Two hours to bead five rows on this one sleeve. 20 rows total on this one sleeve (and I started at the wrist, so I’ve only done the short rows; haven’t gotten to the widest rows yet). Two sleeves total. I don’t do math, but let’s just calculate that at 18 gazillion hours to finish these #*$&@#^{!($)#&%@?! sleeves. Don’t even talk to me about the forepart.
I need to call my mommy for help. She said she’d like to bead. She actually did all the beading on the 1 (one) costume I’ve ever beaded before (that was only simple rows of big hematite beads down the front of the dress and on the sleeves).
*pout*
I had to stop the beading before my brain blew up, and instead cut out the skirt panels. Put on the farthingale and measured. Realized that, hmm, the pad in the back of the farthingale looks, well, a heck of a lot like a bumroll. Almost looks like a bustle, actually. Rather 1870s-ish.
I think the pad is too big on me. Probably should have scaled it down some, but I would have had to do some kind of complicated scaling in the center-back piece of the skirt too because without the pad, that part of the farthingale would totally droop and drag on the floor.
I think I’m a bit too petite for that big of a pad, but how to fix that center-back pattern piece? I mean, it’s academic now, but I’m curious. Shorten it more and take out some of the side width without reducing the waist any? That pattern piece was pretty blocky already. Maybe make the side triangular insets less angular? Dunno.
It’s not a big deal, I just didn’t think my butt would stick out this much with the farthingale. It’s more ‘Baby’s Got Back’ than I’d expected. That’s usually my thang, just didn’t consider it particularly accurate for late 1500s. But hey, the folks who wrote this book know more than I do.
It does mean that my skirt will be a bit more shaped in the hem, not just round. Which is annoying because it’s harder for me to hem on myself. Another call to Mom, although the dressform may be useful for that.
Anyway, skirt panels are cut. I’ll sew up the sides and prep the top edge. I may mark it all out, then cartridge-pleat in the car on the way up and back from Auburn this weekend. That’s a solid three-hour drive each way, plenty of time to kill.
Then just keep beading, beading, beading until the end of time or until I kill myself.