Wedding sewing update just after Easter weekend

Wedding update

This was a good - and a bad - Easter weekend.

No photos - unless you want to see my grandsons - but I'll stick to sewing

Good things:

• Seeing family.
• Good food and good company.
• I finished the waistcoat for A except for the buttons and buttonholes prior to the weekend. A was visiting and tried it on. It fits and looks great. He's very pleased. Later,  he bought buttons and I'll finish when I have a free house and am able to concentrate. Shouldn't take long.
• Helen was visiting and we had a session with Rory to fit the latest toile. I altered the pattern and trued it and Rory made up a new bodice which fits far better.

We've now pinned  the design down. We're nearly ready to buy the actual fabric.

We've finalised the fabric we want. I had sent away for samples galore.

Helen is now content with some features she previously rejected - underlining,  lining,  waist stay, seam  support.

• Joanne was unexpectedly home and tried on her toile - indeed she was able to join in the end of my class last Wednesday and Dan fitted her. So that was great. I didn't have a chance to make the changes needed to get her to try them before she went away.
• Alison too was able to try on her toile but wasn't able to come with Helen and me to see Rory, to be fitted by someone with a better idea than me. However,  I fitted it, altered pattern, made another bodice which she tried - and it fitted well.
• My wedding shoes and bag arrived.

Bad things

• I was shocked at how far away the fit was on all three of the toiles! What on earth am I doing?

This wasn't the first toile for any of them.

The front bodice was much too wide for both of the bridesmaid dresses and a lot needed to be cut away. The neckline was too high and tight. The princess seam position needed adjusted dramatically as a result of the armhole changes.

• I was reminded again of how bad my organisation is.

I keep losing bits. I am unable to say what is the latest version. Then,  not surprisingly, bits don't fit together.

I'm not sufficiently systematic - hence missing or part of the necessary alterations

• The wedding shoes don't fit.

Time consuming things

• My mother has been offered and accepted a place in sheltered accommodation. This is a good move for her but the timing is awful for me. I can't spend as much time with her helping her downsize and move etc as I'd like and she needs but it's still more than I can afford so close to the wedding. She lives 150 miles away so it takes time even just to travel there.
• I've had to look at my available time and realise that I actually can't do everything and I've put a number of things on hold until after the wedding. It's only another two months away!  I have several hospital appointments and missed one and lost another - a symptom of taking too much on and not being sufficiently organised.
• Pattern modifications!!
• I will actually have to make another toile for Joanne because of the major changes needed. I'll have to post it and get her sister to fit it. Fortunately,  I quickly ran up another bodice for Alison when she was here and it fit well so I won't be doing another for her - next step the real thing.
• Learning new techniques. This would be fun if it wasn't so important that I get things right first time.

So where am I now? (Wednesday after Easter.)

Wedding dress

• I'm planning to concentrate on the wedding dress more or less exclusively until the second week in May by which time it really has to be finished!
• Helen has changed shape so I need to make some modifications to the pattern for size in addition to some design changes. At class today, where Rory is helping me, I ran into some problems with trueing the pattern and matching the bodice to the skirt (there is a waist seam). Rather belatedly I realised I had taken the skirt in but not the front bodice. I had earlier adjusted the back bodice. I think it's sorted now. She hasn't promised not to change shadow further in the 3 weeks before I see her again. But then - no more!
• I plan to make the final toile for mid April when she comes up. It would be so much faster and easier if we had easier access to each other.
• I plan to lay out the pattern to accurately estimate fabric requirements and Helen will buy it and bring it with her - we've seen and touched the fabric we want. I will order some other fabrics and notions online.
• I will also transfer the pattern to card

Course

• Forget it! Last class I ended up spending on the wedding dress.  Just as well it's still the Easter holidays! I do need to spend some time getting caught up.
• I don't think it will take me too long to complete the MOB dress now - I've started.  The biggest issue is a dearth of sketchbook entries and portfolio notes and photos.

Bridesmaids' dresses

• The patterns are complete and trued. I reckon Alison's fits but need to toile Joanne’s.
• I am trying to get someone other than me to make up the final dresses. Obviously, I'm prepared to pay for that - I reckon my health and sanity are worth it. Helen’s too  - she's panicking that I won't get her dress done in time. 

I hope you had a good Easter weekend. The weather is looking rather more springlike here. Hopefully that willl help with mood and health. 

Anne x