I’m starting a new tradition here today — every Wednesday I’ll post a photo of what happens to be on one of the mannequins in the shop. Sometimes it will be a finished project, sometimes a work in progress. The goal is twofold: first, it will give you a look at various stages of garment construction, but mostly it’s a personal motivator to keep things moving because I’d be so embarrassed if the mannequins in the shop don’t show any progress for an entire week.
This week I have a nearly-finished custom practice dress on Peg (the adjustable female dressform in the shop). The bodice is made of a lightweight and amazingly soft black jersey, a fabric we don’t usually use, but it’s perfect for a practice dress where comfort and ability to breathe is more valuable and necessary than sparkle, shine and show. The top has a glittered sheer fabric overlay, which can be tricky because the glittered fabric is extremely itchy so it cannot be turned under or placed anywhere it may touch bare skin. The belt is a scrap of the best green stretch velvet I’ve ever found, with a took-way-too-long-to-arrive special order crystal belt buckle. The belt hits just below the bustline of a great young lady who has recently lost quite a bit of weight, so the goal was to emphasize the tiniest part of her still-changing body. There are four straps in back which come together with a dress ring (more on these miracle little pieces in a future post), and the low scoop back hits about an inch below the waistline. The whole dang thing can be thrown in the washing machine, a necessity when deciding on practice outfit fabric and construction. All that’s left to do is attach the inset bra, and trim the skirt.
Leave No Stone Unglued 