Violet and Roses Robe a la Francaise: The back is done!
The back is done! I love the saque backs, they are just so damn pretty! The fabric, though-- yet another fabric that I can't photograph well! Ah well.
Assembly was pretty easy for the back, I've made enough of these now that they are no longer a mystery.
I started with the back lining (which I boned and inserted eyelets and finsihed without photos-- oops!) and attached it to the gigantic wad of fabric that was to be the back (also not photographed as to how I cut and assembled those pieces-- man! I am so rusty! Get it together, Ang!)
It was all laid out on my cutting table, so I could keep track of everything that just wanted to slip and shed and snarl and run away laughing at me. Pinned the sides together...
Then sewed them together around the raw edges, and while I was at it I added an anchor line down either side to help the back cling to my lady's curves so they don't get lost in the saque.
Then I tacked down the center of all the "cape" fabric so I could keep it all even and straight when I began to pleat.
...and then the pleating begins!
Making both sides match as the "cape" gets more and more under control
Almost there!
There! All pinned up.
But does it look good? Checking the drape...
Yep! It looks goooooood. Time to sew it in place and press:
Sewing down the pleats in a straight line, using a prick stitch. I am really not fond of hand sewing. (Quelle horreur! Don't tell anybody.)
Using draper's tape to help me keep track of the straight line.
Pinning on the top binding:
...and flipping it over and hand sewing it down. Did I mention I'm not fond of hand-sewing? Or fond of switching my bobbins out? (DON'T LOOK.)
So, all done with the back. I think it looks really pretty! I'm ready to move on to the front, which won't be as easy.
Okay, the photo right above captured what the fabric really looks like-- very rich and deep, not all blown out magenta like the other pictures. How did I do that? I have no idea.