Bastille Day sewing

[madamemodiste]

So here in Philly we celebrate Bastille Day at a big block party outside of Eastern State Penitentiary with champagne in the streets and a storming of the prison where our own Marie Antoinette throws down Tastykakes (local pastry co) exclaiming, "Let them eat Kake!"

It's fun!




So it's usually 100 degrees on Bastille Day, so I decided to make a new cotton polonaise. Stealing a great idea from bauhausfrau, I bought two packages of Shabby Chic white voile embroidered curtains at Target and made a skirt. Yay! So here it is:





This was my first experience leveling a skirt from the waist. I found it hard and I won't jump to do it again :) Without the advice of Ms. Amy J, I doubt I would have finished it (she advised I find an object that is the same height from the floor that I want the skirt to be (I used a cracker box), wrap a piece of twill tape around the waist, adjust the fullness evenly, and begin adjusting the hem from the top until the embroidered hem hits the top of the box all the way around)

The bodice will be a black and ivory stripe with pink and green floral ticking. I've had all this fabric in the Stash for several years and I'm so happy to finally get to this project. I hope I finish in time!!

So far today I've only cut out the fashion fabric and lining of the bodice and overskirt.

Comments

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

Looks awesome!!

[curiouschilde.livejournal.com]

It looks great! Glad my tips helped. I'm still super jealous you are going to this. SOME DAY!!

[girliegirl32786.livejournal.com]

That is adorable!

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

Curtains for a petticoat really is a great idea - it's very pretty!

And o hay, I think I'm off work that day...I should get up off my butt and drive across the bridge for this! Maybe they'll let me up on the battlements again to chuck cakes again...pays to be well-dressed! :D

[mokosh-perun.livejournal.com]

Nicely done! Wow, what a pain that must have been!

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

I love that fabric. I still have a couple more packages in the ice blue color just waiting to be something. Someday all of us who have made gowns from these curtains need to wear them together. I made an Edwardian lingerie gown, and my friend made a Regency gown.