do a petticoat when I remembered the red dress. And then <span style='white-space: nowrap;'><a href='https://ktlovely.dreamwidth.org/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png' alt='[personal profile] ' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /></a><a href='https://ktlovely.dreamwidth.org/'><b>ktlovely</b></a></span> said "red" when I asked for opinions. Ok fiiiiine lol. <br /><br />Got everything ironed, and the stitched it all together. I'm doing it by hand because I want to (silk is soooooo nice to work with). I'm following some of my goals by being more cautious about the process. I didn't baste the side back edges before stitching, but i DID baste the shoulder straps before same. <br /><br />Still stuck on the bodice... I THINK if I cut a wrap bodice from a pattern I have (with some mods), and cut the skirts from Laughing Moon 126 but with the front piece cut double with one side straight instead of angled, I can get a true wrap dress.<br /><br />But... do I want a true wrap dress? Would a wrap-bodice and apron skirt be better? Would my skirt plan actually work or will the straight edge pull out of shape since one side is angled? Do I need a mock-up of my plan before cutting it in my good fabric?<br /><br />I haven't even started to think about sleeves yet. D:<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=totchipanda&ditemid=587626" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-02:227225:576321Roundgown round-up2019-06-04T16:13:29Z2019-06-04T16:15:08Zpublic2This past Saturday was he ball and it was lovely! My hair didnt turn out even close to what I had planned but overall, I liked it! I got a lot of compliments on my outfit and I'm super happy with how it all looked.<br /><br /><br /><img src="https://i.imgur.com/SnMUu5Sm.jpg" /><br /><br />I used Laughing Moon 126 as the base, but instead of a drop apron front, I created a wider front skirt panel and front bib. I cut my fabric for the back skirt at a straight angle so I had to piece the front. I used the AD book as a guide for creating the bib and how to attach the fronts all together.<br /><br />I also gave a new set of stays a test run! <span style='white-space: nowrap;'><a href='https://ktlovely.dreamwidth.org/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png' alt='[personal profile] ' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /></a><a href='https://ktlovely.dreamwidth.org/'><b>ktlovely</b></a></span> started a short stays-along for a transitional style that was under bust. I got out my custom draft from 2016 that didnt fit the way I expected or wanted it to and surprise - it created the shape the group was exploring. I hadn't bound them yet, which was good info because a bunch of the boning escaped. I either need longer tabs or to shorten it off the top. That's gonna be a summer project. <br /><br />And of course having done a project just means I'm all excited to get to the next one!! Katie also gifted me the Larkin & Smith English gown pattern, that will need fabric decisions, there's going to be a Regency picnic in the summer, the next ball is in early october, I still wanna do more Victorian, fix up my 1830s dress and also do more of that... so many options!<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=totchipanda&ditemid=576321" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-02:227225:575963Late Georgian/Early Regency Roundgown2019-05-20T04:35:20Z2019-05-20T04:35:20Zpublic1Ahhhhhh it feels so good to be sewing again. I have a tiny bit of obligation-sewing too, but easy stuff that brings the satisfaction of a finished object to make you want to do more.<br /><br />So I have a Pride & Prejudice Ball coming up in less than 2 weeks, and i dont want to wear "this old thing". I purchased another set of Matilda curtains from IKEA to remake my white dress (that got stained and was dyed pink) and finally went YES! NOW IS THE TIME. But instead of remaking it exactly as it was before, I'm mixing it up a little with elbow sleeves and a roundgown instead of a drop front. Which of course just highlights how little I know about roundgown.<br /><br />Base is Laughing Moon 126, with a trained skirt. I just realised right this second how I messed up the skirt cutting out. Oops. Oh well, piecing is period! No one will notice, I plan to distract with accessories! I'm still not wholly decided on my front and how to construct it but I have time. <br /><br />Most amazingly, Guido was having a VERY deep nap and didnt stir at all to come help while I crawled around the floor to layout and cut.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=totchipanda&ditemid=575963" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-02:227225:522558Opinions?2017-03-12T05:50:05Z2017-03-12T05:50:05Zpublic0I'm pretty sure I know what I want -- no, need to do. The top petal is closer to my <a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/34/41/d4/3441d48cdfff310676ad5159b250904a.jpg">inspiration image</a> but is harder to make. Red thread obvs won't be there when I make this for real but was useful for the test. I need a MINIMUM of 48 of these things, but maybe as many as 70. I'm not confident I will have these done to have on my gown before March 25th. but darnit I'm gonna try.<br /><br /><img src="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/17127127_434678380209581_3368528066975367168_n.jpg" /><br /><br />I need to do the thicker piping, don't I...<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=totchipanda&ditemid=522558" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-02:227225:521973totchipanda @ 2017-02-25T20:24:002017-02-26T03:28:52Z2017-02-26T07:00:24Zpublic0I made about 75% of a new Regency gown today. I have a ball to attend next month and I cannot wear the same dress for the fourth time in a row! (Even if I have wicked accessories for it.) If anyone has any ideas of trim for a steel blue/grey satin gown, I'd love to hear it! <b>ETA:</b> <a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/34/41/d4/3441d48cdfff310676ad5159b250904a.jpg">Found a great idea!!</a> Now to figure out how to make it.<br /><br />The fabric is so annoying though, it ripped across the width BEAUTIFULLY, but it refused to rip on grain >:C The only time the panels were the same size was when they were back-to-front. As soon as they were right-sides-together, they were off by 3" on opposite corners. UGH. I think I cut them too long for me anyway, so I squared up one edge and will just have to see how the hemming goes.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=totchipanda&ditemid=521973" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments