First I need to declare that I did in fact complete a dress for the ball, and I didn't even have to be pinned in! I finished sewing up the hem facing right as sewloud rolled up to collect me, and sewed hooks onto one side of the back in the car, but that was all the car-sewing I had to do, to my shock. Mainly because I needed someone to fit the darts on ( Read more... )

When sewing/prepping/whatever for an event is incredibly stressful because you don't have enough time, you have to wonder if it's worth even going to the event. Chipped away a bit at my mantle yesterday, but I'm not enthusiastic about my lining options. And I tried to sew piping for the dance-dress-that-surely-won't-happen, but things kept going ( Read more... )

So I had decided a while back that I wasn't going to try for anything new for New Castle, because I have a perfectly serviceable wardrobe - both day gown and ball gown - and while a mantle would be NICE, if it's really cold I'll want my 18th c. cloak anyway. But then there was a fab plaid taffeta on super-sale at JoAnn on Black Friday, and though ( Read more... )

Over the last two weeks or so I chipped away at 5 (more) buntings for my sister's new baby - 3 newborn sized, 2 two sizes larger - so they're all ready to be sent up. I just want to make a couple of sheets for his 'co-sleeper' bed or whatever it's called, and we can ship the stuff out. I should get on that! I also really need to get going on stuff ( Read more... )

So... rain was forecast, and happened, so the dance was inside the visitor center, rather than outside on their nice concrete patio thing. That was lame, but dry. And we were wondering how they had planned to adequately light it outdoors, since the event ran till 9 and when it ended it was QUITE dark outside. There was only a sliver of moon and it ( Read more... )

When my bodice was DETERMINED to be a @#%$!, despite the mockup having gone together quite well, I'm at the point of whipping the piping down on the inside of the neckline. I didn't know that gathered overlay-things had to be made longer than their corresponding linings - apparently I did it by accident on my striped day dress? - so when I had the ( Read more... )

I actually managed to make some progress on my barn dance dress, despite work and 4-year-old who's trying to play with me at just about every opportunity. He has developed an abiding love for the game wherein I or Grandpa or Grandma 'save' him from someone else either tickling or kissing him, so then TWO of us are required. Ooof. My sister and I ( Read more... )

So I really need to sew for the barn dance at Allaire on August 6th, but sister+baby-no-longer are in town, and baby #2 is on the way (due at the end of October) so we've been trying to make stuff for him. Both easier and harder than normal stuff - don't have to fit anything, because he doesn't exist yet...but baby clothes are SO DARN FIDDLY OMG. ( Read more... )

Because sister+nephew are in town! When E was a wee thing he had very few clothes, owing to my sister being a Poor Student Working On Her PhD (so little money and less than no time) so for this upcoming Baby she's decided He Will Have Clothes!!! Unfortunately for Baby, all the patterns available at the moment are for summer clothes...and he is due ( Read more... )

Yesterday was another sewing day. I'm so productive when I've got someone else there and/or am at someone else's house (with my computer out of reach! ;) ) Rather than work on my 1830s stuff, either a petticoat or plot a dress (which I'll need in August), I ended up half-finishing a natural form petticoat instead. I guess because we were all ( Read more... )