Rebecca has been glaring at me for weeks, wondering when I was ever going to get back to her Civil War dress! I could almost read her mind…”if you’ll just do a little bit each day, you could get this dress finished in no time!”
So… I listened to her and did a “little” bit on it this evening. Although, now it’s going to have to be taken out! UGH! My “little bit” was going to be to get the dress hemmed and the back edge finished… and MAYBE the snaps sewn on. It looked so pretty from the front, but the back was almost touching the ground. I thought I had it too far back on her shoulders, but even when I shifted the dress forward a little bit, it was still too long.
When I cut out the skirt I followed the plaid line so it would be straight at the hem,
but apparently the curve at the front “ate” up too much of the fabric and shortened it more than I had allowed for. You can see the difference by this piece of cardboard I held up to the front… here…it’s even with the hem…
…but look at it in the back…it’s a good inch or so too long.
(Truth be told… I debated about putting a bustle in the back of the dress, but decided it really wasn’t a “bustle-y” kind of dress.)
Now if it wasn’t plaid, it wouldn’t be a problem… a floral print wouldn’t be noticed at all. It could just be turned up where it was even from the floor all the way around. But a plaid will have to be tapered up on the side and around to the back and I’m not sure how that will look…but I don’t think I have a choice.. It will really only be noticed if you look at the dress from the side… I guess we’ll see…
I’m planning on making a crinoline and pantalettes for this dress so I’ll just keep moving forward… and see what happens…
Thank you again for all the wonderful birthday wishes! It was so sweet to hear from you all…
Well, that’s it for today… Short and Sweet, but I’m Sewing! :o)
See you soon,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, what a disappointment, Jeanne!! I hate when something like that happens. Had you cut the bottom of the skirt along the plaid, and it turned out to be uneven at the top by the way it was sewn into the waistline? So hard to foresee something like that, unless you’ve used this pattern enough to be really familiar with how the skirt hangs.
I’m sure you will figure something out, and it will turn out looking wonderful!
HI Charlotte,
Good news…when I woke up this morning I had the answer…I’m hoping to get it fixed tonight…or at least started!!
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
Rebecca’s dress is beautiful and it reminds me of something Marmee would wear in Little Women. The lace and ornate center in the middle of the lace collar is so pretty.
I’m sorry you have the plaid hem problem. I don’t know how you compensate for some of the sewing glitches you come across but you always work your magic and I know you’ll figure this hem problem out. It’s a lovely dress.
It is similar to the first dress I purchased from you. The brown print dress, with the purplish stone pin in the center. I was admiring it yesterday, loving it and happy that I have it. It’s one of my favorites and it’s so “Little Women” ish !
HI Paula,
I’m glad you like the dress and it’s wonderful that it reminds you of Little Women. Those are some of my favorite styles!
I know how I’m going to fix it and it will be just fine…
Thank you for loving my dresses like you do! That really makes me smile!
Blessings, Jeanne
Because of the point at the front of the bodice, I would have thought the skirt would possibly be too long in front, but I’m definitely wrong about that. I know you’ll fix it, but a setback is not what you need to welcome you back to your sewing room. I am glad you made it back, whatever the circumstances. Just getting to your sewing room on your birthday was an accomplishment. What else did you do to celebrate?
HI Marilyn,
I’ve used this skirt pattern (mine) before, but I don’t think I’ve every done it in a plaid…if it had been a floral…it could have just been shotrend in the back and it wouldn’t have mattered…
But, I have the solution in my head…now I just need to work it out on the dress.
Last night I made Chicken Parmesan from my new cookbook for dinner. It was “okay…” but too salty…it was kind of disappointing…
That was it for the end of my day…but it was a nice day!!!
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Yay, sewing again. Ah, the perfectionist and the dangling hemline. I’m sure you will be able to make a save because the dress is so cute. Looking forward to it’s completion.
Wren Feathers has a cute undies thingy pattern today. Supposed to be for a 16″ size, but I’m sure it could be resized easily. Would be very cute for lots of doll sizes and might also be made in quite a few creative ways. And I might add, it’s free too.
I’m glad for the fog this morning and hoping that the east gets over it’s heatwave soon.
HI Joy,
I’ll second that “Yay” to getting back to my sewing….and even better…I woke up with a solution to the dress hem. I’m hoping to work on it tonight…
My day was full with a birthday lunch with 2 dear friends…
I might check out the undies pattern since it’s free!!!
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Trying again for the second time! My first one just deleted itself I think!
I’m so glad to see you sewing again, Jeanne! I sure can’t figure out how to solve the problem, or how it got there in the first place! You probabably would think this is crazy, but maybe you could just leave it longer in the back, and have a ruffled petticoat showing in the front at the bottom,or something to that effect. After all, some dresses ARE longer in the back than the front. Wel, whatever you do, I am sure it will work out just fine. For you it always does!
HI Linda,
I’m sorry your first comment was deleted… that’s frustrating, I know!!!
I do have the solution and it will require some ripping out but it’s really the only way to make it work.
I better get started on it or I won’t have anything to show tomorrow.
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh my, how annoying to have the dress so close to finished and find the problem with the hem. Those are the kinds of things that make me want to put something aside and figure it out “later”. I’m sure you will figure out the best way to fix it. Happy belated birthday! I hope it was a good one for you.
HI Carolyn,
Thank goodness I think I have the answer to the crooked hem. I woke up and knew how I could fix it. Now I just need to do it…
Mistakes can make you want to throw in the towel, but I need to finish this one. I’ve done too much on this to quit now…
Thanks Carolyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m sure Rebecca really isn’t minding getting to model that lovely dress just a little bit longer.That’s too bad about the dress, but I’m sure you’ll find a way to fix it. No, a bustle wouldn’t have worked because those are on Victorian dresses. Maybe you can adjust the crinoline to take up the slack, I don’t know.
So glad to see you made in back into your sewing room. It obviously wasn’t intended, but that was good forethought picking a brown plaid for the drees, now it will be perfect for fall!
Sorry your birthday wasn’t as spectacular as you would hope. I’ve had a few so -so birthdays and even a few totally ruined ones, but you cope.
Looking forward to seeing the next bit of Rebecca’s dress.
HI Laura,
Not to fear…Jeanne is here!!! I have the solution to the dress hem. I hope I can get it fixed tonight.
I have been working on this dress so long it’s almost Fall. It is sleeveless but I’ll just have to keep going. I thought about a shawl or a cape, but I’ll have to wait and see…
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne