I just got a fancy new sewing machine, and I'm selling the old one. Yours for a mere $75! Follow the link to ebay.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Sewing Machine for Sale
I just got a fancy new sewing machine, and I'm selling the old one. Yours for a mere $75! Follow the link to ebay.
Monday, December 13, 2010
An 18th Century Commission
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Glitter and Gloom Dilemma
I checked my stash, and I only have 2 yards and change of the skull brocade. That'e enough to squeeze out a Victorian bodice, but nowhere near enough to make an 18th century Anglaise. It seems I have to reconsider my options.
- Option 1: Buy more skull brocade off ebay at $15 a yard. I'll need about 4 yards.
- Option 2: Use the 2 yards I already have to make a Victorian bodice and use the late 1880s-inspired gear I've already got.
- Option 2: Use the sari I wore to New Orleans to make an 18th century gown and go for the "glitter" side of Glitter and Gloom.
Thoughts?
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Steampunk Tea at the Mark Twain House
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Works in Progress
I did a few updates over at the main site: www.arachneattire.com. I've got the beginnings of a navy uniform for a LARP, and a handful of other things. Enjoy.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tentacle Dress, at long last
Chinese New Year Ball
The shrug is a separate piece, and man was it a pain to fit. Modern tailoring and pattern shapes confuse me. I cut my teeth on the 18th century. These modern curved lines just upset me.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Garnet 1878 Fantail Skirt
I can't claim credit for the corset (meschantes.com), but the skirt I made to wear with it. It's a cheap acetate taffeta in dark changeable red with self and braided trim. It's really quite simple. It's gathered at the back, and there's a little decorative strip buttoned on for flourish where the fantail begins.
I rigged up a hitch for the train with a side loop and button that also holds a matching drawstring tassel bag for hotel room keys, money and other goodies. It's not at all bad on comfort when the train is hitched up. I wore it dancing at a club for hours with no issues.
Friday, September 10, 2010
A Wedding Comission
The back for this mock up is the same as the one for the tentacle dress, but back lacing.
The skirt, I'm toying with Truly Victorian's natural form "Fantail" that I have used many times, and the 4 gore underskirt with poufs tied in.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
7th Sea Coat
The waistcoat is an adaptation of JP Ryan's 18th century waistcoat. It has 18 tiny buttons, working pockets and fitted lines. It's made of heavy weight linen, and I have found after several plain white linen 18th century military waistcoats for reenacting, top stitching on all the edges goes a long way to reinforcing the structural integrity of such a flimsy fabric.
Friday, September 3, 2010
What to do with tentacles...
For the bodice, I was thinking of a long row of tiny mother of pearl buttons. Possibly some glass pearl beading at the neck line, or maybe some orderless self trim with some dangly bits to further suggest "sea witch". I have yet to put in buttonholes or anything else, and the bodice is unattractively pinned to norma-jean (the dummy) whose dimensions are slightly different than my own corseted dimensions.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Items For Sale
Gothic Marie Antoinette - $29
Indian Fire Victorian Bustle Ensemble - $99
Brown and Gold Painted Kimono - $30 or best offer
Own a nice piece of original art and help me feed my fabric addiction!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Uh oh....
Friday, July 30, 2010
Preview: Tentacles!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Red and Gold Bustle Dress For Sale
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
17th Century Ensemble Update
June 29, 2010: After much hand sewing, we had a functional pair of front and back lacing stays suitable for the 17th and 18th centuries. Now with the major underpinnings finished, starting on fitting the jacket could begin. I started with a mock up cut from the Reconstructing History English Civil War pattern. A few minor tweaks later, I was ready to cut into the linen. The lady chose a vibrant mustard yellow for the jacket.
The stays are pretty straight up. I used cable ties for the bones, and strips of the same un-dyed linen for binding. With the straps, it gives a lot of support but does not really restrict movement. Now I just need to replace the somewhat less-than-period cord with some linen tape.


The stays are pretty straight up. I used cable ties for the bones, and strips of the same un-dyed linen for binding. With the straps, it gives a lot of support but does not really restrict movement. Now I just need to replace the somewhat less-than-period cord with some linen tape.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Stays Update
I will be adapting the pattern from Reconstructing History for a 1630s look.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Linen Stays
I was hired by a friend to make a 17th century wardrobe for a one woman show on witchcraft. Figuring I needed to stat from the foundation up, I started on a pair of stays that could work for both the 17th and 18th centuries out of natural un-dyed linen. To make a patter, I wrapped her and an old tshirt in duct tape.
This allowed me to get a great approximate shape of her torso and the position and length of the straps without actual pattern drafting skills. After I had the general shape I wanted, I stuck pins in to mark the natural waist and other landmarks, and cut it off of her. I then used this duct tape exoskeleton (combined with a bit of reference from the Simplicity 18th century underpinnings pattern) to make the actual stays.
Visit arachneattire.com/ginny.html for all the pictures!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
The Trashiest Skirt Ever (tm)
Pattern: Draped by me
When I saw the remnant of the fuzzy leopard print stuff, I knew it was for Gianna - a Jersey Girl I play in oWBN Sabbat. I quickly cut it out in this lovely pencil skirt shape, but I was unsure of what to do with the closure. I hate zippers, and buttons weren't really an option. I settled on the trashiest thing I could think of: eyelets!
Take a look over at arachneattire.com/leopardskirt.html for more pictures.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
A Steampunk Suit
Fabric: Synthetic brown and gold Sari bought off e-bay
Pattern: Based on TV four-gore skirt pattern, modified to be worn without a bustle, and a doublet-esque bodice draped by me.
I am still not entirely sure where I was going with this or what I was doing, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. At one point I had an idea to go to a rennaissance faire dressed as a neo-victorian time traveller who was aiming for the actual renaissance and missed. Call it boredom, call it distraction - but certainly don't call it period.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
A few updates to arachneattire.com
April 15, 2010 - 7th Sea Dress, for the Beltaine Ball.
April 15, 2010 - VE Day Dress, for a WWII themed picnic this May.
April 15, 2010 - VE Day Dress, for a WWII themed picnic this May.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Black Velvet Mini Top Hat
I cut out two ovals with pinking shears following the general shape of the brim and crown. I left some extra space to cover over the top and bottom of the brim and so the crown pieces would hang down a bit. I then cut a strip to go around the band.
The piece around the brim has a hole cut in the center. Through this hole, I slipped the hat. You might be able to make out the little triangles I cut out of it around where the fabric touches the actual straw. This has the effect of making the fabric lay straight on the frame.
Next, I attached the brim cover with a simple straight stitch around it's edge. I then gathered the rest of the fabric draw string style, and tacked it down on the inside, sewing along where the crown attaches to the brim. The crown cover was relatively simple to attach.
Next the band went on, hiding the ragged edges of the crown and brim covers. This was a little awkward, as I used an invisible stitch, which I'm sure has a very descriptive and practical name. I tried to capture it in the picture in thumb #6. I left the inside un-finished, and attached a plastic comb that came with the hat from Bakers. A few pieces of Black Lady Church Hat trimmings later, and we were in business.
Click on the thumbnails to see larger images - as always.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Project Costume Box
I, and a few of my sisteren have been commissioned with the task of filling the Honor and Steel costume box with as many kimono/haori etc as we can. Somewhere on the order of 115 yards of cotton in different colors has been purchased, and the first few have made it to game. Last night during the snowstorm, I threw together a full length kimono in deep blue. Enlisting the help of DN, I painted the mon of the Crane clan on the back. One down, a bajillion to go.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
A Closure Solution
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
1912 Project
Pattern: ?? - but inspired by the Alfred Angelo bridesmaid dress I wore to a friend's wedding as well as a drawing on page 192 of JoAnne Ollan's Victorian and Edwardian Fashions from La Mode Illustree - . "Ball toilette" - White charmeuse with green pailletted braid. Surplice bodice; the front is decorated with small rounded corselet of emerald silk. The sleeves are edged with beaded fringe.
I intend to make something similar someday. Now ask me for what.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Travel Tea Box
Fabric: Red velvet from a torn up skirt, leftover black crepe
Pattern: Trial and error
I often bring a tea set to various LARPs, and I needed a way to transport it without fear of it being broken. Foam seemed a natural choice. DN's mother had some foam leftover from a custom made windowseat, so I took a razor to it to make fitted inserts for a cheap little tea set I bought at the Asian grocery store.
Step one: buy tea set and find a box big enough for it.
Step Two: Cut foam in the size and shape of the box.
Step Three: Trace the shapes of the teapot and cups in the foam. Step Four: Use the razor blade to score the foam, and then pick it out with fingers in the shape of the teapot and cups.
Step Five: Cut foam to fit the top half of the box, and make necessary cut-outs so the teapot and cups fit snugly between the two layers.
Step Six: Cover foam with fabric and secure with hot glue in the recessions and on the back.
To see the nitty gritty of the process and the how to, visit http://www.arachneattire.com/teabox.html
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Green Wool Frock Coat
Conceived as a novelty from the leftovers of AS's coat, I combined the neckline of the JP Ryan waistcoat, the box pleats of the JP Ryan frock coat, and the general shape of the simplicity pattern. I removed the godets the Simplicity pattern calls for - the fullness is more reminiscent of the 17th century - and added a rather 19th century looking standing collar.
I think the collar could have used something to stiffen it - or maybe I'll remove it. It's itchy and in an awkward place, but it looks somewhat unfinished without it. Also, the cotton lining does not slide the way I would like, and clothes worn under the coat bunch up in terrible ways. I suppose it's a work in progress. I intended to wear it as an every-day outer garment, but the buttons and general anachronistic feel make me a bit apprehensive about wearing it in public as clothing and not some theatrical costume.
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