May

This month has been almost a complete wash in terms of sewing. I've been reading pretty much all the time that I'm not eating, sleeping, or out of the house. However, my exam is this Friday, so I will finally get some sewing time after that (well, after the follow-up oral exam on Monday). Things I am going to do the week after I finish this exam (ie. the time before I have to get into reading for the next one):

• read something for fun, a friend published a post-apocalyptic novella recently that I am looking forward to reading
• finish up my silk ballgown, which includes adding the last bit of lace and putting in closures and making the overskirt+sash
• cook delicious food, I want to make pasta and smoke some brisket or something (I watch a lot of Food Network)

After that, I'll have to get started on my suffragette outfit. I think I may have actually finally settled on a plan? I may do the 1910-1911 Tub Frock in Waugh's Cut of Women's Clothes:

The waist measurement is pretty close to mine and the rest isn't fitted, so theoretically I could just whip it up without having to do a mock-up or a lot of fitting. It has an interesting cut, which would add visual interest for my plain solid green fabric. And I could have a violet bow at the neck with a white lace collar to do the suffragette colours. I want it to be a quick project because I really want to get to work on something else...

Namely, 18th century stays! Because I want to do that. I have ideas and plans and that is where my brain is right now. I want to use the pattern in the Kyoto Fashion book for these stays:

( This got a little picture heavy )

Thoughts/questions that I am pondering and would be happy to hear from you about if you are so inclined:

• Can I get away with not doing a mock-up of my suffragette dress?
• Should I use canvas for a strength layer of my stays? I can get it here and not break the bank
• What should I use for the lacing/cording in the front top half of the stays?

OK, back to studying. Gotta review some poetry. Ugh.