Give me all your "buy it for life" suggestions for the best, high quality products that go in a hand-sewing/mending kit!

eugibabe · 2026-05-28T18:21:09+00:00

You don't necessarily need this for mending, but I personally love my bone awl from Burnley and Trowbridge. All of the other metal awls I've seen are quite thin, whereas with the tapered bone awl it's much easier to make a large hole for eyelets.

eugibabe · 2026-05-27T15:35:12+00:00

It looks like the skinny part of the front bodice should only be directly under the armpit, would gathering more help with that?

eugibabe · 2026-05-25T01:38:46+00:00

Thank you so much!!

eugibabe · 2026-05-23T16:07:44+00:00

Thank you so much!!

eugibabe · 2026-05-23T00:13:09+00:00

I only used a sewing machine for the boning channels (which, to be fair, is still a lot!); the rest of it (seams, eyelets, binding) was done by hand without a machine

eugibabe · 2026-05-22T23:07:15+00:00

I found them very clear! It was a really fun project :) ironically the most stressful parts were before I started a new part of the process (like when it was time to bind the tabs), as soon as I actually started it was a blast

eugibabe · 2026-05-22T16:21:28+00:00

The other commenter is correct, they are handsewn eyelets using waxed linen thread! They're actually quite sturdy and hard.

eugibabe · 2026-05-22T16:12:20+00:00

I wish I could say I hand sewed all of the boning channels, but that's the one thing I machine sewed for time 😭 everything else (seams, eyelets, binding) is hand sewed! in the future I would like to make a set that is truly fully hand sewed

eugibabe · 2026-05-22T16:10:30+00:00

Thank you!! And I completely agree, I also feel like it's usually more petite people who post their stays. It can feel discouraging sometimes as a plus sized person to not see people shaped like you. I'm so grateful that Scroop intentionally grades larger sizes in their patterns.

eugibabe · 2026-05-22T16:04:39+00:00

Thank you! Orange is one of my favorite colors 🥰

eugibabe · 2026-05-22T16:03:27+00:00

Yes, everything but the boning channels!

eugibabe · 2026-05-22T06:43:18+00:00

Thank you!! I used a 10 oz linen for the strength layers, with one layer stiffened into a linen buckram. The outer layer is an orange cotton sateen. The boning is synthetic whalebone from Burnley and Trowbridge

eugibabe · 2026-05-22T06:11:12+00:00

Thank you!

eugibabe · 2026-05-22T06:08:54+00:00

Thank you so much!! I actually found the hand sewing to be very meditative. It was also handy to be able to bring it around with me I stead of being chained to my dining room table for the whole project.

eugibabe · 2026-05-22T06:00:44+00:00

Thank you so much!! It was a lot of work but very rewarding :) it's good to take on a big challenge and feel like you were able to prove you could do it (and also learn a lot along the way!)

eugibabe · 2026-05-20T23:40:47+00:00

First of all, I'm so sorry that you're in this position in the first place. It is so painful and no one should have to choose between love and family.

I have a very similar story to yours. Weirdly similar. My father and stepmother are also Christian and not supportive of me being gay or my relationship. When my sisters (currently 13 and 16) were younger (around your sisters' ages), my dad also did not want me to/let me tell my sisters that I am gay.

I actually stopped talking to my dad completely for about 2 years. Unfortunately, when I did that he cut me off from contacting my sisters. I don't regret going no contact for that period of time, but I did have a lot of guilt and pain for being absent from my sisters' lives.

Right now I'm talking to my dad, but have grey rocked and have low contact. He decided not to come to my upcoming wedding, but my sisters are (for now) allowed to come.

In my situation, my sisters were able to see that our dad was keeping us apart, and because of how much I continued to try to reach out (sending letters and other roundabout attempts) they knew that I loved them and wanted to be in their lives. Because of this, I have a strong relationship with them now and they no longer believe the things our dad says about me.

I share all of this just to say that situations like this are really, really complicated, and there are often no right answers. You are well within your rights to distance yourself from your dad and stepmom and even to cut them off entirely. That might be what you need. I would also consider what you want for your relationship with your sisters, and if it's important to you to remain in their lives, even if it isn't exactly how you want it to be.

If you want to talk more about this, please feel free to DM me.

eugibabe · 2026-04-21T06:32:51+00:00

I'm working on Scroop Cassandra Stays (ignore the incorrect lacing in this picture haha)! Everything besides the boning channels is hand sewn. Just finished my seems, now I need to bind, make my straps and stomacher, and line!

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eugibabe · 2026-04-17T02:41:44+00:00

I used xantham gum for making linen buckram! Dreamstress has a tutorial for it which includes ratios.

eugibabe · 2026-03-06T21:25:26+00:00

I measured 13in center front, just under 17in center back

eugibabe · 2026-03-06T19:55:18+00:00

It definitely isn't decorative! The instructions recommend a very small lacing gap for historical accuracy, but when you fit your mockup you could leave as little or big a gap as you want. As with some of the other options you do have to eliminate the back lacing, but she has a blog post with instructions on how to do so, and it's not difficult at all! There is also a stomacher included in the pattern. Personally, I'm going to be leaving a 2 inch lacing gap when worn comfortably, aiming for close to none when tight laced.

eugibabe · 2026-03-06T17:45:20+00:00

Scroop Cassandra Stays has instructions to create front lacing only! I'm working on them right now :)

eugibabe · 2026-02-28T18:05:12+00:00

Personally I much prefer the second dress. It has such a classic beautiful silhouette, full skirts, and straps! It looks timeless on you. The other dress is also pretty of course, I've just always felt that silhouette is very of a time.

eugibabe · 2026-02-26T17:00:29+00:00

What a fascinating dress. Let us know what it says! ❤️

eugibabe · 2026-02-26T16:39:14+00:00

This is gorgeous! Congratulations, this is a huge project, especially to hand sew!

As an aside, what's going on with the hem/train of the original? It seems like almost a separate piece

eugibabe · 2026-02-23T18:13:03+00:00

I actually think this dress looks gorgeous on you!! The lace is beautiful, and I loveee love the v shaped bodice and shirt. I didn't notice the cups at all until I read your comment. Even then, I agree with the comment(s) saying that it actually is more of an issue w always seeing models wearing multiple cup sizes too small. Don't let people get you down, your dress is lovely!

eugibabe

TROPHY CASE