My Annual Sewing Rut

Once again, I have absolutely no motivation to make a single stitch of anything lately. I’ve learned that this is quite normal, and that if I force the issue I’ll regret it. I do have inspirations, though, so here are some things I would *like* to sew, at some point when I’m into it again…

Something From The Borgias…

Regardless of what the Internet thought about The Borgias
costumes, I absolutely *adored* them. Holliday Granger as Lucrezia Borgia was utterly enchanting, and I wanted pretty much all her gowns. And her hair. And her face. My goodness.

Lucrezia Borgia

I have nowhere to where such a thing, but that’s never stopped me before! Here’s my Pinterest board for The Borgias costumes.

Something From the Turn of the 17th Century…

After visiting Jamestown and then receiving Seventeenth-Century Women’s Dress Patterns: Book 1, I’ve had the itch to make a complex ensemble from this transitional period in English dress. This one below is really interesting and different, and I love it to pieces, though there are plenty of more “expected” examples I lust for too.

Portrait of a lady thought to be Vere Egerton, Mrs William Booth, attributed to Robert Peake (1541-1619)

I haven’t had a really good Renfaire outfit in years, so it’s time for something new – won’t happen in time for this year’s Valhalla Renaissance Faire, but maybe next year’s…

This Late 18th Century Pierrot Jacket…

I didn’t get this one done for Williamsburg a month ago, but it’s still on my hit list. I have the fabric I want to use (one of the Williamsburg prints), I just need to get to it…

via

Part of my “problem” recently, though, is that all my pattern are now too small (yay, amazing expanding body!). I need to let the waists out in everything, and that’s a lot of work…

Two…or Three…1830s Dresses

Yep, I’m still going on about these. I cut out some piece for a test-dress, and I have fabric for the brown, but that’s about it so far.

Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum, 1835

LACMA, 1830

Luckily Chrissy is already on-the-ball with how the beret sleeves work on the pink gown – apparently they’re harder than they appear, so I’m glad she’s figuring it out, because I’d make a mockery of it.

Something Edwardian…

I forget how much I love the Edwardian period. The blouse I found on eBay arrived and is splendid (I’ll show you photos later), and now I want a little mini-wardrobe to accompany my original pieces (all two of them…for now).

I adore the costumes from both seasons of Mr. Selfridge, particularly a suit that Ellen Love wears in Season 1. I can’t find many photos of it online, so I’ll have to track down which episode it appeared in, and take some screenshots.  Anywho…something like THAT.

I guess that’s all for now…I mean, there are 100 things I’d like to make/have, at any given moment, but they won’t just magically appear! I hope my sewing inspiration returns soon!