I mean I don’t think I need to tell you guys how shitty the world is right now so I won’t whine here.
Let’s just jump right into Padme stuff.
When I left off last week, I was still trying to disassemble the last bit of the nightgown. Or, I think I’d just finished it? Either way it was in piece or close to being in pieces. Last Monday night I ironed and laid out each piece to make sense of them…
(Note crooked-ness of front panels)
And then I got my lining cut and started getting the individual front panels assembled.
Leaving the bottom open.
Having each panel fully lined will look much better. The original state was every edge turned over and sewn down and it was ugly. In some places it was 2 rows of stitching in an attempt to keep it from curling over. Which just made things worse. And the satin was fraying everywhere and showing. Lining will obviously be much cleaner, even if my lining isn’t an exact match. It’s what I had on hand and my goal is to not spend any – or much – extra on this. I may have to buy shoes, or at least fabric to cover a pair of shoes.
The back panels assembled and lined.
None of this will be perfect. The front panels were cut all crooked and ugly. And I did cause some damage in taking in apart. The biggest issue was that in some places on the front, I’d used invisible thread. I never use that anymore, it was definitely a mid-2000s thing for me… and trying to get those tiny, invisible stitches out was next to impossible. So in some places, it did damage the fabric. Some places are worse than others. I’m still thinking on if I want to try to hide it or not. The one place that’s the worst, if I tried to move the trim over to hide it, I’d probably lose about an inch of width in the waist area, which is a lot considering I also have to wear a baby bump under this. It’s a decision I’ll make at the end.
I mean at the end of the day – I’m never going to wear this anywhere. It won’t be in good enough shape for that. But it’ll be fine for a photoshoot and hanging up in my closet for a while. It’ll be nice just to have it finished after it sitting around for 13 years in a box.
All the panels ready to go. Even though I could probably learn the stitch that connected them, I’m going to stick with the trim I bought and used originally.
Two lines of trim in. This took longer than I expected.
All assembled! It got a little pulled/tortured looking but oh well.
Once I had all the panels put together – finished that up Saturday morning – I started working on all the other pieces.
Straps sewn on. These are the original straps I made for it. They never got attached originally, they’ve just stayed pinned to this thing for 13 years… LOL.
Also got the zipper put back in.
Once the straps were on I started pinning the hem. Sat and did the hem by hand on the form Sunday afternoon.
And then started trying to remember how these things go. I think I’ve got them close to how I had them in 2007. Which wasn’t exactly screen accurate but none of this is. Just trying to make them look nice. Tacking each fold so they don’t shift, and got them sewn in place at the shoulder.
Also started stringing pearls for the shoulder drapes. The lowest one somehow had one pearl miss a strand of the thread so it’s hanging all weird, I’ll have to fix that. Then I need to do the other 3. Then I want to tighten up the first row of trim I did – it’s sitting a bit far back and showing the lining too much. Make a decision on that worst bit of damage. Then figure out the rest of the accessories and shoes.
And in other Padme news…
Saturday morning was nice out so I busted out my dyeing stuff.
I redyed my old Padme lake version 3 panels. Just dip-dyed, nothing fancy and they’re a bit splotchy, but I’m turning them into a disneybound so I’m not bothered by it. Yes this was supposed to be a disneybound for our May trip. Yeah May trip isn’t happening. I’m still going to do these projects I planned on for whenever we do go.
Dried! Just needed ironing.
For reference, here’s what this same panel looked like back in December. I kinda knew what I want to do with them but didn’t want to start cutting until I could re-dye them once it got warm enough to do it. So now they’re ready to get remade into something fun. It’s probably going to be a shawl sort of thing.
Saturday was nice enough I could open up my sewing room windows. It was really pleasant. Luna loved having them open.
Now onto the other thing I’ve been doing nonstop… Animal Crossing.
Copied this Totoro dress from somebody on tiktok.
Made this quick little Leia dress. Mostly just so I could display it in my house. I have a retro sewing machine, 4 regular sewing machines, and an ironing set all displayed in my house so might as well put up dressforms too so it looks like my sewing room.
Me and Ash
We just need Kevin to get a switch so he can join in and it would be like old times on the wii version.
Here’s some of my sewing machines.
I just had the Able Sisters open up and my first camper. Right now focusing on restructuring the island to make it look nicer and easier to get around. Already had to move the museum.
I think that’s all I’ve got for today. My goals this week are finish up the Padme nightgown, start assembling Jean’s TNG uniform, and Chase’s disneybound jacket. If I just keep busy I keep my mind off things. HEY I think I need to use my Chris Traeger header for this post. Because it’s more applicable now than ever.