Whatever Happened to Culottes

For a few days I've been wondering whatever happened to cullottes, those half breed between pants and skirts. And I actually found an online pattern for making your own here: http://www.earnestlycontending.com/KT/Studies/living/culottes/culottes.html Since I don't look good in pants anymore, I thought maybe culottes would be the solution.

I've also been watching old episodes of the original Star Trek and I could swear what the women are wearing on the ship is a version of culottes.

Repairing a Gypsy Skirt With a Ruffle

One of my favorite gypsy skirts has a severe rip in it. I thought it was a goner. But I just figured out a way to make it a skirt with a ruffled side slit. I'm going to cut around the tear in a hair pin shape, and fill it in with a vertical ruffle. And now I see I inadvertently made another tear with the safety pin. But I should be able to eliminate that in the same cut. I told my boyfriend my clever idea and he said it would be much easier to just patch it. First, I disagree, as the rip includes 3 seam lines that touch it, and second, it will be way sexier the way I have in mind. He said it would be a lot more work. Maybe. He said I could patch it from the back, but I hate the way that feels when there is a big heavy square of 'iron on stuff' on a light flowing fabric. We'll see.

At any rate I can't do it today. I have a custom hat order I need to finish first.

Butterick B5100 Tunic Pattern

My daughter came down for my birthday and on Jan. 4 we went to Joann's craft store. I found a pattern in Butterick that I really wanted only they weren't on sale at the time. The retail price was $15.95. On sale they are usually $1.99 for Butterick. So I decided to wait until it was on sale again.
It's a tunic B5100 that I think will be the perfect backdrop for knitted or crocheted cowls, shawls and scarflets, like the leaf scarf I just finished crocheting. It would also be a little dressier than what I normally wear and I could wear it to interviews or meetings.

So then about a week later I was trying to move my bedroom chair when I realized something in a plastic bag was hung up on the chair legs. I finally got it worked loose and it was a bag with patterns in it. And one of them was the one I almost bought at Joann's. So I was really glad I didn't buy it. I know I'm not the only one that accidentally buys duplicate patterns.

Fantabulous Interview

An interview with the costume designer of Wicked. I know I will watch this again and again. If you love fabric, don't miss it.

Halter top

Self-portrait of me wearing one of the halter tops I made. I love cherries as a theme.

I just signed up for Tagfoot. http://ping.fm/lfV6m Come see all my links and comments and my wishlist.

Steampunk Tutorial

Want to join ping.fm too? Go to http://www.ping.fm.Use the code 'legendofping' and you could have the luxury of posting to all your blogs in one fell swoop like I do. Way more efficient than doing it one by one.

I'm not sure what 'ping my default' means but I guess I'll find out when I hit send.

The week sure went by quick. I had a lot more planned but didn't have the energy to do it. My hands are still sore from woodcarving, and so I've had to lay off the knitting and crocheting. I'm looking forward to the weekend. My daughter may visit. We'll see.

Come view my Flickr photo stream. Over 3000 photos I've taken are waiting there for your pleasure. http://ping.fm/3TTAi

I just signed up for Ping.fm to make social networking more effiecient.

Stylehive

I just found my friend listed on Stylehive so I joined too. It's that little flashing orange icon over there>>>>>>>>>>> if you want to join too.

How to Self-Lace a Corset

I just loved this video.
It's fascinating to watch and she is lovely.

Cherry Halter Top

A cherry halter top I made a few years ago.

I'm halfway done with my purple corset

Yay, progress at last.

Belts help define your curves.

Today the costume designer for the new Sex in the City movie said that belts are going to be really important this year. I believe she said,"Suck it in and cinch it up." So I was thinking maybe I could be sewing up some belts to define what is left of my waist. And I include in that category hip bands, or belts that you wear slung low on your hips which make you look long waisted. And of course I would like to lose some inches around my waist.

Make a Gypsy Skirt

I just added more to my article on making gypsy skirts here: Make a Gypsy Skirt
They seem to be more popular than ever.

Corset cont.

I was happy to find the cable ties for boning at Home Depot just as the article suggested. I did have some already cut out corsets, but I have the feeling that I'll have to start from scratch because I've gained weight since I cut those out. Of course I could finish those for my etsy shop, but for now I want one for myself so it's ready to wear in my pirate show. So clothe the witch first and then on from there.

I do have some gold velvet I could use. I have some raw silk I could line it with too. What I don't have right now is the room to sew because my boyfriend is working on a massive arrow making project and the shafts are everywhere. And I have a gig March 22 so I'm going out of town anyway. But I do want a corset to wear before summer hits so I can't put it off too much longer.

Corsetry Boning

I just found a great page explaining all the various pros and cons of materials used for corset boning. http://www.modehistorique.com/elizabethan/boningtypes.html
It was very encouraging. Maybe I'll actually finish a corset now.