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Kinda proud of myself - 10/16/2008 12:23:01 PM

hizgeorgiapeach

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While I'm rather handy at a lotta differnt things, and craft type stuff has been a source of great enjoyment for me for years, I find that I'm feeling rather proud of myself at the moment. Sewing is Not one of those Crafty things that I've ever been any good at. I'm one of those who nearly Flunked the sewing portion of home-ec while in school so many years ago. And don't get me wrong, I'm still not good at it lol. BUT. I have finally managed to get to a point with a sewing machine that I don't worry that something's going to fall apart 10 minutes after I finish making it. I know, it probably doesn't sound like much, but when you're as big a clutz with a sewing machine as I've always seemed to be it's something that brings a great feeling of accomplishment and self sufficiency.

Over the course of the past 2 weeks, I've managed to make some headway on restocking my RenFaire costuming closet - which became rather denuded over the past decade of not using any of it regularly. I've managed to put together 3 dresses, a lined and hooded cape, accessory type purse/bags to go with the dresses, and working on cloth slipcovers to hide some of my modern camping equipment. For me, this is seriously an accomplishment - the sewing machine pretty much is one of the few things on the planet that actually Terrifies me. But it's either do it myself, or go without, because the cost of a good seamstress to do most of it for me is simply to expensive to even contemplate. The real test though is going to be whether I can make the two dresses that have yet to be started over the course of the next 8 days. Both are late Tudor/early Elizabethan, and a lot more complex than the others that I'm finishing up. (Peasant/Merchant wear is Soooo much easier than making clothing for a Noblewoman!)

I guess if I manage to get the pair of Elizabethans made, the next hurdle will be trying to put together several period style corsets and other such.... ehem... delicates to wear Under the costuming. (At which point I may start muttering, "pray for me...." )

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RE: Kinda proud of myself - 10/16/2008 1:33:03 PM

corysub

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Is this any help...doesn't sound too high priced...but I really dunno about this kinda stuff..

cory

http://cgi.ebay.com/Elizabethan-Queen-Halloween-DELUXE-COSTUME-Sz-8-10-NEW_W0QQitemZ300260313679QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300260313679&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

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RE: Kinda proud of myself - 10/16/2008 2:03:53 PM

hizgeorgiapeach

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That's similar (though a lot more "costumy") to what I'm in the process of tackling. If you've watched the recent moving "The Other Bolyn Girl" - those are much Much closer to what I'm constructing. Think about a generation prior to Elizabeth I taking the throne - so not much in the way of the hugh stand up collars and that sort of thing, thankfully.

This is the pattern I'm using for the Tudor Gowns and this is the pattern I've been using for the slightly earlier Peasant Gowns . I'm also making some very early period stuff (around 900) with a pattern that's actually intended for christmas plays.

(edited to correct a link lol)

< Message edited by hizgeorgiapeach -- 10/16/2008 2:05:23 PM >

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RE: Kinda proud of myself - 10/16/2008 4:30:57 PM

pixidustpet

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if you want to do it up and do it right.... https://www.reconstructinghistory.com//index.php

kass is an amazing person and her customer service is second to none. plus she has retired greyhounds! who cant want to support an animal lover?

seriously, mega cool lady. she has patterns and all the notions and stuff to finish them off too.

(no, i dont get commission. *g*)

but kudos to you for dragging out the sewing machine and getting it going! i need to do that too LOL

kitten

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RE: Kinda proud of myself - 10/16/2008 4:46:55 PM

LadyEllen

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Betcha think youre just sew clever now, dontcha!?

(I'm not jealous. Honest)

E

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RE: Kinda proud of myself - 10/16/2008 5:06:40 PM

Steponme73

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I know one thing...We went to the renassiance festival in Houston last weekend and you could buy any kind of costume you wanted. They started at about $600 and went up....way up!
One guy I talked to was in medevil get up and had spent over $6000. He looked cool, but damn...$6000!

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RE: Kinda proud of myself - 10/16/2008 5:35:03 PM

hizgeorgiapeach

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That doesn't at all surprise me, actually, Step. Even doing the work myself - for the pair of Tudors, a heavy wool cloak (it's comin on winter and gets Cold at night while drinking damnit), 4 skirts, 3 chemise tops, 3 vest/overskirt combinations.......I've spent about $800 on material, trim, and notions (thread, etc.) That is JUST on construction materials - it doesn't begin to touch the number of hours I've spent hunched over the sewing machine, doing at least basic research into what a woman from my time period would wear, or agonizing over which fabric/trim combinations are going to look good vs hideous. If I'd gone ahead and hired a seamstress to do the work for me, I would probably have been looking at anywhere from $80 to $300 - per dress - to get the work done.

If I do the dress I Want to do between now and March when I'll "need" it, it'll probably cost me almost $600 just in materials - velvet isn't cheap. But I Seriously want to do a specific dress that I've had in mind for almost 2 decades now. Elizabethan high court, black velvet trimmed in silver and gold threads in the heraldic design of my "Household" that I'm part of, and with hand beading covering the bodice. When it's finished (if I get both stupid and ambitious lol) - it'll be worth easily $1500. And that is for One Dress. When you think about what some women pay for a dress that they'll only wear for one day of their entire life, and not even all day at that, it becomes cheap in comparison. At the very least these are outfits (no matter how expensive) that get worn multiple times each.

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RE: Kinda proud of myself - 10/16/2008 6:47:08 PM

pixidustpet

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Steponme73

I know one thing...We went to the renassiance festival in Houston last weekend and you could buy any kind of costume you wanted. They started at about $600 and went up....way up!
One guy I talked to was in medevil get up and had spent over $6000. He looked cool, but damn...$6000!

well dang, dude. we were there too.

kitten

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RE: Kinda proud of myself - 10/16/2008 6:49:58 PM

Vendaval

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Glad to hear you are doing so well. That is quite an undertaking.

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RE: Kinda proud of myself - 10/17/2008 4:59:20 PM

Irishknight

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Steponme73

I know one thing...We went to the renassiance festival in Houston last weekend and you could buy any kind of costume you wanted. They started at about $600 and went up....way up!
One guy I talked to was in medevil get up and had spent over $6000. He looked cool, but damn...$6000!

We costume on a tight budget. We go hit the smaller faires and get the same costumes for a cheaper price, often 1/4 of the cost of what you pay at the big events. Many merchants who have worked faires with me in the past said that it is due to the fact that a lot of big faires demand a percentage of sales in addition to booth/shop rental. That makes the customer have to pay more.
We also make our costumes and tend toward the less expensive stuff. My wife still doesn't have a fancy gown with all of the beads, bells, and whistles but she looks very nice as a lady of the manor from an earlier period.

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