Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Skirt Update

For all the griping we like to do about the USPS, can you beat taking a package to the post office Friday afternoon and having it get from Phoenix to it's final destination Philadelphia on Monday. For under $4.00. Try doing that yourself.

Not watch, the next time I do this, like when Sarah sends it back, it will be lost. And I'll be screwed.

Anyway, she loves it! The size and shape are perfect, the length might be, too.
I wasn't sure she'd want me posting the whole picture, so I cropped for the skirt. We're both excited and although there are still plenty of things I've never done to do for the first time on this, I feel like I have the hardest out of the way.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

The Skirt.

Have to admit, this one had me baffled for a bit. I had to cogitate on it for weeks before I had the pieces together enough in my head to take a stab at it.

When Sarah was here in April, I made a skirt, but it wasn't full enough. I just added a little flare to the pattern pieces. I knew I would need more. High/low patterns weren't available in January when we chose the pattern, but the ones I've seen since then still don't have the look I want. So, it was up to me.

As usual, I took to the interweb for immediate images to think on. Most sewing advice for available high/low hemlines simply takes a ready made skirt and cuts off a shaped piece. I would do that as a lost resort. I knew there had to be a more professional way.

This actually showed up on my facebook ads. Scroll down for the cutting diagram. It what helped me decide how to layout and not have to do so much trial and error for the shape I wanted. I think it creates a more natural shape, more organic, less engineered which is what I wanted. Although it uses only measurements and not a paper pattern, it clicked with me.

Here's my cutting diagram.
I cut halfway between the pieces for seams because I figured it would be too full and need places to take it in.

Here it is, full and long.


  I tapered the flare by taking in the seams each by no more than 2 inches from the seam allowance.

Then, I had to cut the shape. It took me another few days to think. AKA procrastinate. I pinned a shape one day, looked at several times over the course of a few more, made a few adjustments, then took it off the form and spread it out. I'm aiming for the fullness of the high/low white dress and the hem shape of the black dress which is less full.

In these pics, it's laid on the table in the opposite of the cutting diagram. 


Then, I used my French curve that I rarely have used. I bought it maybe 10 years ago when I was taking some tailoring classes in Lancaster when we lived there. I used it to connect the pins I had placed to make the shape and allowed me to draw smooth lines and made me believe I know what I'm doing.
 

Here's everything all put together. I threw in a zipper even though it's not long enough. I think I'll have to hand pick a zipper when it comes to the real thing because of the beads.She wants a short train. I used her measurements I took in January as for lengths. Hoping if they're off, they're long because she and her maid of honor, who is making her own dress, can mark where they want the high and low to be.



 I packaged it up and sent to the bride, and it should get there Monday, 6/3.

For some reason, blogger won't allow me to left justify anymore.

I have pretty much completed the beading for the back bodice pieces until they are sewn together and I have to fill in the spaces. I have the dino shapes for the front side pieces set and have to select the paisley patterns to fill them in. I guess in the meantime I can transfer the shapes and bead the outlines. 

My goal is to have this have this completed by August 15 to ship it.

I think I have some beading to do!

Thanks for reading!