copying a Regency reticule, and a pink bonnet

I based my reticule on one that was for sale on www.vintagetextiles.com a couple of years ago. Though that one had embroidery on the sides.  I had intended to pipe the edges of the front & back, gather the side and sew the front & back onto the gathered strip.  Except that I forgot this when making it. So I gathered the sides on the piping and stitched that onto the front, and then the back.  I'm going to find a light weight cord to use for the draw strings as the ribbon is pretty but seems out of scale. The original had white cord not ribbon.


And having already made a red linen bonnet, I was less than impressed with working with silk. I'd thought to cut wider seam allowances than directed but crown section was trying to fray to nothingness in a couple of places.  There's more hand sewing than I really like, but I have to admit that it was worth it.   I put it on a wig on my wig stand  (easier to frame the shot).

Selma Bouvier goes to a party

Mrs Miggins you shall go to the Ball

It was so much fun being the cracked Mrs Miggins and I'm so happy with how this costume turned out.  The only thing I'd like to change is the stays I wear underneath.   With my pink cable tie version, I still get a shelf for cameras, but the bodice is curved not flat. I don't think it's possible to get completely flat, unless my chest is under my neck. Though I'd like to get it closer to period.

Though I do work as a pillow

ribbon trim switcheroo

yes I'm crazy enough to pull off all the ribbon trim & replace it with the gingham. Although it's a quarter inch too narrow it's a much better tonal match.

Cos I only had 6.5m I didn't run the trim down the open robe skirts.  And I had just enough to do the bows on the sleeve fronts & centre front. 

And Baby (my vintage bernina) had the timing go whack tonight. Thank goodness for Back Up Baby.  I used my even older but new to me Bernina 125 Jubilae with great success. Apart from filling a bobbin - I coudn't get that right.  :rollseyes:  You know you've used a great many machines when you can just thread it without opening the manual. I need daylight to read the tiny manual on bobbin winding.

oopsie, time to pack!

dithering on the ribbon

Today I'm wondering if I should use the gingham ribbon after all.  Though what I'd do is use the gathering foot and not use it down the skirt.  Hmm I have time to change it as the existing ribbon is only tacked in place. yayy for period techniques

on track for the trip

My plan was to have everything done before I got on the plane & it shall be so :-D   In fact I'm now contemplating sewing a few of the eyelets on my stays, cos everything else is done and why not.  I'm not going to get them all done, but it'll be nice to make a start.  It feels a little odd to not be sewing frantically to the last second.

left over from Tuesday night~  edge stitch bodice onto skirt  pinned but not stitched yet.~  sleevil. . .  the toile worked out well, so the sleeve proper & lining are cut out ready to sew tomorrow night  I was so paranoid about the biceps fitting that it's too loose at teh elbow. :rollseyes:  I'll fix it for next time but at this point done is betterer

Wednesday night
~ measure ribbon lengths ready to gather   Not happy with the ribbon colouring, and there woudn't have been enough of the small gingham at 6.5m  I used every bit of the 10 metres adn didn't have any left over for bows on the elbows or bodice front.  At the point I had to start gathering ribbon I was over it already.  I almost decided not to add the ribbon, cos I hates the gathering.  Yes I keep picking stuff with gathers, but at least I can bleat about it.  Just as I don't like ironing, but the clothes I prefer to wear need it, so I just suck it in & iron.  With gathers I feel entitled to suck it in & bleat as I gather. 

~ gather & attach ribbon trim to dress & cap.  Decided to not draw up the gathers on the cap until I get to Adelaide.  It'll be easier to press flat, assuming it gets a litle crushed in the suitcase
~ stitch wig modification!

non linear progress

well it's not a linear thing, but progress is being made

leftover from Monday~ assemble bodice front & back
~ pleat skirt waist
~ cut out new toile of sleeves
Tuesday night~  go home via the goth shop in Enmore to collect the white foundation & ordered & paid for on Friday.  this resulted with me getting home much later than I anticipated.
~ stitch cap
~  edge stitch bodice onto skirt (the pattern has it hand sewn but that ain't happening!)  pinned but not stitched yet.
~  sleevil.  I can tell the sleeves will be evil, not just cos my arms are beefy but i think the sleeve head is too shallow.  I'll see what happens with the toile. I've allowed an entire evening for the sleeves. .  the toile worked out well, so the sleeve proper & lining are cut out ready to sew tomorrow night

Wednesday night
~ measure ribbon lengths ready to gather
~ locate the grey shoes for Miggsy in the Grotto  ugh these don't work. they're not comfortable & need the heels recapped.  I'll use my black Enda Mode or my off-white late 1790s
.......   Brought forward from Thursday night
~ gather & attach ribbon trim to dress & cap.

Monday night sewing plan

Tonight's sewing plan went as follows

tonight (Monday)~ assemble bodice front & back (including neck binding if I have bias tape in my stash)
~ seam skirt & press hem, front facings
~ pleat skirt waist
~ cut out oval mop cap & press hem.
~ cut out new toile of sleeves

I still need to stitch down the bias tape to provide a casing for a cord to draw up the bodice if needed - that neckline is stupendously low!  Vast Acreage of Boobage displayed under fichu.  And I want to do that in the flat, so I'll sew the side seams after that.  I've bagged the rest, but want to do the side seams as adjustable.  dunno why, but meh, impulse is a funny thing and my gut may be telling me for a reason that will later become obvious,

I'll pleat the skirt waist tomorrow. My friend can't make it out on Wednesday night so I do have all the nights free this week.  Phew.