When you over buy wool in order to make sure you don’t run out making your American Duchess Cape, it stands to reason that you will use said material to create a Hobbit-y Corset Top with peplum, covered all over in botanically and nature inspired embroidery that will certainly take you forever to actually finish. It’s what you do.

I looked online and felt that the Butterick Pattern b4669 was the perfect one to go with, and chose the option with a peplum around the waist.

I traced the pattern pieces onto thin paper so that I wouldn’t have to cut up my bought pattern, but also so that I could sketch my designs directly onto them to see how things might work together

I began by cutting out and sewing together the lining to check fit and get comfortable with the construction before beginning the embroidery on the outer wool pieces.

I left as much wool around each pattern piece as possible to make it easier to fit in the frame and actually stitched a running stitch to mark the edges of the pattern pieces as I feared that heat-erase pen or chalk would rub off or otherwise be lost in the long time this project would take to complete. I used a Q-snap frame which was a bit tight with the thick broadcloth but held it in place. I did my best to be organized and record the floss colors being used on each design so that if I needed to use the same colors later I could check back in my notebook.

I transferred all of my sketched designs onto stick on water soluble stabilizer to make it easier to stitch.

I’ve been able to complete several pieces of the bodice so far but there is still soooooo much to go! I’ve been taking a break due to another crafting project I’ve been focusing on this year (namely knitting/ crocheting small animals for all of the kids in my son’s preschool for the holidays) but I’m hoping to make time soon to get back into stitching and draw closer to the actual construction of this garment.