A milestone reached

This is not a stitching happy dance, though... but still, it's a major one. And believe me, I was litterally dancing and singing all over the flat!!
I finished my 120-page dissertation yesterday (it's the introductory dissertation to my PhD thesis, which I'll be completing over the next 3 years). There are still the introduction and conclusion to write, but it's like adding the backstitching to a design requiring very little of it. And my supervisor told me to wait a few weeks before writing them, so that I can take some critical distance from my work.

I still have to write a 20-page article before the end of May. But that's very doable (it's on a topic I'm quite familiar with already), which means I shall really have more time to sew and stitch now!

I think I need a few days' break before starting on the article. Sew... Let's get some of those sewing projects done at last! I haven't done any sewing for so long - although my project list hasn't stopped growing in the meantime...

Here is my current challenge: a corset! I've been petting the idea for a few months now, even though I didn't mention it on my blog (I wanted to wait until I got a real start on it!). My challenge is to get it done by my birthday!

I got the supplies (pattern, boning, laces, and busk) online from Venacava, which I highly recommend to anyone wishing to jump into the corsetry adventure... Their service is great, they're the cheapest store by far, and their shipping fees are very reasonnable.
I'm actually mixing up two patterns: my base is Simplicity 9769, but since it's supposed to make a one-layer corset (which I find nonsensical - this would never sturdy enough! Besides, the finishing wouldn't look nice on the inside), I'm also using the instructions from Butterick 4254 (view C).

The trickiest part in corset-making is the fitting. It has to be so precise! This is why you need to make a mock-up. I started making the mock-up a week or two ago, and I finished it yesterday, attaching some boning and lacing to check the fit. Since I'd researched on the Internet about that pattern, I knew that the bust was too large for most women, so I graded the pattern to make it smaller in the bust. And... It fit perfectly at the first try! How lucky is that?
The great thing is also that since the mock-up works well, I can now use it as the lining!

I was so excited that I had to start on the outer layer... Even though it was getting late and Seb was already sleeping. I mean, I've been - litterally! - dreaming about starting on that project for so long! That was also an efficent impetus to get going on my dissertation... Once I could start it at least, I simply didn't want to stop.

But... I have to go spend a couple of days at my parents' in Lille. I promised I'd go this week, right after I was done with the dissertation. This is the only week my brother has been able to take some free time for 3 months (he's been working non-stop at the hospital, week-ends included). I'm leaving this morning! I'll be back on Thursday.
So the corset shall have to wait... But I'm taking books for when I'm alone, so I can get a start on that article. This way I can afford to spend some time on the corset when I get back in Paris!
(and don't worry... I'm taking some stitching with me as well!)

See you in a few days!