Date Started: July 27, 2011
Date Finished:
Patterns Used: Chemise by Sense & Sensibility; Long Stays by Mantua-Maker
Material: Natural Linen
Notions: bias tape, ribbon, zip bones and grommets
July 28, 2011 – A new set of undergarments
I decided that I wanted a new set of undergarments for this year’s picnic, and I have a lovely bolt of natural linen just calling my name. I have cut and pre-shrunk about 6 yds to make a new chemise and a new set of long stays with. This year, my stays will not have straps. I hope to get started on the chemise tomorrow evening.
August 8, 2011 – Lots of progress
I was able to get my chemise done on Sunday, July 31st, from beginning to end. I popped Last of the Mohicans into the dvd player and got down to work, while I was waiting for PJ to join me. I finished the chemise before she got there. I would say that from beginning to end, it took me 3 hours, and that included flat felling all the seams. I did decided to do the “pit” gusset the same way Angie did her’s, last year. It made doing the gussets much easier. Once PJ arrived, I helped her get her stays started, as she has never made a set of Regency stays before. Last Monday, I got my stays started, by cutting out two layers of linen. I was going to make all three layers out of the linen, but I decided that my stays would not have given me the support that I need. And, with a week of doing the “Summer Band Shuffle”, I didn’t 
make it to JoAnn’s until Saturday around 1 o’clock. Once I got home, I got the last layer cut out, just as PJ arrived. I got all the layers sewn on Saturday. On Sunday, I got the layers lined up and sewn together, the zip boning in, enough grommets in to try it on, and the bias tape sewn on across the top. Now, I had intended to use the drill as the interlining for my stays, with a layer of linen for both the cover and lining. But…. The drill layer looked so pretty once it was sewn, that I just had to use it for the cover. I must also say that this year’s stays are turning out waaaaaay better than last year’s, by far. Tonight, I will be driving the rest of the grommets, as I don’t think I will be cutting any off of the bottom, and adding a few extra boning channels to reinforce the back seam and the center back, where my stays buckle due to my ample backside. I will also be cutting a new busk for this set of stays. Once I get all of that done, I can seal it up with bias tape across the bottom. More pics to follow!
