Getting faster!
I also looked at lots of images of 1890s skirts, trying to work out how to get what is basically a gored, A line shape, fuller at the back from…squares. These things are not going to make up obligingly into A shapes. Nope. Not gonna happen.
Then it came to me. Maths.
My hips, corsetted are about 44-45″. I plan to do some [undecided] draping over this skirt, so the quilting does not need to come above hip height. This will also make for less bulk at the middle, never a bad thing! If I make 5 9″ wide rectangular panels, I can put plain black gores between them to give the sweep of skirt that I want. I think. Because of the weight of the quilted sections, I will probably need to make the gores double.
I think this will work. The maths does anyway!
Each panel needs to be about 36″ from hip to floor. My little square are about 3″ across. So each panel needs 36 squares, and 5 x 36 is 180. That means roughly [aargh] 45 hours of handsewing the little black squares. I haven’t timed how long it takes to add the coloured bits yet. So far, I have eight completed…
Right, I’m going back in.
You’re a much more dedicated fairy than I would ever be… I’d end up just making a band of them about 2 windows ‘deep’ as trimming around the bottom of the skirt, and as dramatic cuffs on the jacket.
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Sounds lovely- pictures?
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Sorry, it’s more of a concept at this point, and my drawing skills are rubbish. I’m picturing the cuffs on your wife’s coat made up in cathedral windows, with that pointed shape being defined by the edges of a black square.
I tried googling some pictures of clothing with cathedral windows quilting, but sadly they were all a little too ‘loving hands at home’ for my taste. 🙂
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Ah yes I can imagine the type of thing…I’m hoping this will be more fancy schmancy than that…maybe
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I was reading an article this morning which mentioned the theory that what separates mathematicians from the rest is grit – you’ve certainly got it!
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Useful in the bottom of birdcages and everything…
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180! I would have given up the will to live by then. Your dedication to your art is impressive. I love the way that these squares are turing out. They are gorgeous. Xx
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It’s that wonderful sari. It gives me great joy to be able to use up 2″ squares of ANYTHING
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This is a big project! But it is going to be FABULOUS!
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hope so!” Some very beautiful lace arrived today…
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Lovely… you’re missed on TSP
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aw thanks- life’s been too busy to blog, review, work AND visit TSP. If I don’t escape from the Dark Side, I may naturally gravitate back. It does seem to be largely P&Q now…
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