Nigella's Gothique Steampunk habit

My dear companion ~

With the Steamfitter's Ball fast approaching, I made the decision to add some sartorial elegance to my evening attire. Certainly for the social event of the season, one should not be condemned to wearing "that old thing"!

Thus this weekend past commenced the sewing of several new items of habit - a black velvet jacket with peplum, trimmed in scrap from the recently-sewn skirt, and some black lace and aubergine net; a black velvet overskirt; and (if time allows) a new pair of drawers, this time in a black striped voile.

In spite of an excess of assistance from Bix, I contrived to cut out and assemble the larger part of the jacket  (and overskirt) on Sunday. Of course - revers being designed to vex me - I inverted the lining on the fashion fabric. Being resigned to inevitable, I began to remove the offending contrast, but quickly became irritated at the process and was mindful that evening Monday would be just a good a time as any to finish repairing the damage.

On a more successful note, the cuffs have been installed, with a fetching Van Dyke effect; and I have commenced on the arduous task of creating knife-pleated ruffs to under-lay the cuffs and across one's fingers. Happily, that futuristic fiber "nylon" takes a fine knife pleat, one which will maintain through wearing admirably.

I discover that, through a great deal of meditation and rumination on conception and execution during the initial stages of the enterprise, the grand design develops, both as an overall effect and per the finer points of construction and embellishment. In particular, whilst completing the rather pedestrian task of stitching body parts together, I conceived of facing the revers with the same fabric as my demitrain skirt. Facing cuffs brought about a scheme for an interior cuff of that damnable knife-pleated lace. And all the while my eyes and fingers are involved with pleats and pins and ironing, my mind is occupied with the construction and detailing of the - detachable! - peplum and the placement of festoons of chains and straps and buckles.

And even later, upon retiring and rising, does the process continue. Sleep becomes elusive, and attention wanders from matters of mundane importance. Even now do I cogitate upon a scheme for securing the back of the coat with leather strapping and buckles...

The new habit is indeed mostly in the hues of one in mourning; a bit darker than my usual colors. This is due to the excess of yard goods currently stored in my "stash"; my ambition being to fill closets with clothing rather than bins of textiles, I have resisted all urges to visit the local dry goods store and add to the excess. I seem to have a preponderance of the darker chroma, especially of the more "fancy" goods, and having it on hand, it is what comes to hand when need demands and the means are somewhat meagre. Still, much will be made with flourishes of nickle and brass chains and buckles, and splashes of aubergine.

I only wish that I could be home now, converting grand design into tangible form.

Fondly yours

~ Nigella