Regency update
Last weekend I managed to get the day gown mostly done. One evening this past week while watching tv, I managed to finish all of the hand work on it. All it needs now is something to fasten it. I'm leaning towards buttons but that means I wil have to cover the buttons and I am not sure I have enough time given all of the work I also have on my plate. So it might end up being hook and eyes. I also made a cute matching reticule.
This weekend, I got the ball gown mostly together. Actually, I shouldn't call it a ball gown. Because I am not dancing and it might be chilly, I am making more of an evening gown. But... I am wearing it to a ball so whatever. :D I've run into a bit of a stumbling block with the sleeves. Originally I was going to do a paned sleeve with the gold/olive organza peaking out. The dress is dark olive shot with gold taffeta. But I think it is too much of the organza. The dress itself is going to be decorated fairly simply. I am just doing some gathered strips around the neckline and bottom of the dress. However, I don't have a ruffling foot, so I am doing it by hand. What a pain in the butt! And the hand, for that matter. ;-) Originally, I thought to balance the organza in the sleeve by having two layers of the gathered strips, one of the taffeta with one of the organza underneath. It would just peek out from underneath to give the hit of color. And I did some test strips and it looks good like that. But it is more work to do the strips. And time is not my friend right now. So I could just do the elbow length sleeve I was going to do on the crossover gown and then no organza with the strips. Or I could do the elbow length sleeves and still do the organza in the strips. Or I could rework the sleeves so that it is the short poofy sleeve in the taffeta and just do one opening where the organza peeks out? Gah! I wish I had more time! Other than the sleeves and decoration options, it is finished except for hem and fasteners.
Because of my indecision, I put it aside and started working on David's waistcoat. It is now finished except for buttons and buttonholes. I also need to whipstitch the bottom edge. Need to cover buttons for this. He chose the brocade for this a couple of years ago. Boy is it something! LOL Now he can't decide if he wants to be flashy at the ball and understated during the day, or vice versa. It is pretty, just gold. But his coat and trousers are black, so it will be fine. It was my first waistcoat and I made a couple of mistakes which aren't likely to be noticed. But next time I will have a better understanding of how it goes together.
So when am I going to get all this done? I have a ton of stuff due at work so not sure I'll have any evenings free. We have our dance class this Thursday and that is an hour drive and a two hour class. I am not dancing so theoretically, I could bring some of the handwork and do it there. It would be too dark on the way back, but I could do some on the drive there. If nothing else, I could get the strips gathered and ready to be sewn to the dress. Also, we have a long drive to the event on Friday. Several hours. So I could probably get all of the buttonholes done in the car. Also, we don't have anything Saturday during the day. So worst case scenario, I could bring my machine and do last minute stuff on Saturday. I'd rather not do that, but it is an option if necessary.
I promise some pictures soon!
This weekend, I got the ball gown mostly together. Actually, I shouldn't call it a ball gown. Because I am not dancing and it might be chilly, I am making more of an evening gown. But... I am wearing it to a ball so whatever. :D I've run into a bit of a stumbling block with the sleeves. Originally I was going to do a paned sleeve with the gold/olive organza peaking out. The dress is dark olive shot with gold taffeta. But I think it is too much of the organza. The dress itself is going to be decorated fairly simply. I am just doing some gathered strips around the neckline and bottom of the dress. However, I don't have a ruffling foot, so I am doing it by hand. What a pain in the butt! And the hand, for that matter. ;-) Originally, I thought to balance the organza in the sleeve by having two layers of the gathered strips, one of the taffeta with one of the organza underneath. It would just peek out from underneath to give the hit of color. And I did some test strips and it looks good like that. But it is more work to do the strips. And time is not my friend right now. So I could just do the elbow length sleeve I was going to do on the crossover gown and then no organza with the strips. Or I could do the elbow length sleeves and still do the organza in the strips. Or I could rework the sleeves so that it is the short poofy sleeve in the taffeta and just do one opening where the organza peeks out? Gah! I wish I had more time! Other than the sleeves and decoration options, it is finished except for hem and fasteners.
Because of my indecision, I put it aside and started working on David's waistcoat. It is now finished except for buttons and buttonholes. I also need to whipstitch the bottom edge. Need to cover buttons for this. He chose the brocade for this a couple of years ago. Boy is it something! LOL Now he can't decide if he wants to be flashy at the ball and understated during the day, or vice versa. It is pretty, just gold. But his coat and trousers are black, so it will be fine. It was my first waistcoat and I made a couple of mistakes which aren't likely to be noticed. But next time I will have a better understanding of how it goes together.
So when am I going to get all this done? I have a ton of stuff due at work so not sure I'll have any evenings free. We have our dance class this Thursday and that is an hour drive and a two hour class. I am not dancing so theoretically, I could bring some of the handwork and do it there. It would be too dark on the way back, but I could do some on the drive there. If nothing else, I could get the strips gathered and ready to be sewn to the dress. Also, we have a long drive to the event on Friday. Several hours. So I could probably get all of the buttonholes done in the car. Also, we don't have anything Saturday during the day. So worst case scenario, I could bring my machine and do last minute stuff on Saturday. I'd rather not do that, but it is an option if necessary.
I promise some pictures soon!