Minstrations, Part 4

Mar 18 11:50-12:30 Divide and conquer! Matched up bottom tier to top tier of skirt without too much headache; turns out I calculated the difference in fullness between the two pretty well-there will be just enough gathering at the top edge of the bottom tier to make things interesting.


Mar 19 12-1 Begin gathering and tacking skirt top and bottom together. Not sure if it made it easier or more difficult, but because of the way I pinned the tiers together, was able to run gathering threads and make a tack stitch about every 3 inches at the same time. Made it about 1/3 the way around

Mar 21 12:30-1:30 Another 1/3 the way around

Mar 22 11:30-12:30 Finished the last 1/3. Will take the dress home this weekend to try with my corset and attempt some in-progress photography. Also need to order brown silk thread for the buttonholes. Had thought to use cotton floss, but decided that it may abrade too easily.

Ministrations, 3rd Continuation

Mar 7 11:30-12:30 Finish neck edge, attach armscye piping and waistband, begin attaching waistband piping.


Mar 12 sometime around lunch: complete waistband piping, finish sleeve cuffs

Mar 14 12:10-12:50: pin in sleeves, attach one. Need to take the skirt home and re-iron so the hem and hem facing so they will be somewhat even.

7:30-9 pm Okay, cheated a bit. Took the skirt home to iron hem and hem facing. Went ahead and attached the top of the hem facing before I repacked the dress into my work bag. I think I will go ahead and add a wrapped hem braid since this will be a workhorse of a dress.

Mar 15 11:30-12 set second sleeve

Ministrations, 2nd Continuation

January 30: 11:45-12:30 Finished gathering threads in bodice fronts and back, tacked back lining and fabric together and drew up gathers.


January 31: 11:30-12 pinned in front plackets, basted neckline, started right placket

February 4: 12:05-12:40 Finished right placket, stitched both darts right side

Sometime between 2/5-8: pulled up gathers of left side, basted in place; finished right placket and one dart

February 11: 12:25-12:45 finished second dart and pulled up gathers; Began basting fabric to lining.

February 28: 12-12:30 Bodice attach right front to back, pin left front in place.

March 4: 11:30-12:30 Finish attaching fronts to backs, test fit (without corset, see note): the fit is a shade too tight for wear with buttons and functioning button holes once I put my corset on. Let sides out about 3/8 inch each side to take strain off fasteners. Begin neck-piping

Note: My corset actually increases the size of my ribcage by about ½ inch before decreasing my waist size about 1.5 inches.

Mar 5: 11:30-12:00 Finish armscye and waist piping, attach neck piping