Thursday, October 17, 2013

The Sleeve That Took 3 Hours


No, the dress isn't finished. It only has one sleeve. The skirt is just basted onto the bodice for fit and drape and the seams need trimming. And I think I need to put some pintucks in the back neckline because the thick fabric at the top of the zipper made everything gape by 0.5" (and 0.5" makes a world of difference between gaping and not-gaping in a neckline). And those sleeves are so heavy that they don't help with the neckline, which I refused to stabilize. And that puffy white fabric at the armpit is driving me stark raving bonkers. It's so wrong. Thoughtless oversight on my part when I was drafting how that gold fabric lay against the underlining. Either that, or sewing at 1 am with a head cold was not such a good idea after all. 

Tonight I have to decide whether to do rufflesuction at the armpit or not. I hope I decide yes, so that I can draft the other sleeve to look good. I think I might cry if I had to deliberately sew an ugly second sleeve just to match the first. 

Even bigger decision: how to introduce a gold sash/belt thing at the bodice-skirt seam. I don't want it sewn-on which looks very amateur-costumey. I want it detached but not separate. Fussy, I know. I'm thinking suspended by those same gold trim strands on the sleeve. Or maybe no belt at all and just sew gold trim and random upholstery cord for color. Or draw with Sharpie.  

Whatever. Where's my Tylenol?

9 comments:

  1. I bet sleep would do wonders.....

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  2. Introduce the gold sash as a separate piece but tack it down on one side along the side seam?

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  3. I can see why the puffliness at the shoulder is bothering you, but it doesn't look as bad as you think. Not sure I can offer much of a solution to your dilemma, except to agree that after some sleep you can tackle it again with fresh eyes. Sometimes after a bit of sleep and thinking, I can come up with the perfect answer to a problem.

    I agree that you should do the sash as a separate piece and tack it in position on the side seam (both if it doesn't interfere with the zip).

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  4. By the way, those eye shaped holes across the front with fabric peeping through look brilliant. It's looking great so far.

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  5. "Or draw with Sharpie." ~sheepish grin~ I've used hot glue on costumes before, not proud but got the job done sans any tylenol. :)

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  6. Multiple "belt loops" from the gold braid would resemble the trim on the sleeve.

    For the neck gaping - you may be able to lay a piece of thin elastic along the neck seam and gently stretch it as you stitch it into place. That will pull the neck in a small amount and may be just what is needed.

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  7. Or draw with Sparpie.... Hmmm how about a break. How about a belt carrier to hold the gold sash in place...

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  8. I would hate for you to ever see the mummy costume I made for my son (which looks more like the Yeti, or a mummy Hulk - but at least it will be dark when he goes trick or treating, and he will be very warm)... You are in a whole other league!

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  9. Gold cord around the waist would be period appropriate if this is early medieval. Also, originally that would've been a peasant shirt under the kirtle right? So the sleeves would've not been perfect or even necessarily symmetrical! Can you imagine medieval moms?
    "I'm sorry honey, you'll just have to go to Lauds with messed up sleeves today. Where's my wimple!"

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