Post the Second: Gathering Way Too Many Bookmarks

     So last time there was a laundry list of things to do and start gathering. At this juncture that means bookmarking a thousand things and then waiting like an ambush predator for it to go on sale. 

    What? Did you really think I was going to pay full price? For any of this? I'm flattered. But you saw that sketch. I have a job, sure, but it doesn't pay sword-pimp levels of money.

    This go-around the fabric order included some red corduroy, gold belt buckles, and ostrich feathers. Also included, for no additional charge, was a month long shipping ordeal as everybody's packages got snarled, lost, and then found again. Love ordering stuff in December. Never a dull moment. Everyone should try it at least once. Oh wait. They did.

Eeesh. Only been worn once and it already looks worse for wear. So embarrassing.

 

    The feathers do fluff up the hat a bit. They're...not bad. Just one would think eight ostrich feathers would be fluffier? Glad they were on clearance. Think I get why they were on clearance.

    Fabric itself is a 21 wales per inch Featherwale Cotton Corduroy in their "Wildberry" color. These wales can run either vertically or perpendicular to the garment, but the former is more common and is what I'm sticking with. 21 means fairly thin wales--which gives the fabric this really nice texture that shouldn't overwhelm the whole design--and if I cut it with the nap facing up, it can have a slight sheen to it that's pleasant without looking cheap or plastic-y. Hopefully.

    (Apologizing right now if you're not familiar with sewing terminology. You did not come here to learn things. That wasn't part of the deal and in that respect I have failed you miserably. But also you have access to the internet and can probably figure out the whatever anyway.) 

Here's a quick test of your screen's resolution.

 

    It's not terribly stiff nor chunky, so it shouldn't be a nightmare to drag through a machine (more hoping). Making sure the wales line up will probably shave years off my life, but it feels nice in hand and should look refined in the final outfit.

    If you couldn't guess, I've never actually sewn corduroy before. I've messed with other fussy fabrics, sure. (Lycra made me want to bludgeon myself to death with my own machine and minky required covering up head to toe and wearing a respirator.) Surely though, this is something sewists on the internet can help with? Yes, and how.

Tips!

- Corduroy sheds worse than a cat. Have a lint roller on hand.
    Jokes on them. I have an actual cat and already own the required lint roller.

- Fraying edges can be a problem, so consider serging the edges.
    Which my machine can't do. Because it's not a serger. But it can do a zigzag stitch and that should be comparable to the cut and overlock stitch of a serger.

- Avoid pressing with an iron. If you have to, turn the garment inside out and use lots of steam.

    This does not fill me with confidence.

 

-Basting pieces together can help line everything up. 

     Probably also a good idea as the pant pattern I'm using has a two way stretch, while corduroy just has the one way.

 

    So, to sum up, don't wait 'till the last minute to start sewing. Don't. Do that. Got that, me?

   As an aside, this fabric is lovely but a pain to photograph. So if you notice the color not exactly lining up photo to photo, you're not insane. Swear to you this is all the same cut of cloth.

 

   On the upside, it gets along great with the vest. Hot damn! That's one less thing to do. Just 99 more to go. (cries)

I may have made a very high pitched noise seeing this.

    On an entirely different front, I had a bunch of chainmail supplies leftover from another project (as one does), so trying my hand at making a little bag for the belt. Never made one before with such a complicated scale pattern, so no idea how this will turn out. Could be good! Could be crap!

 

Not telling you WHAT that pattern is because no one here is an idiot.

 

    It occurs to me that my dingus self forgot to order any lining for the jacket and pants. So add that to the long list of bookmarks. Amazing, isn't it, how one simple thing balloons into ten?

That's plenty for now though. Off to comb the internet for jacket lining, bridal lace, and probably some other thing I'm forgetting. 

 

Next time: Pointy things! Sanding! Glue?

Material Directory

Fabric: Mood Fabrics

Chainmail rings: Metal Designz

Chainmail scales: Weave Got Maille

 

NOTE: Any sites listed aren't a promotion of said site. They are simply where I found the thing. In fact, if you know of a better place to find the thing it would certainly be extremely polite to let me know.

Current background music: Hello Meteor. "Using the Rain as Cover." Premium Grey Market.

Time until deadline: 6 months, 5 weeks