Question

For those of you that have competed at Costume Con before- I've been toying with the idea of entering the Historical Masquerade, but I'm not quite sure what skill level I should enter as. I don't consider myself a Novice, because I've been sewing seriously for more than half my life, but apart from 4H ages ago, I've never entered or won any competitions. And does making and selling historical clothing for bjds make me a professional? Once I actually hit the break-even point and start making money doing it, it will constitute a large part of my income. (The problem with being self-employed: until I make money, I'm basically unemployed.) Does that mean I have to enter as a Master? That's a somewhat intimidating prospect.

If I do enter, I'm not sure if I'll use my charlesii gown or another idea I've been toying with. I'll probably decide within the next couple of weeks as I source fabric and stuff for a few outfits I'm hoping to have for CC.

The Mom Chronicles, Part I

My mom is a big Poe fan, and passed that on to me when I was fairly young. Back in October when I told her about the Bicentennial events at the end of this month, she said she wanted to go as well. My response was that she had to dress up as well, and she waffled about it until Saturday, when bauhausfrau put out a call for numbers.

I told her I'd help her with an outfit, which really translates into I'll make the whole outfit. We decided on the early 1840s bodice(Diagram XLIV) in The Cut of Women's Clothes with a plain skirt. I'd just bought a charcoal grey wool blend with fushia and cream plaid stripes which we'll use for her. She doesn't want to wear a corset, so instead I talked her into lightly boned stays instead. I'm using Past Patterns' Wedding Stays for her. I did up a muslin yesterday and today I cut out the fabric. She picked an olive twill for the face and an olive/cream check for the lining and binding. Tomorrow I'll sew up as much as I can. The pattern only calls for a wooden busk and cording around the bust gussets and at the center back, but I plan to add a few channels of spiral boning for support. I'm out of grommets, so finishing the stays will have to wait until after we go up to Grannd Companies Friday, because I refuse to pay $10 in shipping when it's only a 45 minute drive away. Especially since a gross of 00 grommets only costs $8.40.

More to come as I work.