Revolution Dress – Skirting the Issue

The back with the skirts down, no hem yet.

So I’ve been procrastinating on The Revolution Dress because I got kindof stuck with those front rumples, but thanks to all your encouraging comments, I’ve gotten past that block.  It was also due to the fact that I’m supposed to wear this monstrosity in two weeks and, well, it’s got quite a ways to go.

I’ve got the skirts in order.  This involved pleating up the back portion that was in one with the back of the bodice (the “en fourreau” part), which probably would have been easier if I’d done the back pleating on the bodice correctly.  Instead, the skirts are sortof smooshed up under the pleats in back, then fan out from there.  The fronts panels were easier to attach, and you’ll be so proud of me, I actually did it all by hand, woo!

Test-polonaising.  This is just done with two pins to see how it’ll look, and I quite like it!

I’ve removed the buttons from the front, as a number of you pointed to those as causing some of the ripples in the bodice.  I’ll re-apply them when I do a final fitting over all underpinnings, and can place them perfectly for the fit.  I’ve also go the straps half-sewn on – that is, the lining pieces are sewn down, but the red fabric has been left loose, so I can do a proper period sleeve fitting.

I’ve not done this gown 100% period correct in method, but it’s the closest I’ve come yet, and I’ve been thinking about proper period construction all the way through this.  I may never sew the long skirt seams by hand, but I see now that the bodice construction is just, well, more manageable when you do it by hand.   And, well, those buttonholes…yeah, they were on the machine, tee hee!

I’ve still got warping, on the mannequin at least.  I hope to get rid of most of this on my own body.

Deadline is looming: June 18th and 19th, eek!