Sewing stuff
Jun. 20th, 2003 10:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancerjodiI'm having a really hard time getting into the sewing thing. For one thing I totally screwed up my last dress (yeah, the one I probably spend over $100 in supplies on and that I worked on for over 2 years). The one I'm working on now is REALLY difficult. I'm not confident on my ability to do it.
I'll be dyeing fabric for my first time ever. I'll be making my own patterns for the first time ever. I'll be making a bodice that I just can't mickey-mouse (as I've done with ones in the past that I actually just didn't get frustrated with and throw away).
As it is I'm cheaping out on the thing. Its got lots of embroidery (which I've never done before, either). I was hoping I'd find appropriate fabric for the dress (I'm doing a chemise rather than a separate skirt and shirt, more cheating there) so that I could avoid embroidery on that. The corset - I was hoping to find appropriate appliques or trim or something.
I wasn't going for completely accurate here - I LOVED this dress from the first second I saw it on screen and it was probably my most favorite part in the movie (yeah, I'm a cheezball). Its the only one I'd want to make for me to wear. But I don't want to spend time, money and effort on something that's going to come out half-assed like my blue dress did so that I can just get all pissy and throw it in a plastic bag in the back of my closet. With working on our kitchen I'm not sure how much time I'll have to be spending on the thing. I'm not in the mood to be sewing. Aaargh!
I keep looking for shortcuts (like, a dress on ebay that I could just buy and dye, and just worry about making the corset) but then I feel like a loser for trying to go that route. I don't *want* to go that route.
Blah! I hate being so on the fence. As it is I'm not making the Gundam Wing outfits I was originally planning to make (I told B that a while back but he didn't hear me or something, now I feel bad). Its getting to the point where I'm just annoyed we're going to DC at all.
I'm know I'm just being crabby. These problems are insignificant. I'm having some mental blocks and self doubts and am frustrated with plaster dust. So yeah, I don't really know what I'm going to do. This is one of those times that having the ability to just shut off that overthinking part of my brain would be nice. :/
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no subject
Date: 2003-06-20 08:18 am (UTC)Typical cancer girl. ;-)
heh,
Date: 2003-06-20 08:30 am (UTC)Heh, yep. I didn't even think of that :)
Still, we rock!
Re: heh,
Date: 2003-06-20 09:40 am (UTC)Re: heh,
Date: 2003-06-20 10:26 am (UTC)29th of June (and James is on the 25th)
My amateur 2 cents
Date: 2003-06-20 08:25 am (UTC)Maybe it would be worthwhile to work on some basic patterns, making a few of the same thing in different fabrics just to get the process down.
My sewing is soooo not impressive, but my roommate has taught me some lessons. She's great at it. Maybe a stitch'n'bitch this summer would help everyone. :)
~k
Re: My amateur 2 cents
Date: 2003-06-20 08:33 am (UTC)That's what I was planning on doing for the bodice (the construction of the dress isn't difficult). I'm just worried about having time to do some practice ones, then the real one.
"Maybe a stitch'n'bitch this summer would help everyone. :)"
I've wanted to host (or attend) one of these for a long time. The problem is, people are usually too crazy busy with their own lives (like Saturdays for the next 2 months of mine are pretty much out due to this kitchen remodel save for taking a couple of hours off here or there).
Thanks for helping bring my back to earth a bit. I think aspects of this project are just 'too big for my britches' as my great uncle would say :)
Re: My amateur 2 cents
Date: 2003-06-20 10:48 am (UTC)I'd offer my place but it's tiny. But I'll help organize if you know someone who can host!
:)
~k
Re: My amateur 2 cents
Date: 2003-06-20 12:18 pm (UTC)I'll have to think about it. Unfortunately I would have had tons of space for it (in our living room and dining room) but now I don't have a kitchen, and all the kitchen stuff is in the dining room.
Whoops! :)
Re: My amateur 2 cents
Date: 2003-06-20 02:06 pm (UTC)FNL
Re: My amateur 2 cents
Date: 2003-06-23 08:18 am (UTC)It would be cool, but I know I'll have to do lots of sewing before then (Dragon Con is in the end of August so we must have stuff done before then).
Whee!
And crabbo makes two
Date: 2003-06-20 08:40 am (UTC)I remember how disappointed you were about that. I also remember that you had considered making a muslin before making the dress itself. Would that strategy work for this outfit? It's a lot of (extra) work, but usually worth it in the end.
I'm having some mental blocks and self doubts and am frustrated with plaster dust.
I can totally sympathize with this. I become *very* depressed when my living space is in chaos (like right now; the house is a total disaster area since I went away last weekend and I swear Fred is allergic to vacuum cleaners, sponges, and mops and the house smells like a giant dirty litter box).
I think we both need to go somewhere and scream.
Hang in there. I'm sure this project will turn out well, since you have a bit more experience.
--Andrea
Re: And crabbo makes two
Date: 2003-06-20 08:50 am (UTC)I'm totally going to do this if I make the outfit. I'm just worried about not having the time or looking like a goof at the Con I'm going to because the uber sewing people will know I cheaped out and took many shortcuts. Usually I don't care what people think, I don't know why this bugs me so much.
"I can totally sympathize with this. I become *very* depressed when my living space is in chaos (like right now; the house is a total disaster area since I went away last weekend and I swear Fred is allergic to vacuum cleaners, sponges, and mops and the house smells like a giant dirty litter box)."
heh, he's male so statistically speaking I think, he's supposed to be adverse to cleaning things :)
"I think we both need to go somewhere and scream."
Yes! Its cheezy, but that's why I like going to see my friend's band so much :)
no subject
Date: 2003-06-20 09:10 am (UTC)Other than that, the only advice I can give is to use muslin to make a test garment if you're really unsure, that way you don't ruin expensive fabric.
no subject
Date: 2003-06-20 10:05 am (UTC)You can also do quickly as you do not really need to worry about seams being perfect and such. If it works, if you decontruct it, you have a re-usable pattern you can fold up and work with. I did this with my Pennsic garb when I realized my promised "gold key" garb was going to someone else.
But when you go with the real thing, do not try to rush it. Take your time. Set small goals.
I think reviewing this guy's process again would help.
http://www.livejournal.com/users/darktor/21455.html
http://www.livejournal.com/users/darktor/32239.html
Some links from community you already below to:
http://www.livejournal.com/community/the_dark_circle/lists
http://www.reddawn.net/costume/bodice.htm
http://www.livejournal.com/community/corsetry/
lists
http://costume.dm.net/custompat/index.html
Other places to browse for inspiration
http://www.livejournal.com/community/corset_whores/
http://www.livejournal.com/community/con_costuming/
http://www.livejournal.com/community/neovictoria/
http://www.livejournal.com/community/victorian_fash/
http://www.livejournal.com/community/arisia/
http://www.livejournal.com/community/costumes/
http://www.livejournal.com/community/masqueradeball