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... )

Skirt facing is all sewn on and pressed, cloak hem is trimmed and checked and trimmed and checked and faced and pressed.  I tacked in the wee wand pocket I made, even though I haven't got a wand...because any proper witch's robe would have a wand pocket, whether or not she put her wand there. Obviously. I sewed the upper and lower brims of the hat ( Read more... )

Facing is on, and I trimmed the bottom edge and hemmed it. I just pressed it quickly and machined it, nothing fancy, since I plan to put fringe on top. I now realize that the fringe would be better if it were white, but cream is what I have so that's what I'm using. I cut and sewed together 12" wide strips for the pleated skirt ruffle-thing (what ( 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... )

Got the bodice fitted to the lining with the help of people who could actually see it on me, and sewed it down. The neckline is faced, and I just need to tack down the front to either side of the gathering, to keep it from being way blousy. (Before I hacked off the too-long-CF it looked GREAT for an early 20th c. pigeon-breast shirtwaist...oops, ( Read more... )

Yesterday (Sewing party #3) I did get the bodice all put together, and even got the sleeves on. Hurray! After adjusting them THREE TIMES. First cut out looked good, but the extra length I added because the mockup was about 4-5" too short was apparently way too much? So bizarre. So I hacked 2" off all around the sleeve head, and regathered. When I ( Read more... )

I ironed enough of the premium muslin to cut out new bodice lining pieces, and basted them to the fashion fabric. Bodice seams are sewed except for the shoulders, because the front and back differ by several inches, and I'm not going to bother sewing them until I can try them on after, which requires corset, and......nope. So that will wait until ( Read more... )

So I wasn't scheduled today, because we thought that Sunday was a paid holiday - turns out it wasn't, so I went in this morning to do some stuff, and left at around 11. Despite having to wrap my  mind around setting in the front and back godets (I've done triangular gussets before, of course, but only a few times, and always with a couple of years ( Read more... )

Sleeves are all together and sewn in. Bodice contrast is faced at CFs and hem; have to figure out where to attach the strappy bits in front, but that requires corset so it didn't happen post-work tonight. Instead I finished making all the covered buttons I'll need and sewed on the rest of the hem facing (bias tape, natch) to the paletot. Once I sew ( Read more... )