Burgundy 1580s Court Gown, Revamp
Me in the revamped gown at the Crosston Ball, photos courtesy of Chris Nelson.
Tag Archives: 1580s burgundy court gown
Plausible
Accomplished sewing stuff last night. Added a 3″ hook-and-eye placket to the 1580s bodice. Fits beautifully now, and while the placket is nothing great to look at, it’ll all be covered up with trim soon enough. Still need to add to the skirts waistbands, but that’s a quick fix. Then I can wear the gown
Seam-ripping at 6am
Explanation: I decided I wanted to wear this gown to the SCA’s Crosston Ball, but the dress no longer fit. So I came up with a way to extend the size … a week before the ball! At 6am, riddled by insomnia, I just bit the bullet, got up, and did some seam-ripping. I removed
Burgundy 1580s Court Gown – Photo Gallery
Photos taken at Costume College by Sarah and Kendra. More of Sarah’s photos on Flickr and Kendra’s photos on her site.
Finishing the burgundy 1580s court gown
It came down to the wire, but I did it! I finished the outfit in time and, despite some trouble actually getting to the event due to weather and map issues, I had a wonderful time at the Elizabeth and the Pirate Feast! But first, the finishing pieces…
GBACG’s Queen Elizabeth and the Pirate
Join Queen Elizabeth I as she hosts a farewell banquet for the infamous female Irish Pirate, Grace O’Malley, at a Greenwich tavern called The Bearded Mermaid. There will a fabulous feast, entertainments, music, and much toasting and intrigues throughout the evening.
Just keep sewing, just keep sewing…
Last night, I hemmed 180″ or so inches of velveteen overskirt. By hand. And stabbed myself in the thumb about two feet from the end. Where’s my Purple Heart medal now? Guess there’s the blood to add to all the sweat and tears that have gone into this costume. I also finally sewed skirt hooks
Pearls before swine, or at least before coffee
My carpool driver is on vacation this week. I got a ride to work yesterday, but I had to take the bus to work today. I decided to make the best of it and sew during the hour-long trek. Even though I don’t have coffee until I get to the office. Quelle horror! Wasn’t too
Hemming & hawing
I never tire of dumb jokes. But I do tire of hand-sewing. Yes, “hand” is a four-letter word to me. So I’m taking a break before I dive into hemming the overskirt, which is now pinned up and ready to go. My back is already killing me from hemming the front of the forepart by
Time keeps on slipping into the future
I tried semi-valiantly to get some sewing done this week. Did get all the ribbon ties on the sleeves, and tonight I assembled the base skirt for the forepart. Unfortunately, it’s a smidge short and the best way to hem it would be to add a facing or bias strip. I don’t have the time
Proof that insanity runs in my family
Ta-da! Mom beaded one sleeve, I beaded the other. We are certifiably nuts. She, even more so, because she’s also beading the forepart. And I married into nutjobs because my stepmom-in-law helped bead the forepart and called today to say she could come back this week and bead more. Wow. I am the luckiest (and
Ain’t nothin’ but a bead thang
12 noon to 8pm — beading! Me, Mom, and Deb. We finished both sleeves and about half of the forepart. Mom took the forepart home to finish herself, and she also took the trim home to pearl, if she has time. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tomorrow, I’ll assemble the inner sleeves and hopefully get to all the fastenings.
It’s the little things
You know why I keep posting about all my piddling little bits of progress on my costumes? Because, as the World’s Slowest Sewer, each and every stitch sewn feels like a huge hurdle crossed to me, and recording it gives me a sense of satisfaction and also hope that I can do more. I can’t
Inching along
I’ve finally been beading. Watching an awful Sharks game is apparently more conducive to beading than watching an engrossing Bronte adaption. Doesn’t look like much, does it? Well, it isn’t. I suspect Mom has gotten farther along on her sleeve, even though she started later than me. And hers will look much tidier, of course.
Thread shortage (yet crisis averted)
So here I am last night, prepping the top edge of the skirt for cartridge-pleating. I’m using a strip of gingham because (a) I have a boat-load leftover from a previous cartridge-pleated skirt, (b) it makes for super-fast and easy marking, that is, no marking needed, just count off the squares, which is simpler when