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Post by ladyneysa on Jul 13, 2006 8:24:13 GMT -5
Anyone working on new garb projects? If so lets hear about it!
I'm currently attempting to make a new wenchy outfit for daughter Morning Glory. I'm still just a beginner at sewing, I guess there's only one way to learn!
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Post by Lady Lauren Juliette on Jul 13, 2006 9:05:13 GMT -5
How old is your daughter? I'm hoping to make something really simple for my two-year-old to wear to the festival, but I'm new at sewing too. I'm crazy busy the month of July but I'm hoping to start something the beginning of August. Maybe we can share some ideas....
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Post by ladyneysa on Jul 14, 2006 1:27:04 GMT -5
Do you have a son or a daughter? Morning Glory is 11. I'll be making a basic gathered skirt and chemise. If I feel really brave I might even attempt a bodice if I have time. If not she may still fit into the bodice-like-vest-thing she wore last year. A site called reddawn.net has some good basic instructions for garb,simple enough I think, for beginners. I've made several chemises, a skirt, and a drawstring pouch with good results. Not sure how well you can adapt these ideas for a 2 year old, but have a look anyway!
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Post by majorchaos on Jul 14, 2006 13:15:17 GMT -5
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Post by jubilee on Jul 18, 2006 4:10:08 GMT -5
for simple garb, try a basic t-tunic. That should be fairly easy and great for a little one. It's easy to add embellishments to too. :-)
all my new stuff gets published on my livejournal under my SCA name; isabelladangelo.livejournal.com
I'm working on an italian gown right now.
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Post by Mel Bel on Jul 18, 2006 10:33:50 GMT -5
Trying my hand at garb for the first time. Haven't sewn in 20 years. Should be a good time. Renee' wants a harem outfit. Michael wants me to attempt identical to what he already has and I'm going for a couple new bodices and skirts for myself. Looking for some good boning though. I found some on-line but would like to find some close by (Damascus MD area). Anyone? While we're on the subject, isn't there a fabric outlet in Hagerstown or somewhere up North? If anyone can tell me please let me know.
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Post by jubilee on Jul 20, 2006 4:00:44 GMT -5
there are a couple of fabric outlets nearish fredrick but I've only been to one of 'em once.
As for boning, cable ties make great boning. You can do the whole dry your own reeds (tall grass) and use that, which is exactly what they did in the 16th c, but cable ties give you about the same shape if not better. You need the 3/4" kind.
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Post by Magpie on Jul 20, 2006 9:40:11 GMT -5
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Post by ladyneysa on Jul 26, 2006 7:32:43 GMT -5
As for boning, cable ties make great boning. You can do the whole dry your own reeds (tall grass) and use that, which is exactly what they did in the 16th c, but cable ties give you about the same shape if not better. You need the 3/4" kind. Hey, you were dead right about this. I got some cable ties and compared them to how the boning felt in my new bodice, which has the spring steel. The cable ties are stiffer! Probably much cheaper too.
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Post by jubilee on Jul 26, 2006 16:45:13 GMT -5
I've fallen in love with the big ole cable ties. I've only used them in a couple of my own bodices so far but I plan on using them more once I get rid of all my other boning...
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Post by Sir Black Fox on Jul 26, 2006 18:26:33 GMT -5
I've fallen in love with the big ole cable ties. I've only used them in a couple of my own bodices so far but I plan on using them more once I get rid of all my other boning... LOL Cyn learned about "boning cable ties" from the seamstress who made Cyn's wedding dress. The seamstress said something along the lines of "don't ask any SCA members to take their outfits apart and show off their historically-accurate boning!" It's the little things that make life worth it. . . and personally, I think boning is one of them. I also love boning. . . .or was that taken out of context?. . . I feel another arm-punch coming my way via jubilee.
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Post by Dammiana on Jul 26, 2006 20:30:18 GMT -5
I've heard a lot about the glory of cable boning. I've heard enough good reviews that I think it's what I'm going to use in my next corset. *dances the excited "MacGyver Garb" dance*
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Post by jubilee on Jul 27, 2006 5:00:09 GMT -5
LOL Cyn learned about "boning cable ties" from the seamstress who made Cyn's wedding dress. The seamstress said something along the lines of "don't ask any SCA members to take their outfits apart and show off their historically-accurate boning!" It's the little things that make life worth it. . . and personally, I think boning is one of them. I also love boning. . . .or was that taken out of context?. . . I feel another arm-punch coming my way via jubilee. First ::Arm punch:: Second, yeah...I think my "first" gowns that had boning just had the lovely light weight junk you get at the fabric store. The good part about those is you can sew over them. The bad part is they don't hold ANYTHING in. I went to the flimsy steel to the 1/2 steel and now to cable ties. I will probably still use the 1/2 steel for my corset but use the cable ties for the gowns. Also, it's a good idea to always use an inner layer of canvas in gowns. It's period. It helps to stiffen the bodice without the use of boning. It's washable....and, it's cheap!
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Post by Mel Bel on Aug 1, 2006 11:04:31 GMT -5
Can you buy cable ties and if so where would one find them? Hey Magpie! Thanks for the outlet info. That's the one I was thinking of.
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Post by Amras on Aug 1, 2006 12:03:22 GMT -5
You can procure cable ties in various sizes at most any hardware store, Home Depot or Lowe's.
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Post by ladyneysa on Aug 2, 2006 8:56:28 GMT -5
You can also find cable ties at some auto parts stores. I had a little trouble finding the large ones though.
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Post by ladyneysa on Aug 2, 2006 12:07:53 GMT -5
Has anyone ever heard of using the long strips of metal from windshield wipers? I came across some during a garage cleaning and thought they might work. They're not very wide, but seem pretty strong, and they're flexible.
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Post by ladyneysa on Aug 2, 2006 12:27:10 GMT -5
Well, I finished my first bodice I made for Morning Glory! I finished last night, despite breaking 2 grommet tools and smashing my thumb with the $%@# hammer. Now I have a big ol' blood blister for my trouble, and at least one grommet that isn't in straight. For my first attempt at this I don't think it turned out too bad, but it is FAR from perfect. MG is happy with it and that's all that matters. I started out with a commercial pattern, but felt stupid when I couldn't make head nor tails out of it. I bought what I thought was the right size according to her measurements but when I cut out the pattern pieces they seemed enormous and I couldn't figure out how to properly down size them. So I gave up on that, and used the "t-shirt duct tape" method I've read so much about. Worked pretty good.
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Post by Empresa Anna on Aug 7, 2006 21:50:31 GMT -5
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Post by ladyneysa on Aug 7, 2006 23:42:45 GMT -5
Aww! How cute! Welcome to the boards!
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Post by Empresa Anna on Aug 8, 2006 10:11:27 GMT -5
thank you, you know I was thinking about getting one of those grommet machines....someone told me they look like the three ring hole punchers for paper....they're suppose to be really easy to use with nice results...I hate grommets.
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brunhilde
PLAYTRON!
Even valkyries can be pirates or faeries sometimes!
Posts: 17
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Post by brunhilde on Aug 21, 2006 8:24:23 GMT -5
I currently have a ton of garb in my queue...
Let's see...
An outfit for hubby... shirt, vest, pants, and maybe a floppy hat
Two new skirts and a possible bodice for me....
pirate garb for my 3 1/2 year old
pirate garb for the 6 month old
basic garb for the 3 1/2 year old
basic garb for the 6 month old
Yeah... I'm going to be quite busy....
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Post by Mtn.Wolf and Silverwolf on Aug 21, 2006 23:32:28 GMT -5
anyone needing cable ties let me know as a construction electrician i have acess to all sizes and can get them off jobsite lol wolf
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Post by ladyneysa on Aug 22, 2006 11:39:51 GMT -5
Ughh...I'm not happy with how my outfit is turning out. First, I shortened the sleeves on my chemise, and now they're shorter than I wanted. My skirt turned out, eh, okay, but not the way I had hoped. The thing that most upsets me, though, is that I just learned a valuable lesson about ordering a bodice without trying it on. This is my first bodice, and I don't think it fits me well at all. It holds me up okay, but not great, and it is bunching up at the grommets. I thought the boning might be too flimsy, so I put some stronger pieces in, but it didn't help much. Does this mean the darn thing is just too small and causing too much stress on the grommets? I don't know how to tell. Is there any way I can decrease the bunching? I'd love to just go buy a new one as soon as I enter the gates, but I don't know if I'll be able to, so I'm probably stuck with it. Ah well, I'll try not to let it spoil my fun. Okay, I'll stop whining now.
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Post by lordoftheorbs on Aug 22, 2006 12:51:49 GMT -5
The thing that most upsets me, though, is that I just learned a valuable lesson about ordering a bodice without trying it on. Bodices are terrificly complicated garments to fit. The female body varies in many different dimensions, and for a garment like a bodice to fit well, it must fit all of them. A bodice must fit at least four different measurements accurately (bust width, ribcage width, waist and bust to waist length)- add a fifth if the shoulder straps are fixed. By comparison, modern off-the-shelf fitted garments (jeans, bras, etc) are almost never made to fit more than two (waist and length for jeans, band and cup for bras- which is why the shoulder straps are always adjustable). With an off the shelf bodice, it is impossible to get a good fit. Mathematically, the chances of finding a real fit are something above 1 in 10,000 (four variables is alot!). Matching two measurements isn't hard, but more than that is unrealistic, especially in low production specialty items like bodices. So, as a compromise most vendors offer bodices with additional laces up the sides, in hopes that by adjusting the laces the bodice can maybe adjust to accomodate a third variable. The rest is done by pulling everything tight, and making your body conform to the garment (instead of it conforming to you, as it should). This leads to the phenomenon described as 'Bodicegasm', when you finally take the bodice off and your body is allowed to reassume its natural shape. (You may want to then give yourself about a week for the internal bruising to heal.) If you try a bodice on before buying, you can usually get at least two dimentions to fit- so if you squeeze and hope, it might look OK on you. If you don't start with at least that, it's not going to fit at all. Ordering a bodice you haven't tried on by describing yourself as 'small, medium, or large' is a bit like ordering a pair of eyeglasses by describing youself as 'nearsighted or farsighted, a little bit or alot'. You really need to try it on first. (On the other hand, the really great thing about having a fitted bodice made is that 1. it will be comfortable, and 2. regardless about how you feel about the shape of your body, it will look good on you.)
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brunhilde
PLAYTRON!
Even valkyries can be pirates or faeries sometimes!
Posts: 17
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Post by brunhilde on Aug 22, 2006 14:52:41 GMT -5
anyone needing cable ties let me know as a construction electrician i have acess to all sizes and can get them off jobsite lol OOOOoh, cable ties... You I must get to know:P
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brunhilde
PLAYTRON!
Even valkyries can be pirates or faeries sometimes!
Posts: 17
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Post by brunhilde on Aug 22, 2006 15:05:00 GMT -5
This is my first bodice, and I don't think it fits me well at all. It holds me up okay, but not great, and it is bunching up at the grommets. I thought the boning might be too flimsy, so I put some stronger pieces in, but it didn't help much. Does this mean the darn thing is just too small and causing too much stress on the grommets? Bodices are really hard to make. I've been sewing for several years, and I have yet to make one that I really like. I tend to buy them. Without being able to see how it's bunching it would be hard for me to say, but it might be bunching to to the shape not being accurate to yuor form. Basically it's too big in some areas and too small in others. The only thing I can think to try at this point... since you don't want to have to go back and redraft seams.... is to see if you can run boning on either side of the grommets. I have a bodice from Fantasia which is boned like this and it doesn't bunch. I haven't tried this yet myself(will be in a week or two) but I think it could help you... if you can do it. Also... what are you boning it with?
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Post by ladyneysa on Aug 22, 2006 16:01:10 GMT -5
The boning that came in the bodice is some sort of flimsy metal with a white coating. The cable ties I have aren't significantly stronger than that, so I used the only thing I had available, which, believe it or not, is the thin strips of metal out of windshield wiper blades. Cut to size, and the ends filed round and smooth and covered with a thick layer of duct tape! They seem pretty strong so I figured they'd work. I did sew another casing on the other side of the grommets, and the fabric is still puckering. I am quite, er, rubenesque, so I figured if that fix didn't work, then I must be trying to squeeze into to small a bodice. I thought about picking apart the side seams and adding grommets, but then if that didn't work the whole thing would be ruined, so I'm not gonna risk it. Oh well, I guess I just get to look like a whale in a sardine can until I can get another one, either that or just do without, but then that might look weird too..don't wanna feel naked.
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Post by jubilee on Aug 23, 2006 2:40:48 GMT -5
I seriously need to show you some of the metal boning I've gotten...as well as the cable ties I use. They will hold you in.
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Post by Dammiana on Aug 23, 2006 2:54:22 GMT -5
It is 3:45 in the morning. I am sitting in the basement of my parents' house, back aching, shanghai-ing their sewing machine and I am shoving heavy duty cable ties into channels in a corset I'm making. It's looking fine so far... well, not LOOKING fine, it's a little raggedly looking, but structurally, it's looking good, I refuse to go to bed until I either finish boning this corset or I pass out from exhaustion. Why? I have to get back to my own apartment by thursday, Friday at the latest, and I still have a dress (matching skirt/bodice) to make before I go. Bleh, ambition.
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