Oh, there's that pile of fabric...
The riding dress has been on the back burner for a while now. I have finally pulled it out of the corner, and the time is right to start on it. That said, I wouldn't say that I have time at this moment. I'm currently working a twelve hour day (I'm teaching night school to afford another renaissance trip.) But... I'm in the middle of a diet and when I get home, I need something to keep my mind out of the cupboard. Whenever I sew I forget to eat. It's perfect.
I'm planning on going to the Arizona Renaissance Fair in February, so my time line is a little bit shorter than thirty days. Let's get to work.
Once again I'm gathering supplies. The list is exactly the same as the Red Renaissance Dress from 2009 with a few additions:
The majority of the fabric came from Walmart. I don't normally like their selection, but I had an interesting twist of fate. A woman had purchased a large amount of this leather-like fabric. She was returning it for some reason, and I bought it for half off. I believe it was three dollars a yard. Not bad.
I found a beautiful Orange silk at Joannes. I didn't mind buying something so fragile, since I am going to cover it with the coat in bad conditions. I want the dress to flow and move with me so a light silk seemed best. As I mentioned before I'm also adding a white and a yellow petticoat made from light lining fabric to add to the swish-i-ness (technical term) of the dress.
The off white and muted yellow striped fabric was the real boon to this undertaking. I found it at Walmart on the 50% off table. The stripes are a raised velor so it has a velvety feel. I couldn't ask for better.
Excerpt from Previous Blog June, 2009
"In case someone who does not normally make garb as a past time is reading this blog, I'll explain how much is required for this to happen:
End of Excerpt
To this list I'm adding two things. I'll explain about this in my next post, but I'll need to strengthen the lighter fabrics in order for them to work well as a bodice. For this purpose I've added Pelon and Heavy Weight Interfacing.
I've also purchased a Bias tape maker. I don't really know if this will help, but if it works it will make finishing the bodice so much easier!!!!
In patterning this dress I've decided to use commercial patterns. I'm lazy... I don't mind stitching together different pieces of other peoples work to get what I want. I'll actually be using three different patterns to make this dress:
Simplicity 3782 for creating the riding coat
Simplicity 8192 (Fantasy Medieval Dress with good sleeves) for the sleeves of the dress
Simplicity 2589 (Tudor Dress) for the majority of the under dress.
I'll explain more as I go on... :) I will also explain how to work in parts of different patterns to get what you want rather than relying on the package. It should be a lot of fun!!!
Wish me luck!
Next Post:
Cutting out Chevrons from Striped Fabric.
Once again I'm gathering supplies. The list is exactly the same as the Red Renaissance Dress from 2009 with a few additions:
I chose a fall pallet for this dress. I wanted golds and oranges, thus I'm referring to it as the Fall Dress. This is a warm weather dress. I chose specifically cool fabrics silks rather than heavier tapestries.
The majority of the fabric came from Walmart. I don't normally like their selection, but I had an interesting twist of fate. A woman had purchased a large amount of this leather-like fabric. She was returning it for some reason, and I bought it for half off. I believe it was three dollars a yard. Not bad. 
I found a beautiful Orange silk at Joannes. I didn't mind buying something so fragile, since I am going to cover it with the coat in bad conditions. I want the dress to flow and move with me so a light silk seemed best. As I mentioned before I'm also adding a white and a yellow petticoat made from light lining fabric to add to the swish-i-ness (technical term) of the dress.
The off white and muted yellow striped fabric was the real boon to this undertaking. I found it at Walmart on the 50% off table. The stripes are a raised velor so it has a velvety feel. I couldn't ask for better.Excerpt from Previous Blog June, 2009
"In case someone who does not normally make garb as a past time is reading this blog, I'll explain how much is required for this to happen:
On average the supplies needed for a renaissance dress are:
- At lease 7 yards of fabric for the gown itself. (That is a modest amount) Total each of my dresses have taken around 12-14 yards depending on the detail work required.
- 9-12 yards of plastic boning,
- 3 yards of fusible interfacing,
- Grommets and grommet pliers
- Hooks and eyes,
- Three sets of scissors (Heavy duty for cutting boning and wire, craft scissors for cutting paper and other non-fabric items, and my fabr ic scissors)
- Two seam rippers. One at the sewing machine, and one by the couch where I hole up when I make a major mistake.
- Bobbins, thread (black, white, and matching the color(s) of the gown.
- I have both the thin regular fabric pins, but I also buy the more heavy duty/ oddly cheaper thick long pins that work so well with drapery fabrics.
- Last but not least is the oddest item in my arsenal of dress making supplies: Three packages of Joann's Craft Essentials Silver Photo Hangers: I use them for my bodice lacings. I'll explain it in a later blog. It's quite innovative- (I don't know what I'll do when they stop selling these things.)
End of Excerpt
I've also purchased a Bias tape maker. I don't really know if this will help, but if it works it will make finishing the bodice so much easier!!!!In patterning this dress I've decided to use commercial patterns. I'm lazy... I don't mind stitching together different pieces of other peoples work to get what I want. I'll actually be using three different patterns to make this dress:
Simplicity 3782 for creating the riding coat
Simplicity 8192 (Fantasy Medieval Dress with good sleeves) for the sleeves of the dress
Simplicity 2589 (Tudor Dress) for the majority of the under dress.
I'll explain more as I go on... :) I will also explain how to work in parts of different patterns to get what you want rather than relying on the package. It should be a lot of fun!!!
Wish me luck!
Next Post:
Cutting out Chevrons from Striped Fabric.
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