More updates on my new blue kirtle

[liadethornegge]

Saturday was a thoroughly enjoyable day spent mostly at sewing. I went over to helwig's place to use her sewing machine on the skirt of my new kirtle. It deigned to talk to me and to do its job of joining fabric so I was able to run the three seams on the skirt with no problem.

It occurs to me that I haven't really talked about the pattern pieces for the skirt, so let's remedy that. The basic shape is an isosceles triangles with the tip cut off. One of those for the front panel and another one just like it with a central seam for the back panel. The surcote had those two, plus two godets (right angle triangles) to go in centre front and centre back. I consulted Helwig and she said I didn't need the godets. This will result in pretty much an A-line kirtle with just a little bit of excess in the waistline that I can pleat towards the back. It'll be perfect.

While I was working on felling the seams by hand I felt myself becoming more and more smug about the entire project. What a fantastic idea it was! How frugal of me to re-use the discarded surcote lining! Such a lovely restful colour! How excellent I will look and feel when I wear it!  It was a regular self-love fest, let me tell you. Good thing I was in such a good mood and the sewing went so well, because we were subjected to a Jean-Claude van Damme film. The less said about that, the better.

...

Anyway, the skirt is about 70% done now, I have 2/3rds of one side seam left to finish off, then I need to tack down the seam allowance in the centre back seam before I can hang the skirt up and let the hems (I flatlined the linen with my mystery lining) drop. After that is done I'll be able to finish top and hem and overcast the skirt to the bodice.

Ah, yes, the bodice - this is now 95% finished. The only bits left are things that I can not do until the skirt has been mounted as I want to bring the lining down over the waistline to cover the join. I stitched on the shoulder straps - which turned out to be the perfect length (how awesome am I?) last night, and the first thing I did with it today was tidy that up and bring the lining down to cover the seam neatly.

Of course I didn't bring a camera today, but I'll probably continue working on the surcote lining kirtle tomorrow while watching "Starship Troopers" so I'll take a few shots then.