And today I’d like to share an eternally unfinished (cursed) object:
(long, picture-heavy, w-i-p)
I started working on this dress jacket at around the same time as I started the JSK underneath (some time in 2016) after I got both fabrics from a flea market:
The JSK underneath is made from one of the first patterns I drafted myself, the jacket however is based on the Cinderella Dress Jacket from the Otome No Sewing No.6:
Why, oh why has this project been lying around so long you may ask?! It seems pretty straight forward, doesn’t it?! Well, first of all, I was still working with my mum’s sewing machine back then and something must have been awfully wrong with the tension, all the seams look like this?!
And I just left them like that?! DO NOT ASK ME WHY...this is how I found the project in my UFO pile...I’ll have to redo all those seams. YIKES!
The other big problem I ran into was that the Jacket was supposed to have a self-fabric ruffle trim around the hem...but the taffeta was way to stubborn to ruffle nicely (Sadly no photo).So I had to figure out what to do with the hem.
My first thought was: Oh of course I’ll just do the lace from the neckline all around...buuuuut I didn’t have enough for that.
And that’s where my trouble really began! While the lace is not necessarily expensive or anything special by any means, it DOES NOT EXIST anymore. I have spent the last couple of years trying to find some leftovers of this lace, which is out of production. I often come across the exact same lace but all in the wrong colour. This colour?! No chance! Gone forever! I’ve tried finding another lace in a similiar colour, but no luck! This colour is imlpossible to find. Last but not least: I didn’t even have enought fabric left to sew facings and I didn’t know how I would fix that.
And so the project disappeared into the very depths of my UFO pile.
But enough is enough. I want this project done! So screw the lace! I’m trying my hardest to make the entire ensemble work somehow:
On the right hand side you can see the ‘improvements’ on the sleeve: more tulle (because the original tulle lace disappeared under the big sleeve flounce), a bow tie and trim. The front will close with three of the same bow ties and yes I know this is super OTT but I’m willing to risk it.
*Maybe you’ll notice how my flounce opening and bow are on the inside of the sleeve.That is because I took note from historical fashion of the 18th century: A ladies’ arms would have been held slightly angled with the elbow gently resting on the hip panniers, the decorations would therefore have been more visible that way. Not sure if this was a great choice from a modern standpoint though, since my arms will most likely be down.*
The back will be relatively plain, maybe I’ll add a fabric bow as shown in the Otome No Sewing:
I have decided to base the lining on 18th century garments as well, meaning, no facing, the lining is sewn from the same pattern as the outer fabric and is then attached by hand with the left sides facing each other.
