A Dedicated Follower of Fashion

I *think* I've now ordered everything I need to finish this outfit! Damn little bits and pieces that can't be got locally...

(Although I could technically pick up the corset supplies, because they're based in Philly. But between cost of either bridge tolls + gas, or two trains, it's about equal to the cost of USPS shipping. Or so I tell myself. And Fishtown's not a part of the city I would tend to be 'in the area' anyway...also, lazy. I ordered last night around 11pm and I'll probably get it tomorrow. They're very prompt.)

And HELLO the price of silk satin ribbon's gone up! Not shocking, because they really weren't kidding with the tariffs, but still, yowch. I usually get it from Farmhouse Fabrics as they have the best selection of widths and colors, but I ended up buying from silky_way on ebay instead, as I decided it didn't need to be satin. Thinner, cheaper stuff is fine for this - it's just to cover the boning casings on the outside of the corset. And 1/8" to thread through the lace at the chemise neckline, as I'd really rather it didn't fall off.

ALSO tea. Tea is always very necessary to sewing. When it's ten thousand degrees out I'll break down and have it iced, but it's still necessary. (Also Harney's sent me a coupon so I pretty much had to order something, right? Robin will hate it all because it's mint gunpowder green, cherry blossom green, pineapple something something green, and this new "Indigo Punch" that I really only bought because I really want it to be that bright purple color. I realize it's probably not quite that purple but a girl can hope.)

My hat is prooobably done...I'm letting it sit around for a while, so I can stare at it and decide if it needs anything else stuck on it before wearing. Happily, there's still a few weeks to do that. And I poked the corset a little more today, basted on the waist tape and finished the eyelets.

(Hand sewn eyelets. Highly questionable for 1900, but the big clunky metal grommets I have on hand are really too much for this lightweight little corset, and I'm still trying to cheap out on the materials! Hand sewn eyelets are free! And it's not as if it's going to be under undue pressure...I don't think you could tightlace in a summer mesh corset even if you wanted.)

I didn't get a lot of actual sewing done today (though I may finish sewing snaps on the skirt after I post this, since I finished the petticoat today and this could mark where the snaps needed to go), but I feel accomplished all the same. I have a tendency to leave thinking about hair til the the of the event, and when it's something I'm unfamiliar with, I really shouldn't do that!

reine_de_coudre's quick-and-dirty 1920s hair tutorial inspired me - 20s and teens hair are very closely related, I've discovered. (As an aside, that seems to be one thing they did change for Downton Abbey...the majority of hairdos in period photographs I've seen have more volume and might even be termed "frizzy", whereas even the curled hairdos of the Downton ladies are sleeker and much more flattering to our modern eyes. Since my hair is a big fan of "frizzy", I am all for that option.)

Samantha recommended a waving iron in her tutorial, so I went out and bought me one today. It was on sale, so I got a fun one with an adjustable barrel - can make the waves bigger or smaller. The smaller ones will be perfect for 20s, but the larger ones looked better for teens I thought. And yes, I then went to work with my hair waved in a different width on either side of my head. Heh.



It's not too bad, all things considered! And now I can see what adjustments to make - mainly get the whole thing up a little higher off my neck (though not too much because hat), and hide that rat a little better, oops.

And hat on head, because I couldn't resist.


FEATHAHS, YO.

Also, when I tried on the outfit, I was struck anew with the awful snausage-ness of it all, so I'm leaning towards making a belt and not worrying about the jacket at all. Although interestingly, according to the forecast, if we're there all day, I might want the jacket! (I'm always cold, shut up.)

Or is it a waist still? I don't actually know. Feel free to correct me!

Tuesday night my back decided it was going to be mad at me, and has proceeded to be cranky ever since. I didn't do anything to it or sleep funny...apparently I'm just a senior citizen now. I actually wore my old effigy stays to work today, and other than slightly pokey armpits and a really odd silhouette I think it was quite helpful! Back support and all, y'know.

Anyway, that means I've been sewing at half-speed, and cutting at maybe quarter speed...which is pretty damn slow. I finally put the finishing touches on the blouse (buttons and hem), and cut out my skirt pieces today.
( Pictures! )

Not trimmed yet - I have ribbon and a fun decorative buckle to put on said ribbon from my bag o'random buckles (why yes, I have one of those, doesn't everyone?), but the only feathers I have at the moment are white ostrich and peacock, and I do not like either of them on this hat. And this is a Needs Feathers kind of hat. Trust me on this.

But it's put together, which is good! I'll put the ribbon on tonight, and order the feathers so I can just stick them on when they get here.

( Poorly lit, bad quality pictures under the cut )

It'll be more impressive trimmed! Probably.

In which I talk about thinking about the sewing I ought to be doing right now...

Actually I was fairly good last night, after spending hours and hours on the internet (HAD TO CATCH UP!), I worked out most of the maths for my dress. Tucks regrettably take maths, you know. They're probably wrong, but I guess we'll find out soon...The lovely jenthompson sent me a similar pattern to the Past Patterns one I'm copying (without the pattern, hurr), which was extremely helpful! There are some differences, mainly the position of the waist, but it really helped my tiny brain to see those pattern shapes!

I was actually all ready to start cutting, when I remembered I hadn't washed any of my fabric. Oh dammit. So I pushed that off til today, and sewed some flowers on my hat instead!

( Cut for pics )
And now I have to go iron my fabric so I can at least get the basic dress cut out tonight!