Options

I cut out and sewed the sleeves of the 1931 dress!  Progress.  However, the instructions say to do a picot edge.  I do not completely understand the instructions provided for a picot edge and it seems like an awful lot of hand sewing.

But miracles of miracles my serger has a picot stitch.  I know it’s not the period correct way of handling this edge but I think I am going to do it on the serger for practicality reasons and swiftness.  We all know that if there is a lot of hand sewing for me to do, it is just not getting done. 

To answer some questions:  This fabric is slippery because it is a silk chiffon but I never even thought of using a stablizer!  Seriously, I am just not that with it.  I am using a lot of pin.  There are many curved seams look mighty scary but since I am doing french seams I am not as worried about it.  I may regret that statement though.  What type of stabilizer would be recommended?  Really as I sit here I have no clue.

I have been playing around with the trim on the 1918 dress.  Here are some of the option I came up with for the neckline.  I am leaning towards the double row around the neckline with space in between the rows.  

A Bodice with Sparse Instructions

Having no instructions is really quite an interesting prospect.  Actually there are a few instructions, such as match notches and sew together.  That is for all the pieces apparently.  I did struggle at first reading what little instructions existed.  The first sentence puzzled me for about an hour until I remembered in this time period a “waist” is a bodice and is not referring to a person’s waist.  After that a-ha moment I was able to get sewing.

There was also a bit of freedom in not having detailed instructions to follow.  I allowed my own common sense to take over.  I think it will help develop my sewing skills to tackle projects like this one which are not too hard but leave most every step in my hands.

Here we are:

The tucks were harder than I thought they would be but boy do I love them.  I am not sure how I will finish the neckline.  Some sort of bias binding will be a must but I have never finished a square neckline before.

 

I set in the sleeves.  The first one….well not great.  Second one much better and I can live with it even though a gather or 2 is apparent.  The one with all the gathers will be redone.

Now on to the skirt!  And to buy trim for the dress!!  Shopping my favorite pasttime.

On another note:  Thank you to everyone who stopped by an especially to those who commented:

Caroline, thanks.  I love that dress too and cannot wait to wear it in April.  I will have a picture of me in it then.

Kelli: I do feel very lucky to have “acquired” these dressforms and the family who wants my help selling them may have to pry them from my hands first!  So great to be able to have multiple projects happening.

Jo: The maroon and gold corset, should I ever finish it, will be from the same Laughing Moon pattern.  It fits so well and pattern drafting is not my forte so I thought I would stick with what works for now.

Jill:  Thank you.  I am lucky to be able to get some really nice fabric cheap which actually makes diving in with a muslin a little bit more fun because if it works why I have a dress.  Good connections!!