Adventures in pattern making

Oh my goodness, it's a two-fer! Happy birthdays, martelvonc and tattycat! *confetti*

I worked on a pattern for the bodice of a gamurra (or, Italian fitted kirtle) last night. My 14th century kirtle bodice pattern was the base. Going off clues in salviati's documentation and kath_a's dress diary, I raised and squared the neckline, widened the shoulder straps, nipped in the arm holes, and snipped away the fabric a couple of inches below my bust. I still need to fiddle with the seams on the sides and front opening because my breasts are being both supported and smooshed. I suppose I need a wee bit more ease across the bustline while keeping the fabric directly below very tight.

I'm a little nervous about construction because I've never made a dress with a waist seam nor have I made a skirt with gathers. Are there any tricks or tips for gathering a skirt? I keep thinking about cheating with elastic (please stop glaring, danabren), but I'm sure there's a better way...

ETA: Okay, so not gathers; pleats. I'd been thinking pleats, but then I read something about gathers and that messed me up. Thanks for the input, ladies. :)

Words!

alienor gave me five words which come to mind when she thinks of me. ( Here's what I think of those five words: )

Reply with "Words!" and I'll give you five words which come to mind when I think of you. You should then post those words into LJ and explain what they mean to you.

More boss rocking

We've got a call at 9 tonight to go over how to update a system which will automate the provisioning of IP circuits come this fall (don't worry about what that means; it's not important to the story). Bossman asked if I was going to be on the call. When I said yes, he suggested that surely I had better things to do with me time the night before a personal day. Well, yes, I do, but I need to know how the process works. But surely I could get a private audience with someone at a later date, he offered. Plus, he or coworker could go over the process with me if I asked nicely. I finally took the hint and said that I wouldn't be on the call tonight.

I will, however, have my cell on me tomorrow in case he includes me on the transmission project call so I'll know what's happening with that while he's out of the office next week.