Sewed today, but probably not tomorrow :(

[mlsdesigns]

This morning while I was waiting to go out for lunch I did lots more research to work out how I'm going to make the dress, the logistics of robings (not done them before!) and ideas for trim, as a result I couldn't stop thinking about it all through lunch!!
After Gemma had gone home I got started on the sleeve mockup, and boy did that take FOREVER! I usually have no trouble at all with sleeves, but these! They had the devil in them today!!! I also tried lacing the bodice closed under the stomacher, it worked so well!! I love it :) One question though koshka_the_cat how much leeway did you have with your brown dress? I mean, if you were having a 'fat day' would you be able to lace it a bit looser and the stomacher still fit?
Anyway, I sorted out the lacing and stomacher, and THOUGHT I'd beaten the sleeve into submission, but when I tried it all on again for the last time the sleeve was still being poopy :( The sleeve head must have not been tall enough, there were lots of ugly wrinkles from where it was pulling, but I'd only pinned the sleeve in, and made sure to have the pins on the outside, so Clare helped me out by setting the sleeve on my shoulder, and then resetting it because we hadn't adjusted it quite right! But eventually we had enough height in the sleeve head at the front to get rid of the pulling, and took some photos, which I'll show when I get back, but then I decided that maybe the lower part of the sleeve was too loose, so Mummy helped me pin the seam tighter, then looser again, till finally it looked right :) SO much fiddling! When I usually love sleeves! Of course, it's also too short ;) But I'll fix that another day!! Boy does this dress have it in for me!
Tomorrow, as long as we have no more snow, I'm going to Manchester, and won't be home till Sunday, hopefully in time for dancing, so I'm having a sewing free weekend :( I have work on Monday, and probably Tuesday, so no idea when I can sew again :'( But I'm very pleased with what I've got done the last couple of days, and who knows, my boning might come next week! The lace for my sleeve flounces and a future 1860s ballgown came yesterday, and it's so lovely! It's from Lindy laces on ebay, very nice, and very cheap!! Win win :)

Comments

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

Bad sleeve! I hate it when they do that :)

I think I left about half an inch leeway on each side. I actually worry more about thin days where the stomacher doesn't fit! I laced the dress too tight once. Oops. The fun thing though, is because the dress is just fabric, you can lace the dress tighter or looser.

I didn't bone next to the eyelets. Instead, I used a heavy linen canvas. Worked beautifully :)

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

My sleeve was very mean to me!
You're right, thin days would be loads worse in some ways :)And thanks for the tip re canvas, I have some collar canvas, just enough to do the eyelets, so hopefully it'll do the trick.

[girliegirl32786.livejournal.com]

Sorry the sleeves are being such a pain! But I know you can conquer them!

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your vote of confidence!!!

[marcine.livejournal.com]

The stomacher was a great period way to deal with weight flucuations -- from the montly cycle, pregnancies, weight gain and loss, etc. Easier to have something flexible than to remake or resize something. A friend of mine wore her sack back a week before giving birth by wearind a wider stomacher. :)