I Go Retro and Recreate Henry VIII

Several things are happening over this break; I'm working on a mock up of a Henry VIII costume for my brother's madrigal costume, working on my senior project, personal sewing projects, and writing endeavors. Although the list is vague, I have my hands full.
One of my personal sewing goals was to make the wrap dress out of the Best Dresses book, and it turned out alright. The sleeves fit well this time, but I added 9 in to the tie that goes through the dress and around the back to have a proper bow on the side. I have reached my goal to make a satisfactory collar on the first attempt. The finished project looks a little retro, especially since I chose polka dots and the waist has a sort of "oomph." I do have some trouble keeping the collar flat under the front of the dress, so I stuck a pin there until I tack something down or summon up courage to adjust, but I'm tempted to just let it be. (Would it really be mine if it did not have my signature mistakes, haha.)

The book's example...only loose fitting on tiny people

The front.

The back. It looks tight here, but it fits comfortably.

A satisfyingly stiff collar.

 The back band.

I love this style. It has a little drama to it.

The bow.


















While I work on the Henry VII mock up, I make sure to drink my new Ahmad tea (which I already practically drink by the gallon anyway). I ordered a Period Patterns pattern off of eBay, and have several swatches of brocade for the doublet and some curtain-y looking fabric he wants for the jerkin. We plan to make view IV, front and center on the pattern. The gown/robe has hopes of being in velvet. I've already warned my mother of the immensity of this process, but we are prepared and ready for this...uh...adventure. Pray for my soul. For the mock up I only plan to recreate what I am not sure about which includes the jerkin and the gown. The actual costume should be pieced together over the summer when I am not looking for a post-graduation job (no more work-study...).

I really like the far left, with the coral, tan, and green, but my brother favors the black and red. His choice would be easier to find coordinating fabrics and colors (but who needs conventionality??)

When not holed up in my cave sewing, I'm reading my DWJ book, Reflections on the Magic of Writing, which is wonderful. It rekindles the desire to write as it humorously addresses the writer's philosophy, Jones' own experiences, and the responsibility of writing children's fantasy. Go buy this book if you love her work. >>http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Writing-Diana-Wynne-Jones/dp/0062219898

I've also finished the final Professor Layton game, "PL and the Azran Legacy." Took me forever, but it is done, and there is a little empty spot in my heart which I will just have to fill with playing the games again, and binge searching "professor layton" on Pinterest so that I find things like this...PL funny

And here's a quiche recipe I've recently tried and loved and added bell peppers to: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/466263367651349850/

This is a really good sewing article about looking good in your square one creations and as you progress. Amen to the pressing point.5 Ways to Make Everyone Think You Are a Sewing Pro - McCall's

Anyway, Happy Sewing and Happy New Year!

Just in Time for Christmas

The semester is coming to a close after a very busy four months. Life off campus is its own wonderful adventure. I've acted in front of a class, TWICE (never thought that would ever happen), wrote 6 research papers that were all due the same week, put my budgeting skills to good use,  plenty of other English major-y things, took a friend to the ER, and changed the spare tire on the mini-van all by myself, and still managed to sew a little. In this particular season of sewing I've been using some beautiful fabric from MissMatatabi on Esty, which ended up being used for a dress and a shirt. There was another dress in September that I made with some stash fabric, but it was a little disappointing.

That said, the dress turned out alright. Some setbacks: it is a bit tight in the shoulders; I now know that I am going to make the armholes of the Best Dresses book dresses bigger (look at the side bar for the books I'm using>>>). I put my zipper in after I already sewed up the other half of the seam it was on and hemmed the dress. I won't do that again; there was some "Make it work" moments with the unevenness that comes from putting the zipper in after sewing the rest of the seam. The bunching around the waist (not the gathers) that comes from the shoulder being to tight have inspired me to start truly altering patterns to fit me, intimidating, tedious, and messy as the process may be. The dress looks alright, but I want it to look like it was made for me.

I'm also working on a shirt with lace trim I'll share in the next two weeks.

Here's a random detail of my life: I'm working on watching all the Studio Ghibli movies and two that you should really watch if you have not already are The Wind Rises and Porco Rosso.

This is inspired by the fact that I am doing my Senior Project on Diana Wynne Jones' Howl's Moving Castle on which Hayao Miyazaki based his film. I love the book and film so much, that I decided to spend 9 months writing about the book and its place in children's literature. 

Happy Sewing!