Plan C?

How many lettera of the alphabet are there?

Plan A made no sense to me. I could get it together and it would look like the picture but fit like crap.

NOT HAPPY WITH IT ALL! ! !

and what is my number one rule? If i don't like it, you don't get to wear it. You don't even get to see it. If I am ashamed for a project to be seen in public, it goes in the rag bag!

Plan B

Plan B was to marry two different patterns to get the dress. Problem The first pattern is crap and the second pattern is high quality with a great fit. Hmmmm...... Not working out so good. I have worked with it for days trying different things and it isn't going to work. Maybe in a few years when I have more experience drafting my own patters this wouldn't be an issue. Right now it is.

How many letters are in the alphabet? I haven't failed until I give up. And I AINT giving up on this. Nope, not going to happen.

Good news?

I have a PLAN C.

Band news?

Plan C will have to wait until Tuesday. I'm out of drawing paper. Three feet wide and about 30 feet of the stuff will be a good start. I use a LOT of paper. My kids love it. They get it when I am done. I have many odd shaped art projects all over my house.

Sorry for taking so long. I want this dress to be something you are proud of and feel beautiful in. Not some old home made looking rag. I'm still working. Haven't forgotten. I promise.

Happy dance! ! ! The new bodice works with the first skirt! ! ! It will take a little work but it isn't the disaster I thought it was. I can breath! ! !

Today I was on the edge of panic. No job yet. A few unproductive interviews. Worried about the dress. The worry bugs were biting. I took a few minutes to bow my head and pray. First I got the news that his name has been sent to the hiring manager for yet another job. This one is his "dream" job. The one he really, really wants. Then I sat down and worked with this stubborn bodice. It finally worked the way I wanted it to! ! !

Today has been a good day.

Praying for the Brides mother today. May this day end with good news for all of us.

Back to the Drawing Board

The first try at the brides dress has been a miserable failure. Okay, anyone else would say it looks just fine but I'm not happy with it. If I make it and I'm not happy with it, you don't see it. Failed projects are grease rags! But still, not a complete failure. It looks like I am going to end up combining two patters and re drafting most of the dress.

Here is the start for try #2

All three of us, Bride, Groom and Seamstress love the neckline on this dress. I like it that the bodice has not gusset under the arm. So what is the problem? The Bride doesn't like the gathered skirt and I kinda agree with her. The lines of the other skirt are very elegant. The skirt was my favorite part of the other dress.

Sooooo........ Here is what we are going to do. I am going to take the elements we like from both dresses and I am going to make HER dress. I am going to be drafting some parts and tracing other parts from one pattern or the other. Keep the sleeve of the original dress with alterations. Keep the skirt of the first dress and redraft it into the new bodice and neckline.

Sound a little complicated? Not as complicated as making the other neckline work! That thing was not cooperating with me. So much so that I had to wave the white flag of surrender. However, I think the dress will be prettier for the changes! ! !

Now are you ready for some good news? I won't need a pattern for the brides maids dresses! But don't worry, they will be beautiful. The skirt will be a simple pleated skirt with a fitted neckline and side zipper. A white peasant style blouse and a bodice drafted to fit each lovely lady's very own measurements. It will be a snug fitting Renascence style corset. Lined with cotton, a thinker coutile or canvas center and a cover that matches or coordinates with the skirt. That part hasn't been decided. It will look nice on all body types and fit each person perfectly.

Yippee for me. I won't have to deal with poorly drafted commercial patterns! ! !

Here is a similar outfit I made for my oldest daughter several years ago.

I may put tabs around the bottom of the bodice to make it lay better over the waist band. This outfit took a little more than a day to make. The dress in the photo was make using a pattern and I was not happy with the results. The dresses for the wedding will be my own design and be made by the measurements of each lady.

Progress

Blogger is NOT cooperating with me today. I couldn't get the new pics to download. They are on the Little Blessings FB page. I spent the morning looking for the carbon paper and the afternoon tracing. I use a double tracing wheel to mark the seam allowances. That gives a more accurate seam line when everything is stitched together. It helps with alterations and marking the pattern pieces for the final cut.

When the silk is purchased, I don't want to be altering the final product. Silk is hard to work with. Slippery and pulls very easy. I want to be able to sit down and get it done without worrying about fit.

The Dress Form

It is here! ! ! Finally! ! !

She was easy to put together but I haven't adjusted her to size yet. I an going to wait until I have help for that. I think I need to put some clothes on it too. I better get busy.

I'll add a photo latter.

Ideas and A Place to Start! ! !

For the Bride

For the men. Light weight wool or linen in a gray green. Have to see what I can find at the fabric store. Knee length like the ranger cloaks.

This dress won't fit the flower girls anymore but I am going to make something like it. My own creation. My girls are growing so fast! ! !

I'm still working on the the design for the Groom. Yes, I have a general idea of what I am going to do but not just how to do it. I'll get there. Need to think on that a little more.

Still thinking for the brides maids.

This week has been so busy. Skate, military appointments and Rodeo Rose has kept me on the run. Oh and sore knees from Sundays drawing adventures. Finally! ! ! I get a day to work. I'm not sure about the fit of the bodice for the bride, so I start there. I'm not going to worry about cutting out the full dress just yet or the sleeves. Just the part I am worried about.

Wish me luck! ! ! I'll need it with my sewing assistants. One Great Dane and a cat obsessed with sewing thread and needles.

Drawing

The first few steps are done. Getting her measurements, check. Figuring out what she wants, check. Then it is my turn to find a way to make it happen. Fabric is chosen. A pattern close to what she wants helps A LOT.

Today was the first stage of the making of the dress. Tracing the pattern and marking it for the alterations. Lots of changes.

Did you know kittens like to sew? She loves to tear up the tissue paper pattern, play with dangling threads and show me which lines to trace. She isn't such a great helper.

I was just getting started. 5 hours latter, one role of scotch tape and SEVERAL feel of paper latter, the dress is traced out. I'm pooped.