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False economy discovered

So I got tapped to lead a big-ticket Civil War dance. (It's next weekend.) And like an idjit I start thinking about making a new ballgown.

While I swore off Wally World, somehow I ended up there...and they had about six yards of 60" dark green printed with an interesting big home dec pattern. Fleur de lis and sworls and such, in gold, mauve, and lilac. $1/yard table.

Skirt cut out, cartridge pleats coming right up. Needed something to face the hem with, and also some undersleeves and trim. Pedaled up to TSWLTH and found an end bolt of matching green chintz, some ropey upholstery piping, several remnants of gold, lilac, and mauve goods that I can use as ribbony bits.

Guess what cost about FIVE TIMES as much as the base fabric!!

It might get done in time. By Thursday I will assess my progress, and might make a bertha collar (with lace trim) to dress up an existing calico dress...instead of driving the five hours to the gig with the bodice on my lap.

Pics whenever.

--Karen D.

Reply to
Veloise
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Uh oh, more all-nighters. Imagination doesn't stretch enough to picture your gown, so hope we get to see photos. I'm particularly interested to see what a bertha collar is. Fingers crossed that all goes well. Have you made this pattern before?

Sharon

Reply to
Seeker

Bertha collar is on Simp 5724. About 4" wide, "portrait" neckline. Very much period-correct. I have not selected the pattern yet. It'll either be a day dress (Simp

3855) minus the long sleeves, or some other combination of bodice and sleeve treatments. I probably won't use all of 5724 because it's a pain...but the petal sleeves and undersleeves aren't too bad.

Thanks for the encouragement!

--Karen D.

Reply to
Veloise

Skirt's almost done. Had a productive evening with the NPR folk programming (despite my newest "I wuv you" kitty trying to assist). The skirt fab (again, the $1/yd stuff) gathers beautifully, and it rustles like fancy taffeta. Used the chintz's shiny side and it matches as though it was designed for it. (Not that anyone will ever see this waistband. My motto is: if they're that close, they ain't admiring your handiwork.)

Put it on my dress form and somehow left it in view of my bed (adjacent room), so when I woke up, that was the second thing I saw. (The first was little "feed me" kitty's pleading blue eyes.)

Turns out that the dance part of the evening is only a couple of hours, and this is a new group (mostly non-CW types) so one of the pre- existing outfits wil wow them just as much. The nice thing about stagewear is: there's always another occasion right around the corner.

--Karen D.

Reply to
Veloise

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