And she sews!

[ktlovely]

It's been...three weeks since Fort St. Joseph. Which means that it's been three weeks since I sewed a stitch. However, no more! Mike and Gwendolyn and Julie and maybe Mike's family and I are going to a Regency ball! I've worn the same thing to the past two. Therefore, new dress!

The catch is that I decided this last Thursday. The dance is on Friday of this week. Which means I had (when I decided) a week and a day to complete a dress from start to finish. However, I think I can do this. As of right now, Saturday night, I have a bodice with sleeves attached. I am going to cut and install the lining (BY HANDTHANKYOU) tonight still. I think. I did just take my stays off and plop down in a sweatshirt, so we'll see.

I do pretty much have everything under control in my head, though. I go through and mentally construct each garment I make before I actually make it so there aren't any surprises, and I think I've got this one down all right. The placket on the skirt is going to be a little bit different than what I've done before, but I think it'll work best with the fabric I've got.




And here's what I'm going to be doing, just so I don't forget:

• Line bodice--bodice will be completed separately from skirt.
  
• Figure length for skirt panels. If I'm motivated, there'll be a bias trim on the skirt. I may be not motivated; also, being short and all, I may eschew trim at the hemline.
  
• Decide skirt width. My other one is made of cotton lawn and has three 54" panels in the skirt. This one is a fairly springy linen blend, which means I'm going to be pleating it to begin with, and I may not want a lot of fabric that could lead to poofiness.
  
• Pleat skirt to waistband.
  
• For that matter, make waistband.
  
• Waistband will be attached to bottom edge of bodice by hand. Securely.
  
• Cute little embroidered thing on bodice.
  
• Buttons?
  
• If I can get all this done by Tuesday, I might make a half-assed attempt at a) fixing my stays or b) making a new pair. Because mine? REALLY TRASHY.
  

ETA: Uh, I was going to cut a lining, but I think I've just discovered that I have absolutely NO suitable fabrics. I mean, I do, but none of them have been pre-washed. GAH. Never mind. I found, like, this itsy-tiny scrap of washed muslin in my workbasket. It just about perfectly fits the bodice, with a tad to spare. I have no clue how long I've been carrying it around with me to events and such; who cares? It works!