I have my base skirt assembled with the 2 tiers of black lace. I realize my lace is rather heavier than in the original, but ah well, it *is* a lovely embroidered lace and the pattern. I think, overall, my gown is going to be darker than the original. My purple is darker, my lace
Last night, I hemmed 180″ or so inches of velveteen overskirt. By hand. And stabbed myself in the thumb about two feet from the end. Where’s my Purple Heart medal now? Guess there’s the blood to add to all the sweat and tears that have gone into this costume. I also finally sewed skirt hooks
My carpool driver is on vacation this week. I got a ride to work yesterday, but I had to take the bus to work today. I decided to make the best of it and sew during the hour-long trek. Even though I don’t have coffee until I get to the office. Quelle horror! Wasn’t too
I never tire of dumb jokes. But I do tire of hand-sewing. Yes, “hand” is a four-letter word to me. So I’m taking a break before I dive into hemming the overskirt, which is now pinned up and ready to go. My back is already killing me from hemming the front of the forepart by
Ta-da! Mom beaded one sleeve, I beaded the other. We are certifiably nuts. She, even more so, because she’s also beading the forepart. And I married into nutjobs because my stepmom-in-law helped bead the forepart and called today to say she could come back this week and bead more. Wow. I am the luckiest (and
12 noon to 8pm — beading! Me, Mom, and Deb. We finished both sleeves and about half of the forepart. Mom took the forepart home to finish herself, and she also took the trim home to pearl, if she has time. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tomorrow, I’ll assemble the inner sleeves and hopefully get to all the fastenings.
I’ve finally been beading. Watching an awful Sharks game is apparently more conducive to beading than watching an engrossing Bronte adaption. Doesn’t look like much, does it? Well, it isn’t. I suspect Mom has gotten farther along on her sleeve, even though she started later than me. And hers will look much tidier, of course.
So here I am last night, prepping the top edge of the skirt for cartridge-pleating. I’m using a strip of gingham because (a) I have a boat-load leftover from a previous cartridge-pleated skirt, (b) it makes for super-fast and easy marking, that is, no marking needed, just count off the squares, which is simpler when
Two hours to bead five rows on this one sleeve. 20 rows total on this one sleeve (and I started at the wrist, so I’ve only done the short rows; haven’t gotten to the widest rows yet). Two sleeves total. I don’t do math, but let’s just calculate that at 18 gazillion hours to finish
I’m having a rather “what would Kendra do?” time with this costume as I realize I really have to just suck it up and do a boatload of hand-sewing. Especially on these sleeves. There are just so many bits that are too fiddly for the machine, either they plain won’t fit because they’re too thick
Took me about an hour to sew hooks (not eyes) on the sleeve holes (also put one last hook and eye on the bottom of the bodice edge, plus stitched down some sloppy skirting*). Then I tried it on so I could confirm sleeve placement and found that the hooks cut into my shoulders. Doh!
I’ve been hand-sewing since about 10am, with a couple breaks for breakfast, loads of coffee, and some chocolate. Not only do I still hate hand-sewing, but I’m beyond BORED of hand-sewing. It’s like watching paint dry. No, it’s like *making* paint dry. Omg, it is so BOOOOOOOORRRRRIIIIIINNNNNNG. I can’t believe how boring this much hand-sewing
Not perfect by a mile, but relatively tidy, and that’s all I really wanted: Folded the corners a bit better than before, still a little clunky (esp. on the inner corners), but miles better than by machine. However, I’m glad I did do it twice, because the machine stitching is much stronger than my hand-stitching,
2 hours later, I have bound the bottom inside of rencorset mark 3. By hand. Now I deserve an apple turnover and tea. Then bed!
Man, it took a heck of a lot longer to make this skirt than I thought it would. And I’m still not finished — have to hem the lining. Tomorrow, though, because I’m beat. Aouda’s skirt in the solid grey part of the sari looks beeeeeeeyoooouuuutiful. So much better than using it as an overskirt.