Showcasing Some Saturday Stichery…

Getting something symmetrical is harder than it looks. You’ll see what I mean in a minute. I managed to get the snaps all sewn on, the inside handwork done, the slip made. I played around with the bonnet, but didn’t get anywhere and then I started on the embroidery on the jacket. I was holding the edges beside each other and checking as I went along…but it wasn’t until I saw it in these pictures that I saw what you’ll see…one side of the embroidery is closer to the edge than the other… RATS! That means one side is going to have to be changed… and that won’t be easy as all my stitching is overlapped on the underneath side. But I know I’ll never settle for asymmetrical so I’ll have to do it. But I thought I’d show you anyway.

If you click on the pictures they will enlarge.

I also finished her slip… now don’t be upset because it’s not a crinoline and authentic to the Civil War era. There was so much fabric at the waist… with the 2 layers from the skirt, the bodice front and the bodice lining. I had to make the slip a little more streamlined without too many gathers and no ties. I opted for just a pretty lacy slip that works well to hold out the skirt. If it showed, I wouldn’t have done it, but because it’s hidden, I did it this way…

Well, I certainly have my work cut out for me…

See you on Monday,
Blessings, Jeanne

23 thoughts on “Showcasing Some Saturday Stichery…”

    1. Hi Sandy,
      Well now that I’ve “pointed out my mistake” I’ll “have” to fix it… but I would have anyway…
      Thanks though…
      Blessings, Jeanne

    1. Hi Sandy,
      I’m not sure of the Ann Estelle dolls measurements. ..maybe someone on here will know…
      Blessings, Jeanne

    2. Sandy: 18″ Ann Estelle has a slimmer body than the AGs. Hope this helps as this dress woyld look lovely on her:)

  1. Oh the dress and jacket are beautiful! The embroidery on the jacket is a wonderful touch and seeing it that way now, I can’t imagine it not being there. I’m sorry that you have to redo it. It is so frustrating when something like that happens. I think the slip works perfectly for the dress. The tiny purple flower on it is such a sweet little touch.
    Take care.

    1. Hi Charlotte,
      I’m glad you like the dress, and I’m just getting ready to “redo” the embroidery. I showed it to my hubby and he thought I should just leave it too…I had to point it out to him, but I’m redoing it… it’s just a “me” thing, I guess.
      I’m glad the slip works for you… it did for me! :o)
      Thanks so much,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  2. Love this special slip! Beautiful. I’d live with the embroidery as is, but know you can’t. When the dress is finished, it will be perfection. Everytime I look at your lavender loveliness I smile.
    Hope the weekend treats you well.

    1. HI Joy,
      Yeah…that embroidery… If I had left it alone, I’m sure someone would have noticed it, and if I redid it, I knew someone would ask, “why?” But I’m redoing it… in a little bit… working up to it. I hope it’s perfect when I re do it…
      Thanks Joy, so far the weekend has been good. I got my books all closed out for my business, so now we can go see the tax guy…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  3. Jeanne, I can understand your need to remove your asymmetrical embroidery (I don’t think I would be so considerate to do so) but this is what makes your work so outstanding. Your conscientiousness about details is admirable. I think Rebecca looks magnificent in her ensemble so far. Your work takes my breath away!

    Sweet Saturday and blessings.

    1. Hi Becky,
      Oooooo, I love it when my work takes someone’s breath away! Thanks for that nice compliment! I’m hoping your Saturday is going well…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  4. Jeanne… this is such a lovely outfit:) I am my own worst and best critic too.. you would never be happy if you didn’t redo the embroidery… maybe it wont be the whole side , but you would always “know” if you didn’t rework it:)
    Our curse and blessing!

    1. Thank you so much Charlotte,
      It’s got to be done… or I won’t be pleased..and the winner might not be either. I just couldn’t let it slide. I’m trying to decide which side to change…the right or left side… one moves in and the other moves out… we’ll see…
      Yes, the price of being “too picky!”
      Oh well,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  5. This outfit is just heavenly lovely. I am so sorry about you having to redo it. I agree with the others that you wouldn’t be happy unless you re-did what bothers you.
    The slip is perfect. I really like it. Rebecca looks beautiful in it.

    1. HI Paula,
      I should have paid closer attention to the sides being exact when I was doing them. I don’t think it will be TOO bad…. Rebecca looks pretty in anything so that’s a plus!
      Thanks Paula,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  6. Speaking of redoing something, your patience has had an influence. I just finished ripping panels of white eyelet from the front and back sides of a red dress. While not much shows through, the red under it doesn’t look right with the cuffs of eyelet that are lined with white. I thought: “What would Jeanne do?” You had answered that question yesterday. I knew I couldn’t live with it that way. So much work into a little doll dress. Thanks for taking us through your process.

    I have made a slip that way for a dropped-waist dress. It’s perfect for this dress. Another beautiful ensemble.

    1. Thanks for your compliments Susette and sorry you are ripping out too… It’s not fun but sometimes we seamstresses just have to do it whether we like it or not!
      Yes, sometimes the little things make all the difference… like your red behind the eyelet… we live and we learn! I’ll measure next time and you’ll probably put a piece under it next time before you attach it.
      Thanks so much Susette,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  7. Oh gosh, Jeanne, you are quite the perfectionist! I too, like the others, would just leave it, but of course, I’m not selling and I don’t have that “perfectionist” seamstress image to live up to, so gee, what a shame you have to do it over. Such a pretty outfit! I absolutely love the embroidery on the jacket, and also the pretty slip underneath. I’m not THAT way, were every little thing has to fit the time period exactly, so I think the slip is just beautiful the way it is. It can be used for other dolls too in different time periods.

    What’s next? A pretty necklace made by your Rebecca? Maybe an Easter bonnet to be in the Easter Parade?

    What a beautiful day outside today! Got a lot done in the yard, and we are cleaning out the garage too, not a fun task, that one!

    1. HI Linda,
      You’re last today… well at least for now…
      It won’t be that bad to do it… it’s just handwork and as along and I can get all the stitches out without snagging the fabric, I’ll be okay…
      Some people won’t think about a Civil War dress unless it’s totally authentic, but I needed this slip to work because of “waist bulk” issues…
      I’m hoping to get Rebecca to make a necklace for this set. I found a pretty little bonnet that I’m going to try and copy…
      Oh, the dreaded garage clean out day… I hope you had fun with that! :o)
      Blessings, Jeanne

  8. Charlotte Trayer

    Hi Jeanne, just had to comment…. I feel your pain–and would do exactly the same thing!! I’m an extremely picky sewer, and things Have to be even/symmetrical/match, whether anyone else notices or not!! LOL

    I had a thought for “next time”–perhaps trace (onto tissue paper) the area where the embroidery will go, then draw your vine (or whatever) on it. You should be able to see it thru the other side of the tissue, too; if not, go over it on that side with pen/pencil. Next, pin it into position and use your favorite (removable) marking method to copy it to the garment; turn the tissue over and repeat on the other side. Voila! Evenly placed guidelines!

    Because….it is Really Hard to just hold parts together and “eyeball” placement, especially on something that has curves anyway!!

    Otherwise, I do love anything about this outfit–but especially that lavender dotted Swiss/tufted dots fabric! It is the kind of outfit, combination of fabrics and trims, and just the whole color scheme, that makes my heart sing!

    1. Thanks Charlotte,
      In hindsight, I will definitely do something different next time. I just finished redoing it and “think” it’s okay to suit me… but it sure was time consuming. I really should have drawn out my design first and then transferred it somehow onto the front on both sides. That would have been the smart thing to do, but I just winged it and eventually paid for that! :o(
      Oh well, live and learn. I keep looking at it, adding one more sprig of black thread and making one more loop a bit wider… it could go on for days so I had to tell myself to stop! I think it’ll be okay now… It might not even be noticeable but I noticed it… that’s what counts!
      Thanks Charlotte…I’m glad you like “everything” about it! I do too! I was working on a pattern for her bonnet a little while ago… maybe soon… :o)
      Thanks so much,
      Blessings, Jeanne

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