Of all the possible problems I might have working on a Christening Dress after all these years, I never even thought of the one that’s driving me stark raving bonkers.
When I was making those dresses before I didn’t wear glasses and I always used a #12 Quilters Between to do the handwork. Now if I even want to read anything, I wear glasses - a decently strong prescription. Last night I sat curled up on the futon with a bright light right next to me trying to hand sew the binding on the bottom of the sleeves.
Picture this: you’re sitting straight up, knees to chest, elbows flat to your side, and hands at about chin level… maybe a bit higher. That’s how I was sewing last night.
Tone-on-tone ivory fabric and thread; I simply could not see. I did manage to use a size #10 Quilters Between - after I finally got it threaded.. you don’t want to know. Well, humbling is suppose to be good for you every so often.
Okay then, this first picture is of the three bodice pieces doing their Frisbee imitations - stiff as a board. The decorative stitching is in place and the shape is only a rough cut.
I threw all three pieces into a bowl with warm water and let them soak for about 1o minutes time; each bodice piece is two layers thick. While the pieces soak, I had to lock the cats out of the room - it was way too much temptation to play in the water.
Then one quick rinse in clean water, and blotting the excess water out on a towel. When the pieces were barely damp, I used a dry iron to finish the process and gently press out any wrinkles.
After tracing the exact pattern shape on all the pieces, they were cut to size. The shoulder and side seams were simply 1/2″ seams since the entire top would be lined. I put together the lining - same as the decorative outside, less the decorative stitching, and very carefully sewed it into place using a 1/4″ seam allowance. The entire neck area is understitched. Did I mention I can’t see well on this fabric? Nose to the machine needle and cat watching intently from 10 inches away.
The sleeves have decorative stitching lines that are used to create a deep pleat - it’s gorgeous. They open slightly in the bodice and with movement. The underseam is French seamed since this seam won’t be hidden.
The last picture for this round is below, and it shows the completed bodice. Finished sleeves, decorative stitching on the bodice, connecting band with embroidered pattern for a nice bodice-to-skirt transition. Next we tackle the skirt!
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I’m 50 years old and proud! This comic strip has me seething. I’ve contacted the Tribune editors and received, in my mind, the standard form reply. You know, the ‘oh we’re sorry this slipped through’ yadda, yadda, yadda.
