11/06/2006
After some research I've decided to base this shirt on Sture shirts. The Stures were killed in 1567, byt the cut is very suitable for a shirt with a high smocked collar.
12/06/2006
This is the kind of shirt collar I am aiming for. The image is from a drawing called Hercules and Omphale by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1537.
I did some digging and found Lia de Tornegge's site and her diary about A Sture shirt for a Lady.
In that diary she posted a cutting diagram of a Sture shirt. I used that as the inspiration for the cutting plan for my own shirt.
13/06/2006
Cut out the main shirt pieces (body x 2 and sleeves x 2). Began hemming the first sleeve.
14/06/2006
Finished hemming the first sleeve and began smocking the wrist.
15/06/2006
Finished the smocking and attached the cords. It took a while to decide what technique to use for cords. Finally I settled with fingerlooping them.
16/06/2006
Cut out and hemmed the first gusset. Attached the gusset to the sleeve and seamed it. First sleeve finished.
17/06/2006
Began and finished the second sleeve.
18/06/2006
Hemmed the front body piece, the front slit and did one hem of the back piece.
19/06/2006
Finished hemming the back body piece, sewed one shoulder and began the other.
20/06/2006
Finished the other shoulder and gathered the neckhole.
21/06/2006
Cut neckband, hemmed it and began gathering it.
22/06/2006
Gathered the neckband and began fixing the folds.
23 to 25
Gone to the War of the Roses.
26 and 27
Took a break from sewing to catch up with sleep.
28/06/2006
Finished gathering the collar and tried to attach it. I'm stumped and need to figure out a better way.
29/06/2006
Ripped out a part of the smocking of the collar and folded the raw edge up. Hopefully this will solve the problem.
30/06/2006
Fiddled some more with the collar, but I'm not making any real progress here.
01/07/2006
Took a break from sewing.
02/07/2006
Finished the collar.
03/07/2006
Unpicked some of the work I did yesterday and sewed the gathers differently. There is still a noticeable join where I sewed the collar the the body, but it's not as bad as before.
04/07/2006
Unpicked the collar again and sewed the gathers again. I am very frustrated with the collar and have decided to put it aside while sewing the dress.
07/08/2006
Put up the picture of the cutting plan. I apologize for it's sketchyness.
28/08/2006
Attached the sleeves and embroidered the collar. Finished!
28/11/2006
Unpicked the previous embroidery, embroidered the collar and the sleeve cuffs. Finished, again.