I Made a Hobbit Bodice for My Gunne Sax Dress

My Gunnesaxmas project is complete! If you're not familiar with #gunnesaxmas, it is a costube collab involving making a Gunne Sax style dress out of holiday fabric. I made the dress for mine in my last vlog: • I Made a Gunne Sax Dre... and today, I'm making a velvet Hobbity bodice to go over it.
I definitely think the whole thing came out looking more like a hobbit dress than a Gunne Sax dress, but it's still cute.
Which look do you prefer -- with the bodice or without the bodice?
#Gunnesaxmas is hosted by Gwen's Shenanigans: / gwensshenanigans
Check out the rest of the group's videos here: • #Gunnesaxmas
I got the Synthetic Whalebone that I used for boning on corsetmaking.com: corsetmaking.com/german-plast...
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[@EnjoyingLifeMelanie]

Okaaaay. I love the dress without the vest so much that I was afraid the vest would just be overkill. I was wrong. It is wonderful with the vest, too. Wow. You are amazing.

[@kathyseidel9842]

How comforting to hear about your struggles to get a good fit and then losing enthusiasm for a project. So often I just wish I could start sewing and not spent so much time problem-solving the fit, but whenever I do that, I end up with a garment that I don’t wear.

[@arionrhod6383]

I agree the dress looks better without the bodice, but yay, bonus bodice! You can make a skirt and use it for renn faire! The plaid of that dress would make a GREAT skirt for faire!!!

[@hazeluzzell]

Make another dress especially to go with the velvet bodice? The colour looks so good on you.

[@teddy-3765]

Yay for new dolls! The bodice works well with the dress, it looks cute, but I too prefer the dress without the bodice BUT it does allow for a change of the look - and you can wear it with other outfits for more costumey looks too.

[@melissagoings1]

The velvet bodice steals the show. It could be one of those pieces that could liven up an outfit.

[@KathrynsRavens]

I think it turned out well, I'd totally wear something like that with a flooffy white shirt and black skirt! Lion is so much like my parents dog Sunshine who passed earlier this year. I miss her and seeing Lion running around in the snow brings back lots of happy memories!

[@daisyfox2452]

I adore both versions of the dress. I think the boned bodice adds a touch of formality. Like a day and evening look. Dress alone to work, and add the bodice for and after work party.

[@elainebye9090]

Well, I like the dress both ways, slightly better without the bodice. But that bodice! I'd wear it with lots of other combinations. Pirate shirt and black skirt, full out hobbit core puff sleeve blouse and circle skirt, with pants...

[@bonniecolleenpappin8807]

Well, it turned out cute! Congratulations to you. I like both options so it is useful. Lion looks so happy in the snow; my dogs like romping in the fluffy stuff too. Dora, on the other hand, looks like she could do with out it. BTW, my Pfaff 2058 has an eyelet plate and I think my 1990 era Pfaff 1475 one too. The only difference between mine and yours is that my instruction manual says to hoop the fabric. I haven't done that but it makes sense if using a lightweight fabric. Happy sewing!

[@michellecornum5856]

I don't have a problem with the bulk of the trim on this. It definitely marks it as a winter garment (maybe it's just my Medieval self speaking.) It came out gorgeous! I'm glad I had nothing in my mouth when I saw the chipmunk mittens !! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[@Melavara]

I completely agree with you - it’s so cute with the bodice and if I’d only ever seen it this way or you hadn’t put the belt on the dress, I’d have said it was exactly right… but I adore the dress without it and I think it’s perfect on its own

[@Susanfuzz]

Okay, I just remembered doing this years ago. I made a quilted vest and after I finished the patchwork, I went on auto pilot and layered every thing up with batting and quilted it and sewed it together. I had meant to make the middle layer of muslin, oops 😬 So it was like medieval quilted armor :) And it was VERY warm. I didn’t want to use darts (it messes up the patch work) but in the past things had always worked out. Not this time! I had full on wings in front of my armpits 😂😭 After a bit of thought, I sewed some gently stretched 1/4” elastic to my seam allowance in the “wing area” which kinda eased it all down flat like a dart would have. This worked really well since my garment was so stiff, but I’ve used it on softer projects since and it still works. The elastic is then covered by the standard bias quilt binding.

[@nian60]

You could use the bodice for a Mary Sanderson cosplay, if you can't think of another use for it. Or, a Mrs. Santa outfit with some white faux fur trim. The bodice looks great by itself. Love the mittens. Thanks for the video.

[@teresasimpson5143]

lol Lion looked like was having lots of fun in the snow, lol

[@roxiepoe9586]

That rusty colour is magic on you! (Thank you for posting even during the holidays. Holidays are hard. )

[@TealCheetah]

I cut plastic boning and cable ties with large wire cutters. Works way better then scissors for me! I also use the cutters to nip the corners off to help with rounding the ends. My cats get really interested when small bits go flying, haha

[@aksez2u]

I also think the dress doesn't need the bodice. That said, I really love that rusty red color, so it's fun to see that color highlighted!

[@amandabashor1312]

Thank you for sharing your hesitation and lack of motivation on this project. It came out super cute looking, though I agree the dress doesn't really need it. But really it was nice seeing the struggle, because that was Relatable! Sometimes I start something and I just am not feeling it. But watching you knock it out anyway was inspiring. :-)

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

I think it looks beautiful with the dress, and turns it into a delightful Hobbit dress. I join others in wondering if it's possible to adorn the bodice at all, perhaps in a matching waistband, or matching trim? Or, If you have the materials & skills, you could embroider a border for it. (I know velvet is very pesky,, so, maybe in panels, or appliques. ) I just thought it would look really cute

[@hattyburrow716]

It’s cute, maybe not the perfection you wanted but very cute. Lions zoomies are adorable and Dora views it much as my cat would. But nice to have snow. I envy you. It looks really nice with the dress and such a thing should be warm and outside. I like the dress both ways but love the plain velvet without adornment xxx

[@sparkybish]

I want a true red velvet bodice for all my Hungarian folk dreams to come true. I like it with the dress!

[@ladyjusticesusan]

The footage in this video, beginning with Dora and the doll, all the way to the end, is ADORABLE!

[@reneestarling9525]

I think I agree with you that I like the dress better on its own, but I do really like the bodice, and it'll be a nice separate piece that will go with a lot of other things. It's a nice fall color as well a Christmas color, so it'll be versitile!

[@argusfleibeit1165]

Years ago I up-cycled a dark-green velvet jacket into lace-up vest. I cut it pretty low in the front, and curved up the front edges. I tacked pre-made green velvet cording along the front edges to make fake eyelets for the lacing, and I think it only cris-crossed about five time. It had a lot less coverage than the one you made, so it wasn't obvious that it didn't fit perfectly. I got a lot of use out of it when I was in a cover band in the late '70s (Think the Wilson sisters from "Heart"). I kind of wore it to death. I like your outfit with or without the vest. Happy Holidays to one of the hardest working KZbinrs I know of.

[@autumn7143]

I think it’s so cute and I think it’ll go well with a black skirt and white shirt with fluffy sleeves. Or jeans if you ever wear them.

[@roslynholcomb]

It’s a very pretty bodice. I like it with the dress but think it would look amazing with one of your white blouses and a plaid skirt.

[@sharonrussell7933]

I love this together. So so cute.

[@WilloughbyRose]

What a splendid idea 😝 Removable velvet bodices for all! This came out great!

[@christineb5232]

I LIKE IT WITH THE BODICE WITH THE DRESS

[@julzb9187]

It’s so cute! I like the puffy binding it’s really lovely and different! Kind of reminds me of a padded hem!

[@jessicaforest9307]

Yeah, they’re okay together but I would pair that vest with a cream top and a brown skirt in fall and then pair it with a white top and a black skirt in winter. For a piece that you weren’t thrilled to make, it’s a fairly versatile top. You did well. 😊

[@johnvanpuyenbroeck788]

I had a genius idea for next Christmas. Making a dress inspired by the ugly Christmas sweater trend. I've never seen anyone do that yet.

[@saiitome]

Oh yes, genius 😀!!

[@lindagoesel3815]

You are too hard on yourself. I love the corset with the dress. It looks really good on you too. Glad you made it and I can see you wearing this with your puffy sleeved blouses and your skirts. Great color on you. Happy new year.

[@jenniferlee8949]

I like the dress either way. But I also think it was smart to make the bodice separate as you can mix and match with other skirts and tops to personalise your outfits more. I applaud you for getting through a project you were not really feeling. I have enough trouble cutting fabric never mind finishing a project. Well Done. It all looks fantastic. 😍

[@hilmaallen1302]

I live both, plus it gives you the choice of changing the look of the out fit, which is a plus.

[@elizalagonia1049]

I think the it works both ways, but the bodice makes it more fancy, so without it it's a very pretty casual dress, but you get invited to a surprize party and all you got to do is throw on the bodice and you're ready to go.

[@kirabowie]

You look sooo festive and Hobbity!!

[@staceywieland3673]

This video is so relatable. Sometimes I just don't have the will power to continue with a project but love how you preserver to get it done

[@mrs.knecro7044]

watching you spin around in it is so cute! we got snow finally yesterday in Utah we had more rain than snow the week of Christmas which was weird but at this point we will take what we can get. I think the vest is supper cute and i like the fact that it can be worn with other things not just that dress. I love the hobbity look to it and i feel like i could be dressed up or down in the hobbit scale depending on what you wear with it.

[@drekfletch]

Needs a trim of the small lace from the dress along the vest hem. I also wonder how it'd look with the small fur from your Holiday Barbie gown as collar trim.

[@mizhenheimer307]

I really loved the bodice with the dress when you were wearing the unfinished velvet loose/open over the dress! I do really like how the finished bodice turned out and I like it with the dress! but I kind of wonder how something less structured (and maybe even lower cut or left mostly open?) might work with the dress? The vest is still gorgeous on its own, though, and hopefully you’ll be able to wear it with lots of different outfits, including the gunnesaxmas dress!

[@StephanieCanada]

I think this came out great! Even if you don’t want to wear it with the dress, which I totally get, it could go well with other pieces.

[@KenZchameleon]

I think it turned out beautifully! And yay for keeping you warm! I like both with and without the bodice, but with the bodice just a little more. Happy holidays (and sewing!)

[@yezzyjames]

I really like the bodice with the dress. But velvet... chapeau for making it work enough to get a finished product. :}

[@Nessi-dances]

I really like it! I think if you wear it over some of your regular shirts and skirts you will get more use out of it. It fits you really nicely (allowing for bulky velvet).

[@laniinla2354]

I actually love how it turned out! and is another good layer to ward off the cold. So cute.

[@Isobel83]

I love the way this turned out. The binding out of velvet gives it an almost piped look. So great! Also, go you for soldiering on! I have so many UFO's that I haven't come back to because I've struggled so much I've lost the love for the item - but this encourages me to go back and try again, knowing I'm not the only one that this happens to! A gorgeous out fit, and absolutely loving your channel!

[@Tbehartoo]

You look the perfect picture of winter! Definitely should be on next year's Christmas cards

[@craftingwithcasca]

I think it's cute although I totally get how you feel. There's been so many projects where I've kinda lost my enthusiasm and I didn't turn out how I envisioned. I do love the colour and it looks super cosy and warm.

[@chriscrosscrafter]

The bodice is absolutely adorable, I’d love to see you make another dress to go with it, something with a completely different look perhaps. I can see that bodice working well in very different outfits. And with all that work that you put into it, you might as well get some extra looks out of it. Best of wishes for a happy and healthy new year. Take care and stay safe!

[@MonaSkovJensen]

At first I was like "No! keep the dress as is!" but watching you outside in the snow with Lion the bodice and the dress looked quite satisfying. You could use that bodice for a lot of different Hobbity outfits 🤭☺🤗

[@TiciaM]

It turned out super cute! I like all the suggestions people have given you for other ways to wear it.

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

I think it works both ways. It will be very versatile in your wardrobe. Have a great new year!!

[@taimatsuko]

I think it turned out really nice! It compliments the dress! I can kind of see what you mean by it covering up a lot of the dress. I think a bodice compromise might Be to keep the shoulder straps but make it so it scoops under the bust. Either way, I like it!

[@beckybanta126]

Great job in putting all parts together. I really like the botice with dress. Very flattering! 😊

[@Keeperoffyre]

looks good! (though, i like the dress sans the bodice lol) truthfully, the bodice and that black long-sleeved shirt was a great pairing :D hope you had a good Christmas, and enjoyed that snow more! (we just have cold rain here and it was rainy and like 65F on Christmas)

[@braydenalexis]

I think it's def nice but if you wanted to adjust it to add more to the dress I would maybe consider shortening the waist and just kind of making it a bust vest (if that's a thing?) it would showcase the waistband still which I think is what we are missing! Kind of like a shortwaisted Dirndl?

[@evelyn_r]

totally relate to working on something you've no longer fond of: was watching this video as I fixed a pillowcase I made and since I had done it without the pillow in question withing easy access, it the method I used to attempt to make it fit didn't turn out (a V or U shaped pillow and I used elastic in hopes it would take in the shorter side if I made it straight, again I had no measurements to go off on) and so now I was sewing down some angled pleats in order to curve it better. I think the issue was that the waist of the bodice kept going up, and instead of pulling it down, you shortened the straps that messed around with the fit around the bust, I dunno, I'm a novice but that was what it seemed to me ^^; I like both looks, the dress for indoors and the bodice and dress for outdoors. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@alexiscarlton1355]

For dart moving I highly recommend Closet Historian, she shows how to move the fullness around. Hope this helps for future projects. Lots of fun watching your channel. Happy new year:).

[@kayta84]

You are amazing for finishing a project that you don't have enthusiasm fore🥇🏅🥇 and I love the bodice, but maybe not with the dress... it steels the show a bitt... but hobbit+Christmas = all the good things💜💜💜 I want one, or two or three or more... one for all my hobbity dream outfits!

[@Siansonea]

I think this bodice turned out very nicely, but I don't think it's great with this particular dress. The hue match is perfect, but the bodice is much more vibrant and saturated in tone than the dress fabrics, at least on camera. It kind of makes the dress look a bit muted, which it doesn't when you wear the dress without the bodice. I think this bodice would look good with a black dress, I thought it looked great against the black of the garments you were wearing when you first finished it. It might look good with a rich dark brown as well, it just has to be something that has the same amount of visual depth that this fabric has. And because it's got such a thick binding, it might be better to pair this with a more expressly cold-weather-friendly dress/ensemble. All in all, I think it's a great color, a very nice silhouette, and well constructed, so I definitely think it's worth keeping and worth wearing, but maybe not just with this dress. It has mix and match potential, which is always fun, right?

[@KathleenStidham]

We had an internet outage for several days - FINALLY got to see this video and I know the bodice was a pain to make, but it's gorgeous, and a perfect complement to the dress. Happy NEW YEAR (I hope)!

[@trudicole3520]

The bodice looks great with the dress and I really enjoyed this video as I have struggled with the same issues making a vest so thank you I will have another go with the vest Lion was having a great time hope you have a happy new year

[@TheLadyBelladona]

I love the snow duckie!

[@fawntheresa5338]

This is beautiful! The bodice really adds to the dress and looks very warm, so I would say wear it when you're outside and leave it when you're inside. Happy new year and stuff!

[@shamancarmichael5305]

I definitely like the dress the most, but the 'hobbit' bodice is a nice change up too! I hear you about the velvet, tried that once, never again. Kudos for powering through! Happy New Year! 🎉🍾🎉⛄

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

That's a great colour! Now I'm inspired to make myself a lace up hobbity bodice now, since I now am invincible because I have a princess seam bodice block that I've now made twice (4 layer wool winter coat based on Sewstine's Kefta pattern, then a wool housecoat) and have a profusion of surprise wool (proven by burn test after purchasing $6/m 100% unknonw fibre purple and camel plaid fabric). Just have to figure out boning...

[@therewillbecatswithgwenhwyfar]

Dora! ❤️❤️❤️ It came out cute! I like it both ways and I hope that you’ll make more clothes that you can wear it with, that you’ll like better.

[@phranerphamily]

It's cute with the dress. Can't say it's my favorite. I'm kind of sad that you don't have a dress out of some green plaid to put that over or even a white peasanty blouse with a green skirt maybe next year :)

[@annbrookens945]

It looks really cute with the dress! On my phone, I couldn't see the issues you stated were present, it just looked lovely! Happy 2022, Rebecca!

[@theresaanndiaz3179]

If the neckline was lower on the bodice, or the neckline on the dress was a little stand collar, I would love with the dress. I seem to remember Gunnesax dresses as having stand collars when they had that contrast vest. The color is really pretty on you so hopefully you can find other things to wear it with.

[@olgaevans8749]

The bodice looks amazing with the dress! I know this might be a nightmare to actually do, but I think it would look really good trimmed with the plaid. Just a thought. Way to go, finishing it! 👍

[@MysteryMommy1]

It looks gorgeous with the dress

[@kristenk5754]

Holy crap I love the way the eyelets turned out... I might need to find one of those machines. It looks so much easier. :o

[@kristenk5754]

Oh also, I prefer the dress w/o the bodice better - but I looooove the bodice and want one.

[@Gandellion]

The 70s style isn’t one you generally go for but I think it looks super cute on you!

[@Skirt553]

honestly, you're right about it not really going with the dress. But you could make a different dress, in a contrasting, solid-color fabric, and it'd look fabulous with that dress

[@Hiker_who_Sews]

Interesting about eyelets!

[@TheFreckledLassSeamstress]

It looks amazing!

[@katperez7884]

Your dress looks beautiful on you. Love how it shows off your lovely face.

[@patriciahazeltine9986]

It really is cute, going to have to search out gunney sax patterns!

[@lesleyharris525]

Hi, you look so cute in the dress and bodice, hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wishing you a happy new year.💖

[@kellynelson3186]

Oh, I like it! I get the bias binding was a pain, so maybe a different finish.... but it IS cute!

[@pmclaughlin4111]

I love so much of this I love the mittens I love the bodice I love the fact that it's always a bodice and never a vest I love it with the style of dress I like it with this dress... I think the white lace at the neckline is necessary for the dress alone but a little jarring with the richly textured velvet Perhaps a different color lacing...rust colored, plaid bias, whitish??? Maybe However, I think there is something similar in my future (when I am off the fabric diet and can buy some Velvet) Great job

[@tashacano3324]

I like them both. I think it depends on how you feel about it though.

[@qienna6677]

I really like the bodice, but I have to agree, the dress looks way cuter without it.

[@anna7118]

Wish the plate was still available! I sew on that model of Viking and would love to do functional eyelets by machine.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

It might be available on eBay or something like that? Worth a try!

[@julithewizards1358]

Yay, you made it this year, congratulations! I wouldn't say the dress needs it, but its never wrong to have a velvet bodice, right? I love velvet, but i am hesitating to work with it because it might be moody. Tbh watching your video kind of proofs the point. If i had the guts to sew such a bodice or vest I will def. revisite your video! 🧡 You can be proud of you! I would have probably thrown it into a corner when the mockup turned out not that fitting as expected. 😀

[@julieroyce4497]

Love the dress both ways,but I’m partial to the vest look as it reminds me of a dress I had in kindergarten and 1st grade that I loved to death - lol. I’ve often wondered if using the curved nail cutters used for cutting acrylic nails would work for cutting boning as it would give an instant curved end 🧐🤔.

[@enixon8268]

The gaping at the armsceye is necessary for a sleeve but not for a vest. One way to fix is to sew a dart. Another way is to eliminate the dart from the pattern when cutting the outer fabric. You need to close the dart at the bust/armsceye and open the angle at the princess seam hem upwards using the BP as a pivot point. It makes your pattern a weird shape but it fixes that gape. What you did to cut down the armsceye worked well but may not work in all cases without being too open to the bust. The unfortunate thing about doing the dart elimination to the pattern would be it messes with the nap in your beautiful velvet.

[@sandee1000]

I like it

[@Susanfuzz]

If there was enough plaid, that would have been a cute look too.

[@DrTurtleBee]

I think it would have been cuter if it had been shorter. More of a choli length. But it does match the dress beautifully. Well done. :)

[@isabelledionne8396]

Maybe the bodice could have been shorter, like stop at the top of the dress waistband? It would have been more complementary to the dress, I think. I still love the texture mix, though.

[@cdeg1964]

The bodice turned out great!!! I am, however, wondering what the difference is between a bodice and a vest.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

With an external garment like this, I would think of a bodice as a boned garment that laces closed, vs a vest would be an unboned garment that buttons closed. Obviously those are very much generalities though.

[@TheDeerhunter316]

Do you have more of the plaid ? I'm sure it would look pretty as binding plus you might be happier with it and where it when you feel like hobbit core

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I do, though I feel like that might limit what all the bodice could go with. And I don't think I'd want to redo the binding either!

[@TheDeerhunter316]

I understand that feeling all to well. Although we probably all have a time out pile for projects. You could always think about it and see how much you wear it in its current state before making the decision

[@MaxMoloko]

Reeeaaaaly late to the party here, but the armhole wanting to be darted I think has to do with the armhole being lowered. You felt you had longer straps up top, so you shortened them, and you felt that maybe you had to flair ut the bottom more. You probably had the right pattern from the start, and flaring out the bottom would have let it sit lower, and by that fit as nice as the dress. Maybe you needed a few mm extra to go over the dress too. But it turned out wonderful anyway!

[@jodieroundtree488]

enjoyed your video! I make a lot of vests for my son for work. Probably a dumb question but can't you sew face to face and turn inside out then it doesn't require the bias? I then usually only have to slip stitch either the inside side seam of lining or a little bit of the bottom hem, depending on how I turn it inside out. Maybe even sew together and just hand sew/whip stitch the bottom hem all the way around the bottom since it might be tricky to turn with the boning (?) or turn inside out then add the boning before closing the bottom hem. Anyway, you make me need a vest really bad! Love the color and love the velvet!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thanks! I thought about doing that, thought it might be too difficult/annoying, and then did the bias instead, which I'm sure was more annoying!

[@jodieroundtree488]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions I always make things harder for myself too! Congrats on getting so much done this year and doing a play?! Wow!

[@deborahc398]

Congrats on your "adoption"! Maybe there are matching outfits in your future LOL. I like the bodice with the dress, but that's such a good color on you I can see it being worn with other outfits too.

[@TonyaC]

No rules say you have to wear it with the dress you originally intended it for