Oversleeve, all sewn up
I’m having a rather “what would Kendra do?” time with this costume as I realize I really have to just suck it up and do a boatload of hand-sewing. Especially on these sleeves. There are just so many bits that are too fiddly for the machine, either they plain won’t fit because they’re too thick or I’d surely mess them up even more on the machine.
Like the cuffs. Way too many layers. Besides, I couldn’t do the tidy little overcast-ish stitch (as if I know what any stitch is called) on the machine. So I sewed the cuffs on by hand.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I won’t sew anything by hand that would take stress. My stitches are way too sucky for that. Cuffs are one thing. And I did a lot of back-stitches just in case anyway. And my hand-sewing still wanders by mistake. It wouldn’t pass a drunk test. Nor are the stitches the same length. I’d flunk home ec (as an aside, I did take the equivalent of home economics in jr. high, but strangely, I don’t recall if there was a sewing component; I remember a lot of cooking, plus a little crochet and knitting, which I did passable on; I got a better grade in wood shop, even though I belt-sanded the tip of one finger; but, as always, I digress…).
I’m slightly despairing about getting this gown done in time for the feast. I’ve got a bodice and the outer-sleeves done now, but no closures or trim on the sleeves. Next weekend, we’re gone for a family gathering. Weekend after that is mostly clear. Following weekend is my birthday festivities, so no work then. And that leaves us at the feast itself. Um, yeah.
Later that day…
Question posed to the Pin Posse: Should I go for little and delicate or big and flashy? This is the pearled silk inner-sleeves of the 1580s gown. First pic shows the outer-sleeve fabric, the trim going on the edge of the outer-sleeves, then the inner-sleeves and the beads. Second pic shows a close-up of the beads themselves.
