Evenstar Designs

New stays! I always say I'll never make another pair again, but then I do. This time I used American Duchess's Simplicity Pattern  with the accuracy "hacks" on the American Duchess blog. For example, I made hand sewn eyelets instead of grommets (did I ever mention I HATE grommets?), and I sewed the lining in after binding which is a more accurate 18th century construction method. I used off-white cotton for the outside and interlining, and linen for the lining. The entire garment is sewn by hand, but I did cheat and use plastic zip ties for boning. I love that these stays lace in the front and back which makes them much more adjustable and more comfy to wear. I also added some embroidery details just because I can. I successfully taught myself how to embroider the detached buttonhole stitch, which is great for making larger shapes on which you don't want to use the satin stitch.  This is the inside of the stays with pink satin ribbon lacing up the back:...

This year's homeschool ball is a masquerade theme -  so I can make anything, and just add a mask, right? For the last year I have been thinking about wearing a Southern Belle gown. After watching the 1953 German movie Sissi multiple times (which is set in the 1850's)  I knew that was what I wanted to do. And of corse I had to go all out with historically accurate undergarments.  (Why do I do these things to myself?? :) ) Corset: Simplicity 9769 Pinned and ready to cut out on a canvas drape I found at goodwill ;) All ready to sew! One half done... ... and both halves done! After sewing some channels, and killing my hands  by pounding grommets into the back... Voilà! It doesn't have the boning in it yet - that's still in the mail :) I whipped up the chemise this morning. enter the hoop! I got a new hoop the other day. It was all twisted up into this little package when I got it. I started to unt...

Its amazing how much I can sew in a week when I have nothing else that needs to be done! And here are my first pair of regency stays!  I am quite pleased with them - they fit me perfectly - and I made up my own pattern. I made the pattern, by drawing three lines on a piece of paper marking my bust, waist and hips. I drew the pattern on top of that, and voilà - it fits! Oh, don't pay attention to the shift, that's just a nightgown I made that happened to work :)