Soothing Crafts

After just handling housework for a few weeks, I came to the conclusion that I absolutely need to do other things to stay sane. I'm a creative person and I simply feel bad if I can't exercise that creativity. So after weeks of just laundry, cooking and caring for cats, I took to sewing. In December, I got loads of fabric from a close-out sale, so I was well prepared. I've been dreaming of a rococo style gown and for those, undergarments are the key. The natural first step was to get 25 meters of plastic boning and patterns for pocket hoops and a 18th century corset.

Because I'm not good at waiting or doing just one project at a time, I also cut the pieces for a 1830's inspired gown and a black version of the Victorian top I have previously sewn from copper orange taffeta.

Pistachio green 1830's inspired dress on the dress form.

I used to sew a lot when I was a teen, but during my studies I rarely had extra money for fabrics. I still feel lucky that I've got quite good basic sewing skills and am not afraid to try out new things. I recently got a serger, so it should speed up the phase I hate the most: finishing raw edges! My second most hated thing in sewing is sewing by hand. Unfortunately the corset requires it (or I'm too dumb to understand how the bias tape could be attached with a machine on top of boning channels) but I'm a fighter and one day it will be finished!

Butterick's Rococo corset. I still have to sew the bias tape on the backside of the corset and install eyelets, but most of the work is done. Go me!

Those frickin' bone channels. A true pain in the behind to sew. This one is probably not the prettiest rococo corset there is, but it's my first one and it will do. Also if I ever make another one of these, I will absolutely not use anything resembling satin.

This is the pattern I used. My corset is the top left design. For anyone using this pattern, make sure to go for a couple of sizes smaller corset if you want it to do any cinching! The patterns are drawn quite large. And when adding the bias tape, I don't know how you are supposed to sew it on top of the boning channels with bones in them. My corset is still not finished, so I can't say much more about it yet.

 The cats are naturally been excited about sewing too! Lots of little things to push off tables and plenty of comfy fabrics to lay on. We got a new table some time ago and it's just perfect, I can fit both the serger and my regular sewing machine on it at the same time and still have room for a pile of sewing supplies and/or cats.

Mör enjoying sewing paraphernalia. 

 I already finished the pocket hoops (sans pockets, because I'm lazy like that), the green gown only needs finishing the neckline and the hem, and the black taffeta top is missing hooks and eyes at the front because the local sewing supply had ran out. I was thinking of trying buttons for the closure, but I'm not sure if it's a bit too bold for my skills and the amount of interest I have in sewing button holes. Which is close to zero. But it, too, will some day be finished! I find it quite relaxing to just sew away, fiddle with beautiful fabrics and see what comes out in the end. The perfect thing to get my mid off work and housework.