Bones take two
I've restarted the project. Thanks to KBenco's tip off, I've now read Susan Khalje's article in the latest American issue of Threads and have a better idea about boning the undercorset. I also gained useful insights from Gorgeous Fabrics lace bustier tutorial. I'm now using muslin (I didn't have any more fine tuille) and rigalene boning from Tessutis. I've made the casings from biased binding and ribbon that I already had rather than buying anything new. It gets covered anyway. But the major revelation came to me in one of those ah ha moments. If I am connecting the draping from the side seams I need a side zip, not a centre back zip. This required redrafting and reshaping the back. In doing so, I was able to take the excess ease out the of pattern and achieve a much better fit. The skirt muslin is now completed and tomorrow night we cut the silk. I'm terrified and excited!
I've restarted the project. Thanks to KBenco's tip off, I've now read Susan Khalje's article in the latest American issue of Threads and have a better idea about boning the undercorset. I also gained useful insights from Gorgeous Fabrics lace bustier tutorial. I'm now using muslin (I didn't have any more fine tuille) and rigalene boning from Tessutis. I've made the casings from biased binding and ribbon that I already had rather than buying anything new. It gets covered anyway. But the major revelation came to me in one of those ah ha moments. If I am connecting the draping from the side seams I need a side zip, not a centre back zip. This required redrafting and reshaping the back. In doing so, I was able to take the excess ease out the of pattern and achieve a much better fit. The skirt muslin is now completed and tomorrow night we cut the silk. I'm terrified and excited!
I cannot wait to see this dress finished. I once made a bridesmaid dress for my daughter that had boning in the bodice, but I don't remember much about how I did it. I also had to remake a bridesmaid dress for this same daughter that had boning in it. For some reason they ordered a dress for her that completely fell to the floor when she put it on. The skirt was the hard part though, because it had a trim around the bottom with a train that had to keep it's shape. I ended up taking it up by taking the waist band off and moving it down after taking up the side a whole bunch. I'm rambling. sorry!
ReplyDeleteCorsets are tricky business! Bravo for taking it on!
ReplyDeleteGood luck cutting the silk! I'm sure it will turn out great.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteTerrified and excited... been there before! Good luck, I'm sure it will be beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI've heard that walking around the fabric with your scissors securely held together a few times ensures a better cutting outcome - or is that just nervous people like me? I am enjoying watching the progress of the dress. Thanks for posting about it.
ReplyDeleteYou are a brave, brave woman! Look forward to seeing the finished product. I sewed a corset last year and used the rigilene boning. It was actually (dare I say) a simple task -- def. not using the technique you've got going here -- but simpler than I would have imagined for my garment.
ReplyDeleteI will have to add boning to the 'need to learn' list. Looks a bit terrifying of a project, but it appears you have it in control!! can't wait to hear about the silk cutting!! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteIt all looks very good and very confident - no need to be scared - just do it!!! (easy for me to say? I know!) Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteI have been sewing for years but this makes me feel like a beginner. All this hard work only deserves a wonderful outcome. It looks very promising so far so keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for following my blog.
I think you are going to have to take the word amateur off your blog...you're clearly a pro! This corset work is amazing!!!
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