Sewing, I does it!

[mandie_rw]

And I take wonderfully awful pictures of that sewing to prove it! (I always seem to remember that I want pictures about half an hour after it's gotten too dark outside to bother lugging Mabel out to photograph things.)

Yesterday I finally discovered I was getting over my cold, which was nice handy timing for motivation to appear, as my mom and I went to visit some of the 18th- early19th century houses in Fairmount Park in Philly- something I've wanted to do forever, but never got around to before, despite the fact we are five minutes away, just over the bridge. Shame on me.

Anyhow, the houses were very nice and pretty, and I decided, cold be damned, I WANT 18th century pretty. RIGHT NOW. So this is what I worked on, yesterday and today!

I finally got round to putting another panel in the skirt of the gown, which you might remember I, for some completely unfathomable reason, made 30 inches too narrow. No, math is not my strong suit... So I sewed that all up and pleated and sewed it to the bodice, then today I pleated and sewed the trim to the neckline. Like on the skirt, the trim is just a strip of the fabric, except it's narrower, and the trim round the neck is box pleated, while the lines on the skirt are knife pleated.

And yes, this is the only picture with flash...it's damn dark in my room no matter what. A hopeless case.






And if the bodice doesn't quite look like it fits properly, especially round the waist: It doesn't, because I was too lazy to lace fat Mabel into my stays...so this is what an 18thc gown looks like when worn over a crappy old "Elizabethan" corset that permanently has taken up residence on the dress dummy!

I still need to decide exactly how I want to polonaise the skirt and add ties...and oh, yes, sleeves. I haaaaaaaaate sleeves. Which is why I've left futzing with them as late as I can. I just keep putting it off...but I can't really put it off any longer, can I? Eww...well, be prepared to see (well, hopefully see) sleeve progress in the next few days.

Comments

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

Wow, that looks great! I love the print!

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It was hard to find a reasonable approximation of an 18thc print around here, but plain fabric gets to be boring after a while...which is why I love ebay! :D

[llyrafantasyfae.livejournal.com]

That is really pretty. I can't wait to see that one on you! I love the knife pleats, thanks for the closer pics.

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Always happy to oblige with my dubious photography skills...;)

[cleopatramwi.livejournal.com]

Wow! It looks great! I love your pleats and the frillies around the collar.

I hate sleeves too. I always leave them until the bitter end.

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Frillies are always fun! (Well, they took forever to sew on, but that's okay; they look nifty, so all is forgiven.) And hooray for a fellow sleeve-hater!

[lorelei01.livejournal.com]

That looks awesome! Love the fabric and the tiny pleats. I also hate sleeves... and more so dresses that require not only sleeves, but also sleeve caps that the sleeves go under. They always end up at the bitter end. Right after sewing on hook and eyes which are in very close running ;-p Actually, I think I find those more frustrating, but almost more necessary than the sleeves so they always get done first.

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Ugh, I hate sewing on hooks and eyes as well! I get to cheat with this dress; since there's documented use of pins to close gowns in the 18th century, I am *so* using pins! (And it's cotton so it won't leave marks.) :D