Oh, KNICKERS!

Posted by Kate XXXXXX on June 26, 2009, 9:51 am

Well, pantalettes, really...

I have an adorable but deeply eccentric customer, my Regency Lady. She
wanted some pantalettes. OK, no probs, but:

I forgot to order the pattern (from Kannick's Corner). Bums!

The samples of fabric failed to arrive in time - postal strike! The
lace samples only arrived today - fitting is Sunday afternoon.

Yesterday the yell.com lady took up a lot more time than I expected -
but the result is a big revamp of my ads, and a bigger net presence.
I was out all day on Wednesday (planned), and therefore not available to
take a call from a wedding planner, so I ended up spending yesterday
morning putting together a raft of estimates for a wedding in May next
year. I already have one wedding with bride and 3 bridesmaids, and a
possible MoB outfit to do as well for My, and this one could easily be
bride and SIX maids, all in Regency kit! Fun, but it took about six
hours to find patterns, prices, fabrics, and three degrees of historical
accuracy for the planner, ranging from modern dress with Empire line
through to true historical accuracy including smocks and corsets! If
they go for that option (fingers crossed!), that's SEVEN Regency corsets!

So, today I dealt with two other problems that arose overnight, cleared
off the cutting table (clean laundrey, cat, paper, patterns, cat,
samples, books, cat, sticky tape, rulers, fabric, cat etc... ) and drew
up a pattern. Then I went shopping in the loft for fabric. Not easy
with yer fingers crossed! Luckily the boxes of white fabric are not too
deeply burried, so it was a case of lift off some light bits and a
couple of fabric boxes, rather than shift a ton of Top Quality Tat and
10 boxes of fabric.

And I found something MUCH nicer than any of the samples of lawn or
voile or Swiss cotton batiste at £15.99m that came from places like
McCulloch & Wallis. I found some light weight mercerised cotton poplin.
Light as a feather, smooth as satin, almost as strong as Kevlar, and
totally perfect for the job.

I have NO IDEA where I bought it. It's been there 10 years easily...
It probably came from Croft Mill, so is likely to be a bit found when
clearing an old mill for demolition. I would not be at all surprised to
find it had been woven back in the 50's or 60's.

I don't care. It's perfect. I've obviously used a bit for something
else at some point. So what. Half the chunk is now a pair if
pantalettes, cut, turnings pressed, and ready to sew. The rest will
become a deeply pretty and delicate Regenct style smock. All for waring
on the 4th July! FTL knickers! ;)
--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Posted by Bobbie Sews More on June 26, 2009, 12:01 pm

Isn't it nice twhen you find that you already have a much needed material,
tucked away and hiding! So happy you already had just exactly what you
needed. Happy sewing!!!
Barbara in SC

Posted by Sarah Dale on June 26, 2009, 5:31 pm

Kate XXXXXX wrote:
show/hide quoted text

I just love it when you can re-purpose old stash :-)

I'm just panicking over transporting me & the family from the UK to
Luxembourg for my brother's wedding on 4th July! Must not forget the
nappies, passports - or the kids!

Oh - and my wedding outfit has to be baby proof & functional for breast
feeding! And my DM has gone and bought an outfit (very expensive) that
is not child proof or easy to wash........... ho hum... I'm sure DD & DS
will wreck it :(

Sarah