Every costume has it's problems....

I have been working on the breeches today for the costume store. Since starting this project I have learnt so much already, especially when it comes to independent learning. I feel far more confident making something now than I have ever done before. I can see clearly each time I make something how much my skills are improving. This week I have finished cutting and mark tacking the breeches and started making the front. This involves heavily hand-sewing and ensuring the pinstripes of my fabric match up. What has been interesting is making a garment in cream and in stripes, as I have never done this before. However I have already found that its so hard keeping it clean!! Even though I have thought my hands are clean Dexter has told me that the fabric is getting dirty so I must wash my hands every 2 hours. Never would I have imagined how hard it would be!

The other pain I have found with this garment is the jiggers, the front two arrows on the front opening. Again due to the cream stripes and the fabric it has been a nightmare trying to keep these visually even and neat with the handsewing. I have felt it has really tested my patience and skills with costume making. Eventually after re-doing them three times I eventually got there. It was a struggle but worth it. I still feel I could have made these even better however due to the overworking of the fabric I felt there was only so many times I could unpick my stitching. At times I do get frustrated as I wish I knew how to do everything first time perfectly and neatly, however I know this will never happen as I am still learning so much, especially when it comes to anything new. From this as a costume maker I have learnt that you are constantly improving and learning and whenever you look back at your work you will still feel that you could have done some things better.

Next week I will hopefully have made more progress and the breeches will look more like a garment!