jennylafleur | results of the muse

Lookie - actual sewing content. With piccies and everything! My muse must have found her way back from Philly... :>

I was getting read to post last night when our power went out. *grinds teeth* Anyway B was beading away on the Fire when I looked around for something to do so I turned my attention to the chemise gown. I haven't been able to wrap my head around how all you people have put a drawstring round the neck while still gathering along the bottom of the sleeve strap. I need to see how you've done it because the descriptions are not doing it for me. mean people living so far away! I was getting all whigged out about it when it occurred to me that I will be adding a lace ruffle to the neck line so no one will see if I cheat. *looks at calendar and thinks. "cheating is good"* I'll just paw Katherine's at CC and figure it out for next time. :>

So I put it together the same way I did my Federal gown, which is less full but the same basic cut. Another cheat to save time and aggravation was to just line the blessed thing. I solved the problem of not really wanting a solid white lining by using the same thin voile as my lining. I ironed on lots of layers of heavy sizing until it was almost stiff so that it has some body while I'm working. I love spray sizing I really do!

It seems to be working well. If I had to do it over again I think I would have made the gathers along the sleeve strap a little less full. I may also take out the top-stitching along the strap. It depends on how much it shows under the ruffle. It looks a bit funky at the moment but I thought stitching down the gathers a bit would help the ruffle lay better.

I'm off to dance with RCHS at a local 4th of July event today so I can attach the ruffle and maybe do the waist casing while I'm there. Yay for period appropriate CC hand work projects! :>

Oh yes and a little seek peek at the Fire. B is doing such an amazing job. - Bless her little pea-pickin' heart!! Every time I talk to her she's finished a section and wants to add beading to more of the frock. The trip to King Tut is paying off - lots of inspiration for the beading. I SO have the best sistah evah!!

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Cheating is good. I promise you also I won't lift your skirts, as I promised JenniL. ;)
So THAT'S what one of those chemise gowns look like. I was thinking it was more structured. But I guess with the ribbon belt it was looking different.
Pretty beading. Nice sister. Can I borrow?

*slaps hand* Hands off - my sister, mine I say! *LOL*

No the chemise gowns really aren't structured at all, mine is actually more structured than most with it's sewn down gathers and fitted lining. There will be a drawstring at the waist (some have two) but that is really it. Without proper stays and a sash this style can look truly horrific on those of us with curves! :>

The chemise dress is looking lovely! I really like your idea of lining it. If I remember correctly, I dont think I gathered the fabric along the shoulder strap, but instead attached the drawstring at the shoulder seams. Does that make sense? In the end though, I had to make the front gathers more stationery, so I bound the front edges, but left the drawstring free to take up any slack. Again, Im probably not making sense and since your dress looks lovely anyway, Im probably not helping at all. ;)

I didn't do any gathering under the front straps. My whole underarm section is smooth. I did do gathering under the back straps, but that section is fixed, so no drawstring worries.

However, I have no idea if you're cheating or not! I'd guess that's the way some of the more square necked gowns worked :)

Since we just have information about one dress, and it's not even that detailed...

The chemise dress is looking pretty. And cheating is quite useful. You, after all, told us about the mantua makers. :)

The Fire looks like it will be so sparkly! I wish I had your sister's patience in beading.

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