Friday, August 5, 2011

Boning (Insert Crude Joke Here)

It's just about 7pm on Friday and I'm sitting on the back porch feeling, well, rather smug and self satisfied. This is not a good thing.

I had the day off and I spent the better part of it working on my jumpsuit. It went well. I think. I hope. You see, whenever I've had this smug kind of "look-at-me-I-am-a-sewing-genius!" feeling, a big sewing disaster, invariably of my own making, inevitably follows. Usually, it's one of those moments where all you can do is smack your head and yell "Doh!!" Like cutting out three back pants pieces but only one front. Or sewing the two fronts legs together at the in- and out seams and then the two backs together and then wondering why the crotch isn't working out. That kind of mistake.

Now, I've checked that I haven't done any of those things wrong. But that doesn't mean there isn't a disaster happening as I write. However, I'm willing to say that ignorance is bliss this evening and show you my progress. 

I cut into my beautiful rayon matte jersey this morning. It was pretty slow going since I generally cut knits in a single layer, instead of folded.

Underbodice with boning.

This afternoon was devoted to the underbodice. I decided to do it in the same fabric as the rest of the jumpsuit. Once interfaced, it was basted, tried on and finally sewn. Then I sewed on the casings and inserted the boning (Ok, just stop it now. That's what it's called). Why was I nervous about this? It really was very easy. (Sigh. So juvenile...)

Then it was time for a try on.



Yes!

And this is why I am having my very smug moment. Not only am I very happy with how the fabric looks and is sewing up, as well as how this is fitting, but it's also incredibly comfy! I bought steel spiral boning from Steinlauf & Stoller in the Garment District. And it is SO much better than anything you would find in most RTW. It flexes in all directions, so it bends wherever your body does. In other words, you don't get jabbed in the ribs when you sit or bend, and the recovery is supposedly good, too.

Anyway, tomorrow should go much faster. I plan to sew the outer bodice and pants, and put in the zipper. I'm off on Monday, too, and with any luck I'll be dropping in the lining and hemming by then.

Have a great weekend everyone! I hope you sew up something fun.

5 comments:

Peter Lappin said...

Looks great! Having been just been through this myself, make sure you stitch the boning casings closed at top and bottom VERY securely. You don't want the boning to push out of the casing! (Ask me how I know.)

Faye Lewis said...

You have a right to feel successfully smug. Your bodice looks wonderful!

gwensews said...

Great fit! It's ok to be smug. Enjoy that feeling! And make a beautiful thing.

Clio said...

Oh dear, Peter! Thanks for the tip!

Thanks all!

The Slapdash Sewist said...

I have some spiral steel boning as well and it is awesome! Maybe I should plan a project with boning just so I get to use some. It's looking good!