Yuuko Ichihara - Foxy Lady #18

white silky satin, red sateen, grey jacquard + golden beads, steel
headband, golden upholstery stud, golden embroidery thread 

So, I've got the grey fabric! Fearing not finding anything, I was willing to go to Parede (by train) to Bispos, a fabric shop I've never been to, but fortunately there was no need.

First I went to have the embroidery cuffs and collar pattern printed, at Zoom Cópia, then I took a bus downtown to take care of the fabrics.

I stepped out of the bus in Rossio, so I first went to Feira dos Tecidos, where there were two options, both in the €9/m budget: a fake faille, but very flat looking in grey, and a sateen. I wanted some texture, so I didn't buy anything there. Then I went to Tavares & Tavares, to buy the white flannel, the canvas and the dark grey lining taffeta. I got a bunch of flannel, because it was the end of the roll, and they gave me a discount. Finally, I went to Ouro Têxteis, and there it was, waiting for me, this rather nice polyester jacquard. It was cheap, €9,5/m, and it is 2,8m wide. Perfect! And it is the perfect shade of grey. I also bought metal snaps and more white cotton thread, but once again there weren't any of the bigger spools available.

Now there aren't any excuses not to start this costume! I'm still unsure of what I'm going to do about the corset. Either start again from scratch or adapt the existing one. I first need to draft the breast cups, and I'll go on from there. The existing corset is now too small on me (damned lockdown pounds), so, I have two options, either make a new one from scratch, and use the old boning and zipper on the new one, or add and eyelet strip, so it can be adjustable, besides the cup changes I was already planning to make. Buh, I forgot to buy the invisible zipper! No problem, I can buy one nearby (I hope). In any case, I can only draft the dress pattern after I remade the corset.

cuffs and collar embroidery patterns glued to EVA foam

When I arrived home, I cut the cuffs and collar patterns and glued them, with a glue stick, to 2mm white EVA foam. Now I'm cutting the open spaces, with a box cutter, and then I will glue it to some white cotton. The plan is to use the foam to give some volume to the embroidery, and try to make it look more like wooden gold work.

+ I was fortunate to find a nice looking fabric for less than it usually sells for, under €10/m, and a wider fabric too.

- Unfortunately, for that price, it is 100% polyester, but it looks more like a polycotton, which is nice. I would also prefer a medallion pattern, but this one matches the gold work pieces better.

THE CUNNING PLAN

Tomorrow, I'll draft the sleeves/blouse pattern, and hopefully have time to cut it in the fashion fabric. Keep cutting the cuffs/collar foam, to start embroidering as soon as possible.