Friday September 30

Sightly different blog this week - now I'm back in the real world - so actually haven't made anything to tell you about!
I'm back working as a dresser in Manchester, mostly dealing with sweaty jeans and t-shirts, oh what fun!
Had a meeting on Wednesday at the theatre where I will be doing my work placement from October 17, making pantomime costumes.  Had a look at all the designs, all bright colours and shiny fabrics, so looking forward to seeing the end results.  The Dame's costumes in particular are amazing, full on constructions using all kinds of unusual materials, so I think this placement is going to develop my skills and knowledge in lots of ways.

Friday September 23

Exhibition Day One...
Spent the morning running around doing various things to make my display look great, see some pictures below (for those of you who can't make it...)
Exhibition began at 2pm and we were quite busy with a mixture of family and friends, prospective students for next year, people who had seen us in the paper and industry folk, so all good.  Was great to see Mum, Martin and Fiona and also to have a good old catch up gossip with Gil!

Thursday September 22

Exhibition preparation day!
Took most of the morning to empty and clean the space (which is now unrecognisible from the space we've spent so long in) and then the fun began as we all created our own little worlds to showcase our work - this also necessitated going shopping!  All looking good and just a few more bits to finish off tomorrow.
Also the photos arrived, here are a couple...

Wednesday September 21

Spent most of today sorting out sample files ready for the exhibition.  This afternoon Jo and I strung our tutus - not a task for anyone lacking in patience - but after much swearing got them finished.
Also today - we made the papers!  Well local paper... picture below, see http://www.thepress.co.uk/ for the full story.

Tuesday September 20

Quite strange to go into college today after yesterday's photo shoot when everyhting had to be 'done' by then.
Found plenty to do though, my tutu is now at the 'resting' stage and will be ready to be strung by tomorrow afternoon.  Also put some extra lace on my slip and tidied up a bit.

Monday September 19

Photo shoot day!
On location at York Cemetery - sounds odd but as you can see from the photos below, nice and atmospheric for pictures.

The men all got dressed up in their costumes first, here is Mark looking great in his Naval uniform...

The photographer took lots of individual and group shots, whilst we got into our bustle gowns.  Lots more pictures later (including me playing the grieving widow over a random grave! and the local press paying a visit) and we changed into 1940's, complete redo of hair and make up (thank you Val and Abby) and then it was all over.  I have to say the making is more satisfying than the modelling - anyone who knows me, knows how much I love having my picture taken... but it is great to see everything being worn. 

Sunday September 18

Still working away...
Hand stitched seven button holes and sewed fourteen buttons onto my waistcoat and worked six eyelets in the jiggers and that is everything finished - certainly for the photoshoot tomorrow.

Saturday September 17

Finishing off day today - hemmed the cape, put the trim on my apron, made a bow for my bustle and made a list of all the things I'll need for Monday's photo shoot.  Wonderful and lovely Jo hemmed my stock so only one job left to do tomorrow - after the photo shoot we start getting everything ready for the exhibition, in a week it will all be over....

Friday September 16

Last thing to do on the dress was to put in a placket for the side opening and stitch on ten press studs and a hook and bar.  Once that was done I attached the lining to the cape and hand stitched the edges to match the dress.  I fitted the buckle and put on two press studs to hold it closed.  It then had to drop again before it was hemmed.

Thursday September 15

Had to leave the cape to drop so carried on with my dress, lots of hand sewing so slow progress...

Wednesday September 14

Resolved yesterday's problem and started making a short black velvet cape with a diamente buckle.  Its going to look great but made me remember why I avoid making things out of velvet - still its a challenge!
Also cut out my slip from white silk and finished sewing buttons on my coat.

Tuesday September 13

French seams today... may have mentioned fabric is a bit slippy so these took a while, especially the right hand seam as it had to have the sash sandwiched in, so working out the logistics took a while.  But all done now, just the finishing to do on neck, arm holes and hem and lots of press studs for closure.
Then started on my jacket but - calamity - bacause I had to seam down the centre back the cowl won't hang properly and not enough fabric to re-cut, so back to the drawing board, literally...

Monday September 12

Started constructing 1940's dress - first stitched in the tucks on the bodice front and then stitched the skirt to the bodice. As mentioned the fabric is slippy, so every seam moves around and takes ages to get right.  Once the seams were right I made bias strips and bound the raw edges and then top stitched through all the layers to hold the seam in place and make a decorative effect on the outside.  I then baby hemmed the edges of the sash.
To end the day sewed a whole load of buttons on my coat - only 18 to go...

Friday September 9

Spent the morning doing button holes on my coat - they are now finished - hurrah!
Then cut out my 1940's dress, laid the fabric out on another piece of fabric to stop it moving around while you cut it - neat trick for slippy fabrics.

Thursday September 8

Fabric shopping - all day!  Brilliant, even though I didn't buy anything!!

Wednesday September 7

Yesterday and today spent making up a pattern and toile for my 1940's evening gown.  The bodice was draped on the stand and then converted into a paper pattern.  The toile was cut of a similar type of fabric to the end product rather than calico, so it ended up rather colourful!

Monday September 5

Lucy came to talk to us today about fashion in the 1940's, from underwear right through to wedding dresses; it was very interesting, all about the politics of fashion and the affects of the war on all aspects of clothing.  After the talk we got to try stuff on, here's Becky looking great.

After lunch I started on the button holes in my coat - seven down, seventeen to go...

Tutu Weekend

Liz came for two days to teach us the fine art of tutu making...
She had cut out all the pieces of net for us (ten layers, a channel and leg ruffles) and the first thing we did was cut points along the bottom edge of each piece, except the channel.  Then all the lengths had to be stitched together and the channel stitched to the centre of layer 7.  Each length then had to be pleated up to fit onto the base - yep pleated, no gathering! So by the end of Saturday it all looked like this...

Next we had to prepare the basque and knickers.  The basque has a petersham waistband with elastic inserts at the sides, so it has some give.  The bottom edges are bound and all the seam allowances zig zagged.  The knickers are made from a double layer of cotton bobbinette and had to be marked up with all the stitch lines for the net and french seamed up the centre front, with the centre back opening neatened.
Once the knickers are prepared all the layers of net have to be stitched on with zig zag stitch.  You start with layer 4 and work down to the leg ruffles first and then up from layer 5 to 10, holding them down with your left elbow as you feed it all through the sewing machine - you have to wrestle it in to place the more layers you put on!  The next challenge is to french seam the lower centre back seam and crotch seam - don't let the tutu win...
Then we ran out of time.  Still some bits to do but so far it looks like this...

Friday September 2

Mostly hand sewing - herring bone on the facing and then 17 sets of hooks and eyes to hold the front closed.  Made a modesty panel to go behind the hooks and eyes and herring boned that on, then gathered up the lace for neck and cuffs and whip stitched it in place.  Thought about cuff decoration and realised I can't bend my arms when wearing my bodice!

Thursday September 1

First thing this morning attached epaulets to coat! Ta da!

Then had a fitting for my bustle gown.  After the fitting put in the sleeves and bound the raw edges, put on the collar and attached the facing.  Ended the day with lots of slip stitching and herring boning.

It does fit me but is a bit small for the dress form.... hmmm.