But whyyyy

[totchipanda]

Posting this to get the weasels out ofbmy head. I think I've hit the wall of terror and self-doubt. Id run around screaming but hiding in a pile of blankets sounds more like it. Yep, its about that time.

Yesterday i just faffed around the internet. Today i faffed around the internet and napped (poor decision, ill be up way too late). And i KNOW its because im scared. I feel pretty confident in the redingote mockup but im also TERRIFIED because i dont want to fuck it up. I dont really want to make a practice one in poly but its also too scary to dive right in. Augh. Anxiety you are the actual worst.

I dug out the fabric i intend to make 1830s out of. Every pattern i looked at says at least 7 yards ans i have 6 (even tho im canadian and measure lengths of fabric in metres, the distance from my fingertips to my nose with my head turned away is 37", so a yard is slightly more accurate lol) but of course i am le broke (and wondering how im going to afford this trip at all) and will be trying to make my own pattern. Wheeeeee! One more thing to add to the dumpster fire that is my brain right now.

The "but why's" are settling in too. Im never gonna wear any of these again so whats the point? Goddamnit brain.

Unrelated: i had to reinstall Instagram last night and have since had a pile of random accounts follow me. Also had one guy send a message that got caught in their spam filter. All i could read was "hey beautiful lady" ahahhahaaa no you dont get to talk to me.

Comments

[ktlovely]

Aww, I get this. Hugs! Depending on how trim/pleat intensive you plan to make your 1830s, 6 yards seems very sufficient. I can get a full civil war outfit with leg-o-mutton sleeves out of 6 of 54", but I'm larger than you and those skirts are SO full. Also piecing is period!

FWIW I would much rather dive right in on a pattern in wool than do a test run in poly. I waited a long time to make my 1812 riding habit out of my precious wool and then afterwards I felt silly, like, it turned out just fine! What was I waiting for? Confidence, I guess, but as I was discussing with my riding instructor last night...the way to gain confidence is just to Do Stuff. Which is really hard. I panic. So I REALLY feel you here! <3

[totchipanda]

Thanks <3 its encouraging that you can get a full kit out of 6yds! I did some maths and even if i cut 3 panels for the skirt, that still leaves me with 2.5 yds for bodice and sleeves. Im hopeful!

Im also not wanting to do a test run in poly just cuz it'll take so much more time lol. Most of the silk will be cut in a large panel, so its not like it'll be a complete waste even if i do manage to mess it up.

[ktlovely]

You can definitely do it with that, I think! I usually figure a yard for a bodice, a yard for sleeves, and that leaves you half a yard for piping and such.

I think you should just go for it! Tell your anxiety to back off...you got butts to kick and names to take and you ain't got time for its BS! (But I totally get the feeling)

[totchipanda]

I also figure a yard/metre for sleeves ans bodice each XD i know i can get some 15m of piping out of just 18" of (wide) fabric, so hopefully wont need too much left for that. Ive been reading and researching and have a much more optimistic post to make than this one!

[mala_14]

I just made an 1840s dress out of 4 m of fabric 45" wide, and it had a fan front, which used more fabric than a fitted bodice. (I always mix up imperial and metric when I'm doing sewing stuff, just using whatever makes sense at the time, and I don't care! ;p) I think you can do an 1830s dress out of 6. Use a hem facing/false hem and don't start doing the trimming until you've cut out all the main pieces just to be safe, but really it should be fine.

I hear ya on not wanting to cut into the good fabric, but I also have many bins of silk fabrics that I was too scared to cut into. I've started to just go for it. That's what mock-ups are for, and it sounds like you've done mock-ups for the redingote. Also, if it's not perfect, you can go back and fix it. Not a big deal. And I always feel happier having just made the thing and getting it done.

[totchipanda]

Ooo thats encouraging! I think i did the 1840s dress i wore last year oit of 6m with some leftover, and the dresses i was looking at thia morning are all very similar. Im planning on using bias cuts for a lot of the trimming and you don't need a lot of fabric for that. Def plan on a hem facing if only because it makes the akirt hang nicely :-D

Im so glad others are scared to cut the "nice stuff" lol. I also know ill be happy when i do it and get the thing done and be wondering why i was so scared in the first place (laughing crying emoji)

[theladyrebecca]

You should be fine with 6 yards. I would say do the bodice and sleeves first (assuming you're going for the huge 30s sleeves), and use everything leftover for the skirt. If your fabric is wide, 2.5 panels is plenty for the skirt.

[totchipanda]

Startingbwith bodice and sleeves first is an excellent idea! (that i hadnt thought of bahaha. Braij was racing way ahead of sense!) i spent a large chunk of time reading through the Workwoman's Guide and the met's collection. I really like thw more subdued 30s sleeves but i also feel like one should go big or go home xD