Camicia Done!!

 The camicia is finally done! It is made of this diaphanous 8mm habotai silk. It is all sewn by hand. Each piece was cut then given a rolled hem that was then fagot stitched together with black silk thread. On the cuffs I created my own design made up of half of a pomegranate and half of a compass rose (elements from my heraldry) with some scroll work. I used a reverse chain stitch for the embroidery.

To close the cuff I used two pearls and embroidered button loops.

I'm making it a point to track my hours worked on each project this year as a lot of folks asked me how long each element took on last years projects and I really didn't have an answer. According to my time tracker I spent 94 hours and 18 minutes on the camicia.

As also seen in the camicia picture I have also finished two necklaces to go with this outfit. The shorter one of large pearls and jet beads and the longer, made up of two sizes of pearls, gold filigree beads, jet and coral. Both are strung on silk thread and hand knotted.

Two layers down, two to go!!

camicia

not much done today. I am gathering the neckline and hope to finish it, add cuffs and finish the hem tomorrow

Camicia

Is nearly done! I just need to add cuffs, gather into the neckline and do a little hem around the bottom. I may make my end of the week deadline Pics up tonight

What to do?

So as you can tell from my last post the blackwork is starting to really burn me out. I have 7 days before I head to Dallas for work- It's a National Speech and Debate competition. So I will be losing 7 days. I had hoped to have the camicia finished before I leave. As it stands right now I have the 2 sleeves embroidered and the two side panels. I had originally planned to also do a row of embroidery near the seams where the front and back meet the side panels. Now I am not so sure-

I am using the Camicia pattern from the realm of venus website for the first time- it's very close to my usual pattern so I'm not to worried about that

This is a rough diagram of the camicia on the left half is where the embroidery is right now the right is pre embroidery. Do I add another row of embroider on the front and back where they meet the side seam?? or do I just leave it? I am doing a ladder laced gown and once in the dress none of the embroidery will show-

I'm being such a Libra about this- so I need to ask advice from my readers- what do you think I should do??

***note the squigle lines are embroidery straight lines are seams- I already have all the embroidery shown in the diagram finished for both sides

brick wall

So I have been hitting the blackwork pretty hard for the camicia. I have finished 2 sleeves and a side panel and I have realize I have hit the wall. My eyes are crossed and my brain hurts. I am dreading doing any more., Normally when such a wall hits I put the project away and deal with it when I feel my energy comes back. My problem is that it could take months before I am ready to move forward again. I don't have that kind of time. I also had plans to fully embroidery my drawers which would be more of the same. I'm trying to rest my brain I have the 3rd season of true blood and I am going to take a nap I hope I feel ready to move forward again soon

Quick note before getting back to work

I have 2 sleeves embroidered! now to move onto the side panels...

sleeve 1 done!

to the grindstone

back to work on the blackwork on the camicia still working on the sleeves

Camicia

one strip of blackwork done on second sleeve. I think I want to do two more strips of blackwork on each sleeve.

I have had help pinning the hem of the petticoat so I should be able to hem it and start the embroidery on it within the next day or two

Camicia

1 strip of blackwork done on one sleeve

Camicia

the pieces are cut out off to finish my edges

pile of linen waiting for the machine