Petti-troubles

So, I have a petticoat all cut out and pinned to my dress form (she still needs a name, btw, but I can't seem to decide on one...all dress forms need names), and I have the thread I need for it...but not the zipper. I need to go get one in the appropriate color and preferably one that will be more or less hidden when in place. Also, I'm not sure if it would be best to cut the hemline before or after the side seams are sewn. It's supposed to be higher in the front and lower in the back. Additionally, I didn't use a pattern, and I'm trying to decide whether or not it'd be smarter to lay these pieces out on the fabric I'm using for the over-skirt, or if I should just BS that skirt the way I did this petticoat...

Dilemmas, dilemmas. *sigh*

The fabric store is open for another two and a half hours, so I have plenty of time to go get that blasted zipper...but then I'll actually have to start sewing and come to decisions on all the other things, too, so I keep procrastinating. Also, I have homework I should be doing (though it isn't due till Monday.........it feels like it's already Sunday, though, which is throwing me off), and probably an essay I ought to write. Ugh.

Here's what I have so far:

Despite my various hesitations, I actually really like how it's shaping up. The fabric is super lightweight, so very sheer, but I'm inclined to use this as an actual skirt for World Steam Expo, provided I make some additional, white petticoats to go under it.......................but what this is really for is the bottom-layer petticoat for Idris, for Youmacon. Her lowest petticoat is striped, from what I can see in pictures, and so is this, though really subtly. Part of the way it hangs is due to the bum pad I rigged out of quilter's batting, though as of right now it's merely pinned in place, too, not sewn into a wearable piece of underclothing yet.

Also, did I mention that I'm pretty sure the original calls for a ruffly bottom edge? I hate ruffles, for one, and I'm not actually sure I have enough fabric to make ruffles that go all the way around. And I don't know if I'll like the finished product as much on its own as I do now. I love Victorian fashions, I really do, but I also like clean hemlines, I guess.

Dunno what I'm gonna do. Just thought I'd post and try to straighten my headspace out a bit.

I'm getting really excited for World Steam Expo, and it's only February, lol! I'm especially excited to help Lindsey and Jamie thrift for Steampunk stuff. :) It's probably my favorite thing, thrifting and exploring antique stores...

...which is exactly what I spent all yesterday doing! I found a really cool Japanese-themed tarot deck. I got it for $10, but I looked it up and found out it's worth something like $145, because it's out of print and never been opened. This is a double edged sword, because I really wanna open 'em up and see all the pretties, but at the same time I want to conserve the value of the cards (because I collect tarot decks). They're really lovely, the images from the deck I've been able to find online, and I wanna play with them, but that would destroy their worth (though, even used they're worth almost $60...).

But, anyway, back to thrifting for steampunk. Jamie wants to go for something really equestrian (of course, this is Jamie we're talking about after all...lol) which I think is basically going to come down to having the proper jacket and the proper boots, and then going steampunk with other elements, because a classic riding jacket is key to preserving the look she wants...I'd love to find a hat we could mod into a coachman's hat, too...in fact, I might have one already in my costume box. I'll have to double check, but I won't be able to do that until spring break (goodness, I hope they need me at work--I'm flat broke!), so for now I'll just maybe do some concept art. Jamie didn't realize how many outfits she would need, and so far that's the only thing she's mentioned specifically, so I think it'll wind up being a lot of just "generic steampunk" clothes shopping.

The only thing Lindsey has mentioned specifically is a sweet looking corset she found and wants to use as the key piece in an outfit, so I'm not really sure where she needs help, other than second opinions and the like...? I linked her some of my favorite "accessory" sites and stuff, so hopefully she's got an idea of what she's aiming for... :)

That said, they can both probably raid my closet for things like fun belts and hats and stuff... ^____________^