Blue/Brown dress diary of Apline Lil

[Alpine Lil]

I figure I best move my petticoat over to a new thread since it's for my blue/brown convention dress and I figure before the end of the month, I'll have more pics to share as the entire outfit comes together.

This is my first NF outfit and because of my eighty pounds of weight loss (and thank you all for the compliments and encouragement) ...and because of my lack of sewing victorian attire for a good year knowing that the weight would come off, I'm running into all kinds of problems.

I thought the slip was quite easy and lots of fun but OMG....yesterday was a day from hell. I started my outfit to go over the slip....you know, this one made with the TV121 1879 Petticoat pattern:

I figure the best thing to do was make the overskirt, then the bodice and do the skirt last....only because I may end up a little short on my navy blue dupioni silk fabric and if that's the case, I can make the top of the underskirt with different fabric as it will be hidden by the overskirt. My fingers are crossed that it won't happen...but I'm trying to do this smart.

I'm making the...
TV221 1878 Underskirt,
TV324 1878 Long Draped Overskirt, and
TV422 1880 Dinner bodice, modifying the box tail.

[Alpine Lil]

Did I mention I'm trying to do this "smart"?

Hmmm....I wish!!!

Okay....so yesterday I made the overskirt. This morning I went to put the waist band on and it was humongis (is that a word?) around the waist. I made all kinds of modifications to the darts and finally got it to fit. While fitting it on my dress form, Miss Lilly, I discovered that the dupioni really sagged in the front....OMG....I remembered that dupioni really needed to be lined.

Well...knowing how tight I am with my fabric...I couldn't just go cut out another one to start over....and with the limited time I have to get everything made before convention, I have no time to tear the thing all apart and resew it. It will have to do!

I can live with that but the next discovery was worse.

[Alpine Lil]

Did anyone notice that the petticoat I made to fit my new waist line......was shown to you in a photograph where I had BARE SKIN?

Next project.....my bodice. Since I have new measurements, I decided to go put on my chemise and corset to check my bust and waist measurements so that the bodice would fit perfect.

First...my corsets are all now too big! But....I have one that will work, even if the laces pull the entire corset together with no gap in the back.

BUT....you know what happens to your measurements with a corset on? You're no longer a 30 inch waist, you're a 31 inch waist!!!

I immediatly ran back to my petticoat, put it on over my corset....the waist band is an inch too small!!!! I HAVE to take the waist band off and let out the back gathering and make a new waist band. I figure that will only set me back about half a day....so that's the new plan for today....that and going to the fabric store to buy lining for my under skirt and bodice. The over skirt will not be lined but my dupioni under skirt will be lined!

Now....for your help. I have a question...I know to buy drapery lining for the dupioni skirt lining, but I need advice....what type of fabric should I buy to line the dupioni silk bodice? Help me get smart folks! I have too little time left to make any more mistakes. Have I mentioned that I also have a saloon girl outfit to make AND a ball gown? ....and new PJs would be nice for the PJ party.

[Allie Mo]

Wow! Lil, that's a terrific skin shot! You little thing! Bravo!

[Alpine Lil]

Allie...what do you think, line the bodice with muslin perhaps?

[Allie Mo]

Lil,

I'm no expert. Heck, I don't even wear a corset.

I like to flat line in a heavy material like medium-weight twill or Trigger. Then, I prefer to line with a poly/cotton as I have not been able to find the sateen folks talk about.

Happy