dye recipe for my very pale pink line/rayon

This post is more a memory aid for myself, so I don't have to google it yet again. I've previously looked it up & failed to write it anywhere.

I've got some pale pink linen/rayon herringbone fabric that I want to make a summer skirt from. However pale pink doesn't actually suit me. I got it as it's going to be easy to dye a darker plum or wine or berry colour that does suit me. It's going to be more random colour than specific, and I'll use iDye for natural fabrics. Mainly cos it's easy to get, and the other dye I could get from ebay says it needs to be used with soda ash, but (i) they don't sell that also and (ii) I can't seem to find anyone who does, or who says what it's also known as.

So my recipe is 1 violet and 0.5 black.

oooh, I have sewed more than I thought since May

Last Sunday I tallied up my stash sewing entry for the Australian Sewing Guild stashbusting competition, and put my hand up for the parade at the ASG day this Saturday.

I never seemed to get the full rules so had to do a quick revision once I saw them on Kristy's blog lower your presser foot. They are: the projects had to be wearable, made since January 1 2013; from fabric that was in the stash prior to March 2013.  So, my revised total is 37.05m, and if I'd been able to include my curtains (finished in April) it would be 44.85m.

 That's a decent enough number especially when you consider that due to my evol and now former gallbladder, all this 37.05m stash sewing was sewn between early May to 3rd August!

Imagine if I'd been able to sew the whole year :D Also ineligible other than my curtains (7.8m), I also sewed another 7m with the hobbit apron & Catelyn gown. These weren't bought before March.
And if I'd got the buttonholes/buttons done on that 4 year ufo blouse, i could have counted that too. Eh, I still did well.
What I like about this parade is that I'm not going to be demanded to perform like a seal when the entry requirements *don't* require it. I can simply hobble around in my outfit. I don't even need to enter the parade, but I figure that I might as well showcase costume sewing.

All my sewing this year - other than the curtains - have been costumes! No wonder my work clothing is sadly diminishing. here's a teaser pic of the fabric I found in my stash for my next summer lawn blouse. Though I need to dye some linen/rayon herringbone a burgundy or plum colour.

And I'll re-use my self drafted pattern. I found it a couple of days ago {happy dance}

sorry for the silence

I've been a little bit sidetracked from posting here, when I do have event pictures and fabric bought (eep) to share.

The early need to job hunt has taken the wind out of my sails. I got a 5 week temp job with the same organisation, which is great as I continue to accrue annual leave and have sick leave until 30th September.

I've applied for a few jobs - only the ones that really interest me as I can temp until something decent turns up. Plus I forgot about one and missed the deadline. meh.

Sadly I won't be sewing for a couple of weeks, as I had a 'lesion' removed from my right knee. It was originally diagnosed as a lipoma (benign tumour), and because I was getting repeated skin infections the advice was to leave it as it was likely to get infected too. That issue seems to be finally under control, so I made the appointment for another skin check and was told that it was a dermatofibroma. Also benign, and usually not removed but as it was on the knee it was a good idea. I've already landed on it more than once when tripping over something, and OWWWWIE!

So the skin surgeon took one look at it and asked what it was. She said it wasn't like other dermatofibromas and that the pathology results might have more of an answer. Mainly to determine it wasn't a Bad Thing.

I seriously underestimated what it would entail. i knew it was large but hadn't realised it was 12mm (half an inch). Nor that I'd be wearing a knee support/brace thingy for THREE MONTHS!!! Mainly to ensure that I don't damage it in an accident (specialist had that happen with at least 1 patient) as knee skin is much more mobile than an area like the shin or calf.

so I'm hobbling along and unable to sit on the bus - cos I can't yet bend my knee to fit into the space.

I'd better post about the things that I can over the next couple of weeks.

my Easter Egg Costume

Around 4 years ago, Spotlight had a cotton poplin with a small repeating print (black lines on white) that I and a few other costumers grabbed in excitement. It told me it wanted to be a regency dress - small repeating motif - but I didn't quite have anything else in mind.

A couple of weeks before Steamfest I had the flash of inspiration to make a bib-front regency gown using the c1798-1805 morning dress pattern in Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion 1. Because I'd already mocked up & used the pattern I knew I could make it quickly.

My discovery of Trevithick's horseless steam carriage of 1803 - that he drove 70 miles to the coast to ship to London - made it clear that for me at least, steampunk could be earlier than Victoria's reign.

I raised the back neckline of the bodice 1" as my stays aren't completely covered, oopsie, and they're already made.

I made this in 1 crazy evening, from cutting out to done by 2.30am. I really love it and felt so comfortable wearing it.

Here's the back of the gown - which I pleated instead of gathering & pleating.
And the front - I used 2 black brooches instead of buttons or pinning it.


So what makes this my Easter Egg Challenge .... the print that only a couple of people noticed when I first wore the dress.

Easter Egg Costume Challenge - bringing it to the antipodes

While looking at pretties on the internet, I came across this Easter Egg Costume Challenge on "Au Temple des Modes" blog. I already have the ideal dress with my recent regency steampunk.

To quote the orginal text in english (via Google translate)
What is it?
Behind the name a little mysterious Easter Egg hides in fact a simple concept. The term refers to something hidden, such as a DVD or a website menu. We are inspired by the name for our challenge! The goal is to create a costume cutting, hyper historical details and by far seems to be correct historically. The surprise is revealed when we approach the fabric, trims are in fact not at all history! For example, a woven fabric, a web Christmas pad with candy, etc.. Be imaginative!

What is the purpose?
It is not a competition. Each at the end of the challenge will be free to organize an event in his city, region, country to "celebrate" the end of the challenge. The goal is to have fun, laughing a little, without falling into the traditional opposition purists Vs "pretty princesses." Enjoy!

How does it work?
The rule is simple, the suit must, at a distance look correct historically (colors, materials and shapes). What matters is the illusion and trompe l'oeil. For the rest, everything is permitted!

I am not in Paris, can I participate?
Of course! Just relaying information if you have a blog, you can participate in our first meeting EEC challenge. If you can not come in the Paris region, you can create your own output claiming the EEC challenge by posting on your blog or EEC facebook page.

Are there an end date?
Yes, but for now, it is not fixed precisely. We just know that the deadline will be held in the spring or summer of 2014.

How to participate?
The best is to directly copy the url code below pictures on your blog, copy of my long prose and make a link to the original page and then invite others to participate! You can keep more or less suspense to your project and whether to publish notes about your creation.
PS: Hello Kitty fabric illustration is of course a tribute to Jenny and her dress in the English Hello Kitty !

my work clothing UFO list

I've got 5 items of work clothing started and incomplete, and this list is in order of preference.

Work clothing UFOs
blue linen/rayon herringbone 1930s skirt - half cut out
Decades of Style 1930s matinee blouse - 80% sewn
aqua knit top - cut out
paisley self drafted pattern - 50% sewn
teal knit top - half sewn

I really need another couple of skirts at least and more tops ... I don't think that last one is going to be suitable. IE a bit lightweight on it's own and summer gets too hot+humid for me to wear camisoles as well as a top.

But I'll focus on finishing these this month and see what I can think up that's vintage inspired while still being professional work clothes.

Edited to add: I've got 2 retro Butterick patterns that I'm going to make. 6700,for which I may use a knit fabric (a 3/4 sleeved version of the blue (no ruffles on my hips) and 6701 with 3/4 sleeves again .... I'm looking forward to sewing something new.

switch my focus to work clothing

I found out yesterday that my job will finish on the 23rd of this month, 2.5 weeks from now. It's not even 4 months into my 12 month contract so I'm definitely disappointed that I couldn't get another role in the organisation once my boss has left. As I'm likely to be interviewing (and probably temping again) my working wardrobe needs sprucing up, so I'm going to have to focus mainly on Real Life (TM) clothing. First I'll finish my UFO Decades of Style skirt, as half cut out is closer to finished than not cut out projects. Also the UFO DoS matinee blouse. The 2 cut out shirts that I was going to pay a friend to finish will need to be done by me as she's moving cities and probably won't have time to do them. so although they're mojo-less they're at least cut out.

steampunk bloomer costume finished ... and other things sewn from stash

I've not posted as I seemed to spend so much time doing things while on holiday and not so much posting or reading of my fave blogs.  Anyways, this post is more about my finished costumes and less about what I did on hols with my friends.

I got a regency sacque hat hand sewn (I know, me hand sewing!) for a heritage ball

And then I made my steampunk bloomer costume, using 9.5m of stash fabric. hurrah!  I'm pretty happy with it, using the Past Patterns bloomer pattern for the skirt & bloomers, and Truly Victorian 1859 pagoda bodice for the top. I need more accessories, and to make a corded petticoat to poof out the skirt as that's the look I'm after. I just didn't have time to sew it.

 

And then in crazy sewing marathon til 2.30am I cut and sewed my steampunk regency dress, again I've hat, parasol and other accessories in mind to make for it too.

Given I do grog & green selling with my napoleonic group, we decided the key is to the rum cupboard.