Jenny La Fleur

It's over! The week of sewing madness is over! I did not plan it this way, I really didn't but I have to be flexible with my work and unfortunately everyone (including CCFred) decided this was the week to schedule things. Most times an hour away no less. I had no back-up plan so I had to finish everything this week. I have such a love/hate relationship with deadlines! It was all good though and God was SO gracious.

( the night of Nessa Dorma )

So without further ado my outfit! I’m quite pleased with it. Little things bug (the waist bunches as I didn’t fit it with the false rump, silly me) but the overall effect was what I was going for. The pleats in back need more fullness to hang correctly. Still not bad considering my fabric restraints and my first attempt at the sacque style. I need a totally different cap but it’s on the list already. I wanted a shorter petticoat but it came out a shorter that I intended. I think it shrunk when I dyed it. It looks cute though, very Galerie des Modes, so I may just leave it as is.


Stealth shots B took as I was getting undressed in the mess that was my room. Well actually still is the mess that is my room, I haven't picked up yet. :P Both B and I had to sew ourselves into our bodices, having run out of time to sew on the hooks and eyes. Also a glimse of my outfit sans bows. It's the bows that really make it I think, certianlly the bit that makes it go with the necklace. :> Found the ribbon at Jo-Anns of all places, on Friday night. I really was shocked - it was perfect!


My stays! I’m very pleased with them, they give a better shape than my last I think and are quite comfortable, now that they are broken in. Lacing all the way down takes more time to lace but it does give better lower back support. It’s something I will definitely do on all my future stays. Love the silk - not the most practical of fabrics but so fun to stroke! :>


So onto the next week's sewing projects! Yes the madness doesn't end quite yet. I am doing a reverse strip-tease/fashion show for a local DAR group on Saturday and am determined to have a proper shift and that robe volante. Both are easy projects (I think) and if they don't get done, no worries but I'm going to try. If you haven't figured it out already, I AM insane!! *LOL*

Wow my friend's list sure has been quiet this week! Not that I've been doing much to fill the silence... just refreshing my page a lot. :P So for the rest of you to-busy-to-sew-lj-refreshers out there - behold the stays!! As you can see I have unashamedly pinched the line of seaming from the pattern Katherine just used but really it's too pretty not to pinch!

I'm very pleased with the stays, they are pretty, MA-ish and fit very well. Unfortunately I’m not pleased with any of the pics I've managed to take on them on me. So you get Narcissa as a model until I can try again on me. :> Oh yes and a little preview of how the outfit will look with the quilted petticoat - yummy!

Worked a bit on the pet en l'air today. I'm happy so far, the side view looks perfect. That center box pleat is bugging me though. It's plenty full at the top but looks kinda skimpy at the bottom. Must mess with it a bit more.

So totally belated but...

Happy Birthday girliegirl32786!!!!

In more happy news *drum roll* - the binding is done!! Just four more eyelets and the stays are done!

I finished the bottom binding of the stays today - yay! I also pieced under the arm where I cut it wrong. Some binding to cover up the join and no one will ever know my mistake - another yay!

So just the top binding and the last 4 eyelets. Should go quickly now that the wretched tabs are done (I must remember to use less tabbing in B's stays or I shall go mad)... almost there. :>

Another day, another headache so I stumbled through yesterday doing quiet work. Actually got quite a bit done in the real-life world of site updating, paperwork and such. Even folded my laundry!

It was a good mail day too, a big MK order (the new quarter just started fun!) and my Zappos shoes. Surprisingly enough I actually like the Steve Madden, ie cheaper, better except I'm not sure I want shiny leather. They sure are comfy though and they are red... *ponders*

I did sew 3 tabs last night, so that is something. Almost to the side seam so almost a third of the way done with the bottom - yay! I always do the bottom first because after all the tabs the top seems a breeze! :>

My head seems to be clearer this morning - let's hope it stays that way!

Overall a productive sewing weekend, although I didn't get much done on Sunday. The day was spent mostly on sleeping, church and a cup of tea with a friend - all of which I thoroughly enjoyed. It felt like a true day of rest, which a Sunday should be. I did "clean up" the side seams of my stays (whipped stitched them down on the inside), discovering that I had cut the back piece wrong and it doesn't meet under the arm. Annoying as I'm NOT re-cutting the back piece with 22 eyelets finished. So I'm fudging, not sure how yet but fudging none the less.

I also tacked down the horizontal boning (kept wanting to curve up and stretch out my sateen lining) and got the binding tacked along the seams. Still trying to decide what I want to do with my front "faux" seams. Show the actual line of boning (straight down) or more late century in cut (curved). *ponders*

Wow it's been a whole week since I posted - didn't realize it had been that long. Not much to report on the costuming front, hence the lack of posts. I've gotten a few more eyelets done on the stays but it's going slowly. If only I didn't love hand bound eyelets so!

Today I was with RCHS at the local Christian school for their colonial days program. It was fun; we taught the 4th graders to dance. Took us a few hours but we got through all of them. We also did a demo dance (Ruffy Tuffy). It's been a while since I've done an RCHS event and it felt good to get all dolled up in the 18th century garb, even if I did get hot towards the end of the session (silly weather).

I went to Tina's for tea afterwards and we had a nice chat about costuming, and of course generally solving the world’s problems. :>

My Cheeptrims.com order came today. I'm happy with my rococo trim (trying to decide if it's too shiny and needs to be over-dyed) and thrilled with my lace. It's not *perfect* for 18th century but it overwhelmingly holds up to the 3 foot rule and I just plain like it. Yay - now I have 30 yards of lace to play with, instead of little pieces to fudge with. Trimming, flounces and other fussy things here I come...

(yummyone, I'll ship your stuff tomorrow or Saturday. I'll pop you an e-mail once it’s on the way.)

Oh yes my embroidery class last week! It went well - everyone seemed to enjoy it and I was pleased how eager they were to jump right in and try it out. It was more work than I thought it would be though. It took quite a bit of brain wattage to teach, help and track everyone's progress. They only stitched for about 1.5 hours but it felt much longer than that - I was exhausted! Definitely learned some things that will be help if I teach that CC class. We are talking about doing another open house in the Fall so I can test out a few more ideas then... I'm a glutton for punishment you know. :>

I worked a little on my stays today. All the seams are now sewn, double stiched and everything! I pretty much have only handwork left, plus cutting the boning for the side seams. I totally forgot I don't have any ¼” boning for the center back edges nor any lacing so looks like an order to Farthingales will be in order.

I pinned some of the pink binding along the seams (a la the stays in Fashion in Detail) to see how it looked. Pretty but I'm not sure if it's slimming or not. I'm also unsure if it adds or takes away from the pretty green silk. So now I'm trying to decide if I want the trim and if so, do I want it that width or half that (finished width of the edge binding). *ponders*

My second pocket is now officially done!! *throws confetti*

See I have pics to prove it, including close ups of the infamous piecing. *da dum* I used a flat felled seam for that, mostly for strength. Actually my first ever flat felled seam - I'm usually a French seam girl. I did the initial seaming on the machine but did the rest by hand. I figured it won't be as glaring that way and also the rest of the pocket was done by hand so it matches. :>

For my first pocket I sewed the linen tape waist band directly to the pocket but for this one I sewed a little channel so the waistband could be threaded through. This way the pockets are adjustable, as not all my pockets slits are in precisely the same place.

My stays are all boned now as well, except for the side seams which I have to sew first. I also did a quilt signature - and all with a day long headache, go me!

I've finished most of the boning in the front. Just a handful of pieces to go but my hands have had enough. I'm also not feeling 100% (I think I ate too much + headache) so I'm off to bed.

It's so nice to see these coming together - these stays have only been on my to-do list since October!