Wednesday 15 April 2009

Draping costumes


It's been a frenzy of dot and cross paper here in The House of Marmalade as over the past few days I've been re-drafting my skirt block - at my last pattern cutting class we discovered that something had gone drastically wrong in between proceedings and the block had somehow shrunk. Unfortunately, I had not shrunk. Rather, I seem to have expanded a little! So while I was drafting that up (hurrah! it fits now), and making up a practice skirt (forgot to take a picture) I had a sudden bolt of inspiration for my next "costume". That's what i'm interested in - corsety costumes.

When I drape fabric around my dress form (Madge the material girl), the ideas just flow and flow and flow, I get extremely excited, laughing, smiling and hopping around the room!

Here's one I made two years ago. From Madge to me (and back again).

This project was a bustle. I had seen the red organza in a shop and just HAD to have some.


I wrapped it around Madge, figured out a pattern, and made it up with an old voile curtain which was a similar weight to the organza.

Made a few adjustments
Then sewed it all together


et Voila!


So I went through the beginnings of that process again today with some amazing fabric I bought quite a while ago. It's black net with silver coloured rubber bobbles pressed onto it. I was a bit worried about sewing it, but a practice run with a ball point needle seemed to work just fine. This will form a feature on the corset section, with some furry beaded trim.

The skirt is a lovely soft net which I purchased from The Cloth House in London last year. It was a remnant so much cheaper than if I'd bought it from the roll, and just enough to make a lovely long skirt. I have added a long tassely trim to the bottom of the corset section.

I will use more of the rubbery fabric to make a train

Very Exciting! Now Madge has to wear the outfit for a bit while I procrastinate over the finer details.

18 comments:

  1. And I thought I was doing well altering a little girl pattern to make a dress from a top. Sigh. Really inspirational.

    But come now, I think I saw you describing yourself as 'unphotogenic' somewhere or other - in that photo you look perfectly lovely and unspeakably glam!

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  2. cor. I can feel the excitement radiating of my screen!

    Good work girl!

    x

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  3. If you are 'expanded', you must have been TEEEEENY before. I marvelled at how slim you were at the picnic.

    Love those corsets - you are a clever blogger.

    x

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  4. wow!

    I have nothing else... I am speeechless!

    I wish I had the figure to wear it!

    x Alex

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  5. Amazing work and don't you look fabulous! Can't wait to see you in the new creation.

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  6. Wow - I'm impressed...thinking in 3d is hard enough...but drafting patterns and sewing in 3d is a whole other matter!

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  7. Blimey days - some gobsmacking skills here. At first I thought it was a lady from photoshop or something but now I realise it's you in the photo - Lawks! You look fabulous.

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  8. I love your dressform! Your talent isn't shabby either :)

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  9. What an exciting process. A twist and a bit of ruching, pin it up, then stitch it together. I love it!!

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  10. You are always doing different things! Your blog is always so entertaining and diverse!

    I'd love to make corsets, and underwears of all kinds. I just don't have any patterns or good fabric sense yet.

    YAY!

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  11. Wow how stunning you are so clever and brilliantly talented. Well done. xx

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  12. OMG! Julia... how brilliant!! I have a pattern for a bustle but its not even halfway as nice as the one you just seem to have conjured up! How clever you are!

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  13. So very Dita Von Teese!!! I dare you to wear it to the supermarket!!

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  14. Fantastic work and you look soooo glam missus. Our goodies arrived today, thank you sooooo much, Twiglet is very excited about his lovely bag and flannel and monkey soap :)
    twiggy x

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  15. SENSATIONAL, Julia!! Very inspiring...You are the queen of corsetry! Happy Days ((HUGS))

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  16. great work, cant wait to see the finished corset in that fab material

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  17. Wow! Sex on legs there, girl.

    I'm jealous.

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