While I didn't intend to make this item for a challenge, it happens to fit in quite nicely. I am submitting my quickie-"Candy Stripe" bustle :D
Version 2
I started going through the Facebook albums for inspiration. There are so many amazing things that people have been making and posting, it's been such a pleasure to take part in the challenge, even if I have been quite rubbish at making and posting my own items. Even just to see what everyone comes up with, it's been a wonderful 1.75 years! (Almost 2 years already?!) September was, as I'm sure you're aware from my previous posts, a giant time-suck, and I got precisely nothing done on the challenges due that month. October is a very short month, and then in November I will be writing a novel, so if I manage to get any sewing done, it will have to be small. The rest of the year is not looking particularly hopeful for challenge completions.
Then, as I was going through the albums, I remembered some lovely pieces, and sought them out specifically. In particular, there was two from Asa:
Lobster bustle (Photoshoot)
Mini-lobster bustle
and one from Michelle L:
Star Trek Lobster bustle
And not specifically from an HSF participant, or even made in these past 2 years, but an inspiration nonetheless:
Katherine's lobster bustle
The night before the train excursion, I knew I needed a second bustle since I would need to lend one to my sister. I toyed with the idea of a pillow or pad, and eventually settled on making a mini-lobster. I'd wanted to make one for awhile, and also try out some of the leftover tubing from my farthingale to see how it would hold up.
Spoiler: it holds up very well!
I used the bustle frame base from Truly Victorian's Petticoat with Wire Bustle. In retrospect, I should have re-cut my pattern instead of using the one from 2006, but it served its purpose. I changed the boning pattern a bit to hopefully provide a bit more support over the top curve, but I don't think I planned it quite right. I get more of a "shelf butt", and I've just noticed as I went to photograph it that the top most bone kind of collapses in to sit more in line with the bone below it. Nothing a little pad wouldn't cure, if it truly bothered me. The only other problem I found was that with the lightness of the tubing, any time I sat down the bottom tubes would curl up into the bustle and I would have to fish them back down. I think this will be alleviated by having attached the ruffle. All in all, I was quite pleased with the final result. It provides a nice shape, is very light, and I barely noticed I was wearing it at all.
Version 1
Just under a month later, I added the ruffle and waist ties to finish it. I still want to add a lace-up panel in the back so that it lays flat when not in use, but I don't have enough grommets right now to do it justice. It will have to wait, and it's totally wearable in the meantime. :)
The Challenge: #19 Inspiration
Fabric: cotton sheeting?
Pattern: Base from Truly Victorian, with inspiration from American Duchess
Year: early 1870s
Notions: thread, plumbing tubing, bias tape
How historically accurate is it?: In shape, pretty good!
Hours to complete: 3
First worn: September 13, 2014
Total cost: around $5 (mostly for the tubing)
Love this silhouette :)
