Carson, Bring me some tea…

If you are not a fan of Downton Abbey, you won’t get the reference, but for everyone else, I wish just once in my life, I can pull a cord and a bell will ring for Carson and I can say the words, “Carson, bring me some tea.”  The closest I’ll ever get is to actually have the bell cord hanging in the place that means the most to me.

I finished the bellpull, and decided that it had to live in my studio so I can dream about 4 o’clock, of a servant coming up and bringing me tea, with just the pull of the cord.  I’m OK with cleaning and keeping my house in order, vacuuming and emptying the trash.  I can cook three meals a day, do laundry and make beds, and tidy up and scrub toilets.  But thinking I can just pull on the cord and summon tea…  Well that brings a smile.  Lady Daryl.  I like…

So we had a bit of a snowstorm here.  About 8 inches.  I daresay I stayed snug in my studio, I only ventured out this afternoon with my husband driving, by then the roads were clear and I went to pick up my monthly box of organic produce.  And my new magnifying glasses.  In addition to my new regular glasses, I had the eye doctor make me a pair of 5+ full frame reading glasses for when I do close hand work. 🙂

Anyway, hunkering down during the storm, I decided to do what any self respecting garment maker would do, I started on my summer wardrobe.  Better than making mohair coats in July.  Sleeveless summer dresses in January. 🙂

The bamboo dress went together like butter.  I made the decision to underline this dress, rather than line it.  There are a number of reasons, all of which I’m putting together in a presentation/lecture for the American Sewing Guild conference in July, in St. Louis, called Behind the Front Line, all about Underlinings.

The decision was very successful.  Instead of the full lining though, I would need to cut neckline and armhole facings, which can be anchored to the underlining leaving a clean front and no floppy facings.

I did however, read through the direction sheet, to make sure I wasn’t missing anything and I came across this step.

Since I knew the dress was fully lined, I was really surprised to see the shoulder seams sewn.  I didn’t think it was possible to put a full lining in a dress with the shoulder seams sewn.  So I read on, to see if there was a new way of doing something I wasn’t aware of.  There isn’t.  Turns out this is a sloppy mistake.  I’m surprised at now poorly Vogue proofs it’s directions sheets anymore.  This isn’t the first glaring error I’ve found in a recent Vogue designer pattern.  The step clearly says to sew the side seams.  It doesn’t say to sew the shoulders.  And the next step is to construct the lining, and then pin it to the dress, shoulders open.  But the first photo shows the shoulders sewn.  No one will die if the shoulders are sewn, they will have to be ripped out to actually line the dress, but still.  Sloppy proofing.  It is a shame.

I haven’t put the facings on yet, nor have I sewn up the hem, but the dress fits like a glove.  I’m totally happy with the fit.  At the last minute I decided to cut a slightly narrower upper back, dropping down to a size ten.  The dress is very boxy and I didn’t like that, so I reshaped it to what I guessed were my contours, hard to do on yourself.  This is where I wish there were two of me.  Oh Carson, where are you when I need you…

(For non Downton Abbey fans, Carson is the head butler…)

And yes, in the photo I’m wearing tights and fur lined boots.  It is freakin’ 10 degrees out…

Stay tuned…