Polonaise 0.1

We are firmly still in beta.

So, I patched the dart holes, re-sewed them, and just for fun, tried it on without my corset.

Yeah, one of the patched darts pulled out, so it wasn’t going to be much of a fitting. I could pull it shut, but they call for a one-inch seam allowance to allow for button overlap. That just wasn’t happening.

But do notice how nicely it fits across the back! It’s very much like the two cassocks I sewed for B, except for these effing weird front darts. One of the pitfalls of historical costuming.

So, OK. Lessons learned:

1. I don’t know how to handle a dart, CLEARLY.
2. I should try it on over my corset.

So I laced up ye olde corset, exactly the same as when we took measurements, and LO! It fit even worse. It pushed my front up a bit, but added extra bulk in the small of my back. I can comfortably slide a finger between my back and the laces. I still haven’t decided what to do about that, because…

I realized that I had used the wrong seam allowance. I can’t believe I’m blogging this because it is such a rookie mistake, but in the interest of journalistic integrity, I will. With approx 10 seams sewn at 5/8 instead of 1/2, I estimate that by re-sewing all the seams I regained an inch or two.

Having fixed that problem, I went straight to YouTube and found all the videos on sewing darts (with a few DIY dart gun videos thrown in, interesting) and learned some tips on getting darts right. Also determined that these darts are not normal and I should not feel TOO bad.

Then I re-cut the front pieces to re-do the darts. I’ll post about that tomorrow, because it was a bit more successful, the darts look much smaller and more precise, but I haven’t yet tried it on over my corset. Which I finally found this morning, neatly rolled up and placed in a laundry basket. Why? Maybe because I was tired and it was near the bed. Lack of oxygen can really do some weird stuff to you.

Stay tuned for 0.2, now with added corset!