Gallery:

Mar 2007
The finished pocket - yay!

Jan 2007
The crewelwork is finially finished - now I just need to make it into a pocket!

Dress Diary:

August 2006

The lovely shades of blue wool thread I treated myself to at Costume College last week have been "burning a hole in my pocket" ever since I got home - if you will excuse the pun - so I broke down and just started the darn thing. Really I've been meaning to make this second pocket for months now, bought the fabric ages ago, but just haven't gotten to it.

The design is pretty much the same as my other pocket, only different. :> These are meant to be a pair but I didn't want them matchy-matchy so I did a bit of tweaking. Small things like a new butterfly, the addition of pomegranates and a snail, a new center flower design and a general playing around with color combinations. I have the 4 shades of blue from CC but other than that I'm trying to use what I have left over from my first pocket. Waste not, want not! Besides I really don't want the hassle of a trip to Manassas right now. I should have plenty to do what I want... wish I had more yellow but I can make do without.

I started straight away on my center flower, featuring the blues from CC. Took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do there but I'm happy with the results. Tried a new stitch there, a burden stitch. It's sort of like a mock basket weave - I like it!! I of course ripped out my first attempt, but once I got the hang of it I was quite pleased. It looks much better in person. Can you tell I'm having way too much fun?!

Aug 23

Progress on the pocket deux - wow I think I'm over halfway done already. The fun shall end far too soon. I do love crewel!

Did up Mr. Snail today and am quite pleased. B assures me he doesn't look like a big blob on a stem so I am happy. *giggle* I used - wow - 5 different stitches on the little guy; satin, back, french knot, couching and seed. No blob indeed! I do feel slightly guilty, coloring Mr. Snail all in pink - I'd feel bad if he had an identity crisis but there it is! *hee hee*

I'm ready to move the hoop so pomegranates here I come!

Sep 8

Proof I have actually been working … just not posting. :P The long promised pocket pics. Haven’t gotten much more done on this since the pics were taken. Been spending my embroidery time on the Federalist gown. *moo*

Sep 24
I broke down tonight and worked on my pocket some. My baby bee and pomegranate are coming along now, looking adorable. :>

Oct 9

I've been working on this in fits and starts and then not at all since I started quilting again. I don't have a pressing need for it (or the supplies from Wooded Hamlet to make it up) so I'm just saving it for those occasions when I can take it traveling. It's so small and easy to lug around, unlike the quilted petticoat!

Jan 1

My first day of sewing in the New Year went well! In fact I'm very proud of myself. I saw the New Year in working on my pocket. I was *this close* to being finished at midnight. I went to bed and finished it up this first morning of 2007. Now I just need to make it up into a pocket!

Feb 5

I messed up my pocket! *runs screaming into the woods*

See, it’s too short to match the first one. *loser* This is what I get for being lazy and not tracing the outline unto my fabric before I started. So I have three options… your opinions please!

when things go wrong, what is a perfectionist to do?
1. piece the top - it's period but it will bug the heck out of me every single time I see it.
2. make do & have pockets uneven/different sizes - which defeats the purpose of making a matching pair.
3. forget it & start over - make the thing into a pillow for Mom or sell it on E-bay

Edited to add:
Yes there is a fourth option that had occurred to me, cutting down the first one to match. I really don't want to do that for two reasons; 1- it involves the pocket slit which makes me nervous. 2- I think the length on the first is perfect, it's just long enough that the bulk from the pockets is hidden in the fullness of my petticoats, rather than me looking like I have HUGE hips, if you know what I mean. It's also long enough that I don't hit the pocket constantly while I'm dancing like I suspect with a shorter I one would.

All that to say there is a fourth option but it's not on the poll because I won't do it. Irrational as it probably is, I'd rather start over than risk ruining both pockets...

Feb 9
Thanks so much for all your advice on the pocket issue - my dear pin posse you are the best! I've resolved to push aside my irrational perfectionest self and bow to the clear majority choice of piecing. It'll make for a story when I show off my pockets at least! It also provides proof that I make mistakes and so will keep me humble. Of course I can always just read my LJ, which gives full proof to the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing half the time! :>

Feb 18
As some of you know, my Grandpa passed away this week. I wanted to let you know that I will be in Colorado all next week (or rather driving on my way to, staying a few days and then on my way back) for the funeral.

I'm taking my quilted petticoat and pocket with me, wouldn't it be nice if I could finish them while I'm away? :P

Feb 27

Like I said, I took my quilted petticoat but never worked on it – spent all my time on the pocket. Got most of the binding done in Co. I worked on it some last night as well so all the outside binding is done now, just need to do the slit now and attach it to the waist band. Yay!

Feb 27

My second pocket is now officially done!! *throws confetti*

See I have pics to prove it (more in the gallery!), including close ups of the infamous piecing. *da dum* I used a flat felled seam for that, mostly for strength. Actually my first ever flat felled seam - I’m usually a French seam girl. I did the initial seaming on the machine but did the rest by hand. I figured it won’t be as glaring that way and also the rest of the pocket was done by hand so it matches. :>

For my first pocket I sewed the linen tape waist band directly to the pocket but for this one I sewed a little channel so the waistband could be threaded through. This way the pockets are adjustable, as not all my pockets slits are in precisely the same place.