So, to start.
Big congratulations to me, for I have a new job! I’m making a lateral move from retail into banking, and my new position had me in Alexandria for training all week! It’s been a weeks worth of business causal, eating whole foods, and getting some sewing done! Because of *course* I took my sewing machine with me.
While I didn’t get as much done as I had hoped, it wasn’t for lack of trying. I decided my big project for the week would be to work on my stripped linen dress, which is in desperate need of an overhaul. She is a safe, comfortable, easy dress that I can layer a few different ways, but I rushed the process and didn’t seam treat. As a result, every time I wear her, I have threads.
I decided the best thing to do was take her apart and put her back together again. She’s got some wiggle room, so I’m comfortable doing what I must. I started with the front side seams all the way up, so I could actually begin with the shoulders and rectangular gores. I’m not 100% sure where I first found my pattern for my under dresses, nor am I 100% sure of their period-ness, but they create a silhouette that complements my figure.
I’m opting for French seams rather than flat felling like I have started to do, the raw edges of this linen shred terribly as you can see. So far I’ve gotten my shoulders and rectangular gores French seamed, because I’m trying to really take my time taking her apart.
I also added triangular gores to my saffron overdress, making it fit much better. The gores give it just the right amount of swirl, giving plenty of space for various under dress options. I did not finish it yet, I plan on taking some time with Mistress Ellesbeth to really work on my Rus garb, and I think that the saffron with some of the gorgeous blue saree silk that I have stashed would make the perfect combination!
There was a small debate if anyone else can see the very subtle shade difference between dress and gore, caused by washing the dress multiple times, but I’ve been assured that it’s negligible (Shout out to Elina for being my DUDE CAN YOU SEE THIS??? tester!)
Finally, no photos, but I started taking apart my black under dress, completely not period, Burda 7977. The side seams are constantly shredding, the sleeves are a…. weird length, I always end up pushing them up, and I wanted to use it as a base for a sleeveless chemise pattern (terrible idea!)
The plan is to French seam it, and then add thick silk cuffs to fix the sleeve length, I have a slate grey silk that I think will work perfect!
It was a massive failure to use it as a sleeveless chemise, I may scrap the gauze completely and draft something new. The shoulders are huge, the neckline is off the shoulder, the armscye is massive, it’s overall too big, which I could deal with one but all of those issues will require a total fresh start I think. But stay tuned, maybe I’ll thoroughly tailor it to perfection, and my next post I’ll talk about where I visited while in Alexandria’s Old Town!
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