My Pet (en l’air) Project – Progress

After fiddlage and fussling (technical terms), I think I’ve got this pet en l’air working.  I apologize for the lack of in-progress photos (new camera comes tomorrow!),  but I will show you the interior of this jacket in a future post.  For now, here are some photos of the almost-done pet:

Mostly done – needs trimming on the other sleeve, and also gold bows, yay!
Here’s the back.  Depending on what happens on my actual body (since I am longer waisted than my dress form), I may add a line of boning on the side back there, where you see the wrinkle.
I have a petticoat to finish and a cap to make before Friday’s “Winter White” exhibition at the Nevada Historical Society, to which I will be wearing this ensemble.  With the power of my new pineapple-reticule-sized camera I shall capture photos of pretty costumed ladies, mannequins in historic gowns, and myself in this outfit, so you guys can see the final thing on a body it fits, as opposed to my modern-shaped dress form.
Pleaty trim down the front edges and around the back of the neck.  Gold satin-covered buttons, and a comperes (false) front.  The buttons are functional.
Pleaty trim on the 3/4 sleeves.  I’ve since added golden bows to the top, where the seam is, and I might tack in some lace flounces to finish the look, but we’ll see.

11 Comments

  • Lauren Stowell

    February 8, 2011 at 7:09 PM

    Padawan – yes, the stomacher is a false front; it's all sewn together. "Comperes" front it's referred to in the Kyoto book. The buttons are functional and there are a couple lines of boning on the edges of the buttons and also the line of the jacket where it overlaps.

    MrsC, maybe the trimmeries are too wide? Hahaha – MORE IS MORE right? They're, what did I make them, 2.5" inches? They coulda been 2" 🙂

    Reply
  • MrsC (Maryanne)

    February 9, 2011 at 1:08 AM

    Aha but Sweet Duchess, once they start to fray away, you may wish to trim them down, so the extra width (of which I approve heartily of course!) will be functional as well as attractive 😉

    Reply
  • Lithia Black

    February 9, 2011 at 8:20 PM

    Very pretty! Now I got the inspiration to make my comperes front fully functional too… (I was planning to cheat and use hook and yes with buttons for show)

    Reply
  • Lauren Stowell

    February 9, 2011 at 8:28 PM

    Lith, the reason I use, or like to use, buttons is that for some reason hook and eye tape and I don't get along, lol. If you do use buttons, just support them with boning on each side, like for grommets, and make sure the buttonholes are horizontal. Hook and eyes are awesome, though, but I always find it more work, especially then having to sew on all the little snaps to get the placket to lay down, argh!

    Reply

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