frustration! inertia!

[anotheranon]

I scanned copies of the Vionnet cape pattern today and am debating what to do next. I could make a Barbie-sized mock up with what I have, but it would be tricky to imagine seam allowances that tiny, and would not provide a real idea of what it would take to make a wearable version. I'm awaiting feedback from H-Costume regarding how to size this thing up, and feel rather helpless until I hear from them!

Looking at so many things I want to make, and NEED to make, for Costume Con next year - yeah, it's 6 months away but these things take time to do well. I may start trying to draft a wizard fencing jacket pattern from my real fencing jacket tonight or tomorrow, but I'm so disheartened by the fact that I don't have the re$sources to do much else that it's very, very hard to get motivated :(

Time management will be slightly less of an issue once October rolls around, as I'll have jury duty - assuming I'm not selected for anything, I'll have the rest of the day free (and even if I don't I can catch up on a lot of reading during that time!)

Comments

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

I could make a Barbie-sized mock up with what I have, but it would be tricky to imagine seam allowances that tiny, and would not provide a real idea of what it would take to make a wearable version.

Agreed. Anything Barbie-sized is a bitch to sew and should be left to the insane. I do have a suggestion that shouldn't put a strain on your wallet. If you scout through a few secondhand stores, local Salvation Army store, whatever, you should be able to find an old adult-figured doll on a larger scale ... one can usually find 70s-manufactured ones in the 18-22 inch range ... for about five dollars (or even less, if you grab one whose hair has been to war and possibly not returned ***grin***). Not even twice as big as Barbie, but an easier scale to work in, far more realistically proportioned and still won't eat up all your practice fabric (which will drape far more realistically over this larger size).

I look forward to hearing your progress on this project ... Vionnet was a unique talent and anything based on her patterns is gonna be gorgeous.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Just heard back from h-costume: the patterns in the book are not to any defined scale; they're just there to provide an idea as to Vionnet's cut and drape :(

However, the pattern in question is simple enough where I think I can draw something reasonably proportional using my own front neck-to-floor measurement as a basis for sizing up the other measurements, most of which are straight lines.

Keep in mind, progress may take a very long time - I'll probably start with a 1/2 or 1/3 size like you suggest, and then we'll see. Wish me luck!