totchipanda

April 9

I got my linen order yesterday, woohoo! I tossed all the whites (2.8 and 3.5 oz for shifts/other, 5.3 oz for bodice linings) into the wash and got them ironed. The 7.1 oz was left unwashed. Next week my B&T order should be in, and then I can REALLY get down to sewing.

Since it's a long weekend, I plan to sew ALL THE THINGS. I will recut my stays tonight (probably, after taking photos of my pattern pieces) and get some help measuring myself for the shift and hopefully cut that out too. I think I will do the long seams by machine, flat-fell them by hand, and actually try stroke-gathering on the sleeves. Aside from a small Easter dinner and painting on Sunday, I have no plans. Maybe puzzling with my roommate.

Also on the list of Things to Do: finish Katie's pineapple. I'm almost halfway done the last repeat, I'm so close!

Other April Undies planned: I have a big bum pad to sew, or perhaps pocket hoops. I'm pretty sure my pocket hoops got soaked even though they weren't on the list of damaged items and I was thinking about a new pair before the flood anyway.

April 14

Whoops, closed the window and forgot I had a post on the go. Welp, now it's post-long weekend so here we go.

I cut the new stays and decided to wash the linen. I also cut two shifts, and predictably WAY over-did the necklines. Well, I will piece in some fabric if needed. I sewed up those necklines on Saturday and did some monogrammed initials in cotton perle (what I had on hand). Now I'm on to the gores but not sure if I want to do them completely by hand or machine the long seams. I have to decide soon, Nicole is moving this weekend and her machines will be leaving. I only have a 1950s tank with unknown working status (reportedly it was fine when I bought it, but that was nearly 2 years ago) and a treadle/handcrank machine that now needs some work because it got wet. (My modern machine and two other vintage machines are in storage, naturally.)

The stays have also had their boning channels stitched on. I'm debating just stitching up the fronts and adding the front lacing holes later. I have an awl now, but it's still tricky to use and my holes are TINY. I want to get the backs punched and set before the sewing stuff leaves, so will likely do that tonight.

Apartment stuff: took some photos and turned in my keys. The company that removed my things had emailed asking if I had heard anything, and I hadn't. My landlady seemed kind of at a loss, since she had no openings for 1-bedrooms in that building, but she could show me one across the street? Nope, I'm done. Then she asked if I had done any cleaning. NO. There is confirmed asbestos, I shouldn't even be in there to take photos. But I did (with a mask on), gave her a letter stating I wasn't cleaning and why, and left my keys. Now we wait.

Nicole is getting the keys to her new house on Friday, and she is currently packing to move. The house is in a state of flux because of it and it's super stressful for everyone. Nicole and Matt are stressed because house, and packing and moving, and we're stressed because so much chaos in the townhouse due to packing. Our collection of dogs/cat are feeling it too. I will be so glad when it's done and she's out (or mostly out... she won't be done in one weekend) and I can settle in properly.