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I'm using the bodice of the Period Impressions polonaise with a raised waist & extending the bodice fronts for gathering, then adding the skirt using the pleating of the Past Patterns Lewis & Clark era dress.

So the other thing I changed was the bodice lining so that the front lining overlaps for modesty similar to the PP dress. 

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I'm off my food again. :(  Never a good sign.  I've got chicken bits & veg in the slow cooker so at least I'll eat something healthy.  I've had to pace myself with sewing cos I can't comfortably sit at the machine for hours on end sewing like a mad fool.  And there's only so much prep in between ( Read more... )

I can't remember if I posted that I'm making a cheat set of stays in coutil with a victorian busk.  I have this mania for being able to dress myself - no ladies maid stashed in the grotto - and I figure as it's the rare person who'll see it (ie a roomie or 2 at an event) then it works for me. I'm not sure if I'll put bones anywhere, though it makes ( Read more... )

With the arrival fo the red silk ribbon, and the hat to be fetched from the post office, I've got almost everything I need for this fashion plate. Or at the very least it's ordered, like the black feathers for the turban.  The red ribbon might not be quite the right shade for this ... I'll decide once the hat is in my grabby hands.  I can use it on ( Read more... )

Yesterday I took the gift of tubs & a choc cake packet mix with me to faerie_mistress' place.  Though we did detour via Spottie as faerie-m needed some fabrics, and I rarely turn down a chance to pet the pretties.

I couldn't resist some japanese cotton lawn in a liberty inspired print. Floral but still geometric and with flattering colour choices. I also got some ( Read more... )

At the beginning of the year, I cut out 3 chemises, a coutil cheat version of my long stays (so I can dress myself) and the 1790s jumps in cotton canvas lined with cotton twill.  Despite being under the weather for most of the year, I've almost finished the chemises and have at least looked at the stays & jumps. Not sewn, but the jumps are so easy ( Read more... )

It's my sewing guild meeting this Saturday and I'm debating not going, partly to save the $15 and partly to save the walk from the station to the venue. I usually get a lift from an earlier stop on the line, but she's had an operation and won't be going anywhere for a few weeks.  Plus I'm not going to stitch-sew (my machine is several kg from being ( Read more... )

I'm totally inspired by this fashion plate, as someone who loves (but is *not* good at) belly dancing aka Middle-Eastern Dance. I really want to do my darndest to have it for JAFA 2012. The jumps I'm making from Jil Salens book look to be the right foundation for the bodice ... this isn't a lift & separated shape.

I wish I could remember where I ( Read more... )

I remembered to buy an earlybird ticket to JAFA for next April - it's my last payday before the earlybird price ends.  I was dithering about going - both this years shemozzle was too fresh in my mind and so many of the interstaters aren't coming. Not that I blame them, I'd think twice if I was having to pay for flights as well as buy food for what ( Read more... )