The usual weekly recap

[totchipanda]

I did not do a whole lot over the week, trying to save my hands. My work project is very repetitive, so I want to minimize the amount of motion I do both at work and at home.

Saturday I got a hair cut! A real professional cut it! First time since the beginning of August 2019 I've had a pro cut, usually I trim it myself. I was just getting ready to have another pro cut when COVID threw everything off, and then it was a combo of time + money that kept me from booking the appointment. The stylist has the most amazing mop of curls and is very vocal about social issues (we discussed protests while she worked) so it was overall a great experience and my hair looks great!

Decided that this was the weekend of knitting things, so I finally got one project going again (I had to move the needles from one side to the other and put them on a spare bit of yarn, and this was Hugely Insurmountable, mentally, until recently) and yesterday I got a pair of socks down through their decreases so it's just plain knitting again.

Sewing wise I did next to nothing. DID trace off the blazer pattern and cut it out, at least the pieces I need for the mock-up. Pulled out an set of embroidered mitts my partner in crime had stitched out and tried to see if that would work. She stitched them on the straight grain though, so there's nearly zero stretch in the whole thing. I probably should have cut a size larger. Then I was tired of standing, so it was time for other things.

Yesterday I pulled out the Simplicity AD patterns to just look them over (yes, that's right, i read sewing patterns for fun) and the construction is... well it's intended for modern construction. But I want a sack with the fun trimmings, and I want a 1790s dress, and and and. I should also put the short sack on the list of things that I Definitely Want To Do (tm), as the fabric was purchased nearly 5 years ago lol.

Dinner yesterday was a Hello Fresh meal of mashed potatoes and apple, cheddar broccoli, and meatballs in a caramelized onion gravy. It was delicious. I didn't fully caramelize the onions, I think, but they were so good. Definitely gonna make that one again.

Late last night I decided that I want to finish the faux fur muff I started pre-flood. And what better group to poll for lining options than y'all?? My outer is a short grey blend. I have the following silk colours:

red (maybe)
yellow (lots)
green (enough)
aqua (gonna save this for a dress though, so it's not actually an option, just included for the sake of completeness lol)

I'm going to do it tonight, as Roomie M is working late and Roomie J is aiming to be asleep at 6pm so he can get off overnights and back to days. Dinner is some of the leftover filling and potatoes from Saturday's dinner -- Cottage Pie Baked Potatoes (YUMMMMMMMMMMMMM definitely doing this one again too, it was amazeballs!) -- so I don't have to spend hardly any time thinking about what to eat.

Comments

[seraphicmachine]

Green!

[danabren]

I always default to red.

[totchipanda]

Red is my first choice too <3

[danabren]

Use the Scroop pattern instructions for the AD Simplicity dress.

[totchipanda]

After I looked, I was like "well I'm not doing ANY of that" lol. It makes sense for a person with zero historical experience, or who wants to do mostly machine construction, but I've far surpassed that level.

[danabren]

Having worked for the Big 3, of course it's written for the modern sewer. But it's easy enough to switch between machine and hand sewing in construction. I was aghast when I started working on a Victorian man's shirt from a small pattern company and it was all hand sewing instructions. HAYEL NAW.

[totchipanda]

HAYEL NAW indeed! Def ways to include machine sewing, I just think trying to make a sack gown with all the pleats without first constructing the lining is a TERRIBLE idea.

[mala_14]

Mmm... that all sounds so tasty! And I vote for red, because I love how it looks with grey. Second choice is yellow.

[totchipanda]

I was leaning towards red bc *red*, but thought that might be a titch macabre given its a fur muff lol. But also I like it soooo.

[marianme]

Using a smaller piece that works seems better than cutting into yardage.

[totchipanda]

I totally agree. The red has the least amount.of fabric left so it may not be possible, but then green would be the next best choice.

[danabren]

Use the red at the seam edges and if there isn't enough yardage, use a random scrap of another fabric in the center but embroider it so it looks like you planned it that way.

[totchipanda]

That is an excellent idea! Thankfully it did not come to that. I know I can't download the images of (my memories of) the fabric, but there was 2 pieces of the red and one of them was long enough for sure, I just couldn't remember WHICH one lol.

[atherleisure]

I’d say red goes best with gray and green second best. Sounds like you wanted to do the red anyway so go for it!

[totchipanda]

That is a very logical way to look at it, and i agree :D

[marianme]

Oh, and the 1790s round gown and the sack back are in the AD book. Besides the full bust adjust for 1790s that isn’t in the pattern, I think the neckline of the straps may be weird for larger sizes. Like it follows the shape of the armhole instead of a straight line from the back to where the drawstring starts. I’m ripping out and changing mine.

[totchipanda]

I planned to separate the.bodice and strap to better match the book, in both patterns, partly bc i always have issues with shoulder height being FAR too long for me, and partly bc its easier to finagle the pieces.on fabric. Priorities, i have them.