It’s that time of the year… when school is out of session and children just stand outside and scream into the void.
I wish I could join them but alas I am stuck at a desk working.
Literally I’ve been sitting here at my desk this morning trying to get caught up from being off work Friday and there are leaf blowers and children screaming and dogs barking and that is one of the drawbacks to working from home I guess.
So yeah, I was off Friday – ran a few Christmas errands, and worked on Eliza. Also got a good amount of work done on Eliza Saturday too. SO much so that I think I’ll have it done in time for it to be a 2020 costume and not a 2021 costume! But I’ll get to all that shortly.
Yesterday we went up to Jackson and visited with Mema and Daddy Bob. We won’t be having normal Christmas with them of course but Daddy Bob has been kinda upset over nothing normal happening this year so we went up and took them christmas presents yesterday.
Look at this chonk
They like to remind me everytime I see them that they’ve left their cat to me in their will LOL.
Came home, took a long nap, had breakfast for dinner.
In Luna news, she only hissed at me twice this week.
Tried to have this cute batting/fairy light photoshoot with her but she only wanted to eat the lights so it didn’t last long.
First time was just because I’d raised my voice (at a pair of sweatpants I’d ordered as a christmas present that arrived child size instead of adult sized and I was frustrated), and again yesterday when she was on the enclosed porch and i came to the door but she got over both quickly so hopefully we’re almost at the end of this bitchfest she’s been having.
So onto Eliza updates…
I think last week I was on mockup #2 and was about to do a “full” mockup.
Here it is. From this I could determine it fit pretty well – I tweaked the front shape a little bit based on this, and then swung on into the real thing.
On the fly I decided to do the lining layer WITHOUT the front crossover. My front crossover is not going to functional, so I didn’t think I needed the excess bulk. Also easier to set up my boning without having that in the lining layer. So for the lining I just cut 2 of the left side – one out of the leftover cotton lining from the curtains and one of this heavier teal cotton I picked up at the fabric store last weekend. It’s closed in the front, 2 pieces of boning set in center front and 2 along the back seams. I moved the 2 boning pieces closer to the seams since I was switching this to a lace-up back instead of a closed back, since the stage costume has a lace-up back.
Unfortunately I don’t have a pic of the lining layer. I have video of it in my tiktok drafts… it’s like I can either do video or photos but I can’t remember to do both all the time LOL.
Next up I assembled the outer layer, one layer of the dyed silk, one of very light interfacing and one of some leftover teal linen from my dr crusher jacket. I also cut a face for the top crossover layer. Got all of those pieces assembled and then very carefully sewed the lining layer to the outer layer. I did a lot of hand-basting to make sure everything was secure and sitting right before machine sewing because I really did not want to unpick anything on the silk layer. After I got them sewn together, trimmed and turned I had…
Pretty good!!
And since I was excited about having it close to be done I also went ahead and sewed the 2 skirt panels together, quickly pleated and pinned them to the bodice just so I could see it all together:
I’ll have to redo it because I pleated in the wrong direction but it’s exciting! I’m really happy with how it’s looking.
I also made the buttons for the front… which was easier than I expected. As many times as I’ve bought button forms I’ve never actually used them for their intended purpose LOL
The yellow lights in my office just suck the colour right out of this fabric.
Also if you notice the little chemise nubbin arm sticking out…
I did fix the facing on the chemise and finished the arm hems so I’d had it on my form with the stays and the bum roll all together. Also closed up the bum roll.
So really the only issue I was having in construction was my iron. It decided to start dumping brown gunk as I was steaming. It was fine pressing a lining layer, pressing the inside seams of my silk layer, and then I went to press the front layer of the silk and it got brown streaks all over it. I was PISSED. At first I just thought it was some old interfacing on the plate, so I cleaned the plate and thought it was good. Ironed all of my leftover cotton with no issues. Went to iron the cotton lining layers of my sleeves and… brown gunk.
THANKFULLY the brown gunk came off with just some white so nothing was ruined. WHEW. I thought I was going to have to recut one side of my silk.
So Saturday I did a deep clean of the iron. I again I ironed a bunch of random stuff, a white towel, all clean. The second I start ironing my silk skirt panels?
FFFFFFFFFFFFF
This one didn’t come off completely. It came off to where it’s not too noticeable so I hid it down at the bottom hem on the inside.
So that’s annoying. I’m going to try another deep clean. In the meantime I’m just using it sparingly and using a presser cloth on the silk.
Last night I focused on finishing up the bodice – got the back closed, shoulder seams finished and eyelets set in.
I did eyelets instead of grommets. Which was a tough sell because I HATE eyelets. But I wanted them to be small like the stage dress. I tried setting them in myself but my noodle arms could not get the job done – Chase had to come up with a bigger hammer and an anvil and got them all securely in for me. All that’s left on the bodice is a modesty panel on the back, and the sleeves and trim. Started on the sleeves last night – will finish them up tonight.
So all that’s left is:
-assemble sleeves, attach
-make sleeve ruffle, attach
-make neckline trim, attach
-try everything on
-pleat skirt, sew in place
-put zipper in skirt
-check fit
-hem skirt
that’s it. I should be able to finish it this week. It’s gone very smoothly once I got past the mockup stage. (don’t jinx it)