#18thCentury

[@Kera.S.]

This is fun to watch and I look forward to seeing your beautiful final pieces! Can't wait to see what you come up with next. I so feel your pain for getting all the fit right, which measurements to use, the math involved, etc. Glad you stuck with it, your excitement was contagious 💙

[@ColleenMarble]

Thanks for watching! I do love the problem solving, which is rewarding in the end, even though it can be frustrating along the way.

[@Shade11906]

Oh, how wonderful! It's so exciting to see this whole process. I can't wait for part 2!

[@ColleenMarble]

Yay! Thanks for watching!

[@carlabythelake8162]

And that, Colleen, is exactly why I sew Simplicity patterns only 🤪🤪. Seriously though, it was fun to watch your process and the outfit is so pretty.

[@ColleenMarble]

LOL! Well, I have to alter Simplicity patterns a lot too - my short waist and full bust require a lot of work for any pattern, so this isn't a whole lot worse than normal. :-)

[@rhondabish2186]

My problem has been trying to fit and alter by myself. I'm glad I found your videos, it helps a lot! I made false rumps instead of a bum roll. They don't extend to the sides. I need to watch how you trimmed the stays, I have to finish the bottom edges. I'm making both an Italian gown and everyday country wear. Yours looks incredible!

[@ColleenMarble]

It's so hard to do it by yourself! I'm figuring out how to work around it, but it's not easy. I'm glad my videos are helpful! I figure if I'm learning something I may as well share it!

[@marthabenner6528]

For something that might help with your hand (I have been lucky enough to avoid surgery, but I do still have issues with my wrist, this takes almost all the pressure off.) You can look up a "third hand" or "brass bird", I made my own out of a "Scotch clip & twist tape dispenser" I just took out the tape bobbin and covered the teeth with a piece of cardboard (broadcloth wool would have been better.) and attached a tiny pin cushion (made of twill flannel and stuffed with thread) on the underside of the teeth part. I find doing it in that way helps keep the tension. And a small scrap of canvas backed fabric too anchor your fabric avoids tearing the more delicate things. For your future endeavors I would like to point you at Priorattire's "Making robe a l'anglaise" which is a short tutorial that makes it look so simple and easy, because once you have the basics down, it really is simple and easy, (as long as you know the tricks). It's also versatile, if you want to have a little fun with it. I'm using this for my wool surge "modern" raincoat. Your math trick is extremely helpful. Thank you.

[@ColleenMarble]

I have a sewing bird! It's wonderful and makes things much easier. I still have limitations, but it does help. And I love Prior Attire's work. Will check out that topic for sure.

[@marthabenner6528]

Very nice. Something I did too help alleviate that problem with the stays, besides the extra waste tape. I did not keep the extra tab right next to the center front, and I made the second tab from center front a little bit shorter, and the side back one's deeper. Basically I wiggled around and saw where it wrinkled up and that was the height of the tabs, I would whip stitch them down with a heavy buttonhole thread, and if the cut is too short you can tell. And also the experts say, that if you have that problem to put in small scraps of book rum in your extra squishy areas that do not behaving.

[@ColleenMarble]

I may try the waist tape and buckram if the extra boning doesn't work. I think both are good ideas.

[@marthabenner6528]

@@ColleenMarble I just realized I made it sound like I cut the tab off, I did not. I just sewed it closed, and I'm not going to cut it, in my next one.

[@ColleenMarble]

@@marthabenner6528 I see! I understand now. Good idea!