Garb Blogging: Taking Stock Part II
So if you've read this blog more than once, you'll know I don't normally post two days in a row! But I wanted to finish up yesterday's post on taking stock--a year-end review of what I actually accomplished at the sewing machine this year. When I started that post, I was down on my progress for 2010, and by the time I finished, I was totally psyched. So it worked, I guess! :)
Today we'll wrap up my projects and new techniques, and give some love to the UFOs of the year, as well.
#9) Christmas tree skirt! (Ok, not technically garb, I suppose, but it has a clothing name, and one could argue that the tree is wearing it...)This is my newest finish and so my current crush. New techniques: binding a circle, working with velvet, working with faux fur. New tool: the walking foot for my sewing machine (which I bought two years ago when I bought the machine, and apparently never even looked at, because I didn't realize it came in a *set* with two other specialty quilting feet and seam guides! Hee.) Click here for a glorious closeup.
...And now the UFOs and WIPs in the mix. For the non-stitchy out there (or my DH, who gave me a strange look when I said I was going to blog about UFOs today!), those would be Unfinished Objects--projects that have been more or less abandoned--and Works in Progress--projects I am still "working on," even if it's been years since they last saw the light of day. :D
A.) Corded corset:
I think this one is a UFO, although it could certainly be finished off in almost no time, since all it needs is a haircut and binding (and those magical machine-bound eyelets we talked about yesterday). New technique: boning with hemp cord (instead of a rigid boning like steel, plastic duct ties, or whatnot). Hemp cord is lauded for being incredibly supportive *and* wildly comfortable. I had been wanting to cord something for *years* before this, and had had endless troubles trying to master the technique. But my new machine fixed that. So even though it's not finished, I still love it all the same. (Stay tuned for much more hemp cord love)
B.) Frankensmockup/the embroidered smock:
This one is DEFINITELY a WIP, and will likely remain so for at least the next fifteen years! The first picture, which I have christened Frankensmockup, is a mockup of a smock cobbled together from three or four different patterns. The final version will be from linen--the chest/back and sleeves from the embroidered linen shown above, the skirt sections from plain linen. I am filling in the existing "blackwork" embroidery by hand. See here for my 2-month progress on one sleeve. (I am actually working on this again, having finished my holiday stitching!). Goal: finish the stitching before my 50th birthday!
C.) Corded, curved-front gown:
This is a UF/WIP. I really, really want to finish (well, make) this dress, but I'll likely have to start almost from scratch next summer. New technique: fitting a supportive bodice (ie, a bodice that supports the bust through virtue of cut alone, without the benefit of additional stiffening/boning/etc, which is, ahem, a tall order for me.). This is normally a two-person project (one person to stand there and be fitted, and Person #2 to do the pinning/marking), but I totally impressed myself by doing it entirely on my own! Although the mockup at left shows how well it supports, I always intended to cord mine (on the right), using the skills I learned on the corset, above. Unfortunately, that was as far as I got, before work/other sewing/illness interrupted me. The support comes from curved front pattern pieces (see here), and is fitted by draping, and as such is very dependent on fitting properly. My weight typically shifts a bit over the winter, so I've hit the pause button on this, and will start it up again next summer. Please note: yesterday's Project #1 temporary lacing strips in action on the right!
So that wraps up the sewing so far in 2010. Looking at it this way, I am either more accomplished than I'd thought... or I have ADD. My goals for 2011 are pretty modest in comparison: the purple kirtle I've been blogging about, a couple more Much Ado pieces, finishing the curved-front gown, and maybe some work on Promenade.
Onward!
Today we'll wrap up my projects and new techniques, and give some love to the UFOs of the year, as well.
#9) Christmas tree skirt! (Ok, not technically garb, I suppose, but it has a clothing name, and one could argue that the tree is wearing it...)This is my newest finish and so my current crush. New techniques: binding a circle, working with velvet, working with faux fur. New tool: the walking foot for my sewing machine (which I bought two years ago when I bought the machine, and apparently never even looked at, because I didn't realize it came in a *set* with two other specialty quilting feet and seam guides! Hee.) Click here for a glorious closeup.
...And now the UFOs and WIPs in the mix. For the non-stitchy out there (or my DH, who gave me a strange look when I said I was going to blog about UFOs today!), those would be Unfinished Objects--projects that have been more or less abandoned--and Works in Progress--projects I am still "working on," even if it's been years since they last saw the light of day. :D
A.) Corded corset:
I think this one is a UFO, although it could certainly be finished off in almost no time, since all it needs is a haircut and binding (and those magical machine-bound eyelets we talked about yesterday). New technique: boning with hemp cord (instead of a rigid boning like steel, plastic duct ties, or whatnot). Hemp cord is lauded for being incredibly supportive *and* wildly comfortable. I had been wanting to cord something for *years* before this, and had had endless troubles trying to master the technique. But my new machine fixed that. So even though it's not finished, I still love it all the same. (Stay tuned for much more hemp cord love)
B.) Frankensmockup/the embroidered smock:
This one is DEFINITELY a WIP, and will likely remain so for at least the next fifteen years! The first picture, which I have christened Frankensmockup, is a mockup of a smock cobbled together from three or four different patterns. The final version will be from linen--the chest/back and sleeves from the embroidered linen shown above, the skirt sections from plain linen. I am filling in the existing "blackwork" embroidery by hand. See here for my 2-month progress on one sleeve. (I am actually working on this again, having finished my holiday stitching!). Goal: finish the stitching before my 50th birthday!
C.) Corded, curved-front gown:
This is a UF/WIP. I really, really want to finish (well, make) this dress, but I'll likely have to start almost from scratch next summer. New technique: fitting a supportive bodice (ie, a bodice that supports the bust through virtue of cut alone, without the benefit of additional stiffening/boning/etc, which is, ahem, a tall order for me.). This is normally a two-person project (one person to stand there and be fitted, and Person #2 to do the pinning/marking), but I totally impressed myself by doing it entirely on my own! Although the mockup at left shows how well it supports, I always intended to cord mine (on the right), using the skills I learned on the corset, above. Unfortunately, that was as far as I got, before work/other sewing/illness interrupted me. The support comes from curved front pattern pieces (see here), and is fitted by draping, and as such is very dependent on fitting properly. My weight typically shifts a bit over the winter, so I've hit the pause button on this, and will start it up again next summer. Please note: yesterday's Project #1 temporary lacing strips in action on the right!
So that wraps up the sewing so far in 2010. Looking at it this way, I am either more accomplished than I'd thought... or I have ADD. My goals for 2011 are pretty modest in comparison: the purple kirtle I've been blogging about, a couple more Much Ado pieces, finishing the curved-front gown, and maybe some work on Promenade.
Onward!