I have been really out of the loop blogging-wise recently, and instead of being a grown-up and admitting it is because I am busy
Speaking of wedding planning--most of my sewing time has been spent working on my wedding dress. When I have a big project looming, it really cuts off my desire to sew, since I get nervous about important projects (um, hello, wedding dress!) and stall but feel guilty about working on anything else. This means I just avoid my sewing room and don't produce anything.
This project--I'm getting to it, I promise--was a nice compromise!
My university, Washington and Lee (seen here) has a crazy-supportive alumni network that would be super useful if I had a job like politician, investment banker, lawyer, etc. etc. There's not so much in the way of networking for public children's librarians, but they do know how to throw a good party. At school, we have a Fancy Dress Ball every year. I think in the UK "fancy dress" means a costume party, but our Fancy Dress isn't costumed, it's basically just 4 more years of prom. Then, after graduation, alumni groups hold similar events in NYC and various other locations. You could go to prom every year forever.
Obviously, an Event means a Dress, but Wedding Dress Fear/Guilt meant No Dress. I got around this by "muslining" my little lace jacket, the one that goes with my wedding dress.
I'd never sewn with lace like this, and I'd certainly never done a handsewn lace jacket or any hand sewing project this extensive. It took forever and I hated it. I hated every second of it.
I thread traced the pattern in white before slowly (SLOWLY) hand seaming every horrible dart and seam, using Susan Khalje's lapped lace method, making the seams practically invisible:
By the time I got to the sleeves, I had listened to about 7,000 hours of podcasts and was cursing the day I ever thought this was a good project.
NO SEAMS HERE.
In the end though--because YES I FINISHED the darn thing--I was so proud of my work and it looked great and I really think it will be very versatile. I'll definitely wear it again, layered over other dresses for formal events or over a tank top or something on a Saturday night.
I meant to bring my real camera to Richmond, but I totally forgot, so unfortunately, here's the only picture of me wearing it at the event. I really am horrible at taking pictures! Is there an award for worst blogger? It's me!

The best part? Remember when I mentioned waaay up at the top of the post that this was a "muslin" for my wedding jacket?
GUESS WHO IS AT IT AGAIN:
I get a little melodramatic when it comes to handsewing, ugh.
Wish me luck!
xoxo,
allie
Fabulous job with the seaming on the jacket, and good luck with your wedding dress! I made mine as well, and while it might be a bit stressful, you will really appreciate on the day. I spent months hand beading lace for mine :)
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh I cannot even begin to imagine hand beading lace on top of all of this! Very impressive! Thank you for the inspiration :)
DeleteThat is just fantastic, so beautifully made, real haute couture and in your cream lace it is going to look amazing, be proud.
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet, thank you! I'm not particularly thrilled about doing it again but I know it will be so worth it!
DeleteWow... I don't think I have the words for how awesome this looks! I'll stop complaining about my foray into bridesmaids dresses now... Your jacket is gorgeous!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It isn't difficult necessarily (like fitting a multiple different bridesmaid dresses while wearing a baby!! ;) just very time consuming and meticulous! Have fun in Mexico!
DeleteOh my goodness! It may be making you lose the will to live sewing-wise but it looks uh-mazing!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the wedding version, I'm sure it'll be gorgeous :)
Thank you! The white lace is a little bit different than the black lace, but mostly its comforting to know what it will look like and how it fits etc etc. One less wedding-related stressor!
DeleteI love the hashtag #coutureish! Haha! It is scary to start a big, important project like your wedding dress, but your jacket muslin is lovely and you should feel confident you can handle it! You do wonderful work, Allie!
ReplyDeletethe best of luck - its gorgeous - feeling very inspired (but suitably daunted at the thoughts of the hand sewing part).
ReplyDeleteThis is really really beautifully stunning, bravo. There is a wedding dress on etsy, strapless with a little overlay lace jacket and I often look at it and admire it and think where could I wear something like this....and here you've actually gone and made it! Can't wait to see the wedding dress!
ReplyDelete2016-04-11keyun
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