Yuuko Ichihara - Foxy Lady #33

two flounces + embroidered cuff

Change of strategy: it takes me an average of 8 hours to hem each flounce, so I need to speed things up, or I won't have a finished costume any time soon. So, I finished 4 flounces, and I will focus on the embroidery. The second cuff is about ⅔ done, and I've been enjoying embroidering it.

Since I've moved, I don't have a washing machine, so, besides embroidering in the evening, I also take it to the automatic laundrette, where I embroider an average of two 1m threads each time. I'll explain, each time I cut a thread to embroider, I cut about one arm length, which is about 1 meter, which I fold in half to embroider. So, each 1m section takes about 15 mins average to embroider, it takes two for each machine wash at the laundrette. I used to embroider on the train to my mom's house, also an average of two per trip, but I've been taking the bus, and it swivels too much to do embroidery. Plus, my correcting glasses broke, and I can't see properly near my eyes with my contacts on. I usually go to the laundrette in the evening, and take my every day nearsighted glasses, which I don't need to embroider, just to go about the streets.

As for the flounces, I will temporarily machine hem them with a tiny zigzag stitch, and later will eventually roll hem them all.

Now it's time to tackle the dress, take the sewing machine out and sew it together!

+ This will save time, and now I'm a bit more confident I will finish the costume on time. Just need to speed up and work on it every-day!

- I really didn't want to cut corners with the flounce hems, but they're too fastidious to make and take too long. This is a temporary solution anyway,  and doesn't look very bad. It’s on the petticoat, not the most visible piece in this costume. The four flounces, fully finished with a rolled hem, will be placed on top, where they're most visible.

THE CUNNING PLAN 

Start sewing the dress as soon as possible, and keep embroidering during the evening. Also start making the props, i.e., build the ruby, and make the shoe swirls.