Foresleeves, and Maurelle's holiday dress musings.
Yeah, I have been writing a lot today. :-)
I forgot about my fore sleeves. They went well in the wearing, but this time I think I took too much off the pattern, as it seemed a bit shorter than I expected. Well, the next time I will add back a half inch or so, although I should try it with my ruffled sleeve smock, and see if the ruffles end up in the right location or not.
I have to upload those photos as well, but I need to take some more photos of the final look first. So later tonight.
And right now, actually since last night, I am trying to find some green fabric to make Maurelle's Christmas dress from. I want something pretty, of natural fiber that breathes well, that is holiday enough for a holiday dress, and that is washable (that last is a must). So, wool and linen are pretty much out.
I have some red cotton velveteen that I think should work, but I am worried it might be too heavy for her to wear. I also have been wanting to put her in a green color, since it would bring out her reddish hair highlights. I looked for some green velveteen at Hancock's yesterday, since they were on sale at half off, but the only green velveteen that wasn't olive or drab, was a hunter green that was too dark and chopped into three one-yard pieces. Not good. I did find some pretty 100% wool twill, but it was a bit scratchy, so that's not a good choice for a holiday dress, even if it breathes nicely.
I am thinking of maybe getting some silk dupioni, prewashing it so it will be washable later, and making that up, but silk may be too warm for her to wear (she sweats a lot), even lined in muslin. I am not sure what to do at this point, and I need to work on the curtains first, really. But I want to work on her dress first!
And then, what color would look good on her? I know I look good in jewel tones, but then I am much darker in coloring, so jewels are good on me. On her, with her hair and lighter eyes, I don't think winter jewels would be so good. Her eyes still haven't finished changing, and at times they are anywhere from a grey, to a light blue, or maybe it is a light green. So, I am thinking maybe a turquoise, a teal, or a sage green, might work for her. I am just not sure. I think I will need to order some swatches to be sure of her colors, unless I go with the red, which may be again, too strong for her coloring. I think I will pull it out and see what it does to her.
At least I have the pattern I can use/adopt/modify already. Butterick 3236. Yeah, it is a costume pattern, but the other "girly-girl" patterns I looked at in all of the books were either too modern, too heirloom, or too basic (gathered chemise types). This one I can use for her winter dress, and mod it for later court or even peasant garb. Although I am thinking maybe making up my own pattern for her.
I bought the pattern during the Butterick sale at Hancock's. I also got a cape pattern for the kids (for everyting from super heroes, to general faire/SCA use). And I bought a few others for myself, based on Connie Crawford's patterning line that is new to Butterick (B5047, 5049 & B5053). Those should give me some more basic pieces to make up now (not later) so I can actually wear something semi-fitted for awhile. I may as well, since my weight loss is going slower now, and I need pants and something better than t-shirts to wear, and most of my shirts are now waaaaaaay too big. But curtains first... and that means spending tonight cleaning my sewing room... again.
I forgot about my fore sleeves. They went well in the wearing, but this time I think I took too much off the pattern, as it seemed a bit shorter than I expected. Well, the next time I will add back a half inch or so, although I should try it with my ruffled sleeve smock, and see if the ruffles end up in the right location or not.
I have to upload those photos as well, but I need to take some more photos of the final look first. So later tonight.
And right now, actually since last night, I am trying to find some green fabric to make Maurelle's Christmas dress from. I want something pretty, of natural fiber that breathes well, that is holiday enough for a holiday dress, and that is washable (that last is a must). So, wool and linen are pretty much out.
I have some red cotton velveteen that I think should work, but I am worried it might be too heavy for her to wear. I also have been wanting to put her in a green color, since it would bring out her reddish hair highlights. I looked for some green velveteen at Hancock's yesterday, since they were on sale at half off, but the only green velveteen that wasn't olive or drab, was a hunter green that was too dark and chopped into three one-yard pieces. Not good. I did find some pretty 100% wool twill, but it was a bit scratchy, so that's not a good choice for a holiday dress, even if it breathes nicely.
I am thinking of maybe getting some silk dupioni, prewashing it so it will be washable later, and making that up, but silk may be too warm for her to wear (she sweats a lot), even lined in muslin. I am not sure what to do at this point, and I need to work on the curtains first, really. But I want to work on her dress first!
And then, what color would look good on her? I know I look good in jewel tones, but then I am much darker in coloring, so jewels are good on me. On her, with her hair and lighter eyes, I don't think winter jewels would be so good. Her eyes still haven't finished changing, and at times they are anywhere from a grey, to a light blue, or maybe it is a light green. So, I am thinking maybe a turquoise, a teal, or a sage green, might work for her. I am just not sure. I think I will need to order some swatches to be sure of her colors, unless I go with the red, which may be again, too strong for her coloring. I think I will pull it out and see what it does to her.
At least I have the pattern I can use/adopt/modify already. Butterick 3236. Yeah, it is a costume pattern, but the other "girly-girl" patterns I looked at in all of the books were either too modern, too heirloom, or too basic (gathered chemise types). This one I can use for her winter dress, and mod it for later court or even peasant garb. Although I am thinking maybe making up my own pattern for her.
I bought the pattern during the Butterick sale at Hancock's. I also got a cape pattern for the kids (for everyting from super heroes, to general faire/SCA use). And I bought a few others for myself, based on Connie Crawford's patterning line that is new to Butterick (B5047, 5049 & B5053). Those should give me some more basic pieces to make up now (not later) so I can actually wear something semi-fitted for awhile. I may as well, since my weight loss is going slower now, and I need pants and something better than t-shirts to wear, and most of my shirts are now waaaaaaay too big. But curtains first... and that means spending tonight cleaning my sewing room... again.