anielmom

Just when I thought I could move onto the finishing, I discover a couple.of things that need fixing. I just want to get out of the underwear stage already!

( the scoop in pics..... )



Posted via LjBeetle

Was feeling pretty good about myself on Tuesday night.  All those boning channels were finished, the pattern for E was scaled up, and by 10:pm it was sewn. 
As I'm merrily stitching along, I think to myself, "Self, this looks a bit on the small side. "  But I ignore my better judgment and keep going.  The only thing I can say for myself, is at least I didn't put on the sleeve.
Come the next morning, I have E try on the mock-up.  She can get one arm thorough, barely, but the back was so narrow, it barely covered half of her back, and of course, there was no way on God's green earth the other arm was going through.

( Here's where I went wrong..... )

2 hours sewing tonight, and nothing to show for myself.  That isn't to say I've accomplished nothing today, just nothing tonight.  Earlier this afternoon, I sewed 6 boning channels on to the corset.  That just leaves the back 4, which I tried and failed to do tonight.  Why's that, you ask?  It's so simple, how could you fail?  Blame my ongoing war with the maths.  Simple addition was just out of my reach tonight. :/

I also put the question to E on what she'd like to wear.  She chose the 1877 Polonaise.  Not surprised there.  Also not surprised that she wants it to be pink and black.  Like mother like daughter.  So, I threw the pattern on to the projector, got it to the correct size, and traced it off.  10 minutes work in all.   All that's left to do is add s.a.and make a mock up.  As for the fabric, I'm thinking of a pink cotton twill, with black trim.  It'll have a bit of structure that way, and not cost me and arm and a leg.  Food for thought anyway. 

Tomorrow being Easter, not sure how much, if anything I'll accomplish.  Guess i'll just have to wait and see.

After much cursing of the lining that isn't pink, I managed to get the sleeve lining sewn together.  I need to hand stitch it in today, then I can call the blasted sleeves done.  Except for the hemming and trimming of course. 

And speaking of trimming, I've decided to go with virginiadear 's most excellent suggestion of jet beads.  Faux in this case.  So the plan is to get all the ruffles on, putting it in a wearable state, then start adding the beads.

As the rest of the work on this is all hand work, it'll become my carry along project.  A mom's gotta have something productive to do while her daughter is at therapy.   Also good for sitting in front of the t.v. and watching Project Runway. 

I also worked on, wait for it.....the corset.  *gasp*  I know, it's been ages since I touched it.  Poor thing has been gazing forlornly at me from the corner of my sewing table for months.  I got 4 more boning channels sewn on, I'll do some more tonight.  I'd like to get this done by the 15th.  Compleatly doable if I work on it every night.  then I can get started on my long planned 1893 Empire.

The CADD has been kickin' my butt lately.  But I finally got around to cutting out and marking the final version of the Victorian corset.  I even have it partialy pinned together.  The hardware should be here tomorrow.
But, now I'm sick of it again.  *sigh*  So I think I'm going to try my hand at recovering a pair of shoes.  As I need a pair of Victorian boots, but don't have cash on hand to buy said boots, I'm going to try to make my own out of one of my thrift store finds.  Crossing my fingers that it works!

I've been looking at the pattern and fabric for the Victorian corset for a week, and have been unable to muster the enthusiasm for the cutting.  Maybe when I get around to ordering the hardware.....

I just finished sewing the take 2 of the V. corset together!  Tomorrow, I'll add boning channels.  And speaking of boning.... I discovered some spiral steel in my stash, and I have just enough to bone all the seams (not counting the C.B or C.F. of course)!  Yeah for the stash!
Now I just need to work out a solution for making the back behave its self!

Made some progress on the Victorian corset mock up.  I need to a few more bone casings, the fitting strip to one side and the zipper I'm using on the front to make fitting a bit easier.  Once everything is finalized, I'll get a busk and the steels, but for now, it's all plastic.  Now, I just hope it fits!

We had a very busy weekend!  On saturday we took a drive out the the forest.   We had lunch and went for a nice walk.  E loves to climb into the holes in redwood trees!  But then, so did I when I was a kid.  
Then we had to go grocery shopping.  And of course, had an attack of sticker shock.  It's appalling how much the price of food has gone up.

Sunday, we headed over to Marine World.  Again.  E's best friend's b-day is coming next Sunday, and we wanted to pick up a few gifts for her.   She wants a "soft shark" and "soft dolphin" (plush), so we got those, as well as a shirt and a necklace with a dolphin charm that has her name on it.  We had a lot of fun.  The weather was nice, and the lines were short, for the most part.  

E started camp yesterday.  She is very excited to be spending the next two weeks with her best friend!

After taking the car in for service, I thought I would have the whole day to sew.  Didn't happen.  I got a call from my sister, saying my aunt was at her house and wanted to see me.  So, I went over there, and now have even more sewing added to my list of already epic proportions!

On the sewing front:

On Saturday, I only got around to sewing the bodice lining down on E's Faire Frock.  Sunday I was to tired to do anything.  So we watched a movie.  (side note:  If you have not seen 'There Will Be Blood' don't.  D and I couldn't see what all the hype was about.)  Yesterday,  I spent what little time I had in the afternoon futzing around with Gemma.  She was still a bit bigger than me in all the places that matter.  I got her down to a more reasonable size and added soutache braid to all the seam lines.  The lines on the cover are not quite as accurate as I would like, especially the side seams.   I also re-worked the pattern and cut out the interfacing for the trim on the Archery Gown.



 

 So, I have made some progress on the Victorian corset.  I stitched up the back , and have turned it into a front lacing style.  The fit is better.  Not perfect, but it's on its way to being usable.  I need to let out a little along the back, and side seams to shift the bust seam to a more appropriate place.  Otherwise it seems to a pretty good fit.  I've boned the heck out of it with plastic boning, 26 in all, and it is surprisingly strong, I think it will work well on Gemma.  Pictures to come, once I get it looking a little better.

I plan to start drafting a new corset pattern using the instructions on Your Wardrobe Unlock'd tonight.  I have already done the "maths" for it, so just need to plot it out.  I'm thinking of using 1" grid interfacing that I've had around forever to do the draft.  That way I'll be 100% sure all my lines are straight and my corners are square.
 
I also need to make the smock pattern for E's Faire Frock.  In looking at the shape of the neckline on the over gown, I wish I had lowered it a bit, and made it more square.  I may need to chest on the smock and give it a back opening in order to get it over her head.  Oh well, live and learn.

E starts summer camp on Monday.  That means two whole weeks of being able to sew during the day!  Yippee!