To the Top of It All

Gosh, I'm still pinning ruffles on my bustled underskirt....

But I got bored enough pinning last week that I went ahead and finished my work top.  I had to finish the lining with some bias tape (which isn't a lot of fun since I had to make sure I was only sewing on the lining and not my top fabric!)

 After the bias tape, I checked all my seams and the collar for gaps or gathers.  Then I did another ironing and its hanging on my door until I decide what decoration I'm doing on the cuffs.  Oh, and buttons, but that's today.  I might just be able to wear it this week for tours!

 Getting off my tuffet,
M

2 Steps Forward and a Side Step

Yesterday I got some housework done and was able to work on the dress catastrophe.  I ripped open my bustle cage, added 4 inches to the front (actually makes a nice placket!) and realized I need to hem it again.  I can do that later though...

There's just nothing like sewing around boning in the cage to add some hip room.

Once the cage was put back together, I moved on to the underskirt.  I pinned, ironed, and pinned again.  Last night I watched Dr. Quinn and finished sewing the darn thing.  I had planned on putting piping on the bottom hem, but that leaves it a little short and I'm not sure I want a "high water skirt" look.  So today is the assembly of the ruffles.  Remember from yesterday that 2 are hemmed and waiting to go, and I ironed the 3rd.  It just needs to me to put it together and sew the hem.  I figure I can start with the 2 finished and getting them pinned on the skirt (might take a while).

 

So still on the list: ruffles, maybe piping the hem, the dust ruffle inside (which can only be done once I decide about the piping), hemming the bustle cage and adding some decoration to it.  Then, I have the overskirt and vest top, and all new underwear. 

Missing my tuffet already.
M

Sew Much Left to Do!

Well, it's been a few weeks since I finished anything.  Ever have one of those times around your house?  Clean this, toss that, finish, rearrange, and try again...only I got distracted from my one true project and it's just over a month to the finish line now.

I have my underskirt (the skirt that goes over a petticoat and under everything pretty) made, the waistband piped but not hemmed.  I even tried to pin it yesterday, only my bustle cage didn't fit!  So I'll have to pull out the center seam and add a little bit of fabric today to the cage.  Then I can pin the underskirt, hem it, pipe the hem, add the dust ruffle inside, and the nightmare begins...

As I had finished my skirt, I was working on the research and documentation portion of this project, onlyto find new inspiration.  I love the 1870's ruffles with a bustle cage, Lorene wanted the BIG bustles and plenty of decorations, so we opted to change direction a little since neither one of us had much done. 

Instead of one 18" ruffle on the underskirt, I'm going with 3 ruffles that are 5" and piping on the top ruffle.  The picture doesn't do much justice to the concept, but you get the idea hopefully.  So far, the ruffles are cut, 2 of them are sewn and hemmed. 

So that's the progress report, dismal really.  Maybe this weekend will be a good time to get going again.

Actually sitting on my tuffet,
M