Gamurra: First steps

So after making a third bodice mock-up that I was happy with I got my fabric last week. After washing, drying and ironing my silk I bought new fabric scissors last Saturday. Not just scissors, but also golden trim, gold metallic thread for said trim and decorative stitches and thread for the turquoise fabric.

What started out as just cutting the pieces ended up in a nearly finished bodice. Still needs to be trimmed and properly ironed at this point. Also need eyelets for the lacing in the back, but that will be after the trim has been added.

The photo doesn't do the colour justice. It's blue, but sometimes green and I love how it looks with the golden color. The trim is slightly more golden yellow, so that adds some depth to the garment. I still want to make some small alterations to the bodice, mostly in the back so the fit is even better and it's easier to dress. 

The skirt pieces are also sewn together and I finished the seams. I want to do big boxpleats with more trims in the middle of the pleats. I'm debating where I will put the skirt. Right now the bodice is for the skirt to start at the hip. I kinda want to lift it up a bit so it starts just below my breasts like it does on this picture: 

Will pleat the skirt on a band so I can see how it will look like by just pinning this band onto the bodice. 

Gamurra: mock up done

I finished the square necked chemise and 2 different bodices.  They're all just mock-ups. For the right look and feel.

Picture time:

Finished chemise: 

Finished high bodice: 
After this bodice I tried it on and found out that my tailoring dummy is bigger than myself. I had to buy another one and adjust the next bodice for my own fit. Luckily this was easily done.

Finished low bodice: It's View VIII on the pattern. On the new dummy so it fits better.

I kinda like the look with the lower cleavage. But I think I'm going to alter the patterns to make a more half breasted look. So a third bodice will be made.


In other news! I also have a facebook group where I will update on a more regular basis. Also with smaller updates.

Camicia: Mock-up sort of finished

So today I had some time to kill and decided to work on the camicia mock-up. It's almost finished. Just need to press the seams and hem the underside. Perhaps, because it is a mock-up meant for fitting beneath the gamurra I won't hem it. Nobody will see it. It will be our little secret.

But pictures:

The camicia without sleeves and facing. And my closet at the back! 

 

With sleeves but without facing:

 

And finished. You can see the facing shining through, but that's okay. It's meant as an undergarment. 

 

Details for fun: 

Camicia: First steps

So yesterday I traced the pattern for the camicia and cut the fabric. I used the Cheesecloth, since I will be making a prototype first. I also decided to make the quare necked chemise from the patterns, instead of the round necked. Perhaps I will still make the round necked, depending on how it will look under the dress.

I've sewn the fronts together and will continue later with the rest. When it's all together I might thrown it over my Dummy to make some pictures.

Italian Renaisance Gown: Camicia fabric bought

Please let me know what you think. Suggestions and feedback is GREATLY appreciated. I am a learning seamstress so any tips are more than welcome.

 

 Camicia

 So today I went to the market for a quick fabric run. Hoping to find some fabric suitable for the Camicia. Luckily the stall I normally go to was there with plenty of sheer white fabrics (for curtains, but who cares). I debated getting a plain sheer white and a sheer white with some embroidered white hearts on it, but settled on the plain white fabric, since I'm not certain I want to have embroidering on the entire fabric.
It's a pretty light fabric and has the texture and sheerness I wanted. Organza has a lovely look, but is too shiny and more firm than the sleek fabric I have now.

I also bought an off white linen like fabric. He didn't have linen, but this fabric is slightly less thick. Since it was only an euro per metre I just bought a few metres. It will be a nice fabric for a prototype Camicia or the Gamurra.

Here's a picture. Linenish fabric on the left, sheer sleek fabric on the right.

Gamurra and Giornea fabric choices

I've ordered samples of Dupion Silk to see which colour I would be using for the dress itself.
 I can't really capture the colours well on my camera, so I used the shops tumbnail:

The Gamurra will be made of a Turqoise kind of colour.

 For contrast fabric on the Gamurra will be a golden colour.

The Giornea will be made of a contrasting red scarlet: Perhaps I'll also make an Emerald coloured Giornea, but that coloured didn't add contrast to the dress, but sort of blended in. It's a nice look, but 'safe'.

 

Please let me know what you think. Suggestions and feedback is GREATLY appreciated. I am a learning seamstress so any tips are more than welcome.

 

New project plans: Italian Renaissance Gown, inspired by the Borgia's

Please let me know what you think. Suggestions and feedback is GREATLY appreciated. I am a learning seamstress so any tips are more than welcome.

Photo from the Borgias.

I've watched The Borgias, a intrigue ridden show about the same named family. Although the story is awesome I fell in love with the costumes. Lavish, silky dresses with braided and jeweled hair. It's all quite lavish and gorgeous. It made me want to make a dress like that.

The Italian gown, or Gamurra doesn't have stays and hoops and is very versatile as it has sleeves tied to the bodice with ribbons. This allows a person to change the sleeves quite easily. It's not uncommon to see the same dress with different sleeves to give it a whole other feel. Therefore it's perfect for a beautiful, comfortable and versatile Shop-outfit for my Festival-Going-ways. An outfit that isn't as big as crinolines which I often wear on the first day so I can do some dancing and shopping. The Fairy Queen or Miss Hartigan dresses wear pretty, but hard to get into a small stand with it.

Since this has a different silhouette than my previous dresses I will need to make the undergarments as well.
So this is what I will make:

Camicia

The light colored under-dress is a sort of shift. It was worn as a layer between the skin and fine dress to absorb most of the body fluids. The Camicia is visible in this type or dress, showing between the sleeves and at the cleavage. 

I'm using pattern Period Patterns™ number 90. It has a wide array of different undergarments. I will be making the chemise of view 3. 

I'm intending to make it in a white slightly sheer fabric for aesthetic reasons, but will also be making a warmer version for colder days. It will be detailed with perhaps a few decorative stitching with gold. 

Gamurra

The dress itself is called the Gamurra. For this I will use Period Patterns™ number 41 I'm not sure about the sleeves I want for this. 

In contrast with previous dresses I mad this one will have lots of trims and ribbons. 

I will use dupion silk in blue/green and gold with golden trims and details. 

Giornea

This is a sleeveless overdress, often worn when going out. For this I will use the same pattern package as the Gamurra since this includes a Giornea. 

I will use dupion silk in either a contrasting Red or a more matching Emerald green. With both colors I will have golden trims and details. 

Please let me know what you think. Suggestions and feedback is GREATLY appreciated. I am a learning seamstress so any tips are more than welcome.

 

Fairy Queen: Finished!

So I finished the Fairy Queen dress just in time for the Elf Fantasy Fair.

So without further ado some pictures:
Picture by Zita Hisschemöller

The shoulders are a bit long so it didn't fall quite right around my bust.  Perhaps I will change this later.
Also the wings drooped, as you can see on this picture. I will also try to change this for the future. Perhaps even make new wings. I saw some beautiful wings in Elfia which really inspired me.