Author Archives: La Castellana Vieja

C. Of Linings and Interlinings This post is about making do. For those who were puzzled about why I did not make a muslin mock-up of my proposed pieces, I already had made a mock-up over the late summer and … Continue reading →

II. The Pellote A. The Materials: Fabric Choices The cutting and construction of this surcoat layer is more or less straightforward. I was not keen on going to stores at the time, so I had gone online to purchase fabric … Continue reading →

2. Hemming the Liner, and Twill Tape Reinforcement The liner will be hemmed using the remaining twill tape. I attempted to use the machine for this, hoping against hope that it would work, but after one side panel was completed, … Continue reading →

G. How Abuela Would Do Hems 1. Hemming the Dress Both of my grandmothers were proficient hand-sewers who also knew their way around a machine. The earliest memories I have, other than those of hearing everyone in my family conversing … Continue reading →

F. Of Eyelet Tape and Under-Stitches During the week I can only hand-sew because there are three people working from home, and one work station is too close to where the machine sewing gets done, so that is saved for … Continue reading →

C. Placing the Pieces Together 1. The Left Panel’s Placement The right side’s placement on the whole side is straightforward. Place the wedge up against where it fits to front and back panels flaring out slightly where the waist ends … Continue reading →

With the morning light shining, here is the liner laid out on a bed, so you can see the two side panel wedges put in, with the sewing begun. I do have one quick question for anyone reading this: I … Continue reading →

3. The Liner There are three people working from home in this house, so any machine sewing is going to be done on the weekend, which leaves the weekdays for pinning, and some hand-sewing. The liner is being hand-sewn because … Continue reading →

B. Supply List and Cut Pieces for the Saya Encordada It has occurred to me that I haven’t properly introduced myself. For those who haven’t guessed by now, I am Ana de Guzmán, more poet than performer and lamentably not … Continue reading →

Good morning, gentlefolk. Three weeks ago, this Castellana Vieja (Castilian Crone) reached the venerable age of 60 without consistently trying her hand at sewing. So I enter this competition to have some fresher wardrobe once this plaga maldita has run … Continue reading →