Say You Want a Revolution

I was going to save this for my next magazine, but I literally COULD NOT wait to show this go you guys. This will be a really cool blog, because I'm actually going to show you how the laborious pattern-making process goes, AND I get to show you the final product, from start to finish.
Above, you can see my sketch. It's a Burlesque-Marie-Antoinette-Steampunk-Saloon-Girl-Punk-Rocker look.

Granted, these pictures are out of order, but they do show the patterning process well. What they DON'T show is the part where I threw down my scissors and sharpie marker, screamed, "I SUCK as a designer!" and storm upstairs where I lie down in my bed and read "A Prairie Courtship". These dang pictures make it look like an easy and calm process, and it wasn't.

This is where I'm trying on the part-way finished product. The issue is that I have to make a pattern that works on mannequins AND real human bodies. The mannequin and I are...um....not the same size, thus I usually end up making two patterns.

This is Irish Patterning Paper, and it behaves vaguely like cloth, so it's great for cutting and designing new patterns. What the pictures DON'T show is the part where it took me about 5 yards of this stupid stuff to get the mock-up pattern right, which STILL wasn't perfect. I would cut the pattern, sew it, put it onto the mannequin, realize it was a disgrace, and then draw marker lines where it needed to be changed.

Here's the initial mock-up of the jacket. It's still not QUITE perfect here, and I do make some changes in the patterns I end up wearing below.

Simply said....don't judge me because I possibly perhaps might eat frosting from a can while I'm screaming profanities at my mannequin, my patterns, and my sewing machine. There IS a good reason I'm not a size 0.

So, the "inspiration" for this new design is fairly unabashed. I LOVE the dresses from the French Revolution. I mean, HOLY SMOKES, everything here is just bursting with sensuality. Every time I watch the Scarlet Pimpernel, I just bask in the warm glow of luxurious bosomy bodices and tight breeches. And to look like Jane Seymour in this movie!

So, here would be a much more Damselified version, obviously not remotely period and a bit more hourglassy.

I'm wearing it with a pair of our bloomettes and one of the our new overskirts with the flouncy sides!

This fabric was SOOO splendid to work with. It's a faux embroidered silk, and I thought it had just the right blend of historical coloring and texture mixed with the beauty of the abilities possessed by modern machinery.

By the way, wouldn't you just beat someone up for this CHAIR??

There, you can see the bloomers. Keep in mind, I NEVER bare this much of my legs in the everyday world. If you ever meet me in person, whether I'm costumed or not, you'll most likely not see anything above my knees. Speaking of which, I LOVE how knobby and blotchy red my knees look under the tights. You can tell I liked to play outside as a kid.

Alternate Color Version! Woot! This one looks more like my original concept drawing above.

I do apologize that you guys have to see this much of me, but I've made peace with it by telling myself that I'm sort of like a SUPER nerdy, not as-talented-OR-evil-Martha Stewart. I have lots of lovely friends that I use as models, but it's SERIOUS work to get people over, put on layers and layers of hooker makeup and cinch them in. That basically explains why you see WAY too much of me. Anyhow, we'll be listing these jacket and corset sets on artfire later this week. Oh, by the way, the "jacket" is called the "Revolution Jacket".