This is my grey, late Elizabethan waistcoat worn over a heavy, orange wool petticoat that is pointed to my corset. Beneath that is a simple shift and bias-cut, sewn short hose. I made this ensemble for MAAS 2010. The event was in September and I expected it to be cold. I was also quite heavy at the time and few of my gowns fit. The year before I had made an authentic corset to go with a fantasy Pirate outfit which, because it was somewhat flexible in size, still fit with just a few alterations I'd been putting off. With the corset as foundation I decided it would be simple enough to whip up a petticoat and point it to the corset to carry the weight of the heavy wool on my shoulders instead of my low back.
The grey waistcoat was the real project and I used the Tudor Tailor as a guide. I made my rough pattern by making a duct tape pattern over the corset. I then split the pattern from the hip to the waist to allow room for the gores. After some more alterations to the paper, and tons of trueing and walking of the pieces, I finally had a working pattern. I rather hate making muslins so I like to work out most of the issues on the paper. Measure twice, cut once- and all that. I really love this grey wool and the jacket went together pretty easily.
Altogether I'm quite proud of it, though there's a number of things I'd do differently the next time, and it now needs serious alterations in order to fit properly.
The grey waistcoat was the real project and I used the Tudor Tailor as a guide. I made my rough pattern by making a duct tape pattern over the corset. I then split the pattern from the hip to the waist to allow room for the gores. After some more alterations to the paper, and tons of trueing and walking of the pieces, I finally had a working pattern. I rather hate making muslins so I like to work out most of the issues on the paper. Measure twice, cut once- and all that. I really love this grey wool and the jacket went together pretty easily.
Altogether I'm quite proud of it, though there's a number of things I'd do differently the next time, and it now needs serious alterations in order to fit properly.