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Post by Val on Apr 16, 2008 11:38:36 GMT -5
My pattern *finally* arrived while I was in Kaua'i *figures*, so I am ready to start my next two Regency dresses, a white muslin, and something for the ball with an open robe. I have two fabrics for the white in mind that I already have. And this also tells me to finish my corset, which is ......maybe...halfway done.
Sadly I came down with the flu while in Kaua'i and also now have pink eye. So I have no energy to do anything but dream about it. It's tiring just to type this. So I'll sit here and let you all entertain me while I recover.
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Post by Val on Apr 27, 2008 10:38:05 GMT -5
I mentioned that my pattern arrived while I was on vacation. So now I'm sitting here looking over all my fabrics and trying to decide what colors to do my ball gown in. Of course I'm going to make one in the white batiste I have, but the ball gown needs to be fancy. I've given up on using the plum striped fabric. I do have a solid moire tafetta that might be nice as the open robe, and maybe a cream colored dress under it? I also have the soft pink fabric too. And I could use gold as an accent.
But, first things first. I'm bringing out my Regency corset and I'm going to finish it. It would be silly to try and make the dresses first. I've finished up other projects so now onto Regency. Yay!
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Post by Val on Apr 27, 2008 12:40:54 GMT -5
I just pulled out my fabrics, and now I'm considering the periwinkle blue fabric for the open robe. But neither of the champangne and the cream colored tafetta for the dress look good with it. The white is kind of white-white but all I have is cotton and batiste in white right now. I do have a white dupioni but only 5 yards, and this pattern uses 6.
I also pulled out the blue embroidered gauzy fabric, and I only bought 4 yds!!! I can only hope the store in the garment district in Los Angeles still has it. They did last Sept. Lots of it. Can only hope. The Sense & Sensibility and the Butterick only take 4 yds for the dress so I guess I could use those patterns for just that fabric. It's also possible that the reason the Reconstructing History takes so much is the long train, so maybe.....
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Post by Mrs Parker on Apr 27, 2008 16:34:57 GMT -5
Keep us posted on how this all works out. Embroidered blue gauze sounds divine.
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Post by Val on Apr 27, 2008 18:15:45 GMT -5
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Post by Mrs Parker on Apr 27, 2008 18:18:46 GMT -5
Ooo, nummers! I wants it, I does. ;D |
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Post by cosmoblue on Apr 27, 2008 19:06:52 GMT -5
Moderator Note:
Just a reminder that the section this thread is in is for reviewing patterns. Any fabric or other non review posts should be posted under the gown section. Thanks.
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Post by Val on Jun 27, 2008 21:44:39 GMT -5
I've been struggling with this pattern for the last week, and Dawn has been trying to help keep me sane doing it.
Today I had to give it up.
Where shall I start?
1. It only has written directions, no sketches or drawings. For us text-impaired people we need peektures. It assumes you knew how these work, or have seen one. (not in this camp).
2. It said to end the fabric before the lining in the front crossover portion but where? There's no indications on the pattern, no markings. I fudged it.
3. The pattern didn't say which end was the front or the back of the one long piece. Again, it assumed you knew how these worked. (not in this camp). There are no notches to even assist us text-impaired people.
4. My friend, who is a very good sewer, looked at it today and said the part that comes around the back that is eased into the little back piece was too big. I had to ease a good 8" into a 4" tiny curve, so it bunched up and didn't have the nice smooth finish it should have. We even checked to make sure I cut the correct size. She thinks it was graded up wrong.
In fact, it's not even been used to make a dress yet. (per the designer, Kass). I'm not posting any of this on LiveJournal because I know Kass is there, and you all are the only ones seeing this in writing. I am not the right person to be trying a new pattern to be able to figure out how to do it, and work it out. I don't intend to badmouth it as it's not fair when I have problems with other patterns too.
So we refitted a muslin I had for LaMode Bagatelle for a round neck (which I'd never made) and will be using the bodice portion from it to attach to the skirt and bibb of RH. It will be a fake bibb front since I like that effect.
I'd love to start sewing the LMB pattern tonight but am exhausted after all this, and will be getting up early tomorrow to be out of town for two different events. I might get a chance on Sat evening if I'm not too tired.
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Post by Mme de Beaufort on Jun 28, 2008 23:05:16 GMT -5
This does not bode well for this pattern. Perhaps because I made a bib-front sans pattern to speak of, it might work better for me, but I'm discouraged to hear this. I was planning to use this pattenr for Tara's dress as well as my own. I even ordered embroidered muslin for mine.  |
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Post by dawnluckham on Jun 29, 2008 8:11:50 GMT -5
Make a muslin first, Steph! Don't cut into your lovely embroidered fabric until you're sure it's going to work.  |
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Post by Mme de Beaufort on Jun 30, 2008 12:16:49 GMT -5
Without a doubt. ::urgh::
Still.... I was hoping someone'd finish it before me. I guess I'll have to chronicle that project.
I have four upcoming projects:
1 frock coat for Mr. Kevin (before Aug 1--perhaps earlier)
1 gown for Tara (before Aug 1)
1 frock coat for DH
1 ballgown for me
I suppose i should chronicle the project. Especially the ballgown for me; because I ordered through etsy, an embroidered muslin that has a similar design to the Danish extant garment. I'll post stuff about it as I go along. I was hoping to marry a number of elements from various patterns; the crossover from Bagatelle, the skirts and back from RH837.... We'll see what sort of frankenproject it becomes, I suppose.
Steph
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Post by Val on Jun 30, 2008 21:19:33 GMT -5
I was hoping to marry a number of elements from various patterns; the crossover from Bagatelle, the skirts and back from RH837.... We'll see what sort of frankenproject it becomes, I suppose. That's exactly what I'm doing, a Frankenproject. The bodice will be from the bodiced petticoat of LMB, with a narrow fake bib, and the remaining skirt already cut out from RH. I'm sewing the bias fabric around the neckline right now. So far I'm liking how this bodice looks. I raised the neckline by one inch since I didn't want the bodiced petticoat to show if I get it done, and can use it in place of the corset. Once I sew this, I'm going to cut out my embroidered voile w/ blue flowers so I have a day dress to wear at Costume College. The white one is an evening fabric. |
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Post by aylwen on Jul 1, 2008 2:13:01 GMT -5
What worries me about this pattern and the other regency patterns by this designer is the lack of evidence that they've actually been used to make a garment. For them to cost this much, you would expect them to have been at least trialled.
Just my gripe for the day,
Aylwen
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Post by Val on Jul 1, 2008 12:16:49 GMT -5
I hear you, Aylwen. I learned an expensive mistake. I think she was just going by her reputation with her previous patterns, which were no where close to this era.
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Post by Mme de Beaufort on Jul 1, 2008 17:42:16 GMT -5
I will reserve my judgement until I've done the pattern myself.
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Post by lauren on Jul 1, 2008 20:54:04 GMT -5
I think I shall wait until I hear about the finished project before I venture out and buy the pattern myself. :-)
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Post by aylwen on Jul 1, 2008 21:03:53 GMT -5
I've bought the patterns but haven't had the chance to trial them yet. I'm hoping that she kept close to the Janet Arnold patterns, because I hate drafting, and this will certainly save me drafting time. But if she has changes arms etc I won't be a happy camper.
Aylwen
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Post by Val on Jul 2, 2008 10:16:57 GMT -5
Just pay close attention to the back where the curves meet. I was told by my friend it was scaled up wrong, and it looks like I have mini balloons back there.
I'd be interested if you can figure this thing out.
What I can't understand is there are so many new costumers out there now, can't the pattern companies, who want to tap into this growing market, understand that many of us have never seen one of these to *know* how they should be sewn together w/o good directions and pictures?
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Post by Mme de Beaufort on Oct 31, 2008 12:36:35 GMT -5
Okay, a warning for those of you who haven't gotten this pattern yet. I now know from experience what Val meant by the curves. The pieces from this pattern are very badly matched together. I started tracing and cutting pattern pieces from tissue paper last night to make a gown, and I was shocked at how ill-matched the pieces are. The 'notch' on the back piece is not only a different arc than the corresponding back/side piece, but the back/side piece is at least three inches longer than the back itself, so you'll likely end up with lots to trim. Another issue that made me stop working on this particular pattern is that the shoulder-strap is not a fixed size, it is to be adjusted by you to fit you, so since this gown was being made for someone else, I simply put away the pieces and set that pattern aside, and decided to take the Mode Bagatelle pattern for the false-drop-front and make it a real drop-front instead. At least I know the pieces fit together and that the shoulder strap length is correct, and I don't have to have the person present just to sew a simple bodice.  I'm not pleased with this pattern at this point. We'll see if there are future uses for it. And if so, I'll review further. It sort of makes me mad, considering how much these patterns cost. |
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Post by dawnluckham on Oct 31, 2008 13:51:03 GMT -5
Me too, Steph, me too...
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Where so many hours have been spent in convincing myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong? ~ Jane Austen 
