Predicament and Present Success

So I’ve been working on the Giselle commission for the past week.  I’ve nearly finished the bodice and the underskirt is basted together.  Even the overskirt is awaiting attachment.  Everything was going fine till I tried the skirt on the mannequin.  Turns out the skirt is a wee bit too small in the hips.  >_<  Unfortunately, it’s tight enough to look unsightly.  There’s maybe half and inch of seam allowance to play with.  My face literally hit the desk.  I was sooo disappointed I almost cried.  Instead I thought of ways to remedy this dilemma. 

 

I’ve come up with a plan.  I’ll call the client, explain the predicament, and set up a time for her to try on the garment.  Hopefully the skirt will fit right.  I’ll also double check the fit of the bodice at the same time.  If the skirt doesn’t fit, I’ll have to redo the hip seams.  Hopefully that won’t be too hard, and I’ll be able to correct my mistake.  I figure that if I take out at least a quarter to a half an inch on the side and back seams, the skirt should turn out fine.  I just have to make sure that I have enough room to make a double seam on the shear fabric. 

 

Other than the above happening, the dress is coming along beautifully.  Since it is turning out so well, I’ve decided, for the first time, to post progress pictures on my blog.  I really love how the dress is Disney® yet classy, cute yet sophisticated, elegant while charming.  It’s better than I hoped.  Mind you, I just pinned the dress to the mannequin as well as the embellishments.  I haven’t sewn the bodice to the skirt yet, though I hope to soon. 

 

Costume Update

Belle’s green dress is nigh complete.  I just have to hem the skirt, fix the sleeves so they stay on my shoulders, poof the upper part of the sleeve, and add a few minor details to the bodice and dress.  I reeeeeeally like how the costume has turned out so far.  For how much I modified the pattern I used, the dress looks wonderful.  I do need to figure out how to keep the sleeves on my shoulders.  I even have a cute hair bow that totally adds to and completes the costume. 

 

For some reason, the sleeves like to slide half way down my shoulders and just sit there unwilling to move.  This makes the dress look funny and my shoulders look uncharacteristically wide.  I’ve tried a couple different techniques so far but they haven’t completely helped.  Fortunately, I have a few more ideas up my sleeve.  I will keep trying ideas ‘till I get these sleeves perfect.  Even if I have to duck tape them to my arms for photos. 

 

*****

As for Giselle’s curtain dress, it is coming along beautifully.  So far, it’s my best costume yet!  I wound up modifying the sleeves from the pattern I am using; they turned out perfectly.  I love how this costume is coming together, especially since it’s a first time commission.  I love the chosen color combination.  I especially adore how the little accents bring the costume to life.  Literally! 

 

The bodice and sleeves are almost done.  I just have to add the top lace and maybe understitch the lining.  I still haven’t decided if I’m going to or not.  The skirt is almost done too!  What I have left is to hem the rest of the skirt, over skirt, and lining; attach the skirt pieces; and attach the lining to the skirt.  Then I sew the bodice to the skirt, add the embellishments (long blue ribbon and pink rosettes), and hand sew the zipper in.  It’s late so I might be forgetting a step but that is roughly what I have left before completion. 

 

I had no idea that the dress would take sooo long.  It’s been three and a half days, and still it’s not done.  Usually, it takes me between three and eight days to complete an outfit.  That is, of course, not doing anything but sewing for twelve plus hours each day.  The longest it’s taken me to complete a costume was a month.  I was also working on homework every day and going to class full time.  I’m so glad I’ve had this time to sew.  It’s a pleasant break to the monotony of school. 

 

Anyway, back on topic.  I hope to have the dress complete next week.  I’m aiming for Monday, but I don’t know with homework to catch up on.  I was able to take a small break this week due to the flu season affecting my class schedule.  The break came at the perfect time. 

 

I just hope I can balance my class work as well my costuming now that school is starting up again.  It’s hard.  Still it is possible.  This is something I hope to master soon, and very soon.