Idle Hands...The Ms-Fits' Workshop

skirt over large false rump 18th Century skirt based on the American Duchess Simplicity pattern 8161.  I say based because I didn't actually use the pattern.  I just measured how big the r...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2017/03/hsm-challenge-2-remake-reuse-lisa.html

 Its been a very long 6 months.  We had an exciting adventure to China and Mongolia.  We photographed eagle hunters (yes, just like the movie).  We both got hurt.  Robin jacked her knee hik...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2017/03/im-back-for-reals-with-pictures-lisa.html

I love taking corset classes because every time I do, I learn something.  Everyone has a different method or a new insight or, sometimes, just a plain easier way to do something.   This is th...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2016/11/costume-college-corset-class.html

I want to make an 1840s day dress - nothing fancy, just a plain everyday dress to wear at Dickens Faire or some of the other Gold Rush Era events in my area. However, I am many pounds heavie...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2016/11/1840s-cap-or-why-do-they-wear-diapers.html

I haven't been inspired for a long time, but CoCo was coming up and I had nothing to re-wear.  I wanted a quick-and-dirty fairy costume but ended up with this.  The underdress is stretch satin...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2016/11/fairy-costume-for-costume-college-robin.html

I can post from my phone, but not add pictures!  My computer, she is nearly dead.  My hard drive is slowly fragmenting.  But I've been busy and having fun. Made corded stays that failed.  Ba...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2016/09/we-are-still-alive.html

Hadn't sewed in ages when I suddenly got the urge.  Sadly, the urge ran out before I finished.  I did make 3 things, though and I've worn 'em all.  I have a 30's blouse pattern from Wearin...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2016/05/everyday-vintage-l.html

Liberte!  I got 3rd Place in this VERY challenging single fabric costume competition. Everyone wanted a headdress When I finished my last efforts, I decided to take a break.  I needed t...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2016/04/has-it-really-been-3-months-lisa.html

In the midst of all the holiday fun with my family I did some avoidance knitting and started a couple of cosplays for 2016. Also, my Bluebird Dress got a 3rd in the Shear Madness Single Fabri...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2016/01/holiday-avoidance-sewing-knitting.html

Bluebird When Laura announced a single fabric challenge on the      Shear Madness FB page, I was all in.  The fabric is cotton   with a floral/vine print and lots of birds.  All in shad...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/12/single-fabric-challenge-shear-madness.html

Before and After  Think to do when you're sick in bed.  Knit.  Sleep.  Knit.  Get bored and make a hat. My fellow blogger Robin had a pile of these cheap straw costume sombreros that ...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/11/silk-hats-from-straw-trash-l.html

I bought some lovely fabric years ago.  It's a loose weave wool/silk blend.  It's a light, soft, medium drape fabric.  In fact, I got two different colors of this lovely fabric.  I knew I wa...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/11/secret-challenge-and-swing-coat-hsmhsf-l.html

If you are seeking historical accuracy, quit now.  Giant pocket hoops are NOT a real thing as far as I can tell.  I wanted to make some, so I did.  I started by looking at the pattern in Cors...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/11/giant-pocket-hoop-tutorial-lisa.html

The challenge with this one was that there were no patterns!  As Lisa can tell you, I'm usually lost without a pattern, but I finally got to put those draping classes to work. Here you exchang...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/10/restac-leader-of-silurian-warrior-class.html

 The cowl was a one-size-fits-most, but Roger's head is small, so I put scrap fabric in between his head and the cowl to take up space. I glued down the cowl with spirit gum, then pain...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/10/silurian-eldane-makeup.html

"Eldane" and "Restac" at the Murder Mystery For the Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild Dr. Who-Dunnit murder Mystery, I went to Cosplay for the first time. There are no patterns for these thi...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/10/silurian-eldane-for-dr-who-dunnit.html

I had a couple things I could make for the brown challenge.  Both from the 30's/40's with my Wearing History patterns .  Trousers and a blouse.  I actually made both, and started working on a...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-brown-challenge-hsfhsm-lisa.html

1826 cap I saw this pattern photo in about 8 different facebook feeds and liberated it for my personal use.  I genuinely want to address every challenge and my original plan was deraile...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/08/1826-cap-hsm-lisa.html

New pictures added below.  Queen of Clubs.  All hope is not lost.  I've made a lot of progress in the last few days and have decided to re-assemble most of my posts in one place. The De...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/06/demode-court-dress-shiny-and-all-in-one.html

I'm making a wig for my 18C court/masquerade dress.  I'm using the 18th Century Hair and Wig Styling  book to style my wig otherwise I'd be hopeless.  I barely know how to dry my hair with a b...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/07/18c-wig-lisa.html

My court dress is on a brief time out.  Luckily (ha, snort, ha) I have another project to fill the time I don't have.  I'm making the 1830's Lowell Mill pattern.  It's not a complicated dress ...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/07/lowell-mill-dress-l.html

I wrote a nice post right before I left for Paris and Morroco.  I never published it.  Just plain forgot.  When I got back I had a full plate of costumes for the local kids improv group and ...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/06/im-back-and-ive-been-busy-l.html

The April challenge was War and Peace.  I was going to just skip it since I ways traveling for most of the month but I really wanted to do each challenge, even if I was late.  The very first t...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/05/hsfhsm-april-and-may-challenges-all.html

OK.  I did it.  I made the hand-woven thing wider.  I'm still not ecstatic with it, but at least it looks like what it is.  A shawl.  I will it was about two feet longer but I didn't really...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/04/hsfhsm-stash-busting-l.html

I had an urge to try out some of the new things I learned at Costume College so I'm making a Nereid costume.  This meant a corset, a 'wave' skirt, a lacy shift, fish scale arm covers, a crab c...

http://idlehandsthems-fitsworkshop.blogspot.com/2015/03/nereid-or-stash-busting-monstress-l.html