Welcome to the end of 2018!
I don’t often do end-of-the-year costume reviews. Not sure why. It IS a good way to recap your creativity from the year, however.
Maybe because I see so many other bloggers and those on social media showing off their gorgeous costumes made over the last several months, and here I have “one” or maybe “two” completed costumes. Or it feels rather like a dry spell here because I haven’t sewn big projects in a while.
But I wanted to actually write a review this time because maybe you’ll get some inspiration from how and why I made the few things I did in 2018.
At the beginning of 2018 I went full into Costume College prep. I had not (really) attended since 2015 and was excited to teach four classes again and dress up for the events.
(In 2016 I had my daughter after 15 years of trying with my husband and missed the event; and in 2017 I merely wandered the event hallways and attended the gala only.)
So in January I began planning my classes and was in the early sewing stages of my gala costume while my daughter took her nap.
Then, she stopped napping at the end of that month…
If you’ve been at home with a small child, you know the schedule goes down the drain with any activities you had going when that child stops sleeping during the day. Sigh….
So I had to figure out how to sew while taking care of a toddler who doesn’t nap and still get my own sleep at night.
I ended up taking a few of her toys downstairs to my basement sewing room so she could stay occupied – for 20 minutes or 90 minutes at a time – so I could accomplish steps of projects.
It worked! And pretty much all my new Costume College ensembles were made in short work spurts, and then longer sessions at night after everyone else was in bed.
The gala costume – my Rock Candy Ensemble – was a 1760s Pet en L’air or French Sacque, which is a short robe a la Francaise over a petticoat.
I made it from the American Duchess Simplicity 8578 pattern using the AD Dressmaking Book for most of the construction.
The sacque is a high-quality poly satin but with the “wrong” side used as the face so it looks more like a silk taffeta rather than shiny synthetic.
The puffed self-trim was all hand cut then the Rococo trim hand basted on. I then ran hand gathering stitches on both long sides, pulled up and mounted to the sacque. It was a LOT of hand sewing time!
The petticoat was entirely hand sewn (except for the ruffle hems) from silk Scalamandre curtains I bought off a Facebook destash group. I was finishing hand mounting the ruffle the night before I left for Costume College!
In addition to the sacque and petticoat, I made a linen shift (for my online class instruction). Also, a blue linen underpetticoat and pocket hoops, both using the American Duchess book again.
Also for Costume College I made my 1884 Steelers Royalty “Dress of Wrong” that tied into the “Dressing the Royals” event theme. This ensemble even caused a new group to form for 2019: the BUB Brigade.
In September I made a new overskirt for the Steelers foundation skirt and bodice so I could wear it again as a Victorian outfit. That was the last historical garment I made this year.
I became dirndl obsessed in February and made my first dirndl for an April event from a pack of authentic fabrics from Germany. With the tiny leftovers I made my daughter a matching dirndl. 🙂
Here at the end of 2018 I’m finishing the hem, apron and bodice trim on my second dirndl (above). I have fabric for a third one to make in 2019.
As for other sewing, I made a Regency styled dress for my daughter for our annual picnic, as well as two dresses and a top for her as Christmas presents. For me another Chore Skirt in spring floral fabric, a dress in kitten print fabric (hehe), and a new purse. Oh, and a new corset, too, to fit my postpartum figure.
I also *finally* finished my first for-me cardigan. You can read my project notes on Ravelry. I started knitting in August 2016 when my daughter was still a newborn. Knitting “saved” me during those dark postpartum days.
For the new year I have a list of projects but not sure what will be accomplished. Below is what is on the docket along with with current WIPs of dirndl #2 and corset re-do.
- BUB Ensemble of jacket, blouse and skirt
- 1840 Haunted Mansion/Mourning dress
- 1760s Queen of the Night – fantasy robe a la Francaise
- 1780s “Everyday” ensemble of Waverly blue floral print jacket and green petticoat
- Dirndl #3
- 1875 Donald Duck Disney bustle dress
Happy new year: success and creativity.