Friday, March 2, 2012

Bustle Skirt-Making Resources

Greetings and welcome to my blog!

 
I want to thank all those who were able to make it to my easy bustle-making panel at Anachrocon. Those who weren't able to make it, I'm currently in negotiations to run it at again at STEAMFest in April. Anyhoo here's a quick recap of what we went over:

 
Step 1: The Bustle Pad/Pillow
  • Make from scratch
  • Bags, belt bags, fanny packs, etc.
  • Sewn-in supports
  • Modified pillow
  • Get creative…
Milk Jug Bustle of Holding!!!
Step 2: Choose Your Fabric
  • Every fabric behaves differently.
  • For a structured look, opt for a stiffer fabric. Ex: Taffeta, dupioni, brocade, upholstery
  • For a softer look, opt for more pliable fabrics: Ex: Charmeuse, silk habotai, rayon
  • Fabrics to avoid: stretchy fabric, transparent fabrics, thick vinyl
Step 3: Choose Your Method
  • Channels
  • Point by Point (sewn, safety pins, ribbon ties, etc.)
  • Free-Form Draping (requires dress form)
  • Patterns
Some quick notes/reminders on draping overskirts:
  • For a tie-on skirt without a pad, you'll want fabric at least 45" in width selvage to selvage. With a pad, you'll want 60".
  • Remember to finish the edges of your fabric before draping (rolled hem for anything not nylon or polyester based, otherwise a lighter to melt the edges should suffice)
  • If you make a two-part skirt (front and back) make sure that there is an overlap of a few inches on each side, otherwise you might end up flashing someone.
And here at last what you've been looking for: tutorials, links, and resources!

 
Commercial Overskirt Patterns to Look For:
Historical Pattern Sites:

 
Alright, well I hope this list helped you and if you have any questions, feel free to comment on this post!

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