Bodice patterned and mocked up

I've been moving slowly with the cappotto, trying to finish my outer layer before I started on the dress. I feel so far behind everyone else right at this minute after seeing that several people have finished their dresses already, however, so panic has set in.  I'm hoping if I get at least the bodice done my dread will calm down and I'll stop freaking out about the deadline. I swear it feels like I've got nothing accomplished. I better switch in to high gear, I guess.

In between festivities and taking the kids places for the 4th, I patterned the bodice. It's my first time patterning something worn over a corset by myself and getting in and out of the corset to try on the pattern is a total pain. I'm pretty pleased with the result though-- even if the mockup is made from the ugliest fabric ever. It's a vintage 1970's canvas. I got a 3 yard piece for a dollar a few years ago and I honestly cannot give a good reason for why I bought it or why it is still in my stash.  But hey, it matches the rest of the project-- technically. It might even find its way in as interlining. Just as soon as I decide how many bones I want in the dress.

Bodice cut and pieced.

My children have once again seized and broken the camera. With their assistance it now shoots the batteries across the room (my son broke the latch.) Since he had previously wrapped his kazoo in the last of the duct tape, I cannot fix the problem quite yet. Thus, there is no picture of the silk patchwork.

I'm rather pleased with it actually. I'm also pretty surprised at how quickly it went together. I had stressed about it a lot. Noelle was sweet enough to throw in the muslin we used to fit the bodice pattern in with the paper and I used it to sketch and cut up and divide the bodice to bits, then redrew the pieces with what I thought were generous seam allowances. Somehow they shrank (I blame how late it was when I finally cut it,) but it was enough. When I matched it back to the pattern it was pretty close with only a tiny issue on the shoulder strap. I "think" it will still be fine since it wasn't too far off. Trying to get the 4 strips to all come together squared at the shoulder with an angled seam wasn't as bad as I'd made it in my mind. At least I hope so. We'll see what happens once I actually get the whole sandwich put together and the shoulder seams done. Crossing my fingers.

Terrible pictures as usual

I had hoped having someone else take the picture would mean we got a decent one.  No such luck.  Its proof I made some stuff though!

As a first attempt on the doublet with hook and eyes sewn in at the last minute and the lining not in place I'm actually really pleased.  The next one is going to be really nice I think.  Everyone who saw it had loads of complements on the shirt and its the one piece of the ensemble that I don't feel needs any tweaks or fixes.  Its a really nice shirt.   Gandhi loves the Venetians and they fit really well.  He told me he was pleasantly surprised, assuming they wouldn't be comfortable but he wants another pair so there's a seal of approval right there.  He liked the cape as well, but June might not be the time to really test it out.  It hung nicely and made another layer.  I joked with him if I made him a hat he'd have his own 4 layer challenge outfit.

My outfit at the wedding wasn't quite as successful.  It was pretty and I've certainly worked hard on all the pieces, but it was much less complete.  I was really happy with the fit of the bodice, but something strange happened and a couple of pieces of the boning moved around and escaped the interlining so I had to pull it apart and fix that this morning.  I also had to fix the camisia.  I had "gather smocked" the neckline and backstitched across the gathering strings, but sections in the sleeves broke and it loosened a lot.  I am in the process of fixing that.  The plan had always been to attach a band and add more lace to the top and hem so this just confirmed that I need to further secure it.  The petticoat was really comfortable, even in the heat.  I wore the apron since I didn't have the overskirt done and it was a fun piece.  I'm glad I made it and think it will add a lot of versatility to the finished dress.

I finished the veil and the necklace and am sending in my update to Bella so there'll be some fun stuff to talk about tomorrow.  Going to get back in the swing of things and get back to being better at the daily babbling.

Blargh. . .

Eyelets are not going well.  I'm not nearly practiced enough at them.  I just don't like how they are looking.  I went to a sewing day today where I managed to do a whopping 5 eyelets amidst much complaining and gnashing of teeth.  I was contemplating throwing the darn thing across the room and stomping on it a bit. 

I'm considering taking the shell off and cutting out a new bodice and starting over.  I've been slow and careful and, I'd hoped, meticulous with the sewing, but it really looks shoddy.  I have plenty of both the silk and the velvet so materials are not an issue, I'm just upset at having lost a week of work.  Just not sure what I am doing wrong, but I'm concerned the bodice isn't going to fit and the bad looking eyelets are the final straw.

Maybe Bella is right, it is Survivor.  Looking at just this week I'd either be voted off or just quit and go home.  The pile of accessories is helping though.  If I stop now I have nothing whatsoever to wear them with. . .

So, teacup tempests and temper tantrums.  Giorgione's Tempest and its roiling clouds and thunder in the background about sums up my mood.    

Nothing much to see, but I'm still working.

My house has become a disaster so I've been cleaning rather than sewing.  The back of the bodice is almost done though.  I would probably have it done already, but I've got a migraine on its way, so I'm cancelling the rest of the day and will get back at it tomorrow.


Other than that, I have been working on an edging for a big black veil.  It will look better once I block it and attach it, I swear.  Might add a bit of gold to it as well.  Or maybe some beads on the picots.  Not sure yet.  I'm making 11 yards and have about 4 yards to this point.

More later, but I need to go find a dark room and ride out this headache.

Chug a chug a choo choo

Maybe just a little train?  I watched Jenny La Fleur's video of her pink Florentine gown in action and now I'm wondering if a train wouldn't be rather nifty.  I certainly have plenty of velvet for it.  As my friend Marguerite pointed out when I was obsessing about cutting the bodice, "you've got enough fabric to make a dress, burn it, and make another one."  It'd also make the dress a little more exciting, which is something I've been worried about since its just so darn plain.  A train would also be something unusual for me.  Russian dresses don't even go to the ground.  They are normally just a little short in order to stay out of the mud and had the added bonus of showing off beautifully embroidered boots.

 Going to have to think about it for a day or so.  I've got probably at least two until I have to cut the skirt.  I finished stitching the lining on the front section of the bodice last night.  Today's project is the back section.  Then I need to make the lacing eyelets.  I'm rather excited.  There's a really good chance I'll have a wearable dress by the end of the weekend.  No sleeves, but since I still need to make my husband something to wear to this wedding in two weeks I'm going to leave the sleeves for awhile and shift to working on his doublet.  Trying to get things done quickly but not rush anything on my dress.

Pinning is progress, right?

Started assembly of the bodice.  Oh yeah, I'm a slooooow handsewer (as you may remember from the underskirt assembly.)  Its going to take a day or so to get it stitched together and probably another day or so to do the eyelets, so there just isn't much to see.

I am a little worried that its just so blah.  The portrait doesn't have any trim or anything on the dress.  There's gold trim on the sleeves in straight lines, but the bodice is completely plain.  All of the interest comes from the partlet.  I guess it does make for a quick dress, however.  I shouldn't complain.  The prospect of having this wearable within the week is actually a really good thing.  It'll let me make up my husband's outfit for our friend's wedding.  Only about 2 weeks to that deadline.

Putt-putt-putt- putt

Plugging along. I got the boning channels sewn into the interlining for the bodice and the bones into the front section. I'm using duct ties and still have a few to file smooth and the back ones to put in. I did 20 bones in the front section and then 8 in the back. It seems like its going to be plenty supportive. Crossing my fingers. I'm rather squishy and pretty well endowed as well as being fat. Every little bit of structure is going to be a good thing since I'm not doing a corset, but counting on the dress for all the shaping. I'm going to finish that and then pad stitch the felt to the canvas. That should keep it together so its not loose to shift around, but also add that much more firmness to the support layers.

Looking forward to getting the bodice done so I can play with jewelry and make the girdle. I've been putting it off so I can get the size right and make sure it lays correctly. Shiny!

Cut the bodice

I'm hoping to have more to show by later today but figured I'd post now in cas, e I didn't get around to it. The kids and hubby all have colds so sick may push back the sewing. I've also got to go get some chalk or pencil for marking since mine has mysteriously disappeared. I'm going to blame my 3 year old for that.

I'm using red canvas for my interlining layers and had hoped to have a large enough piece of red felt so that all of the inner bits were red. I'm not sure why I cared, but eh. The red wool felt I had made wasn't large enough so I went with some green commercial stuff I'd gotten on clearance. $2.99 a yard! Its a 80/20 rayon and wool rather than the 100%, but I followed a tip I got years ago from my friend Dannielle/Princess Nimble Thimble and washed and shrank it. I used to make children's toys from wool what seems eons ago and this isn't the first time I've thrown a load of wool felt in the washer with boiling water and tennis balls. It thickens up nicely after a wash or two and starts to look and feel more like the all wool stuff. A quick iron and steam smooths it out for cutting.

Did some significant standing on the chopines. Its slow, but it is shaping them. I'm far too impatient and just want to get on with them.