Monday, August 22, 2011

Some Progress

I'm still wrestling with this dress (which is BWOF 9/11 #132, since I forgot to properly identify it last time around), and I think we've reached some kind of agreement.

What you see in these photos is the upper bodices sewn together at the shoulders (self-lined on the upper bodice), piping basted to the seam, and the lower front folded and pinned to the piped seam. 

There's a bit of sag at the fold, but I think this is mostly caused by (a) the weight of the fabric; (b) the fact that there's no back on the dress yet to balance out the weight; and (c) the upper bodice linings aren't pinned or stitched to the lower part of the dress yet.  I think once everything is together the way it should be, I'll have a straight line across the front.

I tried several different ways to get the drape the way it was in the magazine.  You can see here that you can fiddle with it and get several different looks.  I'm not sure if you're supposed to be able to do that, and I'm not sure what (if?) I've done wrong that is giving me about an extra inch of fabric around the lower armholes, but I think if everything is draped properly and looks like a dress when it's hanging on the form, I'm just going to work with it as it is and see what happens.

It's looking much less like a potato sack than I thought, or at least it's a rather elegant potato sack.  I love the fabric. 
I'm questioning now whether or not I want the piping on that seam or not.  It's nowhere near as obvious in real life as it is in the photos, where it looks like I drew across the bodice with a black Sharpie.  The black in the fabric rises up to join it and it makes sense; on the other hand, I wasn't thinking how the weird shape of the lower front piece would play with the grain/pattern of the fabric and I'm not sure I want that interrupted by a line, however straight (or not straight) it may be.



I also may not want that black line there just in case I can't get everything to balance exactly.  Hmm.  Another reason to possibly unbaste.  I'll think on it; I'm probably not going to get any sewing done tomorrow night anyway.

7 comments:

Nadine in NC said...

Your fabric is lovely! I have to agree that this dress is very elegant. I personally like the piping as the horizontal line sort of balances out the bulk of the drape, but I think it would be lovely either way. I don't remember you mentioning interfacing. Please let us know if you used it and if you would change anything if you made it again. My magazine isn't here yet so I am anxiously awaiting diagrams, pattern shapes, and especially fabric recommendations. The instructions, not so much.

mem said...

Its looking good . That drape IS very pretty and the way it has a BOULE hem is just lovely . I like it muchly!!

Marie-Noƫlle said...

This dress looks good so far and very elegant as you said.

Marie-Christine said...

For all the reasons you mention, I'd be tempted to leave the piping out too (if only because you should then pipe the neck and armholes to make it all consistent). But then again, with your print the construction of the dress is less obvious, and I like that yoke seam, so I'd be tempted to leave it in for emphasis if I were you.
How about that for decisive help :-)? But at least the dress is looking very good indeed..

Rose said...

The dress is looking good to me. The fabric is amazing! I look forward to reading about your decisions. From my viewpoint, it could go either way and look great.

The Slapdash Sewist said...

I am so curious to see how this turns out! It did not appeal to me in the magazine, but it's already looking nicer on your dress form than they showed it.

neighbourhood.gal said...

I am loving this dress! it is reminding me a lot of a dress by Carolina Herrera (I think?). I don't know if this link will work or not, but it is a picture on one of my pinterest boards...

http://pinterest.com/pin/44656790/