So here I am last night, prepping the top edge of the skirt for cartridge-pleating. I’m using a strip of gingham because (a) I have a boat-load leftover from a previous cartridge-pleated skirt, (b) it makes for super-fast and easy marking, that is, no marking needed, just count off the squares, which is simpler when
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
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
Jeebuz, but I keep buying stuff for this Elizabethan gown! I just can’t stop. Oh I need casings for my farthingale. Oh I need some really fine cotton stuff for a chemise. Oh I need some twill for interlining. Oh I need aglets for the sleeves. Oh I need eye pins for the hat trimming.
Despite a record-breaking 102 degree heat yesterday, I finished the dress. All trimmed up with super-cutesy ruffles, also hemmed. Used the ruffler foot (always tricky, but when it works, it’s freakin’ awesome) to make the trim. Oh, and the strip of white cotton I used for this trim? It was excess cut off from the
Bee boo bee boo boo bee boo bee bee boo … boop. Today in God, we discuss why Trystan should not be allowed to sew after 9pm on a weeknight. And then we praise Allah. Ehem. I’m no Stephen Colbert nor a weak Rob Corddry, so let’s not even pretend. Point is, I’m fucking up
I’ve been trying, really I have, but I will never match the sewing productivity of Sarah or Katherine, the later of whom even makes progress whilst on vacation in Europe. But I finally put the sleeves into the bodice and sewed the rest of the hooks (once I bought more) into the stomacher sides. That
After much hemming and hawing (no pun intended), I made the overgown. Well, it’s not quite done yet. Need to finish hand-sewing the trim around the incredibly wide neckline. Also need to add sash ties in the back because in my attempt to make the overgown big enough to go over the first gown, I
Technically, both costumes are done now. Pulled a marathon (for me; I stayed up past midnight 😉 sewing session last night and finished my gown. Designed sleeves based on, well, not much ‘cept the fact that I wanted to be able to eat in the dress yet still have a semblance of Floppy Elf Sleeve
Today, I got the main body of my black and silver elf gown done. Not sure if I’ll bother with the overgown because when I sewed the wide sari trim to the neckline, it just looked so good against the solid black. I think the silver overgown (a la the two-part Requiem outfit) might detract
Done! With one week to spare. Trimmed up the coat today, buttons and silver braid. Very flashy and Hollywood. Used up almost all the buttons and trim too. Even put buttons above the center-back vent. It just looked cool, even if means I can’t sit back against a chair in this coat. The price we
I hemmed and trimmed all the jillion miles of ruffles for the skirt. Hemming would have been enough of a pain (though let us all take a moment to praise the high and mighty rolled-hem foot!). But I had to go and edge each layer of ruffles with narrow black lace. Yes, I am officially
I gave up on the trim embroidery idea. Here’s the sordid, stupid story of this gown’s trim… Because I couldn’t find any trim that really looked like what’s on the costume, I tried to improvise. I bought two yards of unbleached, cotton, crocheted lace and used fabric medium and acrylic paint to turn it an