Headpiece

Along with the dress, we're working on ideas for the headpiece.  Once again I get to draw on my newly acquired knowledge from hanging out with Medieval enthusiasts.  I proposed a headband of crystal beads threaded on twisted wire, on which we can attach the traditional flowers of a headpiece and the tulle netting for the blusher.

I also bought the material for the mock-up #2.  We could only get 5 1/3 yards in the type (Satin Taffeta) and color we wanted when the pattern calls for 6 7/8 yards, so we're going to try the Florentine skirt only.  Hannah thinks that's the look she really wants and it'll fit with the yardage we have.

Things are moving along.  Not bad for having a cold this week.

~ Hannah's Mom

Day One

Progress has been made!

On Monday I cut out the muslin bodice, pinned it together on Hannah, and marked where the seams should be.  I guessed at her size, adding an extra inch all around, and ended up being fairly close to her actual measurements.  Some adjusting will have to be made, but that's normal for any pattern.

Burda patterns differ from the McCalls and Simplicity patterns I usually use and they get mixed reviews from me.  I love that there are many more body measurements on their chart than the generic bust, waist, and hips one gets with the American pattern companies (Burda is German).  I'm not at all thrilled by the fact that the layout drawings are printed on the same tissue as the pattern pieces.  You have to search for them and cut them out just as you do for each pattern piece.  Not so much fun.  Nor at all durable.

Tuesday I popped into Joann's looking for dressy material but could not find the darker green Hannah wanted.  I took photos of some of the colors I figured she'd like to show her later and then went looking at the lace, getting ideas for the added details on the skirt.

This is the lace I found:

I'll cut out sections and hand sew them onto the skirt, adding sequins or beads according to Hannah's wishes.

This is the color Hannah chose for the second mock-up, which I will finish as a fancy dress for whenever.

One thing I missed in previous readings of the list of 'ingredients' for the dress was boning tape.  Another first for me: boning.  Having tried the bodice on Hannah, I can appreciate the need for it in a strapless dress.

Oh the joys of charting new waters.

~ Hannah's Mom

Preliminary Info

The wedding is August 7th, 2015.  Some say that as today is March 15, I'm way behind.  Starting any sooner would have been too much, considering all the other loose ends and prior projects I had to finish before having time to devote to this dress, and I would have been collapsed into a drooling, gibbering mess had I attempted to do anymore on it than check out the pattern.

We are using Burda#7011 as the basis for the dress.

 The dress will be strapless, and we're nixing the flower at the waist.  I will also be trying out a couple different versions of the skirt on the mock-up #2 to see which Hannah likes better.

I plan to do two mock-ups.  The first will be out of muslin and will be just of the bodice.  Once that's properly fitted, I will buy some material similar to the dress material, i.e. not stretchy like the muslin and dressier, but a lot cheaper for the second mock-up.  For that one I will cut out both skirt styles to test the drape and look.  (Note to self: Make sure you have JoAnn coupon in hand when going to buy material.)

The alternate skirt style is based on Florentine styles of the 16th-century.  The back side seams are cut on the straight of the grain while the front side seams are on the bias (diagonal).  Sewing them together causes the skirt to be pulled to the back, giving the dress a smoother front, which will better show off the lace details Hannah would like on the skirt.  (I love it when my hobbies overlap, Medieval sewing techniques and modern clothes design.)

That's all for now,

~ Hannah's Mom