In which I suck at corsets, as expected
I futzed over this one so much I thought it would come out right, but it turned out a bit too small! That's better than too big, I guess but it's SO ANNOYING *keysmash*. The lacing gap is about 4" rather than the 2" I was aiming for. And it's also rather too large directly under the bust, so it's loose there and the overall effect is a bit flattening. Once I had the grommets in and had the thing laced and on me I tried on the dress over it...and somehow the dress is too small in the bust? I thought 'oh maybe it's this corset, since I allowed extra space up there' but I tried it on over the corset I originally used to fit it (my 1860s) and had the same problem, so I'm just baffled now. It's really irritating, let me tell you. I didn't think I'd have to deal with MAJOR fit problems this late in the game! It's making me want to throw it in a corner and go to Belvidere in civvies, or maybe my teens outfit. Though I don't have a petti for that, so my corset shows through my skirt something awful.
So as I sit here all cranky about it, I'm trying to calm myself down and think through a reasonable game plan for tomorrow morning pre-work. I'll put on EVERYTHING, corset and petticoats and skirt and so on, and put on the dress - maybe inside out, I dunno - and look at it very carefully. Maybe I'll be able to let out a seam somewhere to add a bit of space at the bust. I can also start making some cover buttons. And if I can work out where to put a parasol pocket without possible front dart changes affecting it, I can do that too. I can also make some boning casings to put inside the dress, which should really help smooth it out. Unfortunately the corset is preeeetty apparent through the thin dress fabric, and I don't have any idea what to do about that! Way too late to reline it with something stiffer, thanks! It's supposed to be about 90 degrees on Saturday anyway, so I'd rather not add any more fabric than I absolutely have to.
Let's see what I have left:
Left on the dress:
tack down the facing
attach neck ruffle
bleach and attach fringe
put on buttons
buttonholes/hooks and eyes under buttons
pleat up sides at the back
lace or self-fabric stripe across sleeve ruffles
parasol pocket (last!)
green ribbons a few places on skirt of dress
REFIT THE WHOLE DARN THING
Left on the corset:
boning channels
put in bones
bind edges
grommets
lace on top (last!)
So as I sit here all cranky about it, I'm trying to calm myself down and think through a reasonable game plan for tomorrow morning pre-work. I'll put on EVERYTHING, corset and petticoats and skirt and so on, and put on the dress - maybe inside out, I dunno - and look at it very carefully. Maybe I'll be able to let out a seam somewhere to add a bit of space at the bust. I can also start making some cover buttons. And if I can work out where to put a parasol pocket without possible front dart changes affecting it, I can do that too. I can also make some boning casings to put inside the dress, which should really help smooth it out. Unfortunately the corset is preeeetty apparent through the thin dress fabric, and I don't have any idea what to do about that! Way too late to reline it with something stiffer, thanks! It's supposed to be about 90 degrees on Saturday anyway, so I'd rather not add any more fabric than I absolutely have to.
Let's see what I have left:
Left on the dress:
tack down the facing
attach neck ruffle
bleach and attach fringe
put on buttons
buttonholes/hooks and eyes under buttons
pleat up sides at the back
lace or self-fabric stripe across sleeve ruffles
parasol pocket (last!)
green ribbons a few places on skirt of dress
REFIT THE WHOLE DARN THING
Left on the corset:
boning channels
put in bones
bind edges
grommets
lace on top (last!)